Horse and Horseback Rider Help

 Alternative Horsemanship horse and rider training approach teaches equine enthusiasts the awareness, recognition, and belief of the horse's communication and how to create a willing equine partner. Developed over three decades by Samantha Harvey, it is based on teaching introspection of the rider, rather than the common generalized, quick-fix, and mainstream horse training offered in a 1, 2, 3 step type program. As equine students learn to recognize the root cause of unwanted behaviors in their horses, they can practice the horsemanship skill sets needed to offer specific communication toward their horses. Doing so offers non-critical thoughtfulness in the human and horse, or an "alternative" approach. 

 

Equestrian students learn to acknowledge both their own and the horse's behavior patterns. Increasing awareness of self-deprecating or distracting thoughts, emotional triggers (in both them and the horse,) and how to replace this reactive critical thinking with positive alternatives. The shift in rider's clarity allows them to make proactive decisions that offer horse-specific guidance and support. This helps riders learn to recognize potentially unrealistic expectations of their equine partner.

 

If a horse is stressed, fearful, or concerned, physically asking more of him at his peak worry, teach him that humans will add pressure and critique rather than help him work through an unsure moment. When the horse is continually coerced into physical compliance, and forced to contain his fear, eventually there will be an explosion of dramatic and dangerous behavior as he becomes overwhelmed.

 

Educating horseback riding students to understand their body language, clarify their intentions, and recognize the horse's responses helps the horse learn to participate reasonably and diminishes worried, fearful, or dangerous behavior.

 

My goal is to help students learn how to build a quality equine partnership based on mutual respect and trust. Riders learn how to have a "Conversation" with their horse to create mentally available, physically willing, and reasonable equine partners. Taking the time to address the seemingly minor details that can lead to significant "cracks" in the partnership allows a continual progression that empowers students to independently use their newfound skills to work with their horse in the "real world," irrelevant of their chosen discipline.

 

Horsemanship and horseback riding students are taught a combination of explaining horse behavior, and biomechanical riding concepts, and addressing the rider's mental focus to develop into supportive riders. 

 

Are you experiencing fear, anxiety, or anticipation when you ride? Visit the Fearful and Anxious Horse Riding coaching options HERE.