The Marlboro Man isn’t for me.  He’s the strong and silent type- it might be a romantic image on film, but it doesn’t look like much fun in real life. He probably eats an unhealthy amount of meat, that’s a given. A legendary smoker- no way would I let him in my barn. I doubt we would share the same taste in horses, (or anything else.) A hug from the Marlboro Man would feel like carrying an arm load of sticks and cans- way too boney for my taste.

And wouldn’t the Marlboro Man be…

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One of the things I see missing most when people talk about the horse-human relationship, whether they specifically mention that term or are talking about anything concerning horses and humans, is an understanding of what relationship is really about.  Most of the time, people focus on training a horse to do a certain task – stand still, move, trailer load, change lead, you name it – without recognizing that everything we do with a horse revolves around the relationship we have with our…

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5. Interactive Play

Once you have introduced your horse to a variety of things, it is important to try and give the objects a purpose or make them part of your play.

 

This is were you get to be creative and think of ways you can incorporate your ground and riding cues into challenging games that can test your communication, build confidence, and ultimately build a better…

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4. Encounter Wait, Revisit

Some horses are naturally braver than other, and some horses tend to be fairly skittish and flighty. Horses can become more confident when they are exposed to many different things – when they associate positive

experiences with the different objects/ environments.

Getting your horse to touch different objects is one way to build confidence. Provided the…

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For me, this one is the longest training program that I have ever been involved in.

How to keep your stable neat and tidy.

I have a wonderful friend that I met back in the spring of 1969. Well, that sure dates me. But from the moment I meet her, I could see that her horses were her number one priority in her life. I have seen that woman, even at the age of 60 plus, rise early every morning, muck out the stalls, wash out the water buckets, measure the feed for every horse, clean… Continue

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Our animals hand us the winning ticket dozens of times a day.

But you have to be present to win.… Continue

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