Category Archives: herd behavior

Go with the flow of equine rhythms

October 25, 2013chakras, endurance, energy work, equines, healing, herd behavior, herd dynamics, horse training, horsemanship, horses, Horses at Liberty Foundation Training, Liberty training, Natural Horsemanship, performance horses, riding, Uncategorizedanimals, Barb Mcauley-White, chakras, endurance riding, energetic connection, equine liberty training, equine training, equines, herd behavior, herd dynamics, horseback riding, horsemanship, horses, Horses at LIberty Foundation Training, kayak, liberty horse training, Lisa Westfall, ridinghorsesatliberty

Much like people have mantras and chanting for their meditations, horses move and flow rhythmically. If we can watch, feel and be a part of their rhythms rather than imposing our own modern-day rushed rhythms on them, we will find they are much more likely to want to be with us, and will be curious about us.

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Just got my horse back from the trainer and…

October 18, 2013bareback riding, bitless riding, bodywork, energy work, equines, healing, herd behavior, herd dynamics, horse training, horsemanship, horses, Horses at Liberty Foundation Training, Liberty training, Natural Horsemanship, Ortho-Bionomy, OrthoHorse, performance horses, riding, UncategorizedAlternative therapies, bodywork, energetic connection, equine healing, equine liberty training, equine training, herd behavior, herd dynamics, horse trainers, horse training, horseback riding, horsemanship, horses, Horses at LIberty Foundation Training, liberty horse training, The trainerhorsesatliberty

You fill in the blanks. Several things could have happened here. In a perfect world, the horse is doing great. You have great energy and your horse and you are a real team. Best case, your trainer has also worked with you and your new horse to know what the trainer is doing so that you can all work on “the same page.”

Kaiden is one of the youngest horse trainers I know - creating curiosity — Kaiden is one of the youngest horse trainers I know – creating curiosity in the horse

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How do I build trust with my horse? – Liberty Foundations Clinic at Spirit Horse Ranch

October 5, 2013alternative therapies, animal communication, bareback riding, barefoot hooves, bodywork, chakras, energy work, EPR, equine positional Release, equines, exercise, fear, healing, herd behavior, herd dynamics, horse training, horsemanship, horses, Liberty training, Ortho-Bionomy, performance horses, rescue horses, riding, Uncategorizedbareback riding, bitless riding, energetic connection, energy work, EPR, Equine Ortho-Bionomy, equine positional release, equine training, equines, horsemanship, horses, Horses at LIberty Foundation Training, liberty horse training, natural horsekeeping, Ortho-Bionomy, OrthoHorse, Ruella Yates, Spirit Horse Ranchhorsesatliberty

“Both equines and humans learned to overcome fear and step into trust and love. Hope you enjoy the picture of you and beautiful Starwyn.” – Lisa Malone
“Every time I close my eyes even for a moment I see those beautiful horses faces.” – Lucy Taylor

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When should I stop riding my older horse?

September 26, 2013alternative therapies, bodywork, energy work, equine positional Release, equines, exercise, healing, herd behavior, herd dynamics, horse training, horsemanship, horses, Natural Horsemanship, Ortho-Bionomy, performance horses, UncategorizedAlternative therapies, animals, bodywork, EPR, Equine Ortho-Bionomy, equine positional release, geriatric horses, healing, herbs, herd behavior, herd dynamics, horse training, horseback riding, Waterhole Ritualshorsesatliberty

When should I stop riding my older horse? This question comes up periodically, because at some point in every horse’s life, they get too old to be ridden. That’s the truth of the matter. They simply don’t enjoy it any more, and even if they do, they are physically unable to continue to carry a rider safely.

Riding my mare Opal one blustery day when she had a lot of energy. She was retired early because of melanomas. Photo taken Winter, 1998.

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From your horse to you: special gifts of connection

September 22, 2013animal communication, energy work, equines, exercise, fear, healing, herd behavior, herd dynamics, horse training, horsemanship, horses, Natural Horsemanship, performance horses, riding, UncategorizedAlternative therapies, bodywork, equine, equine bodywork, equine healing, equine liberty training, Equine Ortho-Bionomy, equine training, equines, healing, herd behavior, herd dynamics, holistic liberty training, horseback riding, horsemanship, horses, liberty horse traininghorsesatliberty

Recently a trainer came to me and asked to observe a class because she wanted to see what was different about it than the liberty work she practices. It made me think about the way I do things and how effective it is, and I get used to the results because they are there and tangible. But someone coming in may think, well, so what is so different about what she does?

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Creating an energetic, mindful bubble for your horse!

September 13, 2013animal communication, bodywork, chakras, energy work, equines, fear, healing, herd behavior, herd dynamics, horse training, horsemanship, horses, Liberty training, Ortho-Bionomy, riding, Uncategorizedenergy work with horses, equines, Horse and Rider integration, horse training, horsemanship, horses, spiritual horse workhorsesatliberty

Someone wrote to me recently telling the story that once they were working with their horses and someone began yelling and hitting a horse nearby. This caused the storyteller to have a bad accident, because it scared her horse.

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What if I can’t ride my horse?

September 7, 2013animal communication, bodywork, EPR, equine positional Release, equines, healing, herd behavior, herd dynamics, horse training, horsemanship, horses, Liberty training, Ortho-Bionomy, performance horses, riding, therapy horses, Uncategorizedbodywork, equine positional release, equine training, equines, horseback riding, horsemanship, horses, liberty horse training, Ortho-Bionomy, OrthoHorsehorsesatliberty

The question: What if I can’t ride my horse? was asked at a clinic some time ago. There are many reasons why we might not be able to ride our horses:

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The re-hab of a performance horse

August 30, 2013bodywork, endurance, energy work, EPR, equine positional Release, equines, fear, healing, herd behavior, herd dynamics, horse training, horsemanship, horses, Ortho-Bionomy, performance horses, rescue horses, riding, therapy horses, Uncategorizedequine bodywork, equine liberty training, equines, horse training, horses, rehab horseshorsesatliberty

Patches knew all these things …once, and then his life changed. When he came to us he didn’t want to do much that meant he had to “perform.” He had been a ribbon-winning show horse and then a therapeutic riding horse. At first he was on good behavior with us. He loved children so it was easy for him to carry a child. It was one thing he truly enjoyed.

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You Gotta Love Horse People!

August 24, 2013bodywork, energy work, EPR, equine positional Release, equines, exercise, herd behavior, herd dynamics, horse training, horsemanship, horses, Ortho-Bionomy, riding, Uncategorizedbodywork, EPR, equine health, equine positional release, equine training, equines, health, Horse People, horsemanship, horses, Michael Korda, Ortho-Bionomy, riding, Zarna Carterhorsesatliberty

Recently I had a client in my office who had a swollen ankle. She has had a swollen ankle before so I mentioned to her: rest, ice, compression, and elevation of the leg for self-care.

Self-care is a big part of my practice. I said, “okay, if your horse’s fetlock looked like this, what would you be doing?”

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Got carrots?

August 16, 2013animal communication, bodywork, energy work, EPR, equine positional Release, equines, healing, herd behavior, herd dynamics, horse training, horsemanship, horses, Liberty training, Natural Horsemanship, Ortho-Bionomy, riding, UncategorizedEquine Ortho-Bionomy, equine training with food, herd behavior, herd dynamics, horse training, horsemanshiphorsesatliberty

If horses could actually speak words, I am sure they would ask, “got carrots?” Or whatever their favorite snack is. Have you ever noticed how if you have a carrot or cooky, they can barely contain themselves, their focus is entirely on that treat until they find it or get to eat it?

Elijah, Stina Herberg, Susan Smith at Spirit Horse Ranch, LIberty Foundations clinic, March 2013

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