Category Archives: herd behavior

Better riding through Ortho-Bionomy on horseback

Riding is the next step in our relationship with our horse. Working with relationship on the ground comes first, then the saddle.

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Horsemanship isn’t built in a day

Holly Smith riding Roman style
Holly Smith riding Roman style

Yes, this is exciting, but don’t try this without professional guidance! You will need to know your horses inside and out and know you have the balance required to accomplish this feat!

Continue reading Horsemanship isn’t built in a day

What do you love about your horse?

I ask this question because it is a part of the whole perspective about experiencing Liberty Horsemanship with your horse — the getting-to-know-you part that’s so important.

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Feel invisible threads of connection with your horse

The herd grazes on the high desert plains, snatching mouthfuls of grasses if there are any. When they are thirsty, they are generally thirsty as a group, because the water hole may be some distance from where they are grazing.

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That horse is gonna kill you!

This is a refrain that I heard recently from an owner who was startled by the news. It’s not new; I’ve heard it many times before, spoken to owners with horses who have some behavioral issue. What is going on here?

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Picked by a horse

Have you ever been “picked” by a horse?

Jazzie on my head

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It’s the little things with horses

The little things mean a lot with horses.

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Sharing heart and mind with your horse on a trail ride

I have recently written about the trail in The Trail as a Metaphor for Life.IMG_1874

 

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Who is the lead horse?

In Liberty Foundation Horsemanship, we talk a lot about “leadership,” which is also talked about in other forms of horsemanship. Basically, what that means is that a person must earn the “respect” of the horse, which begins with forming “trust,” or some sort of healthy “bond.”

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3 case studies address horses’ fears

As a follow-on to last week’s blog, 10 Tips for Working with A Fearful Horse, I collected three very different case studies of fearful horses. With each, the treatment was slightly different, adjusted to the situation and the fear the horse was experiencing.

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