Hearts of Freedom Horsemanship

For those of you who don’t know I am getting married later this month! Hearts of Freedom Horsemanship will be closed for the month of April as I have many guests coming in to town and want to take some time for my family and friends. We will be reopening in May and I look forward to seeing you all again!

Humans are so interesting at an emotional level, we often try to avoid our deepest emotions so vehemently that some even deny animals having emotions. Animals a...re always trying to find balance and stay fully present within their emotions. They feel what they feel and show it so they can resolve any negative emotion and get back to a place of balance. As humans we often deny our emotions, pretending to feel one way when deep down we feel another, then when animals act in a way that calls our emotions out (horse not wanting to be caught, horse rushing, horse refusing to move, horse becoming bracey when we ask for a turn, etc.), we so often get offended why aren’t they behaving? And then proceed to punish them and/or claim they don’t have emotions the way we do. It is an interesting part of the human experience... every day I challenge myself and my students to feel what we feel, to embrace it, to work toward balance, and to listen to the horse as they show up honestly and teach us not just to balance in the saddle but in our hearts. #heartsoffreedomhorsemanship #listening #learning #lessonsfromthehorse #relationalhorsemanship #balance #peace See more

On our quest for knowledge and truth, we are often presented with uncomfortable decisions. As we learn about biomechanics, and learn to train our eye, we may se...e our own work and the work of others differently. As we learn about equine expression and emotional well-being, we may watch a clinician a bit differently, or our own work differently. In the end, it all boils down to integrity - what if, as you learn more, you notice the go-to guy is making horses nervous and off balance? What if all your friends ride with someone who you now see differently? What if your trainer is making your horse tight, but everyone around you is praising them? What will you do when doing right by your horse is not easy, comfortable, or convenient? These are the questions that separate the true horsemen and women from the groupies.

Lucky is such a great lesson horse who truly loves his job!! I love seeing him interact with his students! #lessonhorse #therapyhorse #aqhaproud

Dirty booties after playing in the mud all day - look how tall Karma is getting!! Love these girls! #donkey #donkeysofinstagram #growingsofast #orphan #orphanfoal #orphandonkey #karma #auntieluna #adoptedmom #aqhaproud #heartofgold #muddydays

Pretty simple...

Time. Time with our equines is precious. How we show up when we’re with them matters. ... Jim Masterson has a saying... Throw away the clock. This bodywork can’t really be rushed. Unwinding, relaxing & letting go happen in a space that’s not defined my minutes or your watch. So it’s a practice of allowing. If you show up with a time limit & expectation, you’ll be less effective. While practicing these techniques it’s easy to get lost & before I know it an hour has passed. I’m sure you find moments where you’re fully present & time just slips away? I hope you get to experience that this weekend with your horse, mule or donkey. Share a picture of something you enjoy where you throw away the clock.

Every little interaction you have with your equine you are building your relationship; so make each moment count. Take the time to just hang out and to do the little things that truly matter to them. #relationalhorsemanship #horsemanship #trustbuilding #horselistening #everylittlething #makeitmatter #putthemfirst #thinklikeahorse #positivereinforcement #sciencebasedtraining

Progression of Equine Fear (Click on the picture to see the full infographic) Please note that all behaviour needs to be taken in the context of the environmen...t in which the horse finds themselves when you see these (and there are other) signs/behaviours. All behaviour needs to be considered in the environment it occurred ie. what happened prior, during and after. If your horse is snoozing under a tree and yawns, dry licks and cocks a leg, clearly the horse is not experiencing fear. If you've just done or are doing some groundwork, round pen work, ridden work, gone for a hack, or dentistry, bodywork, worming or vaccinations, you may well see these signs and more. Learn to understand the horse's thresholds and read the early signs to prevent escalating fear behaviour. Change our behaviour, the environment, lower our expectations and review our training plans to avoid progression of fear responses. Also consider that after fear as been ruled out that these behaviours may be caused by the horse's internal environment, ie. always rule out pain as a cause for behaviour.

Days full of lessons and training and spending time with all my magnificent (and adorable) equines makes my soul so happy! I love all my views when I go to feed... and each of these horses’ personalities. I will be introducing these two new red heads to everyone tomorrow! #heartsoffreedomhorsemanship #lovelife #happysoul #horses #horselove #sunset #beautifulday #newyear #newhorses See more

This girls hair is just the best! Such a fluffy baby!

We are so excited! You can now book equine assisted psychotherapy sessions with our partner Tailwinds Therapy for the weekdays! We are looking forward to seeing you in the Pasture or arena and joining you on your healing journey!

Day three of life exploring the big wide world! Karma is getting more curious and frisky, I’ll try to get a video of her playing later. Hope has established tha...t I am able to pet Karma, but is still unsure of other adults at this point. I love watching the sweet moments between mamma and baby, such an amazing bond. #donkey #donkeys #donkeysofinstagram #baby #babydonkey #mamma #jenny #hope #karmathedonkey #dailydonkey #donkeylove #donkeylife See more

Is there anything cuter than a baby donkey?!? #donkey #donkeysofinstagram #donkeybaby #karmathedonkey #hope #mama #baby #cutenessoverload #newyear #newbaby #onedayold

I’ve met a few 50 first date horses - they are spectacular horses that just take a bit more patience, but eventually they show you they were paying attention every day, more so than most, to make sure you are really the patient and consistent horseman you originally present yourself as. They want to know the real us, the deep us, before they just hand over their hearts and show us they can remember.

Horses are constantly asking us, ‘am I safe?’ And if we can answer that question, they’ll stay within an optimal range neurochemically to learn, but if we’re n...ot giving them time and space, and we keep getting after them, they’ll either go up in the sympathetic nervous system (resulting in the release of adrenaline/stress hormones) and be all over the place - they can’t listen to us when they’re up there - or they’ll check out on us if we’re constantly keeping after them. That doesn’t mean they’re not stressed, they’re just disassociating because there’s no escape. However... If learning is pleasurable, and [the horse] gets dopamine from learning, we can create a really great environment where they’re almost asking us ‘what’s next?’ They become curious, and instead of tuning everything out, they become acutely aware of everything around them, but they don’t have to react, because they feel safe. ~ Dr. Steven Peters on the Equine Brain 101 #tweQuote #csCandy

When most of us think about balance with horses, we often think about the riding. While the physical balance of riding is certainly important, I believe the bal...ance of conversation with our horses is the starting point for building great relationships. Most of the time we are reaching for our horses (asking them to turn, be caught or be saddled) but how often do we notice when our horses reach for us? I feel like it’s important to make space for balance in conversation because listening without judgement is a crucial part of inviting your horse to show up in the relationship. If a horse displays behaviours that avoid connection with people, I often ask the question, am I making space to hear from them? How do they feel? And then I make a non-judgemental note of the data I see in front of me: where is the horse looking? How fast is the horse’s heart rate? What does the horse need right now to feel supported? There are two sides to every request and the more we make space for balance here, the more horses don’t just bring their power to the table - they also bring their heart. And the last time I checked, we didn’t get into horses to have another dysfunctional relationship! We got into horses because we love being around them and how that relationship feels. So make space to listen to how your horse feels about the things you ask of them and notice how much they are reaching back to you. These moments can be easy to miss but, if you catch them, they can make all the difference. #ahorsemanspursuit #relationalhorsemanship #balance

Is your horse actually lazy, or are they stiff, heavy on the forehand, and have learned to shut out your aids? Is your horse actually forward and hot, or are th...ey nervous, off balance, over stimulated and frustrated? True impulsion to me means directable energy. If you have energy you can’t control, you don’t have impulsion, you have worry. Being in front of the leg to me means that the horse’s front legs are literally in front of yours. If their forehand is tight, their front legs will take stiff, quick choppy steps beneath them, as opposed to out in front of them. If your horse isn’t forward, chasing them with driving aids will only create more tense, choppy steps, but will not fix the problem. There is a big difference between faster, and with more impulsion. Often we look at the forward and slow types of horses as different, but they both are showing symptoms of the same problem: stiffness and lack of balance. One is running away from his lack of balance, the other’s lack of balance has created an inability to go forward. Both horses can be helped with suppling the shoulders, lengthening and straightening the neck, and developing a swing through the back. Featured in the following photos: a horse who wouldn’t go, a horse who wouldn’t slow down, a horse who jerked between going and stopping, and a nervous fast horse. All happier through not being chased or restrained, but brought to elastic strength.

Days with trail rides are some of my favorite!! So glad to get these girls out on the trail! #heartsoffreedomhorsemanship #ridinglessons #trailrides #students #lessonhorses

A horse ridden in a false frame has two dead giveaways: the muscling development along the neck that often look like cobra wings, and an expression of pain or d...iscomfort (or what I often call the backward eye). A horse can easily submit to the contact without engaging their top line muscles and abdominals, and they regularly do. In fact, when I try to google pictures of horses carrying themselves well, I stick to a few horsemen and women I know who consistently ride their horses in self carriage because they are so hard to find. A horse ridden correctly engages the extensor chain and flexor chain, lifting their back and developing correct top line muscles. You should note a pleasant expression as well- the horse in balance does not have a worried eye, foaming mouth, tense jaw or flaring nostrils - Even when working at maximum output (though of course they will be breathing harder). A horse with a beautiful expression is a true joy to see. Don’t be fooled by a false frame - Learn to train your eye for muscular development and expression and you will always know the difference. FYI this is not an anti double bridle post, and in googling pictures I searched for the best ones I can find displaying correct muscling so it is not an endorsement of their equipment either.

Keep close to nature’s heart... break clear once in a while, climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods, wash your spirit clean. -John Muir Nothing better for the soul then time with horses #heartsoffreedomhorsemanship #equineassistedtherapy #horselistening #soulwork

One thing a young horse should NEVER learn: That humans are moveable objects. Do you catch yourself sometimes to move out of your horse’s way? Or to take a st...ep back when you feel crowded by your horse? To choose the path of least resistance? Did you ever get run over by a horse? This is a horse who has learnt that humans are moveable objects. Of course, if it is a high danger emergency situation because the horse has a really bad spook, I will move too. But actually, a horse that has learnt that humans aren’t moveable objects, will avoid the person when they spook. It’s a super common scenario: People moving out of their horse’s way. When grooming, during groundwork when preparing for the next exercise, when their horse rubs on them, when feeding, when doing chores,... We take a step back. Try to get more distance between ourselves and the horse. Because he is big. Because we want to have a good relationship and not loose friendship. And because we don’t want to be harsh and dominant towards the horse. Because we don’t believe that dominance is the answer. And it’s true: Dominance isn’t the answer. But this doesn’t mean that I have to allow my horses to walk all over me. It’s about safety. Always keep in mind: Horses do 3 things: - What nature programmed them to do - What we tell them to do - What we allow them to do. Taking a step back invites the horse in your bubble. It provokes curiosity and draws the horse. As a result, the horse will behave even pushier. If you consistently step out of your horse’s way, he will learn that it’s you who moves out of the way. If you do both things, stepping back and moving out of the way, consistently, you teach your horse that you are a moveable object. That it’s you who will move. Not him. He will do what you allow him to do. You allowed him to move you by stepping back and out of his way. This wasn’t dominance, this was you allowing and teaching something destructive. What will be the longterm result? The horse hasn’t learnt to pay attention to humans and will crowd them, push on them, walk over them, jump on top of them when spooked. This is dangerous. So the easiest is if you have a youngster, or a foal, from day 1 make sure to not step back or out of your foals/youngsters way. They learn this very very quickly. Because the other older horses also don’t move out of the way. If the youngster gets too annoying, they will give a warning and if necessary bite or kick. But mostly they simply stand their ground. Don’t take that step backwards. Behave like an older mare. clear, confident and not emotional. If your horse has already learnt that humans are moveable, well, then it might take a little more to change your horse’s idea. Because in his mind, he is doing the right thing! This is what he was taught and allowed to do for years! Take a stick or a rope to help you defend your space. Usually, you only need to be firm 2-3 times. After this, a warning should be enough to change your horses mind. Or a poke with your thumb in his shoulder when he pushes. No emotions, but be firm if necessary. Keep in mind: This isn’t dominance, this is learnt and human taught behaviour!!!! Actually, the one exercise which will almost fix this problem instantly is: Insist on respect while feeding. Check out the video I posted a few days ago. Pay attention to what you teach to your youngster! Every moment in daily interaction counts. Horses learn every second of the day. Don’t take that step back.