tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50090603598880816022024-02-18T23:39:14.951-08:00Wise Horsemanship at Freedom FarmArticles, experiences and advice from master trainer Mary Gallagher at Freedom Farm natural horsemanship, Port Angeles, Washington. Wise Horseman at Freedom Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05030656717082840863noreply@blogger.comBlogger165125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5009060359888081602.post-36732136092404799142024-01-07T15:32:00.000-08:002024-01-07T15:32:59.803-08:00Gratitude for a Very Busy 2023<div><div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlTq_LvWr8uZyqIy56KMiqRRjlKH70ltmYyazW34lb-dBMyi_nYf7wCI7Zo7uWVet5ClsXEmgT-ZCbV07XYl56ri-GNQDHHXhAajqCUzQHK6iuZ18HYgnU9YG3VGOvcCkRDbLuBac4lf51JZ0-FvPuj61B4-gaS_0OOzUSCkC5hFBrQRTOb0ZXKyshvgGo/s4032/Newsletter%20Jan%202024%20B%20-%201.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlTq_LvWr8uZyqIy56KMiqRRjlKH70ltmYyazW34lb-dBMyi_nYf7wCI7Zo7uWVet5ClsXEmgT-ZCbV07XYl56ri-GNQDHHXhAajqCUzQHK6iuZ18HYgnU9YG3VGOvcCkRDbLuBac4lf51JZ0-FvPuj61B4-gaS_0OOzUSCkC5hFBrQRTOb0ZXKyshvgGo/w222-h166/Newsletter%20Jan%202024%20B%20-%201.jpeg" width="222" /></a></div><b>by Mary Gallagher</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>A very full year. </b>Somehow I feel like we started this year busy and never stopped! I am going to share some highlights…<br /><br /><b>Early spring cleanup. </b>As I sat down to write this year’s notes of gratitude, I let my mind wander back <br />to late winter 2023. The extensive winter clean up from last year featured the expert pruning and cleaning of the flower beds by Gerardo Vidal and crew. I was so very grateful for Gerardo blessing our gardens and fruit trees—our spring and summer foliage and fruits reflected your expertise. Thank you Gerardo!<br /><br /><b>Many colts to start..! </b>Jerry Schmidt connected us again this year with clinician Martin Black for <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglxxYzrz2w2kStVIqk59eJo1gDZY25lnLBXnAmZIydO3brgAr4nS9CaD_21Y5FrohY5hwX2RxVqHXR3AVCm3KiX2tsK-PAsfOoRXQ6mJ4nfP9CpTmsr0OvTDkAhbQuzr3I1J62ZfyNh1VT_LCidDJv0yuNvHmkGNdL4_hH5qFkiUR5Qq6bVLvQgBYRIdFJ/s4032/Newsletter%20Jan%202024%20B%20-%2010.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglxxYzrz2w2kStVIqk59eJo1gDZY25lnLBXnAmZIydO3brgAr4nS9CaD_21Y5FrohY5hwX2RxVqHXR3AVCm3KiX2tsK-PAsfOoRXQ6mJ4nfP9CpTmsr0OvTDkAhbQuzr3I1J62ZfyNh1VT_LCidDJv0yuNvHmkGNdL4_hH5qFkiUR5Qq6bVLvQgBYRIdFJ/s320/Newsletter%20Jan%202024%20B%20-%2010.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jerry and Jackson, first saddling.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>another fabulous clinic, which included a pretty amazing colt starting series, pushing us to acquire more skills again this spring. After the clinic Jerry was so generous with his time, helping me and training assistant Elise Dean with what seemed like a constant string of talented babies to start. Thank you Jerry and Elise! Also thanks to fellow trainer Brad Varner who joined us for some great early sessions. Most of all—speaking of the colts—special, deep thanks to their owners Amy Johnson, Wendy Comstock, and Melene Bourm for sending so many lovely, special horses this year. We honor and value your trust in our work.<br /><br /><b><span><a name='more'></a></span>Helper from afar. </b>My sister Ann Kuhn came for her annual visit in June, and once again took on several major projects around the Farm. For one, she got the ball rolling sorting, sanding and painting all the jump poles with help from Lester Hardy and Haleyanna Fell. Annie’s work ethic was so contagious that local volunteer Tom Croft designed and constructed three new jumps to go along with all the newly restored, pretty jump poles. Thank you Ann and Tom!<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Lo0ZLc7LFJco-qPomchrBCsErcGCV8F2_H5V2SAicBPkDkMjrXnCXRK4-UJo2t4bry1lIkUt-NU_Vcu3QFnncnyKi_4MFAXNEpXS9-jFQR1OG6w0bboILawoZAUEcH3zUc47UmSme6n6QhL-JMifG3KufTS7w5rcqstv_jErd3YJNhkhiD0no2-YPLUI/s1280/Newsletter%20Jan%202024%20C%20-%202.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1280" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Lo0ZLc7LFJco-qPomchrBCsErcGCV8F2_H5V2SAicBPkDkMjrXnCXRK4-UJo2t4bry1lIkUt-NU_Vcu3QFnncnyKi_4MFAXNEpXS9-jFQR1OG6w0bboILawoZAUEcH3zUc47UmSme6n6QhL-JMifG3KufTS7w5rcqstv_jErd3YJNhkhiD0no2-YPLUI/w400-h281/Newsletter%20Jan%202024%20C%20-%202.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brad Varner assists in a first trail ride for young horses.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b>Hoof Beats excellence. </b>Once again, I am so grateful for this year’s Hoof Beats team spirit and sportsmanship. I’ll get to the horsemanship part, but right off the bat in late winter, many hands made light work at our spring work party cleaning up storm blow down in the Emerald Forest. It was a busy work day and much appreciated. Thank you team for showing up and helping clear out this important riding area!<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglhyphenhyphencWWHFSBUso6qWlRUgI2QmPqJv9gDP_SJ1JZHn_T5VUr8xGbNg1AKWHDX669tkNKa4mnIrTRsLzZC9m6ZfXxzx__lCrdCmf5nGMSxfhoXugh2camb3-_oz-kBq48VrHIxhyphenhyphen5FWjSZg-i9ALMpNoJu8LGgjIZ6aN55mVmbfl3_4glXSfnI7F8TdGesyZ/s1280/Newsletter%20Jan%202024%20C%20-%201.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglhyphenhyphencWWHFSBUso6qWlRUgI2QmPqJv9gDP_SJ1JZHn_T5VUr8xGbNg1AKWHDX669tkNKa4mnIrTRsLzZC9m6ZfXxzx__lCrdCmf5nGMSxfhoXugh2camb3-_oz-kBq48VrHIxhyphenhyphen5FWjSZg-i9ALMpNoJu8LGgjIZ6aN55mVmbfl3_4glXSfnI7F8TdGesyZ/w400-h300/Newsletter%20Jan%202024%20C%20-%201.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Forest clean up crew.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Jumping ahead to summer, we made our Hoof Beats Saturdays about fun, trail rides, and trying new things. We were hosted for a full and fun day at Brad Varner’s place nearby, where we got to ride on his training track, do cow work and practice roping! A total blast. In August, we had great fun at beach camp playing games on the beach, doing more focused sessions in the arena, and as always eating great food prepared by everybody. And the highlight of our show season was definitely at Wilsonville, Oregon, where we did very well. I especially enjoyed when the team got together early each day to walk and discuss the courses together. It made a real difference and showed in everybody’s riding. Thank you team for your sense of fun, team spirit, and good sportsmanship!<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnbUK5v8ZibyWkV0FJUwxk1Cj8L3Folr7QEFrt5Snp4cQyfAQlMwfa3QnY3EW0CVfIMr1IoRZxZzTgiLCfPp_PDuaV4ksHZNKrYPTXXf38ebgTMObt0foTeWcGa8lrolTl07DAG0lvhfD98TA9fFDpQR9l4IHOTfkxPJMEkrSTg8pfpSs585buxCVL8JmL/s1280/Newsletter%20Jan%202024%20D%20-%201.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="1280" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnbUK5v8ZibyWkV0FJUwxk1Cj8L3Folr7QEFrt5Snp4cQyfAQlMwfa3QnY3EW0CVfIMr1IoRZxZzTgiLCfPp_PDuaV4ksHZNKrYPTXXf38ebgTMObt0foTeWcGa8lrolTl07DAG0lvhfD98TA9fFDpQR9l4IHOTfkxPJMEkrSTg8pfpSs585buxCVL8JmL/w640-h301/Newsletter%20Jan%202024%20D%20-%201.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the beach...<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhmX7rOTm2K57cdhBLLFT31GJ3MnjM0v71UwjxZTCLkXhQwm0gdXJqA1w2lpTbpjfemV-9nGC7POHDpLALB5Nyys5Kto6udboZSWemFfvM-OptYW2fItumE0zQHwpVtsajkjvHm__T92KGTFSUZroE3EbGJJNSWy1TRHdiLm-ogZn1DCQnMmfkCO-Lor-x/s4032/Newsletter%20Jan%202024%20B%20-%209.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhmX7rOTm2K57cdhBLLFT31GJ3MnjM0v71UwjxZTCLkXhQwm0gdXJqA1w2lpTbpjfemV-9nGC7POHDpLALB5Nyys5Kto6udboZSWemFfvM-OptYW2fItumE0zQHwpVtsajkjvHm__T92KGTFSUZroE3EbGJJNSWy1TRHdiLm-ogZn1DCQnMmfkCO-Lor-x/w400-h300/Newsletter%20Jan%202024%20B%20-%209.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...and the Wilsonville show.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Our Hoof Beats team is always supported by their awesome parents. All year long, through a steady stream of events, “Team Parents” kept the students supported and organized through all sorts of unforeseen changes. I am so grateful for their solid wisdom and strength managing all circumstances. Thank you all very much!<br /><br /><b>Another Jerry appreciation: </b>Once again Jerry made a huge project seem small: he took on replacing all the old footing in the arena with new, luxurious sand. As massive as the job was, it was done before most people even knew it was happening. My hero! (And of course, the old footing did not go to waste. Jerry found good use for it in extending our outdoor training and cow arena).<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4wnhX1IsJ4urCOO1lbT55huJ63BH5Vu6c_AtLwvzfI0BwXrdHlwOiqiKpHvfGRqV3cD7XWD_eoqb2yfHKNZi71yvSMwQe31qY-q7NMhMv_tU2pa1xB0qwoevWFGhcPVKRRvUlfmKLiPfiQZ0pm2bf3-SXOlVgCEabJ0cte7fg1TVs_b4W4VfFwtIPLXIi/s1280/Newsletter%20Jan%202024%20E%20-%201.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4wnhX1IsJ4urCOO1lbT55huJ63BH5Vu6c_AtLwvzfI0BwXrdHlwOiqiKpHvfGRqV3cD7XWD_eoqb2yfHKNZi71yvSMwQe31qY-q7NMhMv_tU2pa1xB0qwoevWFGhcPVKRRvUlfmKLiPfiQZ0pm2bf3-SXOlVgCEabJ0cte7fg1TVs_b4W4VfFwtIPLXIi/s320/Newsletter%20Jan%202024%20E%20-%201.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yay, new footing! Thanks to Jerry.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b>Freedom Farm people. </b>Throughout the year, chores and projects big and little get done by a small but hearty crew of us. Undying thanks to Farm hands Lester Hardy, Cecil Gates, Jeremy Soderstrom and Haleyanna Fell (Haleyanna, have fun at college in Colorado! We’ll miss you!). Tom Croft and Kip Tulin are our volunteer project hands (and poop scoopers). Kathy Schmidt and Elise Dean help me train young humans and young horses alike. Jess and Hannah Crouch support many of our boarders (and beyond) with training, horse care, and lessons. Jess is a ready advisor whose wisdom is an asset to us all. Mary Tulin makes us all look good, sharing the Freedom Farm magic on the internet. Thank you all, and to all who have contributed in so many ways, my appreciation!!<br /></div><span><!--more--></span><span><!--more--></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidfLhUeL1bAX_nqy0Hxx2aU71vO2-xqXM7Q0nYG3-9npd-upHRyJrSnIbLKf5F9__Es8H5i179ut4R5fcOJFot-lBz7uBNf8hjNFRbrN12EiCPLM0uhQZA45Hvfp8_weNrnOImOQptRlLVheKWZ9RbZkzCV0XC9EjQFcp6lREkrvYOpPeUPJsRYq62RRzc/s1280/Newsletter%20Jan%202024%20E%20-%201%20(1).jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidfLhUeL1bAX_nqy0Hxx2aU71vO2-xqXM7Q0nYG3-9npd-upHRyJrSnIbLKf5F9__Es8H5i179ut4R5fcOJFot-lBz7uBNf8hjNFRbrN12EiCPLM0uhQZA45Hvfp8_weNrnOImOQptRlLVheKWZ9RbZkzCV0XC9EjQFcp6lREkrvYOpPeUPJsRYq62RRzc/w400-h300/Newsletter%20Jan%202024%20E%20-%201%20(1).jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Potluck with Farm people - students, parents, hands, boarders, friends and family<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><b>In conclusion.... </b>Like I said, it has been such a very full year, with great new people arriving to learn, board their horses, take classes/clinics/lessons, or just spend some time with us. And other wonderful Farm folks have moved on in life to new places and horsemanship opportunities. Along with our baby horses visiting for training, new horses have joined our herd, and some dear old horse friends have left us, all of which has been shared here in this newsletter. And I got a puppy! Alice has already brought much joy and laughter in the few short weeks since she arrived (thank you again, Jerry..!).<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Wishing you all a safe and prosperous New Year 2024, filled with horses and all that nature gifts us!<br /><br />Yours in good health and wise horsemanship,<br /><br />Mary Gallagher<br /><p></p>P.S. Bonus photos!<br /><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEWxfCZczwltsZ4GMMLm5y9HoutVTUL_oWG_NiJn-t2sJrd18PinMdQN9r8eWRuaVaWlqDr7BmEHSSE39yiLmD-kP0ocTGFdUTEmYg0TODw531fWNlY94fxExzsy6RTnrlFKNNowD8THzXHk6DfmC9HuE9Dku98m_IOyoknn1I5_zg-DuX9KiSsBQVU2H_/s6016/Newsletter%20Jan%202024%20B%20-%203.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEWxfCZczwltsZ4GMMLm5y9HoutVTUL_oWG_NiJn-t2sJrd18PinMdQN9r8eWRuaVaWlqDr7BmEHSSE39yiLmD-kP0ocTGFdUTEmYg0TODw531fWNlY94fxExzsy6RTnrlFKNNowD8THzXHk6DfmC9HuE9Dku98m_IOyoknn1I5_zg-DuX9KiSsBQVU2H_/w640-h428/Newsletter%20Jan%202024%20B%20-%203.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fun Hoof Beats day at Brad Varner's (that's Brad...).<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc-QAdtPqEEVPmxJUBgnJkFWvg9sGus_8s_tsdVEQyhl3mgZJytsCjaaxsktmOT-U-UU5xJwCyNDt8BHT3beGhpcbIzvr_XIUy70PwHG5SnRqN-79AGkY8clIgJfC0Q4dO1SP-0j603GV6lol7bfrIzRG6yHMIOaLBwpJ2SfUII0L_jOHTkAeSL_7Akl5y/s4032/Newsletter%20Jan%202024%20B%20-%2014.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc-QAdtPqEEVPmxJUBgnJkFWvg9sGus_8s_tsdVEQyhl3mgZJytsCjaaxsktmOT-U-UU5xJwCyNDt8BHT3beGhpcbIzvr_XIUy70PwHG5SnRqN-79AGkY8clIgJfC0Q4dO1SP-0j603GV6lol7bfrIzRG6yHMIOaLBwpJ2SfUII0L_jOHTkAeSL_7Akl5y/s320/Newsletter%20Jan%202024%20B%20-%2014.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Young trainee Oliver looking cool in Farm swag...<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIbfIdeF5LceyqAgDGLxQ4x_PFnYYsU1ziov2c5zkJIfgQZjOcRtzgtq-ZkgfvGqq2Vr9sTxhaQnHet4XeGaxWND-trqPMrAGD11PGUUrqxXXOHrOnPG0ddOj5GBarE0EX4mx3R9cOB7VPmCW7QHujZvazEN9WoX4ZTjs2UI4dGt2Kj8reVitrOVzvmnUR/s1280/Newsletter%20Jan%202024%20E3b%20-%201.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="855" data-original-width="1280" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIbfIdeF5LceyqAgDGLxQ4x_PFnYYsU1ziov2c5zkJIfgQZjOcRtzgtq-ZkgfvGqq2Vr9sTxhaQnHet4XeGaxWND-trqPMrAGD11PGUUrqxXXOHrOnPG0ddOj5GBarE0EX4mx3R9cOB7VPmCW7QHujZvazEN9WoX4ZTjs2UI4dGt2Kj8reVitrOVzvmnUR/w640-h428/Newsletter%20Jan%202024%20E3b%20-%201.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More fun at Brad's place.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiZNComdfcOMOLPuLTC4-HkGx6XsBekocAhZfeDfNx2RxUahbsCPISKmIVdePW-FRoKV2CeJ2M1NKGsTVDauE_L0nClAvtFsLqKT1LgV23BbJvihEuTgnDj0DWdKsjOvdI1izvh95324i_HGKFrAvi3zdWG16hy3fHUzy6aCVUxvcj6NlorvW2O5qKiqRK/s4032/Newsletter%20Jan%202024%20B%20-%2017.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiZNComdfcOMOLPuLTC4-HkGx6XsBekocAhZfeDfNx2RxUahbsCPISKmIVdePW-FRoKV2CeJ2M1NKGsTVDauE_L0nClAvtFsLqKT1LgV23BbJvihEuTgnDj0DWdKsjOvdI1izvh95324i_HGKFrAvi3zdWG16hy3fHUzy6aCVUxvcj6NlorvW2O5qKiqRK/w640-h480/Newsletter%20Jan%202024%20B%20-%2017.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jerry with a colt.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjChg0BkbXvzkRVWuQpCxj-P724KqI4NnCdjUxVJmsbyWfV7HDx7oRAnd0V85ma7UHJbstOOSlYLFqFmuWLmgrcXtjDHV1rxP4lbf1Zww0SjY-beYNyszo_dz1Qul8YY1WlzipPi2Q6WTpvy5CAzjqXxVITL_CSTzI0zd9skw6OL2O44edsK0mBaznpQ8Kc/s4032/Newsletter%20Jan%202024%20B%20-%2012.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjChg0BkbXvzkRVWuQpCxj-P724KqI4NnCdjUxVJmsbyWfV7HDx7oRAnd0V85ma7UHJbstOOSlYLFqFmuWLmgrcXtjDHV1rxP4lbf1Zww0SjY-beYNyszo_dz1Qul8YY1WlzipPi2Q6WTpvy5CAzjqXxVITL_CSTzI0zd9skw6OL2O44edsK0mBaznpQ8Kc/w640-h480/Newsletter%20Jan%202024%20B%20-%2012.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mary with a youngster, trying on saddles. Oh, on the porch. Doesn't everyone...?<br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtUAY8uctseHkS4ovo8OvLzbDBLSjvJbhaxx37ZNFl_OmKarGvfWBjotUKWmePa65-dIduIB64EHTv54VmG8I-wk6OZVx46P6NsnOKa_5IFtKWN6lJdeYJkOdpee0p8eWZwma4PAQlfN-O56jcjarYWPqPmLnm04tlQZubAKGfFEPhqVbArS2BLr0ABs97/s1280/AprilNews%20-%207.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="961" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtUAY8uctseHkS4ovo8OvLzbDBLSjvJbhaxx37ZNFl_OmKarGvfWBjotUKWmePa65-dIduIB64EHTv54VmG8I-wk6OZVx46P6NsnOKa_5IFtKWN6lJdeYJkOdpee0p8eWZwma4PAQlfN-O56jcjarYWPqPmLnm04tlQZubAKGfFEPhqVbArS2BLr0ABs97/w640-h480/AprilNews%20-%207.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another great clinic with Martin Black, here starting a number of colts...<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYBSKDok_sUj3H8CTlRifRt3iIqvQwrqjcoj5DsvltgsnaVGXgU6TOrFY2MsPySPL57UwfzCBSQ3C94tuu3FMWBGygD0ekUVGjV6gCMxviguAbjbyWo9m1OnzrnXbxXs4_i2a7G48QJRK5DMU3qvsTgdOYyCUpxuSOkKDs7WV1VNqE6jeuMod49fVGTsQ3/s1287/YoungHorse2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="833" data-original-width="1287" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYBSKDok_sUj3H8CTlRifRt3iIqvQwrqjcoj5DsvltgsnaVGXgU6TOrFY2MsPySPL57UwfzCBSQ3C94tuu3FMWBGygD0ekUVGjV6gCMxviguAbjbyWo9m1OnzrnXbxXs4_i2a7G48QJRK5DMU3qvsTgdOYyCUpxuSOkKDs7WV1VNqE6jeuMod49fVGTsQ3/w640-h414/YoungHorse2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...which paid off in great first rides!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3XxjTQPIqTlHrz6ftsrMG48AdtnfjveMBNNYcVTtBdF3OeU9wNqu8AcIy63DlTOKQlrZC22V1oz4PS-JnwbX-EZRTKj5bLfChAM26ODBB0CGKe2VIG2-_q798FWvRN1__hsB-idgu0eq3LYBAoUG-J9ddEA94OoIIEdvMlaR8oLErUu6Ye612ZUFklVlh/s1280/June%20news%20-%205.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="610" data-original-width="1280" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3XxjTQPIqTlHrz6ftsrMG48AdtnfjveMBNNYcVTtBdF3OeU9wNqu8AcIy63DlTOKQlrZC22V1oz4PS-JnwbX-EZRTKj5bLfChAM26ODBB0CGKe2VIG2-_q798FWvRN1__hsB-idgu0eq3LYBAoUG-J9ddEA94OoIIEdvMlaR8oLErUu6Ye612ZUFklVlh/w640-h306/June%20news%20-%205.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A beautiful year all around! Gratitude!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /></div>Wise Horseman at Freedom Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05030656717082840863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5009060359888081602.post-34077923644352743712023-09-07T16:16:00.002-07:002023-09-07T17:00:35.063-07:00Building Emotional Fitness in Yourself and Your Horse<div><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTy2OYvtU8-oZE87ylgb1NUWGxU9m9FtTaOY8HBdemJDkT3TsfcZmgmGiGHmhjziAaoC4gxJ8X5zzW8mzSrnCUPaesDu25imNJOknwI40BZA82h_-qz_TuN6CZ96Jssx6IcOB0UYrHxvEl_6zeX1hM-znJ3ux6uC1N1s7gK11pkxa_9KNkZ_jNBJ35ZiTI/s1280/SeptBlog%20-%206.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTy2OYvtU8-oZE87ylgb1NUWGxU9m9FtTaOY8HBdemJDkT3TsfcZmgmGiGHmhjziAaoC4gxJ8X5zzW8mzSrnCUPaesDu25imNJOknwI40BZA82h_-qz_TuN6CZ96Jssx6IcOB0UYrHxvEl_6zeX1hM-znJ3ux6uC1N1s7gK11pkxa_9KNkZ_jNBJ35ZiTI/s320/SeptBlog%20-%206.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wendy Comstock on 3-year old Marcus for the first time.<br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>by Mary Gallagher<p></p><p>It seems like this year we started more horses than ever. They just kept coming every month and we (Jerry Schmidt and I, with our special student Elise Dean) got into the flow of playing with young, promising horses every day. Pretty fun work, when you understand it! Anyway, with the days getting shorter, and knowing that soon the last of the babies will go home, I’ve been reflecting on what really stood out for me over this time with them. Overwhelmingly, the piece that means so much to me and connects our work with each of the horses is <i>building their emotional fitness</i>.</p><a name='more'></a>I guess it really started for me in March. Martin Black was here and we spent each morning of his clinic starting colts. Watching Martin set the horses up for success was a revelation for all of us. He called it “making ‘special forces’ horses”. You had to see it to believe it—Martin worked deliberately and calmly with those youngsters, providing a still point and authoritative guide for their progress from being upset babies to well-oriented young saddle horses ready to carry their first riders. <br /><p></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5gQdR9pZ8fXw946VqGEwr6vbi5veQmHSYHNlc6c6o8XVq7O7_iefdSCsBWP6KhrkjiyEj9-eWqy-23xP3Mtm-Y-g1a0KL_g606ceCC-qWlGEmXy6Hx0BTFb-5SyeAEoZ8d69nUPg-Km40mMAlCR-3pmArVGsg84Ux6RfT2g2yoI_4MzxHQlD0M8FH5ijp/s1280/MartinColts2%20-%201.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5gQdR9pZ8fXw946VqGEwr6vbi5veQmHSYHNlc6c6o8XVq7O7_iefdSCsBWP6KhrkjiyEj9-eWqy-23xP3Mtm-Y-g1a0KL_g606ceCC-qWlGEmXy6Hx0BTFb-5SyeAEoZ8d69nUPg-Km40mMAlCR-3pmArVGsg84Ux6RfT2g2yoI_4MzxHQlD0M8FH5ijp/s320/MartinColts2%20-%201.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Martin Black starting colts, Freedom Farm<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMzWfiLo_I08G2JurjRf_nX6QKwiHbRn2tdNpOLQI8jk6SKmGnLOHA3dcrvuKlvHtG5h3DkOYrUl3snk13BXYX5kEqby0LyCLj9NKmBP4yLD9od4Dbghg5jMhAE0ZE2hXweBctrefi6p1wq7ocPnsNEmNmIU_PysYbYEWz5ImTHYKz1Wxx2N_FcizSWkRl/s1287/YoungHorse2.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="833" data-original-width="1287" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMzWfiLo_I08G2JurjRf_nX6QKwiHbRn2tdNpOLQI8jk6SKmGnLOHA3dcrvuKlvHtG5h3DkOYrUl3snk13BXYX5kEqby0LyCLj9NKmBP4yLD9od4Dbghg5jMhAE0ZE2hXweBctrefi6p1wq7ocPnsNEmNmIU_PysYbYEWz5ImTHYKz1Wxx2N_FcizSWkRl/s320/YoungHorse2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marcus and Oliver, Elise & me soon after the clinic<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So Martin came and went, and a series of young horses came to me for starting. And so Jerry, Elise and I got to practice what we learned from Martin. I must say that this year I have been able to do more for my horses’ confidence and emotional strength than ever before. I have been working with my horses’ emotional fitness for decades, of course, but I feel that this year, especially with Martin’s example, Jerry as a training partner, and Elise’s willing help, I got to the next level.</div><br />Setting up situations for the horses to find a correct emotional answer is hard to explain, and I highly recommend watching a master do it, then seeking out some coaching along the way as you develop your own abilities. Some of us have it in us to grow to be emotional fitness coaches for our horses, but it takes observation and practice under the guidance of the right teacher. As Martin and Jerry like to say, “You have to be able to make the trip!” If not, that’s okay. Stay safe and find a good trainer and riding instructor.<br /><i></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj73vNotxsEkft9ar22vhpwFFKRhMkxsV1qSeJ8Aw_tQQIv-uHKBqzNvESKw4tDYo-McCb4ci6wMYhpU4QeexEJ_IDTQ9RwjEBZGxBF0CPaWORYISjjteSekBbi2iliwISQMeld3wPW5kkYLFfxm_hPGNQAwr-8l6gGyf3Zs3RaVAItsuwlN596-ZmbvOiw/s1024/GroundYoung2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj73vNotxsEkft9ar22vhpwFFKRhMkxsV1qSeJ8Aw_tQQIv-uHKBqzNvESKw4tDYo-McCb4ci6wMYhpU4QeexEJ_IDTQ9RwjEBZGxBF0CPaWORYISjjteSekBbi2iliwISQMeld3wPW5kkYLFfxm_hPGNQAwr-8l6gGyf3Zs3RaVAItsuwlN596-ZmbvOiw/w400-h300/GroundYoung2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheM8H3ZetVJzY9Ggl6r1SyGfQaXvJW7uI0zWYH_FeDYGSsurrQjaA8nuVaRHIPfTmcyQzYARhY34KzXk5vVnpb-7nhZ0k2BTxwW3AjoqrEeqUIDZdGTHORyuzaP7R-EOh2cM_kmYGkLNdxqj0lDcXu9NGWAsz7p3NKrAmNby3f7NO-x6RB-ukFvwVDD_3q/s1024/GroundYoung3.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheM8H3ZetVJzY9Ggl6r1SyGfQaXvJW7uI0zWYH_FeDYGSsurrQjaA8nuVaRHIPfTmcyQzYARhY34KzXk5vVnpb-7nhZ0k2BTxwW3AjoqrEeqUIDZdGTHORyuzaP7R-EOh2cM_kmYGkLNdxqj0lDcXu9NGWAsz7p3NKrAmNby3f7NO-x6RB-ukFvwVDD_3q/w400-h300/GroundYoung3.jpg" width="400" /></a>But for those looking to grow their horsemanship in this way, whether you have a young horse or a long time partner, I encourage you to find a master teacher to help you intentionally grow your own and your horse’s ability to handle more challenging situations. Taking a horse that’s worried and unsure, and little by little developing him into a horse that is confident and not bothered—that you can trust and that trusts you —is a great feeling and so worth the effort!<br /><br /><i>I’ve shared my journey over the years through the Wise Horseman Blog, up to and including sessions with Martin. Here are some of my favorites which include emotional fitness (including some very doable exercises):</i><br /><p></p><a href="https://freedomfarmnotes.blogspot.com/2023/04/growing-our-horsemanship-with-martin.html" target="_blank">Growing Our Horsemanship With Martin</a><br /><p><a href="https://freedomfarmnotes.blogspot.com/2023/05/lessons-in-tuning-your-horseand-yourself.html" target="_blank">Lessons in Tuning Your Horse and Yourself</a><br /></p><p><a href="https://freedomfarmnotes.blogspot.com/2023/02/the-leadership-gauge-part-two-of-horse.html" target="_blank">The Leadership Gauge Part Two</a><br /></p><p><a href="https://freedomfarmnotes.blogspot.com/2022/12/the-horse-environment-and-you.html" target="_blank">The Horse, the Environment, and You (Leadership Gauge Part One)</a><br /></p><p><a href="https://freedomfarmnotes.blogspot.com/2022/05/giving-horse-pathway-to-solve-problems_30.html" target="_blank">Giving the Horse a Pathway to Solve Problems</a><br /></p><p><a href="https://freedomfarmnotes.blogspot.com/2022/02/trees-can-help-your-horse-find-feel.html" target="_blank">Trees Can Help Your Horse Find the Feel</a><br /></p><p><a href="https://freedomfarmnotes.blogspot.com/2021/11/honoring-horses-learning-process.html" target="_blank">Honoring the Horse's Learning Process</a><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU0PdruD2utwoMGIdezfQgsaBg9zQtaQYcIVWEeD9i7MRmMDI81K71BjMQVx8KrbfGw4kwfM7mS7YM6gX3634pTYmUlzmYDpnuCOIbDgTBaFFuZkFYUkCazbBztWUSZJbsj-R7VmsLBiP3XDAN9af14PLIrsoIPDC2VvhDusWZtwaYTtpmmKr85i_nxzx-/s1280/August%202023%20-%206.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="961" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU0PdruD2utwoMGIdezfQgsaBg9zQtaQYcIVWEeD9i7MRmMDI81K71BjMQVx8KrbfGw4kwfM7mS7YM6gX3634pTYmUlzmYDpnuCOIbDgTBaFFuZkFYUkCazbBztWUSZJbsj-R7VmsLBiP3XDAN9af14PLIrsoIPDC2VvhDusWZtwaYTtpmmKr85i_nxzx-/w640-h480/August%202023%20-%206.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marcus and Oliver go on their first trail ride with friends! They were sent from Wensleydale Farm in Oregon, and are owned by Wendy Comstock.<br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /></div><br />Wise Horseman at Freedom Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05030656717082840863noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5009060359888081602.post-10195530950791241632023-05-04T15:51:00.006-07:002023-09-07T08:15:39.223-07:00 Lessons in Tuning Your Horse—and Yourself! (Growing our Horsemanship With Martin Black, Part Two)<p>By Mary Gallagher</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9EB9I4O7RYRvHEfMv0Pb7b0cHTu_8tHvF2FRTCYkJVvXkze-Kdzcx0KrO5I69QCJXX7aQsuLFz__aUL6XR8zucZh01phBEFaj3RnqAwIPbN6mDfN7-fVJlsoV-e1RZ6Who8GCssWYv2bwdnpCUsmK51KW3vO4qvX9POWpRIYiFr4TxNVUqg1tWpN8_A/s1280/AprilNews-a%20-%201.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="1280" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9EB9I4O7RYRvHEfMv0Pb7b0cHTu_8tHvF2FRTCYkJVvXkze-Kdzcx0KrO5I69QCJXX7aQsuLFz__aUL6XR8zucZh01phBEFaj3RnqAwIPbN6mDfN7-fVJlsoV-e1RZ6Who8GCssWYv2bwdnpCUsmK51KW3vO4qvX9POWpRIYiFr4TxNVUqg1tWpN8_A/s320/AprilNews-a%20-%201.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>I am still learning from our recent, fabulous clinic with <a href="Champion 🏆 in the .70 and .80 divisions, seven 1st place ribbons, one 3rd place and rider of the day for both Saturday and Sunday." target="_blank">Martin Black</a>. I'd like to share what I've been doing lately with some of what I learned, though I'd recommend hearing it straight from the horse's mouth, so to speak, if you can. I can’t recommend Martin highly enough, and you can<span style="color: #01ffff;"> <span><a href="https://www.freedom-farm.net/clinics-at-freedom-farm" target="_blank">join us for his next clinic with us in March 2024</a><u> </u></span></span>to experience much more, first hand! <br /><br />I’ve been walking my students through a basic pattern of foot placement exercises learned from Martin, relating it to what I’ve been teaching for years. One of the students, a musician, commented that taking time to learn and refine these exercises was a lot like practicing scales. Musicians want to play songs and do the cool things they are inspired by in other musicians, but without developing dexterity and musical sense through patient practice of scales, the goal remains far away. I thought it was a great analogy. We tend to want to jump in and ‘make music’—get our horse ‘in frame’ by various means, trot, canter, and go right to the things we ride horses for. To get there, too often we solve issues with specialized tack, firmer aids, stronger grip…the list goes on.<span></span></p><a name='more'></a>In contrast, each time I review and practice Martin’s approach to the eight directions—four feet, two directions each—I know and feel a little more. My horse’s feet feel more connected to the ground, and I get a sense of calmness and balance coming through the horse. My horses are softer in the bridle with less contact, and I can feel which foot in which direction is out of tune. As I travel along I can pick that foot and tune it up to help the whole horse move better. You get my drift: we are building our abilities together, decreasing the need for struggle and control, increasing our ability to cooperate clearly and gracefully, in motion.<span></span> <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS_mFWUvq6VxJL5Z7qyW8DUHmcTrpZu9x37IjlMG-gX3LjV03zz0oZKmcpVyBC6ue-ZXXo5PbqhpnYDwcCG4Laa27bpK9uhQrQAfjzVfsAtgKyEhAWchkgVm2_ZlFLc3_HRLeacW88R30ZNSMQ5EKm_3fRSf5K7e-0XVKFqS8ZWxaLSO6wrp7GP9MpJg/s1004/Mary-hind.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="970" data-original-width="1004" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS_mFWUvq6VxJL5Z7qyW8DUHmcTrpZu9x37IjlMG-gX3LjV03zz0oZKmcpVyBC6ue-ZXXo5PbqhpnYDwcCG4Laa27bpK9uhQrQAfjzVfsAtgKyEhAWchkgVm2_ZlFLc3_HRLeacW88R30ZNSMQ5EKm_3fRSf5K7e-0XVKFqS8ZWxaLSO6wrp7GP9MpJg/s320/Mary-hind.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Martin talked about the hind foot reaching under and across and our being able to know where it is headed. Practicing this awareness as I work each foot forward and backward has a way of improving my timing. Like practicing scales on an instrument, this is where you begin.<br /><br />The sequence: Forward around the inside front, backward around the outside front, backward around the outside hind, forward around the inside hind. Carefully playing with each step to get it just right. Then increasing speed and trying different combinations to see if the steps maintain their quality.<br /><br /><br />Try doing this series on in a straight line—away from the fence or wall—with the line centering in your body. Try to see if you can rotate your horse’s body along that line by feeling it in your body, or whether you get carried away from the line. It’s a challenge worth taking time for and developing. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5fqb7BN3A3M" width="320" youtube-src-id="5fqb7BN3A3M"></iframe></div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;">The basic sequence.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Knowing the degree of angle the hind foot travels is another way of
tuning your awareness. Can you place the hind foot towards the opposite
front foot (as in a shoulder in) or toward the opposite stirrup (similar
to a side pass) or towards the rear cinch (as in a turn on the
forehand)? No? Then you have your scales to practice!As I ride each day, I am thinking in this way—are the feet in tuned and balanced? Which foot in which direction would carry a better balance? <p>By playing these scales as a warm up, I am finding that as I think in this language, my horse is instantly receptive to a correction. Everything we do together after that is better for it.</p><p><br /><i><a href="https://www.freedom-farm.net/clinics-at-freedom-farm">Join us in March 20-24, 2024 for another clinic with Martin Black!</a></i></p><p><i>Missed the first post? <a href="https://freedomfarmnotes.blogspot.com/2023/04/growing-our-horsemanship-with-martin.html" target="_blank">Read Part One! </a></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfuA2OVN4TJoNUssHzKc1jJn72nk1raHVDj_7D6_UnFkhVKUtRZeDb1Dl0J4s1g0rh35kEFEaNivtcRh8DtJkIw1P5xYRupj6T3COrEySOBMNYsnkDvbc5Y4zo4HSUfYIPM8s2SAuqsWryfhzHOTEPBwlu0QfJ1GBs1RMCf1hVgd1iY1Xc_t-hVR3hzA/s2111/Avonlea-hind.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2111" data-original-width="1724" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfuA2OVN4TJoNUssHzKc1jJn72nk1raHVDj_7D6_UnFkhVKUtRZeDb1Dl0J4s1g0rh35kEFEaNivtcRh8DtJkIw1P5xYRupj6T3COrEySOBMNYsnkDvbc5Y4zo4HSUfYIPM8s2SAuqsWryfhzHOTEPBwlu0QfJ1GBs1RMCf1hVgd1iY1Xc_t-hVR3hzA/w326-h400/Avonlea-hind.jpg" width="326" /></a></div></div>Wise Horseman at Freedom Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05030656717082840863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5009060359888081602.post-30920186464314760432023-04-02T04:39:00.005-07:002023-09-07T08:16:33.919-07:00Growing Our Horsemanship with Martin Black<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL2gP2NrdJjg5B7XGGzcGTwib7mni_kAkTSgC2U76ytBFJTbPpV5LD2VQrlF4n3OkD3KkAfKMsQ6EMEGJNuWY_vfo7w-TuaJqcwOLFCvpR9ZrMuStzYTQ8t6fZArE3rb1okO_doREcmM0CJRgKdj3iX4YlouwnnImmMYZM3RwEdmqyfgvNmM2droBHQQ/s1280/MartinBarticle%20-%2013.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="1280" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL2gP2NrdJjg5B7XGGzcGTwib7mni_kAkTSgC2U76ytBFJTbPpV5LD2VQrlF4n3OkD3KkAfKMsQ6EMEGJNuWY_vfo7w-TuaJqcwOLFCvpR9ZrMuStzYTQ8t6fZArE3rb1okO_doREcmM0CJRgKdj3iX4YlouwnnImmMYZM3RwEdmqyfgvNmM2droBHQQ/s320/MartinBarticle%20-%2013.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>By Mary Gallagher<br /><br />We had been looking forward to our clinic with Martin Black for months, and Martin did not disappoint! He is definitely a special horseman, bringing to us 6 generations of ranching wisdom, including the mentorship of many top horsemen. In his own career he has started tens of thousands of colts, ready within weeks to help managing cattle on the open range. Martin has also trained thousands of eager clinic participants, ready to absorb the horsemanship he has so finely distilled. Those of us fortunate to spend last week with Martin are the richer for the experience. <p></p><span><a name='more'></a></span>Here are a few of my impressions:<br /><br /><i>Balance point and flight zone. </i>Martin opened our awareness to the <i>flight zone</i> and <i>balance point<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij8du-tJBkWirR13VtdXVN4G3FhDH2RLzZhbtJwmNE7xjY2bBTN5MrDnxBDX5btdOZfoAFVElDngE38qkE3uZTnVO_lyrW1_NbQBpDJEjdImxJhghyxfsLGgFLaBKVIX8rkyZiHdtcAIF_q7B5It0vD9pwLmKpeLmsBcftgXUKiKa5KWmlJQtXjDeXNA/s1280/MartinBarticle%20-%201.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="961" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij8du-tJBkWirR13VtdXVN4G3FhDH2RLzZhbtJwmNE7xjY2bBTN5MrDnxBDX5btdOZfoAFVElDngE38qkE3uZTnVO_lyrW1_NbQBpDJEjdImxJhghyxfsLGgFLaBKVIX8rkyZiHdtcAIF_q7B5It0vD9pwLmKpeLmsBcftgXUKiKa5KWmlJQtXjDeXNA/s320/MartinBarticle%20-%201.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div></i> as he worked with horses in the colt starting sessions and cows in ranch cow working. 'Flight zone' refers to flight as the prey animal response to pressure from the directing human. The horse will want to run away from danger, basically. So the ‘flight zone’ is that area where pressure causes the horse to move; in several of our colt starting sessions, Martin emphasized asking the shoulder to move laterally, while encouraging the horse to <i>balance</i> himself, nose to tail.<br /><br /><i>Colt Starting. </i>Martin’s mastery of colt starting was a sight to see for us riders and auditors. He excels in moving the colts through an educational experience, while keeping it safe and simple for both riders and horses. Martin demonstrated his time-tested expertise while preparing each horse with ground work, saddling acceptance, standing for mounting and first ride from horseback. Two of us riders over 60 and two over 70 can attest to the effectiveness of his approach, as we safely rode our colts for their first time! I feel that this colt start was one of a kind.<br /><br /><i>Four feet and two directions for each foot. </i>In the riding sessions each day, we honed our skills by getting control of the horses feet learning how to work each foot both forward and backward. This took our stops, roll backs, turns, and most of all, our horse’s physical and emotional balance to a higher level. <br /><br /><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSm8Kv4-iu5uAYGYwgxckL7B-2HDGKGFw4p6uBvAYw6VXUp6diKOxoOaSAoiTGnfqg9mVmvPKPDn6KD5OZuocrgHo2hLARSuKekn-esveyZJ7F-fZrrvdSriExlKV8qpmfzHDe3aZh5XqJOF6mc2IAweXkDgchH7q--j1wK34_7yV8-ZTTMP-9PXxmoA/s1280/MartinBarticle%20-%208.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSm8Kv4-iu5uAYGYwgxckL7B-2HDGKGFw4p6uBvAYw6VXUp6diKOxoOaSAoiTGnfqg9mVmvPKPDn6KD5OZuocrgHo2hLARSuKekn-esveyZJ7F-fZrrvdSriExlKV8qpmfzHDe3aZh5XqJOF6mc2IAweXkDgchH7q--j1wK34_7yV8-ZTTMP-9PXxmoA/s320/MartinBarticle%20-%208.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>Ranch style cow working. </i>A highlight was how Martin showed us how to work one cow while moving the herd. He coached us as we each directed a cow out of the herd, and worked the cow while managing the herd. Martin called this peripheral thinking. We were all pretty smart folks in the clinic, but I think we all had our challenges here and there, working between both.<br /><br />Maybe next month I can go deeper into one of these areas; I am still absorbing and reviewing the mountain of information and experience we shared, thanks to Martin Black. Thank you, Martin! See you next year!<br /><br /><i>It’s not too early to reserve a spot with Martin Black at Freedom Farm in 2024. You can get on our early list dates are March 20th to 24th. </i><br /><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTX_8NUKfPSQZnbOladH5G2nQn2FPvTw97vbK3jFPduuEm8o5mN38l9LV9Mij3oUbec7V26bWb6-XP1yyb8Bb5WzAf8xDj1wmZoYjJcxseXdPM-8-tfwEzRrpjASGECyJ9xgnD7A93W-1YXS2K72c7klLexeokP3XWX3MbzIrknnS9A5JNdOJijVGUPQ/s2997/5E439646-B64E-4E52-8486-FA67744401A0.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2248" data-original-width="2997" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTX_8NUKfPSQZnbOladH5G2nQn2FPvTw97vbK3jFPduuEm8o5mN38l9LV9Mij3oUbec7V26bWb6-XP1yyb8Bb5WzAf8xDj1wmZoYjJcxseXdPM-8-tfwEzRrpjASGECyJ9xgnD7A93W-1YXS2K72c7klLexeokP3XWX3MbzIrknnS9A5JNdOJijVGUPQ/w400-h300/5E439646-B64E-4E52-8486-FA67744401A0.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfbzJkVGsEyiV-x8-C9gebPXgXGR28raL6ircCRk2Tyh2EfSuNcprTeRTmP6nrggAXKV4roLrQ7kbPlbnFUGi8hD7uWkrlTzeYa58zDoEeeCTffWRs9kB5fMq7s0d5dkXOwUQCHQySDZ5EfhQbzM4fUR3ekwCEE3-FktYnbf2KNYP79saMFsCVbT0Pdg/s2562/5B4C4BD6-0C09-48F8-B1A0-71743FF2EE7A.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2562" data-original-width="1922" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfbzJkVGsEyiV-x8-C9gebPXgXGR28raL6ircCRk2Tyh2EfSuNcprTeRTmP6nrggAXKV4roLrQ7kbPlbnFUGi8hD7uWkrlTzeYa58zDoEeeCTffWRs9kB5fMq7s0d5dkXOwUQCHQySDZ5EfhQbzM4fUR3ekwCEE3-FktYnbf2KNYP79saMFsCVbT0Pdg/s320/5B4C4BD6-0C09-48F8-B1A0-71743FF2EE7A.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgASXMHV4kFvgde97pLqZUWkuIu5w2C2gKd-cc7bumX8ywxqvqEZcFHer_OF14WyzHI6lead5MnIR1ni8h0jbtfGC-VmvLkKQDum3X7mUg2tWO4k9tYPrNLIlw8AkMZ2Vtau8icrT3ee_KnbpRMp00uk8G5k1OMXlMPyaXxuWo1Dz5ZBGY7qjP9UN-q_g/s4032/C896721C-22A7-41E7-945A-CAB5D5073F81.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2385" data-original-width="4032" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgASXMHV4kFvgde97pLqZUWkuIu5w2C2gKd-cc7bumX8ywxqvqEZcFHer_OF14WyzHI6lead5MnIR1ni8h0jbtfGC-VmvLkKQDum3X7mUg2tWO4k9tYPrNLIlw8AkMZ2Vtau8icrT3ee_KnbpRMp00uk8G5k1OMXlMPyaXxuWo1Dz5ZBGY7qjP9UN-q_g/w640-h378/C896721C-22A7-41E7-945A-CAB5D5073F81.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP2FSS49IvS0klFvNPY0xMgIJA4KZCxvK9Dmvy5k4X6BniPaZK_LB0V3OVitVabn5WVpps_UyWd7Es9XEIKsYfNew6ALCAUUiqivKkPaJ4dawhKUTbL1fiTEjIX5uMUQ9P2dRDNh840BMKiaY9PUexAJlVMyK1emJk7jIGr8Dtn7GdmzQiWKuT1pT2oA/s1280/MartinBarticlec%20-%202.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP2FSS49IvS0klFvNPY0xMgIJA4KZCxvK9Dmvy5k4X6BniPaZK_LB0V3OVitVabn5WVpps_UyWd7Es9XEIKsYfNew6ALCAUUiqivKkPaJ4dawhKUTbL1fiTEjIX5uMUQ9P2dRDNh840BMKiaY9PUexAJlVMyK1emJk7jIGr8Dtn7GdmzQiWKuT1pT2oA/w640-h480/MartinBarticlec%20-%202.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Wise Horseman at Freedom Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05030656717082840863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5009060359888081602.post-66649221536088308562023-03-05T18:00:00.004-08:002023-03-05T18:03:37.825-08:00Foundations for Becoming the Leader Your Horse Needs (Part Three of ‘The Horse, The Environment, and You’)<div><p>By Mary Gallagher</p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfJiWF5fW4Lb6cUuXIVnLlaaBQviLD80LSp4JlebRXhAYGNlzSlnv40AMx-NmwRHHLHY-GQNXS9uxt6jNz9Y67hDDLxfdZ8pP4Gp9ahX-1-iUFKFGiVJtt1AKk14D6Dls2JHGazAcVUMx-bJWaI4oamA3VEbE7RcBMPbt_ZrxUUy5uaNszZrh5U8oq9Q/s1206/March%20News&Blog%20-%2016.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1206" data-original-width="1144" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfJiWF5fW4Lb6cUuXIVnLlaaBQviLD80LSp4JlebRXhAYGNlzSlnv40AMx-NmwRHHLHY-GQNXS9uxt6jNz9Y67hDDLxfdZ8pP4Gp9ahX-1-iUFKFGiVJtt1AKk14D6Dls2JHGazAcVUMx-bJWaI4oamA3VEbE7RcBMPbt_ZrxUUy5uaNszZrh5U8oq9Q/s320/March%20News&Blog%20-%2016.jpeg" width="304" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Starting a 2-year old with the Boundary Box<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>In my last two posts, I discussed you and your horse in relation to the environment (‘out there’), <br />boundaries (between you and your horse), and most importantly, your ability to ‘observe, observe, observe’ and see your horse experiencing you in the environment, and respecting your boundaries (or not). <br /><br />With a level of safety established by our increased awareness, we can start talking about communication. Your body language is a big part of setting healthy boundaries, being safe, and becoming the leader your horse needs.<br /><br />If you have read my previous posts, you already know that I like to start with a boundary box. It’s a simple concept, but deep in terms of how much you can accomplish, and how challenging it really is to do well and grow your practice.<span></span><p></p><a name='more'></a>The basics: The horse is on the outside, and the human is on the inside.<br />Walking beside your horse in both directions at a walk teaches you how to change your horse’s direction, manage your equipment, and keep your horse out of your space (as I’ve pointed out, horses will continually test, and boundaries are a favorite). As we get better at switching directions while keeping the horse out of the box and managing our equipment, we can begin to retreat towards the center of the box while the horse stays outside, and repeat the same exercises from this greater distance. <br /><br />A lot of communication can be lost when the distance is greater. We thought it was working so well, but might find out that we are not as connected as we thought—that is the beauty and purpose of the box. The boundaries give the horse and the human visual support, and can be expanded for greater learning. You really see and experience how consistent you have to be to maintain the boundaries while in motion.<br /><br />Moving on from simply walking, we can ask for a forequarter yield, hindquarter yield, back up, step away, and move forward. These simple moves become less simple, given a bit of distance and a boundary to be respected. On the other hand, as we master each increase of distance, our leadership is reinforced. As the horse gets more comfortable taking direction and more sure that stepping in the box is not an answer, and the human gets more precise and consistent in giving direction, our leadership grows.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="287" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gtXVYqTo8IY" width="512" youtube-src-id="gtXVYqTo8IY"></iframe></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Working with a 2-year old in a safe environment--the round pen--using the boundary box. This is an authentic, first time encounter of the young horse with the boundary box. I narrate the process as we go.</i><br /></div><div> </div><div>As our leadership develops, the horse begins to feel safer. Then we can test ourselves by taking the poles of the boundary box away and see if our communication holds up with an invisible boundary. From there we can experiment with longer lines and obstacles and speed to add variety. <br /><br /><b>How does this relate to the leadership gauge? </b>The box sets up a space where we can easily experience the green zone: boundaries are clear, we are connected and easily begin to cooperate and communicate. When we increase the distance and things are not so clear, we may experience our own mushy boundaries, and the horse may get curious and step a foot across the pole, putting us in a sort of yellow zone. It’s a safe discomfort that we can work with and learn from. We don’t want to endlessly repeat the easy stuff, nor do we want to rush out and stress ourselves and the horse by taking on too much distance or discomfort in the environment.<br /><br />Using the box to experiment with the yellow zone to accelerate our own growth and learning is a great way to progress. Dealing with our own as well as the horse’s discomfort and comfort in manageable steps is a way that we can grow our leadership safely.<p></p><span></span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaXfXqRAN5Fm1N6zTy0VepJmj6TH5Ug_77RdtPs-3FPseJzdI7Dxx6mkJ2-RE0mQJehwdb7NFm86wXSvIkZf7x4UnhPS7kPAxtWJKeHClAMCPJn6iriEDD-lefKLzlk0Oj7nDcvY0cxax1JqqdRZMQK4UZEz4F5uDCbs1ac_xGuRK7L2t3tAbWD52lBg/s1280/March%20News&Blog%20-%206.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="990" data-original-width="1280" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaXfXqRAN5Fm1N6zTy0VepJmj6TH5Ug_77RdtPs-3FPseJzdI7Dxx6mkJ2-RE0mQJehwdb7NFm86wXSvIkZf7x4UnhPS7kPAxtWJKeHClAMCPJn6iriEDD-lefKLzlk0Oj7nDcvY0cxax1JqqdRZMQK4UZEz4F5uDCbs1ac_xGuRK7L2t3tAbWD52lBg/w640-h496/March%20News&Blog%20-%206.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Leadership Gauge by Mary Gallagher<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><i>More about the Leadership Gauge:</i></p><p style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><a href="https://freedomfarmnotes.blogspot.com/2022/12/the-horse-environment-and-you.html" target="_blank">The Horse, the Environment, and You (Part One)</a><br /></p><p style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><a href="https://freedomfarmnotes.blogspot.com/2023/02/the-leadership-gauge-part-two-of-horse.html" target="_blank">The Leadership Gauge (The Horse, the Environment, and You, Part Two)</a></p><p><i>More about the Boundary Box:</i></p><p style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><a href="https://freedomfarmnotes.blogspot.com/2018/05/leadership-learning-with-boundary-box.html#more">Leadership Learning With the Boundary Box</a><br /></p><p style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><a href="https://freedomfarmnotes.blogspot.com/2018/06/leadership-learning-with-boundary-box.html" target="_blank">Leadership Learning With the Boundary Box, Part Two: Safety and Emotional Fitness</a><br /></p></div>Wise Horseman at Freedom Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05030656717082840863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5009060359888081602.post-12507545981252994622023-03-03T17:32:00.004-08:002023-05-26T17:52:41.171-07:00In Memory of Hazelnut (1999-2023)<p><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs xlh3980 xvmahel x1n0sxbx x1lliihq x1s928wv xhkezso x1gmr53x x1cpjm7i x1fgarty x1943h6x xudqn12 x3x7a5m x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u x1yc453h" dir="auto">Rest
in Peace, dear Hazelnut. Kathy Schmidt’s beautiful, wise, kind mare
Hazelnut left us this week after a brief illness. Hazelnut arrived with
Kathy at the old location on Shore Road, a troubled filly. Years of
love, acceptance, training and belonging brought out Hazel’s many gifts:
she was an all-around partner for Kathy in jumping, cow work, ranch
work, trail riding, helping Mary G train young show horses, ponying one
and all, and just being with their friends at the Farm and
beyond. In her later years, thanks to Kathy’s generosity, Hazelnut
became one of our finest lesson horses, patiently teaching students
young and old. We miss her deeply already. Thank you, Hazelnut, and thank you, Kathy for sharing her with us.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLZaMZwXx3Fczzy1rYOWn39PY6P8tsPdJNbvqyUoWjNG6FtR59pq3maLemeiNF79P0ygK0tfFk4s7HVfvp6chUzddYhNm_9IIbc-v5KtJpx9YjRVueNdU7iyZ1oP2WRmMGyuFCSC13MrGQvJgGNvMiWJq2j6g-NcPhCPwYN8eo3YXJ-BCw0Fwt8_IFaA/s2165/IMG_2207.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1646" data-original-width="2165" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLZaMZwXx3Fczzy1rYOWn39PY6P8tsPdJNbvqyUoWjNG6FtR59pq3maLemeiNF79P0ygK0tfFk4s7HVfvp6chUzddYhNm_9IIbc-v5KtJpx9YjRVueNdU7iyZ1oP2WRmMGyuFCSC13MrGQvJgGNvMiWJq2j6g-NcPhCPwYN8eo3YXJ-BCw0Fwt8_IFaA/w640-h486/IMG_2207.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span><a name='more'></a></span><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs xlh3980 xvmahel x1n0sxbx x1lliihq x1s928wv xhkezso x1gmr53x x1cpjm7i x1fgarty x1943h6x xudqn12 x3x7a5m x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u x1yc453h" dir="auto"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsDs9yXP9LfvRFU1iBhTui5tejTbPh838UhPTSF55JEYe7_WukdxnpmMG_wAj7MJP3oQc7oB8AI2Jh762piTzkWYpfSby1KtRmjyXVpd5byF5Z574FauG1c3juZuu5vNwJnsMzSKX2oVzOHKZdpicweTOiSlhVL1pnq57Z0ZWutV6mVaQWiMaMZwbyqg/s4032/IMG_0673.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsDs9yXP9LfvRFU1iBhTui5tejTbPh838UhPTSF55JEYe7_WukdxnpmMG_wAj7MJP3oQc7oB8AI2Jh762piTzkWYpfSby1KtRmjyXVpd5byF5Z574FauG1c3juZuu5vNwJnsMzSKX2oVzOHKZdpicweTOiSlhVL1pnq57Z0ZWutV6mVaQWiMaMZwbyqg/w480-h640/IMG_0673.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2nt4AHFOVmU1IknE83NIV4Wgwe_rHtBZZRWTBZuOIw1DD-7gf5fY-iz5Pne-bW5hxSmNuPA5joKE4CL6OMrVMaK9ov4QWXkyMpSscZ329wXPNmRPzZ1uq_u8Tc71x2PordmTr2lfqRTUGwUG6CdDW-1ZFhEHvj-ret7xvUe3CZBkEN-lQkJxCEmTYCA/s2304/IMG_0754.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaD5OxFmLnAbTe7d84SymLgYhlTRorTcyRpLlztyNs3peL0YStZzU0fLkgR1JFqUwjFsv2sQE4WL5rRbMoxD56VRR-XsiI5CUYKb4V5ZQAhcrloHEAnn7ytj2BDaowLWnzQF36fvbycpk5cwiYT9eeyYc2aGEcQLyT9_JyADi5JQD6uVnGaf1p0qLcKA/s4032/IMG_0484.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaD5OxFmLnAbTe7d84SymLgYhlTRorTcyRpLlztyNs3peL0YStZzU0fLkgR1JFqUwjFsv2sQE4WL5rRbMoxD56VRR-XsiI5CUYKb4V5ZQAhcrloHEAnn7ytj2BDaowLWnzQF36fvbycpk5cwiYT9eeyYc2aGEcQLyT9_JyADi5JQD6uVnGaf1p0qLcKA/w640-h480/IMG_0484.heic" width="640" /></a></div><br />[originally posted on Facebook Feb. 23, 2023]<br /></div><br /></span><p></p><span><!--more--></span><span><!--more--></span>Wise Horseman at Freedom Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05030656717082840863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5009060359888081602.post-57829338998525791922023-02-02T15:30:00.004-08:002023-03-02T10:44:38.384-08:00 The Leadership Gauge (Part Two of "The Horse, The Environment, and You")<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx9ls5fWpqtUuHuhYn3P5zqHAic5kNy3gpUpu291B0bEcVu8dFwEs87pPqv1mOKF_SdrWbrU1D_NHbTHzPpMfg95Y_MaiC82ImCC5C0M6gWry46a7MIH7ERXaMOkkolvoTdttHlBPqRyHTijsMUqbLxVltZmnu_btVldoj1oBcDM-58GZ6jI1xJRgVeQ/s1280/Feb%202022%20News%20a%20-%201.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="840" data-original-width="1280" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx9ls5fWpqtUuHuhYn3P5zqHAic5kNy3gpUpu291B0bEcVu8dFwEs87pPqv1mOKF_SdrWbrU1D_NHbTHzPpMfg95Y_MaiC82ImCC5C0M6gWry46a7MIH7ERXaMOkkolvoTdttHlBPqRyHTijsMUqbLxVltZmnu_btVldoj1oBcDM-58GZ6jI1xJRgVeQ/s320/Feb%202022%20News%20a%20-%201.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>by Mary Gallagher<br /><br /><p></p><p><i>Building a language of leadership is our best tool in developing a confident horse.<br /></i></p><p><br />In <a href="https://freedomfarmnotes.blogspot.com/2022/12/the-horse-environment-and-you.html" target="_blank">last month’s blog post</a>, I introduced a diagram that helps us understand the importance of using boundaries in the proper environment to build a language of leadership. When we are in the ‘sweet spot’—<i>good observation, strong boundaries, balanced emotions</i>—our horse’s confidence enables <i>connection, communication, and cooperation</i> between us.<br /><br />This month I am taking the diagram further, drawing our attention to how <i>crucial awareness of the horse’s emotions</i> is in keeping us in that sweet spot where optimal learning occurs. Because the diagram helps us see where we are with the horse at any given moment, I am calling it the Leadership Gauge.<span></span></p><a name='more'></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeRNbrkGrmmtOVISnkFEBZ4DLiiJ7q_7pyVPKP1hiVjlIhyQzPoLQUt-iCeNU9uDtlfsSn2Ew_Jiqu12YPN76Jds9Y-rBse16EU1SIEECw-bIaTKeMjiS3x-7w5NlaPtydR9iQtxQX5hPUmQ_mKrqCwD9SLEiwMkXYyrZVDDOZUAUD2dpbb7CVL6EfCg/s1650/MG%20LEADERSHIP%20GAUGE-Expressions.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1275" data-original-width="1650" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeRNbrkGrmmtOVISnkFEBZ4DLiiJ7q_7pyVPKP1hiVjlIhyQzPoLQUt-iCeNU9uDtlfsSn2Ew_Jiqu12YPN76Jds9Y-rBse16EU1SIEECw-bIaTKeMjiS3x-7w5NlaPtydR9iQtxQX5hPUmQ_mKrqCwD9SLEiwMkXYyrZVDDOZUAUD2dpbb7CVL6EfCg/w640-h494/MG%20LEADERSHIP%20GAUGE-Expressions.png" width="640" /></a><br /><i>How to use the Leadership Gauge to assist your horsemanship. </i>The gauge is a way for me to quickly assess if I am headed in the right direction with my training techniques. I start by observing the horse’s behavior, and relating it to the leadership gauge. I can begin to form a plan for the activities that will bring connection, communication, and cooperation into the optimal learning space.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSK4Ugpl13v1ZguAzreeZp4myJxdJKogaYA3d_rXSMbmNqFV4M6ArQVXBGvoZZARYEny1HKPBFTo7WMJCPCCdopOFCbP8oAIPc312WxWiewt51hOLBbFEHl--5j6pJoFPDq2RYJu0K0whdsFSZuq26TSmbRy0l34CYT70qHn2exapMc6TxNgCbqRX0gw/s1280/Ldrshp%20Gauge%20-%208.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSK4Ugpl13v1ZguAzreeZp4myJxdJKogaYA3d_rXSMbmNqFV4M6ArQVXBGvoZZARYEny1HKPBFTo7WMJCPCCdopOFCbP8oAIPc312WxWiewt51hOLBbFEHl--5j6pJoFPDq2RYJu0K0whdsFSZuq26TSmbRy0l34CYT70qHn2exapMc6TxNgCbqRX0gw/s320/Ldrshp%20Gauge%20-%208.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>The <i>green zone</i> is where I want to be—the two of us connected, communicating and cooperating safely, exploring and growing the edges of our environment with curiosity leading toward confidence. We have established boundaries, whether simply the halter and rope, ground poles, or at a more advanced stage, earned respect for space, at liberty.<br /><br />By continuing to observe my horse’s behavior, I can tell how my boundaries are holding up, and whether I am establishing a connection. I know we’re in the <i>yellow zone</i> when I see the boundaries are inconsistent and the horse is not well connected to me. This will show up in his behavior which could be playful, moving towards pushy, or on the other side, unconfident moving towards suspicious. <br /><br />Without correcting that situation, I may see my horse’s behavior shift to the <i>red zone</i> where the <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOy0Ey7Q8jPE80yMQaIDqFxt4aio714qAKG8h_9uDQuSbPVuftmPSRnUNjCu7LP_vG1KFaBJ17Z34O520DMsGkjAOrZ06hZmiWI6orwYDJGHMM9ndsH6jAgo5pkb7iT4l2L0SK9_SHjS5IXcE0lx3a4Du4LAp0BriUYZL3-cQam3ABcB8XMpOB-Z7DNQ/s1280/Ldrshp%20Gauge%20-%201.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOy0Ey7Q8jPE80yMQaIDqFxt4aio714qAKG8h_9uDQuSbPVuftmPSRnUNjCu7LP_vG1KFaBJ17Z34O520DMsGkjAOrZ06hZmiWI6orwYDJGHMM9ndsH6jAgo5pkb7iT4l2L0SK9_SHjS5IXcE0lx3a4Du4LAp0BriUYZL3-cQam3ABcB8XMpOB-Z7DNQ/s320/Ldrshp%20Gauge%20-%201.jpeg" width="320" /></a>boundaries are not upheld at all, the environment is unsafe, and the horse is potentially dangerous, showing behaviors of aggressive dominance, or on the other side, spooky and fearful. <br /><br />Knowing where my horse stands in the zones will determine how adventuresome I can be in the <br />environment. Ideally, I want my horse in the green zone, where the connection, communication, and cooperation is building the maximum amount of confidence.<br /><br />When my horse is feeling curious—on the edge of the green zone—I can see how my boundaries are holding up. If we are working productively with that energy and curiosity, great. And if the horse tips out of the green zone, I know right away that I’ve pushed the edges of the environment and the maximum resistance on the boundary I’ve set, and can adjust to stay in the sweet spot.<br /><br />If the boundaries are not holding, I will step back into a more comfortable environment and work on establishing better boundaries. This could mean physically shortening the rope, moving to a more familiar part of the arena, or smaller pen, say, or just slowing down, reducing pressure, simplifying the activity.<br /><br />Developing the sweet spot involves knowing how to create and/or take advantage of a safe environment, and knowing how to set boundaries that are respected by your horse. That safe environment expands as boundaries are tested and upheld. When a horse has tested boundaries, they are more sure of the safety of that specific environment. <br /><br /><i>The human side of safety.</i> How do we humans hold up to this kind of testing? Horses see humans as safe or unsafe, in relation to the environment. To them, an unsafe human attacks; an unsafe human is unaware of the dangers in the environment. The unsafe human does not provide and maintain leadership when the horse tests the boundaries or there is a disturbance in the environment—or the horse himself becomes dangerous. <br /><br />Being an unsafe human (in the horse’s view) makes it unsafe for us to be with the horse, and unsafe for the horse (as they see it) to be with us, thus the fight or flight instinct elevates when there is no leadership. <p></p><p>So how do we go from being unsafe to being safe?<br /><i> </i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJK2Z_OuCVxsyHxf0zkR8yIxYf5LPp6diA1BANcZR26qy_7qCwTElnjMeaKPYYSs-3ct6Y-HQxbDN5ewDQGfJQiDPKffC2sgbDWFPOG5EsHikwM_CS_-a1vjDdAieyrrPvipfdaPyj6uoCW5T6i5O1vUFuEgm3Bw5ph2aWnFTgRI8t3AdScX-yJhmeIg/s1280/Ldrshp%20Gauge%20-%202.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJK2Z_OuCVxsyHxf0zkR8yIxYf5LPp6diA1BANcZR26qy_7qCwTElnjMeaKPYYSs-3ct6Y-HQxbDN5ewDQGfJQiDPKffC2sgbDWFPOG5EsHikwM_CS_-a1vjDdAieyrrPvipfdaPyj6uoCW5T6i5O1vUFuEgm3Bw5ph2aWnFTgRI8t3AdScX-yJhmeIg/s320/Ldrshp%20Gauge%20-%202.jpeg" width="320" /></a></i></div><i>Choosing a safe environment.</i> We start by understanding how to use the environment to elevate our leadership in a way the horse recognizes. This means setting and upholding boundaries while working in the given environment. By choosing a safe environment to start with, the human buys time to establish leadership boundaries with observation and the language of movement. <br /><br />Which environments will be safe for horse and human to work in depends on the horse and the ability of the human. A round pen might feel safe for the human, but if it is located a substantial distance from the herd, for the horse it may not be the ideal place to start. <br /><br />In most situations the pen that the horse lives in is the safest environment for the horse and will cause the least upset. In that pen, the human can begin teaching boundaries, beginning with how they catch and halter the horse. The halter becomes a boundary with its own sweet spot. From that initial catch and halter, how well you use the halter to communicate is a continuous learning opportunity for the horse and the human. With care, even the safest environments have plenty of optimal teaching opportunities.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioXi61y4K53a44WWxlKQ7KHpxE6R9jwisg9_uDiqfe1s5AxR1iApCOhoKocgNuvs-_XwgT1wcBLCZjEJa6P6i8MjtJGPuEXw7AeFeCwKsFgGv8e6MdYYvWuWqAkai4Tz9T8YQ2uPw3ecFuoEq1K6i5TU1ZazL3jkA6j8AeYitH_pJ6fy70yl6sx_auIg/s1280/IMG_9162.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="1280" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioXi61y4K53a44WWxlKQ7KHpxE6R9jwisg9_uDiqfe1s5AxR1iApCOhoKocgNuvs-_XwgT1wcBLCZjEJa6P6i8MjtJGPuEXw7AeFeCwKsFgGv8e6MdYYvWuWqAkai4Tz9T8YQ2uPw3ecFuoEq1K6i5TU1ZazL3jkA6j8AeYitH_pJ6fy70yl6sx_auIg/s320/IMG_9162.jpeg" width="320" /></a><i>Observe observe observe</i>. From the very beginning, you need to be a great observer. You have to be able to pick up on subtle changes even as you approach your horse’s pen. Taking the time to observe will be helpful as you prepare your teaching sessions. <br /><br />Observation is key at all levels of the optimal teaching zone, along with good self-awareness of our own bodies in motion. Controlled movement—human body movements influencing horse body movement—with good boundaries IS the sweet spot. We can even say, ‘no movement, no language’ (remember we are developing a language of leadership).<br /><br /><i>Back to the Leadership Gauge</i>. In this post and with the Leadership Gauge, I have tried to shed more light on how to observe and recognize the horse’s emotions and what they mean in our training. Next month we’ll continue to explore the environment(s) we work in, and suggest activities for each side of the gauge—ways to engage the playful, dominant horse, or the unconfident, fearful horse.<br /><br />My hope is that having the range of possibilities in mind, we can avoid the extremes, developing our awareness and toolset for keeping us in our sweet spot, and knowing what to do when we are not.<br /><br /><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNkxIbgttLSyqpQ7MeL20jSRmhz3PPJFkd_3_uhsjuOYWD4BdDLwyjAO_OXxaAQYKlAa1Ou43VOx4vNraM135qkcPn8y_SFKuZwbJ_9q8AbIxKgK4JeGPDl2UGn3HyCPQXGjrTlSiYEyq8D6-Oij24IOakMMx_zFASEV0Uv9iCCSvC2tjaoUPJoKDYoQ/s1280/Feb%202022%20News%20-%207.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNkxIbgttLSyqpQ7MeL20jSRmhz3PPJFkd_3_uhsjuOYWD4BdDLwyjAO_OXxaAQYKlAa1Ou43VOx4vNraM135qkcPn8y_SFKuZwbJ_9q8AbIxKgK4JeGPDl2UGn3HyCPQXGjrTlSiYEyq8D6-Oij24IOakMMx_zFASEV0Uv9iCCSvC2tjaoUPJoKDYoQ/w400-h300/Feb%202022%20News%20-%207.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><i>Mary Gallagher and her students focus on these concepts in her weekly Friday Horsemanship class--a welcoming ground work class for adult students at all levels.</i><br /><p></p><br />Wise Horseman at Freedom Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05030656717082840863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5009060359888081602.post-70179726815969708842022-12-08T11:18:00.007-08:002023-09-07T08:02:46.888-07:00The Horse, the Environment, and You (Part One)<p> by Mary Gallagher</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKQSKRUNJpe2bJchC-cv308HQNtYjdCLkoezLxDqij72h0MVSVWPlAXHyH4adsdYWdtARKO1LwbnL1JYK3uqDyogaYJk02x-vPdfm_vNUK2sK2HFloxOv51zaubpEAy3uPgPTkEON7YlPaXEm7HtgEnmY8J2P2q30kAIgU5lkL01SDZdUnNqzht1bFXg/s1280/Environ%20Blog%20Post%20-%201.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="879" data-original-width="1280" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKQSKRUNJpe2bJchC-cv308HQNtYjdCLkoezLxDqij72h0MVSVWPlAXHyH4adsdYWdtARKO1LwbnL1JYK3uqDyogaYJk02x-vPdfm_vNUK2sK2HFloxOv51zaubpEAy3uPgPTkEON7YlPaXEm7HtgEnmY8J2P2q30kAIgU5lkL01SDZdUnNqzht1bFXg/s320/Environ%20Blog%20Post%20-%201.jpeg" width="320" /></a>Astute observation by many horsemen over the years has clarified the horse’s need for the herd as a place to feel safe in an uncontrolled environment. As a trainer for many years, I have come to understand and respect what a huge part ‘uncontrolled environment’ plays in their learning ability. Simply put, horses learn better if they feel safe, and the environment is key. So within the environment ‘out there’ beyond our work space, I need to: </div><p></p><p> 1) establish a safe environment in which to cultivate leadership and healthy boundaries, and </p><p>2) establish my place in our herd hierarchy of two by doing so. </p><p>The more competent the leadership, the less threatening the environment; the safer the environment, the more opportunities for learning. <span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p>If we lack awareness of the importance of the environment and the horse’s need for our leadership, we can easily cause the horse to lose confidence in us and worse, trigger their survival instinct. They run when they feel in danger, and when trapped they will fight uncontrollably to get free. Or they may, after deciding we are not in charge, begin to push us or otherwise get in our space to assert dominance, e.g. control of our ‘herd of two’. In short, we can quickly find ourselves in trouble when we forget the horse’s perspective on the environment—a place of potential threat at any moment. Most humans in the developed world have lost the habit of continual surveillance of our surroundings, while for the horse, it’s 24/7. </p><p>So the deeper basis for our leadership is awareness of the environment and the horse’s response to it, continuous observation of the horse as we have him move, and effective responses to his behavior. A big help in that department is setting and maintaining boundaries. </p><p>To start, I train in the environment the horse feels the most safe in, such as a small round pen, and only venture out as any boundaries I’ve set hold up. This doesn’t mean my horse is never to venture out of the safe places. After a certain amount of work together, as I carefully venture out of the safe place we are working, I observe: does my boundary hold up? If my boundary—the foundation of our working safely—does not hold up, I’ll go back to where it does work, and then work up to a level where my horse trusts that I am a safe leader. </p><p><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNd1S85RvdJ6yswp5YqREE16SWnmEH5_JDKQm_mP0CR6ga0bQODIPy8Z0hGy94W_3vMs4pNkB4reqq7fURAe4AprKYbCybV5zJLt5ULDS-6z5f5v5bJbgD88_hAhEZaybdBsUfo6-j3cK-ZYNTpooqyGA0SNjqgOjpdBMQDgSvM9FQ65PIfPfvxsdZiw/s1280/Environ%20Blog%20Post%20-%204.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="968" data-original-width="1280" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNd1S85RvdJ6yswp5YqREE16SWnmEH5_JDKQm_mP0CR6ga0bQODIPy8Z0hGy94W_3vMs4pNkB4reqq7fURAe4AprKYbCybV5zJLt5ULDS-6z5f5v5bJbgD88_hAhEZaybdBsUfo6-j3cK-ZYNTpooqyGA0SNjqgOjpdBMQDgSvM9FQ65PIfPfvxsdZiw/s320/Environ%20Blog%20Post%20-%204.jpeg" width="320" /></a></i></div><i>What constitutes a boundary?</i> Something that separates the horse from myself; a barrier the horse respects at all times. In a small pen, poles and cones are handy for marking space and suggesting boundaries. In a larger space, Cavaletti poles in a box shape—which I call <a href="https://freedomfarmnotes.blogspot.com/2018/05/leadership-learning-with-boundary-box.html" target="_blank">The Boundary Box</a>— is a favorite of mine. Halter rope and stick/string/flag, barrels, poles, and other obstacles are also familiar to most of us and with proper use, create and/or support safe boundaries. <p></p><p>But these by themselves do not constitute effective boundaries or safety. It is our observation skills and ability to respond effectively which make them truly boundaries. </p><p>Last year I devoted a <a href="https://freedomfarmnotes.blogspot.com/2021/03/observe-observe-observe.html" target="_blank">blog post to my favorite dictum, “Observe, observe, observe!”</a> and suggested various behaviors indicating the horse’s levels of concern. Here I want to share the beginnings of a handy tool for making sense of what we see. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaiK2WoSOQa7dmv-523JG6X3Zvqn65hTP6QHmn_2Lx8JKKI4-gHvzH3uOx0Ss5uzlkxPCtwJE8VgPkN5OiKBeEvSOKIv9_42LzhUhHJIs0fgN5zganGnysTg1M_t7hPA3pbeW7qgzgvbYg8uDAhn70WazWQ8Z7WT948E9WShg3SHgE5bmy-cfTAxl73g/s772/MG%20Environment%20Chart.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="473" data-original-width="772" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaiK2WoSOQa7dmv-523JG6X3Zvqn65hTP6QHmn_2Lx8JKKI4-gHvzH3uOx0Ss5uzlkxPCtwJE8VgPkN5OiKBeEvSOKIv9_42LzhUhHJIs0fgN5zganGnysTg1M_t7hPA3pbeW7qgzgvbYg8uDAhn70WazWQ8Z7WT948E9WShg3SHgE5bmy-cfTAxl73g/w640-h392/MG%20Environment%20Chart.png" width="640" /></a></div>Here is my most basic model to keep in mind to help make sense of the horse in any given situation. You have the environment at top, yourself (the observer) at bottom. You gauge your horse’s reactions to the situation with the intention of safety and productive work, which would center a needle straight up the middle, where confidence is developing and we can improve our connection, communication and cooperation. </div><p></p><p>You’ll notice that to either side there is danger: on the left, the danger of dominance as the horse seeks to control the situation, and opposite on the right, the danger of fear as the horse checks out in an adrenaline surge of fight/flight. </p><p>The stabilizing factor in either direction is boundaries, created by physical objects, or tools and techniques wisely applied, as I mentioned above. </p><p>In my next article, I will introduce a more complete diagram, helpful for developing our ability to identify and troubleshoot what we observe in the horse at any moment. It’s a time-tested framework I’ve developed over many years with thousands of horses. In the meantime, here are a few examples of working with the Boundary box:<br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIPrYf13FsyDS7dV5v0KZz8eKOdbQbA7rHTwA7BXvGme8WebueEXMfIlRwrvH1ABAXEa6X862l0G7deVxVg_jQmZX_UASM_-ZjM3YSJg8HRQpp5wf6cukjjLSBTHpsJjTsMd-Fky-k7vqwej6Yuhn_sUtetTu_y-ChBBmifeDVbKgKSXXIUZ4gg8D_OQ/s1280/Environ%20Blog%20Post%20-%202.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="961" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIPrYf13FsyDS7dV5v0KZz8eKOdbQbA7rHTwA7BXvGme8WebueEXMfIlRwrvH1ABAXEa6X862l0G7deVxVg_jQmZX_UASM_-ZjM3YSJg8HRQpp5wf6cukjjLSBTHpsJjTsMd-Fky-k7vqwej6Yuhn_sUtetTu_y-ChBBmifeDVbKgKSXXIUZ4gg8D_OQ/w400-h300/Environ%20Blog%20Post%20-%202.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Helping a student step in time with the horse...<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm2txwFVqkL2j2Adm5tXGRLqKoXFfKkIGL2d3HKsKf3MinJI7h1UfTxG0B6DP1qqRNFOse4p2V6x1aafGo1CeTH4XCRZu9FDrDG2DqpR_uuboYvzH1ZzD0h7qqTaht3SAB3xfzMggBCHE5FRrAAJ4GwbnZ1lYguz8ey70OC3JkEluetStJaRPg_XMzdQ/s1280/Environ%20Blog%20Post%20-%203.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="875" data-original-width="1280" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm2txwFVqkL2j2Adm5tXGRLqKoXFfKkIGL2d3HKsKf3MinJI7h1UfTxG0B6DP1qqRNFOse4p2V6x1aafGo1CeTH4XCRZu9FDrDG2DqpR_uuboYvzH1ZzD0h7qqTaht3SAB3xfzMggBCHE5FRrAAJ4GwbnZ1lYguz8ey70OC3JkEluetStJaRPg_XMzdQ/w400-h274/Environ%20Blog%20Post%20-%203.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even the youngest riders can learn boundaries. </td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><i>In summary, </i>when we understand the importance of environment, we will naturally do our most difficult work in the safest environment. Allow curiosity and relaxation to be the horses motivation to venture out of the safe environment, not force. </p><p>In this manner, we would grow our safe environment quicker because we allowed relaxation from our focused work to be on the edges of the safe environment. Horses understand
release of pressure, and when we can time that release effectively, the horse will find confidence in our leadership and the safe environment will expand. </p><p>Our leadership is developed through consistent and effective management of boundaries. These boundaries are best established when the horse is in a learning space, not a space that triggers the fight or flight response. </p><p>So, with a diagram for understanding environment and behavior in mind, tools like a boundary box or round pen in the proper environment can truly help us in establishing and reinforcing boundaries and developing the language of leadership. </p><p><b><i><a href="https://freedomfarmnotes.blogspot.com/2023/02/the-leadership-gauge-part-two-of-horse.html" target="_blank">Continue reading Part Two, The Leadership Gauge! </a></i></b><br /></p>Wise Horseman at Freedom Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05030656717082840863noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5009060359888081602.post-64354767668914405732022-08-31T08:31:00.005-07:002022-09-02T08:49:20.633-07:00Inspired by Beach Camp!<p> by Mary Gallagher and Kathy Schmidt</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1zAL6Y31YtxEdmb_v0fnm5TdBEdcWqKcyBwWPCr21ddgSZ-e9W1kQ8AitlUaedu6kTNMOtHJZpcPbx130SSyBlFrKks-R70iqHZ2D-sXcqQGRImEO5yi4S1B0moyd6qtDgmYmZi0EJP-ZTVLRS5-5vbcp13IIAVRTrNVkqsXxpbpAmHcEWqAZ8gGgXQ/s4032/IMG_3317.heic" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1zAL6Y31YtxEdmb_v0fnm5TdBEdcWqKcyBwWPCr21ddgSZ-e9W1kQ8AitlUaedu6kTNMOtHJZpcPbx130SSyBlFrKks-R70iqHZ2D-sXcqQGRImEO5yi4S1B0moyd6qtDgmYmZi0EJP-ZTVLRS5-5vbcp13IIAVRTrNVkqsXxpbpAmHcEWqAZ8gGgXQ/s320/IMG_3317.heic" width="320" /></a></div><br />For the last 17 years we have had the good fortune to visit the farm of Cindy and Gary Flood, in Long Beach, Washington, for our annual beach camp. They have graciously hosted our campers and horses, giving us use of their excellent covered arena and paddocks, with easy access to the legendary beach nearby. Our camps have taken many forms and included campers of all ages at one time or another. We are so grateful for the ongoing opportunity to be at such a beautiful facility!<br /><br />This year’s camp was, in a word, outstanding. As many of you know, recent beach camps have been exclusively for our Hoof Beats riders. Well, the small but enthusiastic crew that came with us this year really excelled at making this camp about horsemanship, pitching in to help, being there for each other, and having loads of fun in the process! Together we set a new standard for the future.<br /><br />Kathy Schmidt, who has partnered with me the last few years, bringing many years as a grade school teacher as well as a high level of horsemanship to the occasion, agreed that this camp was special. The question is, how to make it a success every year?<br /><br />Here’s what we think:<span><a name='more'></a></span><br /><i>Mary: </i>In the future, I see our beach camp as a concentrated horsemanship experience. That’s why it is only for Hoof Beats members, specifically those members who demonstrate safe, respectful horsemanship and team membership throughout the year. The golden Hoof Beats rule should be <p></p><p><i>“Respect yourself, respect your horse, respect the people around you, respect the facility. Clean up after your horse and yourself, and assist others who need help, inside and outside of lessons.”</i><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCm5wsl_iJnb_tzu9bGUFVkYSez3uj-8SfknxlNx5Lt55UKNb8N6sMc-BlbTzF8WanVLe_VyLP-8S-Dms9qh3kJfgpncrfF688ByHLXBBOUQ8xtpbNNmMuVTu569H921WQo2heZrnwK3H-tu7Us4Da_jOOI118MGjtfz-722f4B_Rl6sGUW7hzy8n7zQ/s4898/14-DSC02842.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCm5wsl_iJnb_tzu9bGUFVkYSez3uj-8SfknxlNx5Lt55UKNb8N6sMc-BlbTzF8WanVLe_VyLP-8S-Dms9qh3kJfgpncrfF688ByHLXBBOUQ8xtpbNNmMuVTu569H921WQo2heZrnwK3H-tu7Us4Da_jOOI118MGjtfz-722f4B_Rl6sGUW7hzy8n7zQ/s320/14-DSC02842.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>Kathy: </i>And beach camp should be FUN! For the people and the horses! This year we had six students, two coaches (Mary and me), two parents (Kimi Robertson, Sean Butler, who each took great photos!) and our horses. Some students had been before, and for two kids and three horses, it was their first time. I must say, it was a GREAT group, all focused on their horses and horsemanship. They were all cooperative and helpful with both horse chores and camp chores. The three older girls really stepped up to help the younger girls with their horses, doing the chores, partnering up on the beach, and could even pony the younger ones’ horses when needed.<br /><br />I wrote down what I thought this beach camp was about, to sort of paint the picture:<br /><br /><b>Lots of Liberty.</b> Everyday, our groundwork warm-up included liberty. The first day was simple, each person and horse had a “property” box (square space in the arena). The horses were expected to stay in the box with their person while they were groomed, scratched, and moved around a bit. If a horse left their box, their person stayed just waited calmly while others discouraged the horse from hanging out with their horse buddy and encouraged the loose horse to return ‘home’. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOnK2WaQiYzBY-IQPHN7chFnz3a2HK0DpzaSSRDsUsLzjN-irGrDAMrZNCBnWgl8R6D8eCGTZ376yz0qClJGQIeoQsMYp85EuDgYzDgsuYYAADLO7_YiAyLArB-N-tqh_iJoVJabzyrAv1cu1G_Fuj3oq6yE8QhMlEDCS7tcRaEpXB-x3ju4TUUl0hWw/s1280/MG-beach%202022%20-%204.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOnK2WaQiYzBY-IQPHN7chFnz3a2HK0DpzaSSRDsUsLzjN-irGrDAMrZNCBnWgl8R6D8eCGTZ376yz0qClJGQIeoQsMYp85EuDgYzDgsuYYAADLO7_YiAyLArB-N-tqh_iJoVJabzyrAv1cu1G_Fuj3oq6yE8QhMlEDCS7tcRaEpXB-x3ju4TUUl0hWw/s320/MG-beach%202022%20-%204.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br />The next two days, humans and horses circled up to form a ‘round pen’. We took turns being in the middle petting and scratching our horse, then asking for some simple yields, etc. Again, if a horse chose to leave their person, the others made it uncomfortable until the horse returned to their person. By the third day, the horses were so relaxed, several of them just lay down next to their humans! <br /><br />By the last day, the kids could walk and jog around the arena with all the horses loose and the horses stuck with their people. By that point, if a horse did leave, they had to look around for their person, who just kept on walking without them! (Except for smart pony Chili Pepper, who had it figured out that all he had to do was wait and Daniella would come around again! ) <br /><br />Most of the kids have played with liberty at the farm, but we have not done it at camp before. It was amazing how doing this made such a difference with our walks to and on the beach! All of the horses stayed right with their person, without trying to get ahead or lag behind, or worry about their horse buddies!<br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiCee0Z5W8kQ0uMPcCDqOmdYyDY-ntQ4yuzT3vIiyD_Js5p4W0J7eoszKyfOzV64dhC3EnnUkNIlcCUfMzDISQWXxnESyIJmdTRaYNXLSTx-tVCseQ1W3_mEIAlLzn3JQwvoJ4AvKEs8YVD-JS_-tUStoEePLJSXKk2Al86tsCtRf66f7MSatxxrxlOg/s2434/Beach%20ground.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="834" data-original-width="2434" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiCee0Z5W8kQ0uMPcCDqOmdYyDY-ntQ4yuzT3vIiyD_Js5p4W0J7eoszKyfOzV64dhC3EnnUkNIlcCUfMzDISQWXxnESyIJmdTRaYNXLSTx-tVCseQ1W3_mEIAlLzn3JQwvoJ4AvKEs8YVD-JS_-tUStoEePLJSXKk2Al86tsCtRf66f7MSatxxrxlOg/w640-h220/Beach%20ground.png" width="640" /></a></div><p><b>Games on the Beach.</b> Games on the beach were fun and full of learning. Mary always has such great ideas and can adjust the activities to build confidence, fit the needs of the horses and riders, and stretch their skills each day. Of course, we played the traditional camp favorite of both horses and humans – Duck, Duck, Goose!<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghBLO-0cK0X6GHXje36iTzrqTaLXV8_cNUSEfFMbe8N-_QMAuEcqpX1IPLotdS7f4NI90TLRU6HGE5UltDT3qIfaRKq-Pq0Mm78Co5b4SGv7MSvg23nZAC7ca7_tI1u_iFPfvw4RpOhwB0cP4kAgzkKXxv3cpShT2UdHL606gLPOMhm4lCXkQZc4knig/s4032/IMG_5760.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghBLO-0cK0X6GHXje36iTzrqTaLXV8_cNUSEfFMbe8N-_QMAuEcqpX1IPLotdS7f4NI90TLRU6HGE5UltDT3qIfaRKq-Pq0Mm78Co5b4SGv7MSvg23nZAC7ca7_tI1u_iFPfvw4RpOhwB0cP4kAgzkKXxv3cpShT2UdHL606gLPOMhm4lCXkQZc4knig/s320/IMG_5760.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><p><b>Games Not on the Beach. </b>One evening, the kids did an obstacle course challenge—bareback with one-rein. Every pair completed all the tasks with flying colors!<br /><br />Two evenings were humans-only games (thanks to Kimi Robertson for bringing her Yardzee game – a giant game of Yahtzee). The first night was learning the game for some as others coached. The second night we played as pairs of experienced with inexperienced, which became wildly competitive – complete with special good luck gymnastics and creative dice rolling techniques!<br /><br />And of course, play in general—the younger girls had a great time playing hide and seek in the barn, and everyone played with the dogs and puppy!<br /><br />In the spirit of Mary’s new golden rule, I’d just say that if a Hoof Beats student aspires to go to the next beach camp, they should be… <br /></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>willing to put your phone away while you are on your horse; </li><li>on time, ready to ride, and ready to learn during lessons;</li><li>supportive and ready to help others during lessons, practice, and at horseshows; <br /></li><li>helpful with chores, joining in set-up and clean-up at lessons, practice sessions, and horse shows; </li><li>responsible – always put your horse first, take care of your equipment, and clean-up after yourself and your horse.<br /></li></ul><p><i>Mary: </i>So that’s what beach camp inspired in us, and hopefully the students, too! I think we’d all agree that we’d wish for future ones to be at least this enjoyable, and I want us to feel free to improve on a good thing. Creativity and new ideas welcome! So let’s have a great year of horsemanship and team spirit, and bring it to the beach next year!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.app.goo.gl/CWhQfMCzj8ebQU289" target="_blank">See the Beach Camp 2022 album here!</a> <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFpHHdEFDucqrBDzRAdtT2lMlI3dsNMjtptw_YjaGGlnzDElwwfew4egOyLF48tUiGy_Uhq5H_tD41kOMHhlGcXOcAlC_SUGjFXAFn4E5YI-QyQmkPkNLD6k59yfybL02XcqFc9qBj-PmBhL_2fTaEELpveoiSVuVtTX48IQ_ig3GpqeSDbjX0jQYCsQ/s4898/13-DSC02840.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFpHHdEFDucqrBDzRAdtT2lMlI3dsNMjtptw_YjaGGlnzDElwwfew4egOyLF48tUiGy_Uhq5H_tD41kOMHhlGcXOcAlC_SUGjFXAFn4E5YI-QyQmkPkNLD6k59yfybL02XcqFc9qBj-PmBhL_2fTaEELpveoiSVuVtTX48IQ_ig3GpqeSDbjX0jQYCsQ/w640-h426/13-DSC02840.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Wise Horseman at Freedom Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05030656717082840863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5009060359888081602.post-87510735768568782432022-05-30T09:58:00.011-07:002023-09-07T08:03:20.207-07:00Giving the Horse a Pathway to Solve Problems, Part 2<p>by Mary Gallagher <br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMA0KRO6wdbOy55g0cycomM_-Ev3bCr3gc9f-7QfxmsCZ446_E06GuEZkjXb8SqwJS-_enPqjGa-WelbU0RIk9Mre_RyT-T-zMqB1TTqBZYvAQmdrQcyzwmi9mAkqhyCLCABoftHD_EcVT-FIVMAvl7NUlLx4UAy1ucthXwETOz91-MKZOYsVbOT6Jvg/s1354/Ruby-hill-3.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="894" data-original-width="1354" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMA0KRO6wdbOy55g0cycomM_-Ev3bCr3gc9f-7QfxmsCZ446_E06GuEZkjXb8SqwJS-_enPqjGa-WelbU0RIk9Mre_RyT-T-zMqB1TTqBZYvAQmdrQcyzwmi9mAkqhyCLCABoftHD_EcVT-FIVMAvl7NUlLx4UAy1ucthXwETOz91-MKZOYsVbOT6Jvg/s320/Ruby-hill-3.png" width="320" /></a></div>I’ve been continuing to experiment with finding fun ways to help my horses in training solve their own problems and change habits. <br /><br />First off, variety in your training keeps the horse engaged and learning on multiple levels. Even better, using real world exercises on the ground that set up the horse to deal with their own issues gets positive results far faster than schooling from the saddle. In this video, I help a green mare with the habit of ‘swapping her leads behind’ find a better way, with minimal input from me. Were I to correct the same issue through riding….let’s just say we’d be at it a while.<span><a name='more'></a></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9JCoAGmjkKI-r-_ErYRWUjCUFWd45m1ZnVGgAQqL4mApk1buOUtRq2fKI1oYwYLxuHAbCjLYQVk1MVJ9iOs84o-0E-zS2mD3IV88PkWoAsT6DOITgI5e77X4SSYWjfDwq3uyfcUZIauK_vaE_eiZuX8vv9y8Fn-m1pnSlDL1R8NeKNWelKrqXw9SuUA/s1430/Ruby-hill-2.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1430" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9JCoAGmjkKI-r-_ErYRWUjCUFWd45m1ZnVGgAQqL4mApk1buOUtRq2fKI1oYwYLxuHAbCjLYQVk1MVJ9iOs84o-0E-zS2mD3IV88PkWoAsT6DOITgI5e77X4SSYWjfDwq3uyfcUZIauK_vaE_eiZuX8vv9y8Fn-m1pnSlDL1R8NeKNWelKrqXw9SuUA/s320/Ruby-hill-2.png" width="320" /></a></div>This way, we were able to set her up for success in her canter, and then move on to strengthening her diagonals in the trot transition. It flowed naturally, and we both had a great time and felt successful (if I do say so).<br /><br />In <a href="https://freedomfarmnotes.blogspot.com/2022/05/giving-horse-pathway-to-solve-problems.html" target="_blank">my last video</a>, I had this mare work at her transitions with cavalettis. This time, I use a small hill on our horsemanship “playground” to get her to further strengthen her canter, then improve her trot diagonals in the downward transition. Natural obstacles offer a lot of benefits, such as fresh perspective and new, fun challenges*. I’m just there as support.<br /><br />The exercise: Starting her circle on the flat, we get the canter, which takes her up the hill to a natural opportunity to transition to trot. After early high spirits, with repetition, she settles into figuring out how to carry herself best when topping the hill and facing the downward slope. It’s great to watch a smart horse sort out their feet and make it work.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rmux3PKh1Zo" width="320" youtube-src-id="rmux3PKh1Zo"></iframe></div>Using the intelligence of the horse in this way to work on improvements, introduces a kind of puzzle learning for the horse, which smart ones love. You can think of it as ‘rewriting old programs’, which is certainly the case when the horse commits to a better way of doing things. I think I’m rewriting some of my old programs, too! And keeping it fresh with some wonderful horses.<br /><br /><br />*An example is the video <a href="https://freedomfarmnotes.blogspot.com/2022/02/trees-can-help-your-horse-find-feel.html#more" target="_blank">“Using Trees to Help Your Horse Find the Feel”</a>.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYJj0DX-9q1FuHRETasQLZ_rYZsxGJQNQH_7DJdwKvzwQbrxLjpa-zbBsOqI-gjJS4_4Uc3m6V0XbdCvAsIRLRnpQe6RKnI3SYR28-vwnraxXjOGq5O9q8geDeyT7TvvXF9n3s4uUApc0avIusZNl5nt3bUXOkYHb5Rh-jQdlJjpjJJHwOPwRCU9NXZg/s1522/Ruby-hill-15.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="912" data-original-width="1522" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYJj0DX-9q1FuHRETasQLZ_rYZsxGJQNQH_7DJdwKvzwQbrxLjpa-zbBsOqI-gjJS4_4Uc3m6V0XbdCvAsIRLRnpQe6RKnI3SYR28-vwnraxXjOGq5O9q8geDeyT7TvvXF9n3s4uUApc0avIusZNl5nt3bUXOkYHb5Rh-jQdlJjpjJJHwOPwRCU9NXZg/w400-h240/Ruby-hill-15.png" width="400" /></a></div><span><!--more--></span>Wise Horseman at Freedom Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05030656717082840863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5009060359888081602.post-82520230374291381262022-05-05T16:02:00.001-07:002022-05-05T16:14:45.002-07:00Giving the Horse a Pathway to Solve Problems, From the Ground<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9wXaGAzDnO7eur7UVB7lmgdrsaf74J-lbN9bRs3DNo3foGminyuckDLNmU7Z_OlrimQbC6rdbHsoADBKp5-QNsCBgd9LGlnmnaAgkRsvmW0fyFR-J2IiPXGQUc6ip7zDASkKG85bx4VL70UFvGLE7VLtgkuyaX37jriPhteJZiqTtWA3f3dm_NOe8Fw/s2042/Screen%20Shot%202022-05-05%20at%203.48.52%20PM.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1384" data-original-width="2042" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9wXaGAzDnO7eur7UVB7lmgdrsaf74J-lbN9bRs3DNo3foGminyuckDLNmU7Z_OlrimQbC6rdbHsoADBKp5-QNsCBgd9LGlnmnaAgkRsvmW0fyFR-J2IiPXGQUc6ip7zDASkKG85bx4VL70UFvGLE7VLtgkuyaX37jriPhteJZiqTtWA3f3dm_NOe8Fw/s320/Screen%20Shot%202022-05-05%20at%203.48.52%20PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>By Mary Gallagher <p></p><p></p>Very often, the mistakes the horse makes under saddle are mistakes by the rider in terms of balance, connection and lack of lightness in communication. Horses want to move rhythmically and efficiently, and too often it’s we that get in the way. Like other trainers, I am good at working through issues from the saddle, but I’ve been practicing new ways to reduce training time and get even better results from the ground. <span><a name='more'></a></span><p></p><p>It’s a matter of allowing the horse to teach itself by setting up a situation where we can get out of the way and let the horse think through the problem. To use a computer analogy, I am either teaching a new program, or rewriting an old program that is not working. </p><p>In this video, I help a mare improve her canter by setting up a situation for downward transition to the trot. She got the idea quickly, and sorted out her leads nicely. We moved on quickly to other things. This is one example of a simple liberty exercise to solve a problem. The possibilities are endless, as long as your goal is to allow the horse more freedom to think through and solve puzzles or problems. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qVsJVbcjiR0" width="320" youtube-src-id="qVsJVbcjiR0"></iframe></div>Once that happens—the horse has found the solution to the problem through moving their feet— it’s much easier for the rider to access that solution without frustrating the horse and triggering resistance. <p></p><p>This is just one example of a major step I’ve taken in reducing training time and helping my horses move forward towards purpose, which is way more enjoyable for the horse—and me! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicqNVZAHKOFvsDnTughrc3aHmXpUTyJpkhMAS5BRk-7lczUTtIqNbUj9Q4d84wu_2Rp-lcXmYjEEBWshDVJS5em7fnxFnOwoNUWhdJhdcs-Sz6nqbsD0zyyL2M6hA_bM7LfXEpexqFK6fkIexSOZ0JEzvcfZIgnIanGYYfZmZ7CATI6RRWIvJ-GX2YCg/s1570/Screen%20Shot%202022-05-05%20at%203.47.26%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1132" data-original-width="1570" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicqNVZAHKOFvsDnTughrc3aHmXpUTyJpkhMAS5BRk-7lczUTtIqNbUj9Q4d84wu_2Rp-lcXmYjEEBWshDVJS5em7fnxFnOwoNUWhdJhdcs-Sz6nqbsD0zyyL2M6hA_bM7LfXEpexqFK6fkIexSOZ0JEzvcfZIgnIanGYYfZmZ7CATI6RRWIvJ-GX2YCg/s320/Screen%20Shot%202022-05-05%20at%203.47.26%20PM.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><i>Subscribe to this blog or check back to follow this series, and more!</i></p>Wise Horseman at Freedom Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05030656717082840863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5009060359888081602.post-43363354764446866582022-02-04T09:35:00.001-08:002023-09-07T08:04:15.688-07:00Trees Can Help Your Horse Find the Feel<p style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">By Mary Gallagher</span></p><p style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEimfC7K_3YC8VADg4ssvIPgWiIea-94yE85Cyz7cLewaa10xCwiLb90JZ9F_7tEFQAZNK2J_rjTTH_yTSDKaCackSVE9KDKuKQHVHKpuYYd_cB9z-SeBysHLeQm5SP_QrJlzgSYFiSnz8yT_QwG_8jJHOiG_694HEQ6q5aL_EQiQF1UrHbSkzGESqDXyQ=s1280" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="965" data-original-width="1280" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEimfC7K_3YC8VADg4ssvIPgWiIea-94yE85Cyz7cLewaa10xCwiLb90JZ9F_7tEFQAZNK2J_rjTTH_yTSDKaCackSVE9KDKuKQHVHKpuYYd_cB9z-SeBysHLeQm5SP_QrJlzgSYFiSnz8yT_QwG_8jJHOiG_694HEQ6q5aL_EQiQF1UrHbSkzGESqDXyQ=w200-h151" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tree as helpful obstacle<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></p><p style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Here at Freedom Farm we are blessed with a wooded playground we call the Emerald Forest. It has provided everyone here with the added benefit of exposing their horses to natural obstacles as well as a quiet retreat to strengthen their relationship with their horses. So with improved weather this month, it was a pleasure to get back out into this beautiful training area. Trees are wonderful obstacles: you can go around or between them, under their branches, over their exposed roots or fallen branches. Today I will share with you one of my favorite ways of using going around a tree to help the horse develop a softer feel.</span></p><p style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><p></p><p style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The basic setup is to ask the horse to walk around the tree, while we remain stationary—provided the tree has a strong trunk and is unyielding to the tension of a rope. A tree like this can be a very solid natural obstacle that provides a clear boundary to help us humans stay more neutral and out of the way.</span></p><p style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18.4px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjXyd8iSWhptOk3R2RhGAyL0g8IZoNRg1uRaIIbb630AxQrOaxuCGXwuuCKrCiIuCSFis0UKKiPRqnBncQLkiRkoHIZ4KjFCXJ_dWjItEg-jDDir0_DGtGWKGgBrmlewGm27yO45hDvNqFe6nmXSfTR9jZsVr4zKpIFhfIfsZr93BXlhiVigxW7ZDdqIw=s1280" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="965" data-original-width="1280" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjXyd8iSWhptOk3R2RhGAyL0g8IZoNRg1uRaIIbb630AxQrOaxuCGXwuuCKrCiIuCSFis0UKKiPRqnBncQLkiRkoHIZ4KjFCXJ_dWjItEg-jDDir0_DGtGWKGgBrmlewGm27yO45hDvNqFe6nmXSfTR9jZsVr4zKpIFhfIfsZr93BXlhiVigxW7ZDdqIw=w640-h482" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ask the horse to walk around the tree.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>In <a href="https://youtu.be/LziwzZVCB5E" target="_blank">the accompanying video</a>, you can see me allowing the rope to slip a little to begin simulating what is expected in softness. To teach softness, the feel must come up slowly. If the feel comes up too quickly, it can cause more tension in the horse, whereas our goal here is to create softness.</span></p><p style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhx__EVOo9mGo8vpieXWHII_fseGX2t5tAL6c8Tr-53-Y_dJcHr9S7BfaUYiUwHO7GtoiuCT8KCRojvX1CtKPsSXy25RP6XSwAJhZ7JyfBUqRoTBcawhygV27dxW5Oh8HSWbAd0ibhWTUNNH2kLuX24KtOsI_W_72p4J3eKFmx8Jz1eAvOP9NZeIMP3Tw=s1280" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="965" data-original-width="1280" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhx__EVOo9mGo8vpieXWHII_fseGX2t5tAL6c8Tr-53-Y_dJcHr9S7BfaUYiUwHO7GtoiuCT8KCRojvX1CtKPsSXy25RP6XSwAJhZ7JyfBUqRoTBcawhygV27dxW5Oh8HSWbAd0ibhWTUNNH2kLuX24KtOsI_W_72p4J3eKFmx8Jz1eAvOP9NZeIMP3Tw=w640-h482" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The horse can feel through the rope...<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p><p style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Although the tree is rigid, the horse can still feel through the rope to the human connection, and we can adjust the feel to meet our horse’s needs. They ultimately differentiate between the unyielding boundary of the tree, and the human offer of softness through the slip in the rope. </span></p><p style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgaCKDvy4ROTrfk-28pa_OqGv1dGcAqsGl0ufALJpF9Tl8LbFRtgaEv7jkhS0bL0XStojnTF2oIXqnSRZh7riAMMgW84C6xvWrizecU-TGri-kSu9oMD0miFEjM5_1VDU6o-E--4_eE1STuDJFhrWjcmocab5CtkM_af63XUKnB9jQcWDr9QW7c-JDhOg=s1280" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="965" data-original-width="1280" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgaCKDvy4ROTrfk-28pa_OqGv1dGcAqsGl0ufALJpF9Tl8LbFRtgaEv7jkhS0bL0XStojnTF2oIXqnSRZh7riAMMgW84C6xvWrizecU-TGri-kSu9oMD0miFEjM5_1VDU6o-E--4_eE1STuDJFhrWjcmocab5CtkM_af63XUKnB9jQcWDr9QW7c-JDhOg=w640-h482" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Softness, and a return, following the feel.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;">During this exercise, you can observe<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span style="font-style: italic;">resistance, flexion, weight shift, balance, engagement, and softness</span>. (Again, <a href="https://youtu.be/LziwzZVCB5E" target="_blank">watch the video</a> to see what I mean.)</span></p><p style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18.4px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Here's how it works. (Remember, the trick is to set it up and wait.)</span></p><p style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18.4px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Send the horse around the tree with a good amount of line;</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">As the rope begins to wind around the tree the slack comes out of the rope creating tension, and<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span style="font-style: italic;">resistance<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>in the horse. As the horse goes further around the tree the tree creates leverage, and the horse will need to adjust to the shorting of the rope.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Allow the rope to slip a little bit as your horse’s awareness comes up. This will encourage the horse to shape himself to adjust to the feel on the rope (<span style="font-style: italic;">flexion</span>);</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">The horse's natural desire to find his way back to comfort causes him to adjust his feet and rebalance for stability (<span style="font-style: italic;">weight, balance</span>). All of these movements require he<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span style="font-style: italic;">engage</span>, or feel the amount of rope he has to work with, and adjust accordingly. This takes time for the horse to process so you need to remain in neutral—no fixing or rescuing!</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">After he's flexed, shifted and rebalanced, the horse will<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span style="font-style: italic;">soften</span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>and return around the tree, seeking further comfort. Allow him to think through the problem—don’t be in a hurry.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">When he is relaxed again, Repeat the process, sending him back around the tree. The horse’s feel through the rope this time will be heightened; not wanting to be caught off guard again he will respect the limitation of the rope and adjust more readily. With each additional send around the tree, he becomes more aware of the feel, and softens more willingly.</span></li></ol><p style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Things to remember while doing the above steps...</span></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">This exercise involves several teaching phases—it is important to allow the horse lots of time to fully comprehend how he comes by comfort—this is the<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span style="font-style: italic;">feel</span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>part.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">There is no need to rush the process—the discomfort of the slack coming out of the rope causes the horse to seek relief.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Your job is to allow the horse to search out the best feel.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">The ultimate goal is for our horse to understand that when the feel comes up on the rope—and later on the rein—flexion creates comfort.</span></li></ul><p style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh5MXlmNN_xYXX31F7YeD0Jal0M_fauxPcr7B_Ni363XeFw43bWx0gMGy4AzVfiJ_u30I8UEoFvrj0jHnOz5QYB-UgSG8Wfk-TJJSEQle8idXN1OVSPxXUMvzUkQFqi1X55PgfZi3n97nczWL3XqXBD9O8aJK0epaNV17WIadntnBJqxOaqJLert41Ymw=s1280" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="965" data-original-width="1280" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh5MXlmNN_xYXX31F7YeD0Jal0M_fauxPcr7B_Ni363XeFw43bWx0gMGy4AzVfiJ_u30I8UEoFvrj0jHnOz5QYB-UgSG8Wfk-TJJSEQle8idXN1OVSPxXUMvzUkQFqi1X55PgfZi3n97nczWL3XqXBD9O8aJK0epaNV17WIadntnBJqxOaqJLert41Ymw=w640-h482" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Following the feel back.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;">There are so many ways to teach our horses to carry themselves effectively in partnership with us. Using trees as a natural support for teaching feel not only gives us a handy new obstacle and approach, it gets us out of the arena and into nature with our equine partners. I encourage you to go enjoy nature with your horse—and play with trees!</span></p><p style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p><p style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Here's the video again for handy reference - MG </i></span></p><p style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i></i></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="386" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LziwzZVCB5E" width="574" youtube-src-id="LziwzZVCB5E"></iframe></i></div><i><br /> </i><br /><p></p>Wise Horseman at Freedom Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05030656717082840863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5009060359888081602.post-21624303275105818972022-01-11T11:15:00.005-08:002023-09-07T08:13:47.383-07:00Train While You Play—Lessons Learned from Baby Horses<p>By Mary Gallagher</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEimJgFTW5nkAslJdMG-Wvo3zYdhIGFDrppzyMRSil5bbf7H_aZ0WO8Tqo73Ne6sWpWBDufBcEx2s1_hOa4HKYco6Z25n-x7iqfuHOBlYEQMIG0hfPMQDJd3rNG1ztW9gLmO40U8twPFPR3qkUkU2Xxkjpcdmz96kGzLOBRsMcmJDOodzKlR4htfbIv1eg=s1280" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEimJgFTW5nkAslJdMG-Wvo3zYdhIGFDrppzyMRSil5bbf7H_aZ0WO8Tqo73Ne6sWpWBDufBcEx2s1_hOa4HKYco6Z25n-x7iqfuHOBlYEQMIG0hfPMQDJd3rNG1ztW9gLmO40U8twPFPR3qkUkU2Xxkjpcdmz96kGzLOBRsMcmJDOodzKlR4htfbIv1eg=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br />Baby horses are four-legged balls of fun, interested in everything, playful and curious. We have been blessed with a number of bright young colts to start and develop, over the past few years at Freedom Farm, and I’ve been taking notes on our progress. I’ve realized how much power and potential there is in recognizing the energy of play as a resource in training, not only with babies but horses in general. Without overthinking things (a good first rule of thumb with baby horses), I wanted to share some insights and ideas to consider while playing with your horse of any age:<p></p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p><i>You can see these ideas in action in my recent video, taken in real time during our Friday ground class. Linked at end of article!</i><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEilxh3YDi5jMz24HVzFDwgkU4hsZDPdN4sqNlfoSB5mlFtgLnWHtHiiGskHB_GeDwLGK8d3I_pbwa63W37pf9XGYzJjUoWoGq5Peh7ABWQdncZGdPGHTr35Qjb6VQO8nCgD1qUT8dwowc0ZN4-8dr0srhvIjes9bc74s8GcxwwU_5Nyc3xS2QnLnPFUPg=s1500" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEilxh3YDi5jMz24HVzFDwgkU4hsZDPdN4sqNlfoSB5mlFtgLnWHtHiiGskHB_GeDwLGK8d3I_pbwa63W37pf9XGYzJjUoWoGq5Peh7ABWQdncZGdPGHTr35Qjb6VQO8nCgD1qUT8dwowc0ZN4-8dr0srhvIjes9bc74s8GcxwwU_5Nyc3xS2QnLnPFUPg=s320" width="320" /></a></b></div><b>1. Warm up play time—No demands, just move and groove!</b> Turn out your horse with friends to stretch the legs and burn off some excess energy. <p></p><p><br /><b>2. Baby Steps. </b> Start with boundary rules. This means true boundaries, such as our Boundary Box (cavaletti poles arranged in boxes of various size). Setting poles or any obstacles to play around can be a fun way to establish safe boundaries. In the play area, I can allow my young horse to investigate the obstacle while keeping them on the opposite side of the obstacle from me. This gets a conversation going, while allowing curiosity to grow. Later these little yields can grow into bigger yields, such as going sideways down the fence. Not too soon though—remember, these are baby steps!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh9ebJP9cofumw289Uqv-1qJsL2xdmqG9qKkBo7hiELkS_7Sm_nw0Mk-dIh1fuQtlcER6CrrEU8C3xYSycuFCRwrfQTA5xqzjhE0k2HuRXNc3lJCYSKSRU7eAXsUM73SmY_SSE8dG_Z3mhYqkATliDenYcHMHLlgo84qkqMKTUNCEEV879NB89wiW-RVQ=s2000" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh9ebJP9cofumw289Uqv-1qJsL2xdmqG9qKkBo7hiELkS_7Sm_nw0Mk-dIh1fuQtlcER6CrrEU8C3xYSycuFCRwrfQTA5xqzjhE0k2HuRXNc3lJCYSKSRU7eAXsUM73SmY_SSE8dG_Z3mhYqkATliDenYcHMHLlgo84qkqMKTUNCEEV879NB89wiW-RVQ=s320" width="320" /></a></div><p><b>3. Brief and easy to understand.</b> Change obstacles frequently to keep interest going. If I want a horse to put a foot on an obstacle, I would start with: put your nose on the obstacle and then move on to a new obstacle to put the nose on again. Get the nose going where you want and the feet will follow. Keep it simple and go with curiosity.</p><p><br /><b>4. Make a winner, make a try-er, make it fun to learn. </b>Speaking of encouraging curiosity, you really want your horse to give yes answers. YES I Can Do That. Because it is SO EASY. I can’t express how important it is to set things up so the horse can give a Yes answer. BABY STEPS. Its like playing with a young child if you make it too hard they stop having fun then they don’t want to play. Make it so your young horse can come up with the right answer easily. And then move on. DO NOT DRILL the same answer. </p><p><br /><b>5. Short sessions.</b> Keep it interesting, just like with little kids. If you keep your training time short, you won’t run out of ideas or become too repetitive.</p><p><br /><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgp-lttlGKgOkLY2W4qFXZApwhDKnjwQBZB23BzNEZ5WaxtoMXfgMJDGohyc-zOE8UZk5aRaDbt8IfHG4I2snkyYiNieyEm6YqRZktqLFUxUbFIF5YIiwHGiylm9YVHDZ4BehzIdqI-yrUu6tKghhrb5Wfbs6iRrcRmVt9aC67UJB0LMC8oUzBEvmv1vg=s1500" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1123" data-original-width="1500" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgp-lttlGKgOkLY2W4qFXZApwhDKnjwQBZB23BzNEZ5WaxtoMXfgMJDGohyc-zOE8UZk5aRaDbt8IfHG4I2snkyYiNieyEm6YqRZktqLFUxUbFIF5YIiwHGiylm9YVHDZ4BehzIdqI-yrUu6tKghhrb5Wfbs6iRrcRmVt9aC67UJB0LMC8oUzBEvmv1vg=s320" width="320" /></a></b></div><p><b>6. Forget about training and have fun. </b>Knowing what you want the end result to be is important. But you don’t need to win the Olympics today! Be flexible, start by shaping what is presented in the moment. As your horse offers pieces of that end result you can shape them for the future. Too often we get in our heads that things have to go a certain way and we miss some beautiful ideas developing in the young horse. As I like to say, “Observe, observe, observe. It is easier to shape than to fix!<br /><br /><b> </b></p><p><b> </b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh7pYiFqHXNLcOBy2JeeCaRZ7e9el8Ahualn9AQhKjqbMU0AbWBokvngTyfq26Kdu6iCRqSb0fAmPJy4R5OUxWhKQjDL6YnXFrV6JThUntV7Xh-9NSeCYZ34Yv_h5pLqa1688JPc-v6AN4jQD3uW9xjPxLOzxly7pA2oNuSDucM1EQ398IelJkMJhLQQQ=s1280" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh7pYiFqHXNLcOBy2JeeCaRZ7e9el8Ahualn9AQhKjqbMU0AbWBokvngTyfq26Kdu6iCRqSb0fAmPJy4R5OUxWhKQjDL6YnXFrV6JThUntV7Xh-9NSeCYZ34Yv_h5pLqa1688JPc-v6AN4jQD3uW9xjPxLOzxly7pA2oNuSDucM1EQ398IelJkMJhLQQQ=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><b>7. ‘Warm Down’ Curiosity walk.</b> End with bonding. Go for a graze or a wander with your horse. Hang out! It is your relationship that really matters. <br /><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">And finally... <b>Friday Horsemanship with Obstacles and Baby Horses. </b>Enjoy! <br /></div><div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dUlMSTfP-H8" width="320" youtube-src-id="dUlMSTfP-H8"></iframe></div><p></p></div>Wise Horseman at Freedom Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05030656717082840863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5009060359888081602.post-44026660550500931522022-01-11T11:01:00.002-08:002022-01-11T11:02:51.884-08:00My Appreciations for 2021, and Prayers for 2022<p>By Mary Gallagher</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEicAddQBI49YztYdGR3-2YjZHsHgud7l7TzfThEwbswAhbvpc3J0d9sek8O65lXuNpeqPz5ustQG-NR6npxEfGXEfNBUJ64vmpreotHpLyqnLXfKmNWuEehq2aUp52h_xEVQLUsFxYWl2P3qFJ2fVUTsVNWbV4KkbK35wA9eZgQAuBUpoWllKG3D2FA5g=s1440" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEicAddQBI49YztYdGR3-2YjZHsHgud7l7TzfThEwbswAhbvpc3J0d9sek8O65lXuNpeqPz5ustQG-NR6npxEfGXEfNBUJ64vmpreotHpLyqnLXfKmNWuEehq2aUp52h_xEVQLUsFxYWl2P3qFJ2fVUTsVNWbV4KkbK35wA9eZgQAuBUpoWllKG3D2FA5g=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br />Keeping Freedom Farm running takes the combined efforts of a lot of wonderful people—which many of you can appreciate after these last two weeks of below freezing weather. <p></p><p><b>My Appreciations for 2021...</b></p><br /><span><a name='more'></a></span><p>First off, a <i>big thank you </i>to Jeremy Soderstrom! In times like these we can see just how dedicated Jeremy is. When most can’t even get out of their driveways, there goes Jeremy and his trike, or if it’s too slippery for the trike, Jeremy walks to the Farm. So appreciated, Jeremy! And then we have Mike Stinson: it is pretty cool to have someone watching the place 24/7, but Mike keeps a close eye on the horses. Mike <i>misses nothing</i> when it comes them, and it is truly a gift and a blessing to know we’ll be alert to even slight changes from the norm. Lester Hardy, thank you for <i>keeping the smiles on our faces</i> and spirits high—never is a new face missed, with all being greeted and welcomed by Lester as he goes about his work. My appreciation also to Haleyanna Fell, for your wonderful efforts in making sure the little things are taken care of, and your total love for the animals. </p><p><br />We are so blessed to have a <i>wealth of knowledge</i> ready available right here at FF. Particular thanks to Jerry Schmidt and Jess Crouch, who always give when asked—advice, hands on help with a horse, you name it. Their horsemanship is the best—they know to observe and allow everyone space to work through challenges. Two more <i>wise horsemen </i>have become a permanent part of the fabric of Freedom Farm: Kathy Schmidt and Audrey Bryant have been here, heart and soul, from the beginning. They have each been with me for so long that they know how I think and can take the reins in a moment’s notice—true friends. Thank you so much.</p><p><br />With the help of <i>instructors</i> Hannah Crouch, Ava Rich, and Elise Dean, we are able to keep the Connection, Communication, and Cooperation flowing and alive for future Freedom Farm horsemanship. All these young wise horsemen coming up are a joy for us all to watch and I am so appreciative of their fresh perspectives.</p><p><br /><i>Our clinicians</i>—Being able to bring in master horsemen to supplement the progress of our horsemanship is a true blessing. Thank you Dave Ellis and Martin Black for so generously sharing your wisdom last year!</p><p><br />Two extremely <i>generous people</i> that keep me on track, on time, and in the right head space—Mary Tulin, and Kip Tulin, I could not do this without you. Website, photos, newsletter and endless beautiful social media posts allow me to share the heart beating at Freedom Farm. Kip is also a willing spare hand when things need fixing. Many, many thanks. </p><p><br />Extraordinary <i>volunteers</i> can make a difference in just a short amount of time: Thank you Bob Thompson and grandson Maliki! When these two drop by, the hay forks get lighter, the wheelbarrows move faster, and the smiles broaden. And thanks to Philip Powers who makes sure those forgotten hooves are never really forgotten. Thank you for keeping up with the herd!</p><p><br /><b>My prayers for 2022…</b></p><p><br />For our Freedom Farm families, boarders, and students: I pray that you are blessed with good health—both two-legged and four-legged. For Freedom Farm: May we be blessed again with laughter (thanks Lester and Jeremy), great music (Jess, Hannah, Lester), great footing (Mike), beautiful jumps and courses (Lester), healthy horses, nutritious hay harvests (Jerry), and friends and partners gathering in the special connection that only comes through horsemanship.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhMF-HYQtO-LfjFpipg_EnrHrlrDFpoMKss5NdDgJ_SSyqtJ_TDve3_rfXyQHP_SXBXfPaOhMi-vutGAYcpXppXnSgAaopsbhctMvHGpFD56hP8OUYjeFHe5RwDZMriWPERzpPmQx1gQqx1-yWo0d9Qd_Iuv-ftzRYEnRGIX6viJ1FFq-fSwObZ6U27mg=s1788" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1788" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhMF-HYQtO-LfjFpipg_EnrHrlrDFpoMKss5NdDgJ_SSyqtJ_TDve3_rfXyQHP_SXBXfPaOhMi-vutGAYcpXppXnSgAaopsbhctMvHGpFD56hP8OUYjeFHe5RwDZMriWPERzpPmQx1gQqx1-yWo0d9Qd_Iuv-ftzRYEnRGIX6viJ1FFq-fSwObZ6U27mg=s320" width="258" /></a></div> <i>May old friends never be forgotten—</i>Meho, Bill, Lily, Gracie’s baby colt.<p></p><p><br />And finally, again I remember Matt Niemeyer, long time Hoof Beats dad, great participant in all aspects of the program, and beyond—who personified for me the magnificence of life. Arriving on the Farm scene over a decade ago with smiles and endless support, Matt will be remembered for his never ending positivity and spirit of service. One example dear to my heart was how he recruited the Hoof Beats students to assist in taking care of Indy’s eye (Indy was one of our elderly, retired school horses). We all learned so much, and Matt (a brilliant eye surgeon) had a way of opening our eyes while educating our minds.</p><p><br />In closing, here at this beautiful facility, we only need to exercise our imaginations to keep learning interesting and fresh for ourselves and our horses. Everyday we experience new insights through horsemanship. Thank you to everyone for being a part of FF’s magic!</p><p><span></span></p><p></p><span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhpwPNuG73ttWjcJX3S2jm5D-YcSuSQvqqC13dLEgU4DpbJEZA2PrYRo9Cv2aINK4y-W1wDEsO_Jcfiiz2fqDLifB4AP3TfdVyw0sosqcrCBWA5nb-5vxlWPKMrTWU3hUqkthx5PiDbi8sW1EOR0hW7Qmo4ocssXm4WzTb31c0SlKJROYrjBuN9weAr0w=s1500" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhpwPNuG73ttWjcJX3S2jm5D-YcSuSQvqqC13dLEgU4DpbJEZA2PrYRo9Cv2aINK4y-W1wDEsO_Jcfiiz2fqDLifB4AP3TfdVyw0sosqcrCBWA5nb-5vxlWPKMrTWU3hUqkthx5PiDbi8sW1EOR0hW7Qmo4ocssXm4WzTb31c0SlKJROYrjBuN9weAr0w=w640-h480" width="640" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhpwPNuG73ttWjcJX3S2jm5D-YcSuSQvqqC13dLEgU4DpbJEZA2PrYRo9Cv2aINK4y-W1wDEsO_Jcfiiz2fqDLifB4AP3TfdVyw0sosqcrCBWA5nb-5vxlWPKMrTWU3hUqkthx5PiDbi8sW1EOR0hW7Qmo4ocssXm4WzTb31c0SlKJROYrjBuN9weAr0w=s1500" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiBtGU2DwOARtay_gnqxHlrU2EDHCrhndPpaEGm0J_Deox5k6WbS6XgP96zDnyl1DGZfk6rnuBPSVCog5kW_nLQjORsdpde_3VdJnJitrz0PEa-obPaUvxx_Ptt4S86zXA-44vr1OT8FBEAf4Qeh_rzSxx5Q_cJE9sq7RJrGJ2oUEtSCxDDFUqAnvRMQA=s1500" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiBtGU2DwOARtay_gnqxHlrU2EDHCrhndPpaEGm0J_Deox5k6WbS6XgP96zDnyl1DGZfk6rnuBPSVCog5kW_nLQjORsdpde_3VdJnJitrz0PEa-obPaUvxx_Ptt4S86zXA-44vr1OT8FBEAf4Qeh_rzSxx5Q_cJE9sq7RJrGJ2oUEtSCxDDFUqAnvRMQA=s1500" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiBtGU2DwOARtay_gnqxHlrU2EDHCrhndPpaEGm0J_Deox5k6WbS6XgP96zDnyl1DGZfk6rnuBPSVCog5kW_nLQjORsdpde_3VdJnJitrz0PEa-obPaUvxx_Ptt4S86zXA-44vr1OT8FBEAf4Qeh_rzSxx5Q_cJE9sq7RJrGJ2oUEtSCxDDFUqAnvRMQA=s320" width="320" /></a></div></div><br /><span><br /><!--more--></span><span><!--more--></span>Wise Horseman at Freedom Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05030656717082840863noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5009060359888081602.post-28556820772024883812021-11-01T16:16:00.006-07:002023-09-07T08:04:40.424-07:00Honoring the Horse’s Learning Process: reflections on a clinic with Martin Black<p style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 3px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">by Mary Gallagher</span></span></p><p style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 3px; min-height: 13.9px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV1MvwU8mIKjfZ6M_9PkJsnqPZLdiJxze4JI7VPt0wbCrxjUvuCIEO52KHksSg56xcLNJulm-uum95e2E1Loub9dAmmOm3sSXglBwIncue9emb5bW0U7d7xavmYeMDhUpg7F-5bxj7wuI-/s4032/IMG_9492.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV1MvwU8mIKjfZ6M_9PkJsnqPZLdiJxze4JI7VPt0wbCrxjUvuCIEO52KHksSg56xcLNJulm-uum95e2E1Loub9dAmmOm3sSXglBwIncue9emb5bW0U7d7xavmYeMDhUpg7F-5bxj7wuI-/s320/IMG_9492.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">We were privileged to host Martin Black for a great clinic last week, in which he stressed his approach to “evidence-based horsemanship” —recognizing the results of our communication in the horse’s immediate response. The participants came with a good foundation in connecting to their horses’ feet, so Martin was able to further refine our understanding and inspire us with his unique insights. He got us out of our comfort zones, challenging what we thought we knew, while giving us tools to communicate more effectively.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;"><span></span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 3px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Perhaps the most profound insight for all of us was Martin’s instruction to leave the horse alone with his thoughts after performing a task or exercise. That is, no petting and praise—just space to process! What a concept. I think all of us realized with some chagrin that as good as we thought we were at rewarding the right thing with comfort, too often that “comfort” was on human terms: petting, praise, etc. We noticed that when left to themselves, the horses would take time to let whatever we’d just done sink in. The transition to ‘ready for the next thing’ would be really clear—blowing, head down, licking etc.</span></span></p><p style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 3px; min-height: 13.9px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW1SeOLSgFxfUF2Glln3UFIs_bFHmPnpcOezG8naJfbnoSTkF-Hc25ZX9gr3LrVxPN9liXQOU7o3PUFUODP21wec3DYQ-1triiEpwlwqDfBjln2N_3M5KVqv120qEcVGb6_UbICLHLLimw/s2048/IMG_3246.HEIC" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW1SeOLSgFxfUF2Glln3UFIs_bFHmPnpcOezG8naJfbnoSTkF-Hc25ZX9gr3LrVxPN9liXQOU7o3PUFUODP21wec3DYQ-1triiEpwlwqDfBjln2N_3M5KVqv120qEcVGb6_UbICLHLLimw/w291-h219/IMG_3246.HEIC" width="291" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Brad communicates with his chair...<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 3px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Martin shared his take on an exercise he likened to floating an inner tube down the river (others teach a similar one called The Barge Exercise). It involved moving our horses feet in a particular sequence in eight directions, moving forward and back around each foot in succession, then changing directions. It was challenging, to say the least: Chairs were needed as props to spare our horses as our human brains wired in the new information!</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">But Martin stresses practical application, so once we sort of got the idea, we tried it with cows, in a unusual and quite graceful way of both holding our cow and driving the herd at the same time. The cows caught on quite quickly and got in rhythm as we applied our steps in relation to them. That cooperation really showed up as efficiency as we and our horses got in sync, then with the cows.</span></span></p><p style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 3px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcvsiKYaLdO5gLN0xncMlayZKxM1Nekxu3NP4bs5T9EEndzGgqPelYstaNSieG_lP46ua37d-BunouZ6J6OYKGWFiMCHR_p_KM5b16NDPCH0ga_oPFHLJLxT42WUyVSlxd53hUjKSj8ju6/s1280/MB+clinic+exercise+-+1.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="758" data-original-width="1280" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcvsiKYaLdO5gLN0xncMlayZKxM1Nekxu3NP4bs5T9EEndzGgqPelYstaNSieG_lP46ua37d-BunouZ6J6OYKGWFiMCHR_p_KM5b16NDPCH0ga_oPFHLJLxT42WUyVSlxd53hUjKSj8ju6/s320/MB+clinic+exercise+-+1.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: small;">Another great exercise involved transitions, counting down 54321, with 1 being the signal to trot off; then counting 1 2 3, with 3 being the signal to be back in the walk. </span><p></p><p style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.9px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 3px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">I could go on, but let me just speak for us all and say it was a fabulous clinic. We so enjoyed it we made arrangements for Martin to return in March—the 16th to the 20th—and we already have sign ups! Please join us!</span></span></p><p style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 3px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></p><p style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 3px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4_9HtkiOsykaTlX5zRkCZBNQ0Kb53Mq44kFRZHcHmk1Jk4YoRGVkXHyPn4m_bXOuqDBmVmudYMRohUUKvqMKKZTWBF2Q3uB7zH8_5G0UkIAH1Z_IR-RnjVOEZh_mkxzcLIZS-GXKPjKyK/s1280/MB+clinic+group+-+1.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="539" data-original-width="1280" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4_9HtkiOsykaTlX5zRkCZBNQ0Kb53Mq44kFRZHcHmk1Jk4YoRGVkXHyPn4m_bXOuqDBmVmudYMRohUUKvqMKKZTWBF2Q3uB7zH8_5G0UkIAH1Z_IR-RnjVOEZh_mkxzcLIZS-GXKPjKyK/w376-h158/MB+clinic+group+-+1.jpeg" width="376" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"></span></div><p></p><p style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 3px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>At this writing there are spaces available in Martin Black's clinic at Freedom Farm March 16-20, 2022. Email Mary Gallagher (marygallagher -at- freedom-farm.net) for more information or to make a deposit to hold your place!</i><br /> </span></span></p><p style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 3px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ftjNd8tsND6IhxBT6yvedhUlkGdrqCpHwvdQ2MS9BkdkAMVdV8PHuOnAyroSsHgOFOKL8vW6CnlEsjlrKAMJ3nra56J-oEFsJmSD3v0VohSBTWzHxpXdqdzNc2Hc9NRaF_EB01IMm132/s1280/Cow+pen+MB+2+-+1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ftjNd8tsND6IhxBT6yvedhUlkGdrqCpHwvdQ2MS9BkdkAMVdV8PHuOnAyroSsHgOFOKL8vW6CnlEsjlrKAMJ3nra56J-oEFsJmSD3v0VohSBTWzHxpXdqdzNc2Hc9NRaF_EB01IMm132/w514-h386/Cow+pen+MB+2+-+1.jpeg" width="514" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY7bzPLxbhug-h4dYnSWUFTW_EwskcAiRUJCBCN55mNs6uMkPID_VU16c1uzWZfO-nXDxN1bX4UugOZmbEVNK_mVpLgr-jjNWcQ8L-PCx6PGXw1tgBSMAZ3gYFTkg2USmdlQNiApXnkWGj/s1280/Cow+pen+MB+-+1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY7bzPLxbhug-h4dYnSWUFTW_EwskcAiRUJCBCN55mNs6uMkPID_VU16c1uzWZfO-nXDxN1bX4UugOZmbEVNK_mVpLgr-jjNWcQ8L-PCx6PGXw1tgBSMAZ3gYFTkg2USmdlQNiApXnkWGj/w570-h427/Cow+pen+MB+-+1.jpeg" width="570" /></a></div><br /> </span></span><p></p>Wise Horseman at Freedom Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05030656717082840863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5009060359888081602.post-22570761715659599502021-09-02T15:58:00.001-07:002021-09-02T15:58:13.504-07:00Readable Neutral: the art of slowing ourselves down and allowing our horse to communicate<p>By Mary Gallagher</p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEismZNi_GfRBNko_hIPPc6GHNZil7RR6iFG-ixbb2l5NmOi80azN1djHZNM24ToNSCcsSqnCEgEBA8yhUQ_tcmTF-BhH8oqPvJEycBB98M0dLzYZuBBT5wWIf31zg_YWO_-LduA5VyFI9cy/s1280/Neutral+Box+1+-+1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Readable Neutral exercise" border="0" data-original-height="951" data-original-width="1280" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEismZNi_GfRBNko_hIPPc6GHNZil7RR6iFG-ixbb2l5NmOi80azN1djHZNM24ToNSCcsSqnCEgEBA8yhUQ_tcmTF-BhH8oqPvJEycBB98M0dLzYZuBBT5wWIf31zg_YWO_-LduA5VyFI9cy/w346-h257/Neutral+Box+1+-+1.jpeg" width="346" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting in sync, around the box slowly...<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>In our horsemanship ground class last week, we were debriefing after an exercise emphasizing real connection with our horses—literally getting in sync with their energy, rather than insisting they get in sync with ours. We had been working with this idea in earlier classes, and this week, we all seemed to get to the next level. Each student had their own insights, and as we reflected on our progress one commented, “Gosh, you can do everything ‘right’ and still not connect!”<br /></div><span><a name='more'></a></span><p></p>In a nutshell, yeah! Let me put it this way—if you are constantly asking something of your horse, you are not connected. Connection is felt as much as observed; it happens when you do things <i>together</i> and <i>both</i> parties are relaxed. If we are busy directing, micromanaging, interrupting, and <i>changing what the horse is offering</i> then we will miss connection entirely. What we want is to find a neutral stance—a <i>readable neutrality</i> that allows the horse time to try things, and us time to see what he’d trying, and respond in a way that is in sync with him and encourages next steps.<p><b>Finding neutral. </b>Connection is found when we become neutral—stilling our own impulse to <i>do something </i>and allowing us to take in what the horse is doing. The key lies in developing our ability to observe: when you are a good observer you can see and feel ‘of the horse’—how he is reacting to your input, what he is asking or suggesting. When we see clearly, <i>prior to reacting</i>, we are far less likely to micromanage and make huge changes that disconnect us from our horse. We become OK to allow things to happen, allowing the horse the opportunity to manage his own comfort without our help.<br /><br />By nature a horse tests everything. He observes what is happening in his surroundings— including our body language and how we respond to his tests. Horses are so good at observing and testing that they can do very little and get you to do a lot! Most of us fall into that ploy pretty quickly. We tend to be reactive and a bit defensive, in the guise of being in charge and trying to express leadership through constant micromanagement. The result of that cycle of ‘test and react’ can be frustrating for us and our horse, creating a reinforcing loop. But if we slow ourselves down, still our bodies, and learn to “observe, observe, observe”, we can actually find joy in watching the horse processing and testing, and we can try subtle changes, looking for a different response.<br /><br />As we become better observers we will notice more, discover more possibilities, and generally experience a more agreeable way of communicating with our horse that invokes cooperation. If we look for what the horse is offering and then (and only then) offer our own communication within those parameters—then we can begin growing the connection through communication and cooperation.<br /><br /><b>Calm, clear, consistent. </b>Horses’ first language is body language; unlike the human, they are very good at it and are watching our bodies all the time in order to test the safety of the situation. If our bodies are always in motion due to correcting the horse frequently, then there is no ‘readable neutral’ for the horse to connect to. They are very adept at synchronizing; they look for opportunities to synchronize as a way to find comfort. So it’s our job to understand the horse’s perspective and methods, and adapt our own to connect our worlds and work in a way that’s understandable to us both.<br /><br /><i>Back to our horsemanship class:</i> For the students, understanding the above meant realizing that too often, they reacted to their horse’s test by trying to stop them from “making a mistake”, such as stepping into the boundary box, or stopping before being asked, etc. We had a good laugh over one student’s comment that she’d been “flailing”, raising both arms, waving her training stick, and moving her own feet in response to whatever test the horse presented. She intended to be a good leader, keeping them both on task, keeping the horse focused, etc., but alas, that so often was not the result!<br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7o9sbVpPSttzL4zD7mPSEdxQfJZdixAi7NnnDE7xhssrIZ7clmzK9oiGxavVxLhXWBQ0i93nQr7IreQEsnZxD6-MoP3KwJOxa_505ycgNglIi0fap3vhfJSE83q8wTKzBtlLek9-UoZcM/s1280/Neutral+Box+2+-+1.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1280" height="534" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7o9sbVpPSttzL4zD7mPSEdxQfJZdixAi7NnnDE7xhssrIZ7clmzK9oiGxavVxLhXWBQ0i93nQr7IreQEsnZxD6-MoP3KwJOxa_505ycgNglIi0fap3vhfJSE83q8wTKzBtlLek9-UoZcM/w640-h534/Neutral+Box+2+-+1.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">“…with any of my horses, I try to focus not on what they’re not doing,
but to focus on what they are doing, and what they are offering, and
going from there instead of having an agenda.” -Jenenne & Sabre<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br />We also agreed when another student shared that she is working harder at not being critical when she’s observing her horse, but rather looking for the things that the horse is already offering, beginning her communication in a more neutral place. And that’s what it’s all about: “Observe, observe, observe.” Only when we create that window of observation do we give ourselves the space to see what’s going on for the horse, and respond accordingly and in sync with his world.<br /><br />For the horse, it’s much more like being in the herd—a place of clarity and safety. For us, it’s a way of waking up and being present in each moment—something horses understand well. Ironically for the human, finding ‘readable neutral’ undoes the numbness of habits that served us in the past but are keeping us from growing now. I highly recommend it.<br /></p><p><br /></p><p><i>Mary Gallagher teaches her horsemanship class every Friday at Freedom Farm in Port Angeles, Washington.</i><br /></p>Wise Horseman at Freedom Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05030656717082840863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5009060359888081602.post-59801072203295169252021-07-03T12:19:00.009-07:002021-07-03T12:36:17.199-07:00Keeping Cool While You Ride (Connecting to the Feet Series)By Mary Gallagher <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigVAtDRYHMQTl4heGXUAAhL5vtxesnhNg483i-EtW14jXK10mtIymBSBRLebi6vdgEMvmXfDI2uwxWWWL_Gu_7ASK1Y7-AZ6xtXWXNDaeypvGG5IKPlZbihzimaDH7iIW7bqQbphaoOoGH/s1280/435DC8DB-9192-443B-8E0B-62367B1F0BC0.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="958" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigVAtDRYHMQTl4heGXUAAhL5vtxesnhNg483i-EtW14jXK10mtIymBSBRLebi6vdgEMvmXfDI2uwxWWWL_Gu_7ASK1Y7-AZ6xtXWXNDaeypvGG5IKPlZbihzimaDH7iIW7bqQbphaoOoGH/s320/435DC8DB-9192-443B-8E0B-62367B1F0BC0.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ihI7nshDmQEYVqNiej5Kh0Alg2u8UD93YTgtBYj2wXXrXatizDYV3vfhyphenhyphenqah0TjqN8Uasg-4-xoC2nPfJDM-xZd-dL__UaVftn1e2fUIegsH4ap0hMLxOJhdK9vQu3YJ_MmY2X8Pqyrz/s2048/FF4DE591-9732-4B00-9389-8CA5E43D8C67.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwHyumZQsJIdmKsaZ9bJcmXQqiSHULzr_KTCNi8ENBlNv3deYWUj-2i0L8gIuTdpXkhsyfUY1jBqZSjH9HanaenQuRlduaX6akSqFm2OBOxgDRUCZqwKeNnpyblV7J7-xl67OXCeK02IGW/s1280/E1A53858-1AD8-47AF-A483-8272C264C067.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div><br /><div><i>No, this article has nothing to do with that incredible hot weather we had last week. But wasn’t that something? At Freedom Farm, we survived by starting our day much earlier and getting our riding done before the heat of the day—something that folks in southern climates know a lot about! -MG</i> </div><div><div><br /></div><div>Today I’d like to talk about keeping our cool while riding—maintaining that conscious patience so crucial to building and maintaining relationship. Losing that balanced attitude can jeopardize our connection with the horse, and if we don’t find and restore it, there goes our whole training program. I know this sounds extreme, but there can be a domino effect that takes us right back to square one. It starts with me. If I can just stay cool—keep emotions in check, stay patient and quiet—when my horse gets distracted, it will save time and frustration in the long run. <span><a name='more'></a></span></div><div><br /></div><div><i>So, what happens…? </i></div><div><br /></div><div>Say I’m working with my horse, and he is just not with me, for whatever reason (scary corner of the arena, other horses or weird new object nearby, you name it). If I lose my cool and am too hard on my horse—thinking I am being a strong leader, of course—I can cause him to get emotional, and set myself back. First he was distracted, and now he’s anxious and/or tense because of my behavior. Hello, Square One. I will never get anything done by losing my cool; I’ll only be starting over and over and over, re-teaching, trying to get back where I was just before he got distracted. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>What to do…? </i></div><div><br /></div><div>When your horse gets distracted, and your softness in your ride starts to fade, the simplest answer is to catch yourself before you get tense, and resolve to ride through it with full attention, making the best of each step ahead, being patient and willing to resume where you left off before he got distracted.
Another strategy is to leave off your agenda, and go back to something simpler and less challenging, and in the process getting your horse connected to you again. Pick a place where he’s comfortable, e.g., stay away from the scary end of the arena or whatever the trigger, and get your relationship solid, your communication working, then venture out again. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>So, what about connecting to the feet…? </i></div><div><br /></div><div>Glad you asked. I have found that in a calm, patient, and fair way, you can cause his idea—getting distracted—to be just a little more work. When he gets off track because of things outside of the arena, you can cause his choice to be just a little more work by keeping his feet active. Pick a pattern such as a small circle—something he really has to think about because it’s challenging. This is not a punishment in any way—it is about getting him to find his way back to you with the least amount of fuss and dust. </div><div><br /></div><div>Whatever the activity I introduce, I just let him stay there a little while and build some desire to get back in rhythm with me. Then we move on.
When I ask him to do that smaller circle, by the way, I’m showing him how to be soft and be rhythmic with me, but he is actually working because his feet need to move, and the circle is small. In this way, soon his distraction is no longer a distraction and he is starting to look for a way to preserve his breath or his energy, or just simply just find his comfort once again.
The moment that happens, I resume where we left off (before the original distraction) and show him that his comfort was there all the time—he just wasn’t looking for it. </div><div><br /></div><div>Of course, as these things go, it may not be long before he gets distracted again. But all that means is, once again, his life will get a little bit harder, work will get a little bit harder, because his feet have to move and his track is more challenging. Once again he has to pay attention to his balance and rhythm to keep everything together. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>So what does success look like…? </i></div><div><br /></div><div>In a working session, after a couple of these little distractions followed by increased work, the little distractions become even littler, my horse spends less time getting distracted and more time finding ways not to lose rhythm, balance and harmony in our ride.
So it’s worth learning to stay cool, be patient, and stay in rhythm while encouraging your horse to look for you. If your relationship is intact, you will go forward and move on; if your relationship is not intact or a bit compromised, you will often find yourself going back, trying to mend it. It’s a living process, so learn to recognize which way the session is trending: are you both good at reconnecting and moving on? That’s the ticket.
</div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixtu7Yn0cFT-xkxWw9wy4cvWDXhsp8oLKOgh1EUNjbN12ZLmFPgpxaQlJhF-NrHeQvr1sQc0g6P0dc66gkC9tmGuVCJV_12TVvXvTd4sQDyIF5iC0aLcO2nDwlO-l2ABi9aK_YdUK3OTol/s1280/4426C0D2-E30D-408B-9F60-AA0A91EEF76C.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="958" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixtu7Yn0cFT-xkxWw9wy4cvWDXhsp8oLKOgh1EUNjbN12ZLmFPgpxaQlJhF-NrHeQvr1sQc0g6P0dc66gkC9tmGuVCJV_12TVvXvTd4sQDyIF5iC0aLcO2nDwlO-l2ABi9aK_YdUK3OTol/s320/4426C0D2-E30D-408B-9F60-AA0A91EEF76C.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixJE6_7HooyuDV0mTZ_BOdfoC1AMlaN2Gw88nUw1t4_J72sqEyCvYI6Ql5hsphfq9QOwEXvn0SqB9UKgLhjW-unzXHYEC_QHAZUk-gHHgSOqy70Ue4330IgRq_Cvkrhm2hCJQCjZRp3quH/s2048/EC33311D-F826-4517-870C-306E47E7FEBC.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1749" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixJE6_7HooyuDV0mTZ_BOdfoC1AMlaN2Gw88nUw1t4_J72sqEyCvYI6Ql5hsphfq9QOwEXvn0SqB9UKgLhjW-unzXHYEC_QHAZUk-gHHgSOqy70Ue4330IgRq_Cvkrhm2hCJQCjZRp3quH/s320/EC33311D-F826-4517-870C-306E47E7FEBC.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimhDV_-3R2gsxg5l5pNA1nrJT-ZVDtYuI3ms7LvvQlI183QDtegFMi7VkU4JzwatDyhgYpZRx-9fBu7nuxzA7TC8N_bOCIlGEmi94vAIOfb0-H4ieLQ9AgifiC4oEaMpwlglNTH_ut-nDy/s2048/FF4DE591-9732-4B00-9389-8CA5E43D8C67.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimhDV_-3R2gsxg5l5pNA1nrJT-ZVDtYuI3ms7LvvQlI183QDtegFMi7VkU4JzwatDyhgYpZRx-9fBu7nuxzA7TC8N_bOCIlGEmi94vAIOfb0-H4ieLQ9AgifiC4oEaMpwlglNTH_ut-nDy/s320/FF4DE591-9732-4B00-9389-8CA5E43D8C67.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><i style="text-align: left;">Bring your horse (or partner with one of ours) and join us for my 3-day clinic, Connecting to the Feet, August 21-23, 2021 (that’s Sunday through Tuesday)</i><i style="text-align: left;">. It’s three days of ideas like these, fun and learning in various environments around Freedom Farm in Port Angeles, Washington.</i></div><div><br /></div>Wise Horseman at Freedom Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05030656717082840863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5009060359888081602.post-40512762911621158252021-06-19T16:56:00.009-07:002021-06-19T17:08:53.094-07:00Riding in Sync with the Feet, Part 2<p><br />by Mary Gallagher <br /></p><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVmPUf5xaTcLzKik085qlosHCT8vAhAN_PAabLKQZAP47RRIliAVstRlw8n6i5KLT-zztlvY4wOMHHKM-Gve_jMV0XE0wn0ZfLkB35Se_UAsBXkAp6adc6uNJTtOoLeQKOHI6v83GiG4C0/s4032/Ride+in+Sync+2+-+1.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVmPUf5xaTcLzKik085qlosHCT8vAhAN_PAabLKQZAP47RRIliAVstRlw8n6i5KLT-zztlvY4wOMHHKM-Gve_jMV0XE0wn0ZfLkB35Se_UAsBXkAp6adc6uNJTtOoLeQKOHI6v83GiG4C0/w341-h256/Ride+in+Sync+2+-+1.jpeg" width="341" /></a></div>I have been having so much fun continuing to develop the ‘riding in sync’ exercises I introduced in my last video. It’s basically a flexible warm up program that gets you and your horse moving and feeling together. How we warm up and the attitude we express in our hands travels down to the horse—who feels everything. Sure, he feels our body move, and our hands move through the reins, but even more importantly, he can feel our intentions and attitude. So it’s as much about managing ourselves as anything. Horses pick up on everything!<span><a name='more'></a></span>This riding in sync is very deliberate and feels slow at first. And it’s good to keep it that way for longer than we are used to in traditional schooling. I find starting out at the walk, where everything is moving slower, helps me synchronize with my horse better. In fact, I test all my ideas in the walk, to get feedback from my horse while there is less pressure and I am less likely to lose the connection, or unintentionally put pressure on our relationship. As you practice new ideas and ways of communicating with your horse—and in life—I think we all can appreciate slowing down, paying attention, and working through new concepts as partners.<br /></div><br />So that’s where we are in this second video. I review what we did, and add some new moves to grow what we started last time. Enjoy the video, and then go share it with your horse!<span><span></span></span><p></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" height="347" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Aor6YscQ2o0" width="539" youtube-src-id="Aor6YscQ2o0"></iframe></div><br />Wise Horseman at Freedom Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05030656717082840863noreply@blogger.com0Port Angeles, WA, USA48.118146 -123.430741319.807912163821157 -158.5869913 76.428379836178848 -88.2744913tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5009060359888081602.post-49680196134633429152021-05-07T08:04:00.005-07:002021-05-08T16:45:23.551-07:00Riding in Sync With the Feet<p>by Mary Gallagher <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghBEDFcLd_4RFmeMQzt7o_TBcVfIAlcHGosExDqBA4JoqhdZU0y3zKlupMqTGOWGiQU_S2UWbN7TJvXwpJMqdBJBhpDMcnOLTGm8zZEKgnpb-O-fAQAz7z8Modd_4YJHSGpBIHXku6ifIv/s712/Ride+In+Sync+May2021+-+1.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="601" data-original-width="712" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghBEDFcLd_4RFmeMQzt7o_TBcVfIAlcHGosExDqBA4JoqhdZU0y3zKlupMqTGOWGiQU_S2UWbN7TJvXwpJMqdBJBhpDMcnOLTGm8zZEKgnpb-O-fAQAz7z8Modd_4YJHSGpBIHXku6ifIv/s320/Ride+In+Sync+May2021+-+1.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p>I call my latest video “Riding in Sync With the Feet”, the latest in a series on synchronization as it relates to connecting with the feet and communicating with our horse. It features a deceptively simple looking exercise over poles, <i>at the walk </i>(more on that later).<br /><br />Horses naturally synchronize. It’s a part of being in a herd, and of being a prey animal. Life for a horse in a herd hangs on being connected to the group, with multiple eyes and ears tuned to environmental threats, moving together.<br /><br />So the better we learn to synchronize, the better we move with our horse partners—largely by staying out of his way and allowing him to freely express himself. We may think horses only get to do that after the ride—tack off, running to be with their friends, etc. But we can cultivate that freedom of expression even as we ride.<span></span></p><a name='more'></a>We all dream of being one with our horse, being that rider who seems so very connected to a willing, talented horse. Well, let me tell you it starts with exercises like this one—seemingly simple, seemingly slow. If you can learn to free your body to move with the horse at the walk, in this way, you are on the road to being a connected rider.<br /><br />About working at the walk: I was recently chatting with a friend who trains racehorses. He commented that he had spent most of his career training at the canter and gallop, and that it was a revelation to him how much faster horses learned at the walk. So now he spends a good deal of time schooling at the walk, with much faster results. Go figure!<br /><br />The video below (linked from our channel on YouTube) shows you one of the ways I teach my students to move with their horses. It is really surprising to most, how much they can let go and experience the beauty and power of their horse’s movement. <br /><br />I’ll continue next time with the same principles, applied to shortening and lengthening your horse’s strides. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qf03Miog0NQ" width="320" youtube-src-id="qf03Miog0NQ"></iframe></div><p></p><span><!--more--></span><span><!--more--></span><br />Wise Horseman at Freedom Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05030656717082840863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5009060359888081602.post-14661895391855759092021-04-11T14:17:00.092-07:002021-04-11T17:51:57.124-07:00Remembering Meho (1990-2021)<p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtL_Mn-o2cHlgJ2IMtfPGdyeQlTmuyqyqB4mEYBm2MD5ldIlpH4UIXoOpSJWgIzpuGYiSgvR4E-xqxqsdI-vs75w7jWEzEGyhjx6sva9aKNVnCQ_KtqAxxwhtu4fxc33ibrX6Fdzy67V7Y/s1280/Meho2005+-+2.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="854" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtL_Mn-o2cHlgJ2IMtfPGdyeQlTmuyqyqB4mEYBm2MD5ldIlpH4UIXoOpSJWgIzpuGYiSgvR4E-xqxqsdI-vs75w7jWEzEGyhjx6sva9aKNVnCQ_KtqAxxwhtu4fxc33ibrX6Fdzy67V7Y/s320/Meho2005+-+2.jpeg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meho<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>by Mary Gallagher<p></p><p>I admired Meho from the moment I saw him, a handsome weanling owned by the mother of one of my students. They raised racehorses, and Meho was a good one, earning well over $50,000 at the track before being sidelined with a bowed tendon. I couldn't believe my good luck when he came up for sale and I was able to buy him for Freedom Farm. I began training him as a hunter/jumper, and one of my boldest young students, Chelsea Crabb, rode him at a number of shows. Meho did well, and, I realized he could benefit from more focused time with me.<br /></p><p>At the time, I was deep into the Parelli training, spending weeks at a time at the Parelli center in Florida. My Parelli horse, William, began having lameness issues and needed time off. Enter Meho, the speedy OTB with a big personality. He made the trip with me to Florida and boy, did we ever learn a lot--quite a bit through mutual struggle, which I have shared in many a ground work class since. How we came around to our lasting partnership is a tale of its own, but suffice it to say, I had to let go of what I thought I knew and allow him to show me who he was and begin to really understand him. I've never forgotten that time with him. He in turn learned to be present, accept contact, and slow the heck down (early round pen sessions with him at the "canter" wore quite a groove in the sand, shall we say...).<br /></p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p></p><p>So after we returned from Florida, we got down to work at home, and Meho got some experience in our hunter/jumper training program. Over the years many other advanced students followed, thrilled with Meho's work ethic, rocking horse canter and big moves. He loved being in the ring and could do flat or jump patterns all day!</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQe1OIHkP88VOc5Fptgcww_g-wRnJ1c5sJ9Fq9xmaKc7IXg11mtyQ4bkxFGgmgAQt8twfuoTaxE9vGLsMYwrbSabHVlpaZXA6jbk06YYk_i5b6tCfOzzhNGHxN1Qm9JpKLcosncSj26GuT/s1280/RIPMeho-2021+-+1.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="869" data-original-width="1280" height="435" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQe1OIHkP88VOc5Fptgcww_g-wRnJ1c5sJ9Fq9xmaKc7IXg11mtyQ4bkxFGgmgAQt8twfuoTaxE9vGLsMYwrbSabHVlpaZXA6jbk06YYk_i5b6tCfOzzhNGHxN1Qm9JpKLcosncSj26GuT/w640-h435/RIPMeho-2021+-+1.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meho and me, jumping at liberty<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>But that's not all, as they say in advertising--Meho <i>loved</i> working cows and was my mainstay during our cow working classes for many years. And at our Hoof Beats student beach camp every summer, he was my main support and teaching assistant. <p></p><p>I credit Meho with helping me develop my teaching approach to many aspects of horsemanship. He had a special love for being groomed, and over the course of our sessions I began to develop my Grooming Game, where the rider stands in one spot, and moves the horse around in small increments, pausing for grooming. It turns into quite the conversation and learning opportunity, which Meho mastered quickly, being a sponge for attention and grooming in favorite scritchy places.<br /></p><p>Meho aged quite gracefully, and late in his twenties was still carrying Hoof Beats students and the occasional visiting equestrian, always with enthusiasm and class. His final ground class was this past January, with a very special visiting equestrian, his first student rider, Chelsea Crabb! She was on a long pandemic break from college, and was taking some refresher ground lessons before working with her new young thoroughbred, Prince. It was a sweet reunion and Meho was in his element.</p><p>Following are some favorite photos from over the years. I truly can't say enough about what a teacher, partner and friend Meho has been to me. He has been a beloved figure at Freedom Farm.</p><p>So long dear friend, wishing you blue skies and endless pastures...</p><p> </p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHUHVeWQq0YejOETnO5d-fa3txMBxx5N1vi8qPUawMBdXVDeI0YrrWVzTugaqPViX4IwCHwWhoIEJrrvnwx-HlmDb9a_otZQHhWST3ZHb5eA-OgPp39XOVsM9kGDi2NBcIk10AVfGGpgN_/s1280/Chelsea+and+Meho+2000+-+1.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHUHVeWQq0YejOETnO5d-fa3txMBxx5N1vi8qPUawMBdXVDeI0YrrWVzTugaqPViX4IwCHwWhoIEJrrvnwx-HlmDb9a_otZQHhWST3ZHb5eA-OgPp39XOVsM9kGDi2NBcIk10AVfGGpgN_/w480-h640/Chelsea+and+Meho+2000+-+1.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Young Chelsea Crabb and Meho at a schooling show, back in the day<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfc90aXrDIO9Im__avm7LMwdlrnXWNQ7-pU4iJit3mjDO4CsfHKwxS6bFcna-SYvf9EGu9Vzu1wSjCVAehkBtidrn0b7jBAbmG5qjJU7pDBrzgidoBaX_e1cfF3PAcXQEy0KJ96LQ-FuRg/s1280/Larry+Stewart%2527s+PNH+Level+3+Clinic+004.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfc90aXrDIO9Im__avm7LMwdlrnXWNQ7-pU4iJit3mjDO4CsfHKwxS6bFcna-SYvf9EGu9Vzu1wSjCVAehkBtidrn0b7jBAbmG5qjJU7pDBrzgidoBaX_e1cfF3PAcXQEy0KJ96LQ-FuRg/w640-h480/Larry+Stewart%2527s+PNH+Level+3+Clinic+004.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2004, with me at Larry Stewart's Level 3 Clinic, Canada<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqD6hr8u_EFv9ptwKaZcPH-EnFgL2t3JBvJIVOJf30hW7I-D4OOjsYEJ-VXBPhv92OoxUczjUnqclP7S2IhMJ68ha5oy5crZZzecTEqQsOh8G3APpcu-6aZATAGd3-sDJWOBACdxOpueOa/s1280/Meho2005+-+1.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="1280" height="437" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqD6hr8u_EFv9ptwKaZcPH-EnFgL2t3JBvJIVOJf30hW7I-D4OOjsYEJ-VXBPhv92OoxUczjUnqclP7S2IhMJ68ha5oy5crZZzecTEqQsOh8G3APpcu-6aZATAGd3-sDJWOBACdxOpueOa/w652-h437/Meho2005+-+1.jpeg" width="652" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bonding at Parelli Ranch in Florida, 2005<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKgzSp1mpWgtZ5d6jSui8oyk1TZS-SWojss7Z0fA5UepX_0eVEmUfEUCrcMWbTZBQj0S3zjARB0-PlXiUZgUJZ6_J4yn2q2Gfod9B-PMuzW0cMmXd6dX2l6ZHtaquVLM1nB0qq8T4pwSOV/s1280/Meho2005+-+3.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="854" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKgzSp1mpWgtZ5d6jSui8oyk1TZS-SWojss7Z0fA5UepX_0eVEmUfEUCrcMWbTZBQj0S3zjARB0-PlXiUZgUJZ6_J4yn2q2Gfod9B-PMuzW0cMmXd6dX2l6ZHtaquVLM1nB0qq8T4pwSOV/w428-h640/Meho2005+-+3.jpeg" width="428" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It didn't hurt that they had a professional photographer take these!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW0h4MBvG1KY4Qa3bkDgd6kMgTLLBy-ZytFxoMD5AVHAdh3k4wLO0WF9pj8iCenl1Gpu1lXQfWEw5XI10D752VZKbZPx7V1y4w8lZETd6SgNvHHb_Vc4NbBq1x1R_3STtXbLIHjFqFDfpJ/s1280/MehoCallsFlanders-FL2006+-+1.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW0h4MBvG1KY4Qa3bkDgd6kMgTLLBy-ZytFxoMD5AVHAdh3k4wLO0WF9pj8iCenl1Gpu1lXQfWEw5XI10D752VZKbZPx7V1y4w8lZETd6SgNvHHb_Vc4NbBq1x1R_3STtXbLIHjFqFDfpJ/w640-h480/MehoCallsFlanders-FL2006+-+1.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Feeling herd bound, calling for his pal Flanders, Florida <br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvqYxpzih4Qkjde1ld2Yyi_f9aulA6YQObcsRCRIIu2MKhNYZykd32ZEIsaLoN931YPzgNb7n77Rv34_RT9wYmEzYTp1R8XNHnheJmoNkFRhljo2Pq7daXciT5n1E_SvWTP60GJ55ZQ_YZ/s1280/Travel+Home+002.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvqYxpzih4Qkjde1ld2Yyi_f9aulA6YQObcsRCRIIu2MKhNYZykd32ZEIsaLoN931YPzgNb7n77Rv34_RT9wYmEzYTp1R8XNHnheJmoNkFRhljo2Pq7daXciT5n1E_SvWTP60GJ55ZQ_YZ/w640-h480/Travel+Home+002.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Road home from Florida w/Meho and Flanders</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHWyAWRP8NGh5NpSOMDolKBodJ6AfQbNmRMsuSdIoN9c7YVrp6RG9VLPmgnT97eHfC8rZqfDro9A-GsPGTr-rZapICddwn4PsJKwS0hkQk7yGGQgsVeA3i_DacRBAeKtg9bl6vjfokMMr0/s1280/Isolde%2526Meho+2012+-+1.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHWyAWRP8NGh5NpSOMDolKBodJ6AfQbNmRMsuSdIoN9c7YVrp6RG9VLPmgnT97eHfC8rZqfDro9A-GsPGTr-rZapICddwn4PsJKwS0hkQk7yGGQgsVeA3i_DacRBAeKtg9bl6vjfokMMr0/w640-h480/Isolde%2526Meho+2012+-+1.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Isolde Lawrence and Meho, Bainbridge Island Saddle Club, 2012<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDo_LDcdsMqC4qPv92eImhPPPCvTd4rXzBus_1mIOpu1NMRiKJ7g5C09RUFFQcWkVQchqXI1venijJJvlXHHf_3SxI1ZWlIVPBccfS7pPbGwHYEHiA9qfhrhwcHab71c6-X61jmYgojnEg/s1144/RIPMeho-2021+-+2.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="874" data-original-width="1144" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDo_LDcdsMqC4qPv92eImhPPPCvTd4rXzBus_1mIOpu1NMRiKJ7g5C09RUFFQcWkVQchqXI1venijJJvlXHHf_3SxI1ZWlIVPBccfS7pPbGwHYEHiA9qfhrhwcHab71c6-X61jmYgojnEg/w640-h488/RIPMeho-2021+-+2.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flanders, Laredo, Mary & Meho, Reagan, 2012<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY6f0ZAV6bzYO5dS_qZbXaKF6QbBDeEvRARx04Q88J1zhRZ9eeTJj_ifrCq2jil4TDo_rUEvAvmnLwF0qgBwzu6VOhy0A-aA0H-4B1eB3hbzXKKLdD7PPjwb2XT0wdx7FoR_Fbd6tMGuK0/s960/MehoCowclass+-+1.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="647" data-original-width="960" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY6f0ZAV6bzYO5dS_qZbXaKF6QbBDeEvRARx04Q88J1zhRZ9eeTJj_ifrCq2jil4TDo_rUEvAvmnLwF0qgBwzu6VOhy0A-aA0H-4B1eB3hbzXKKLdD7PPjwb2XT0wdx7FoR_Fbd6tMGuK0/w640-h432/MehoCowclass+-+1.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cued up for cow work, 2014<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWY1Ags6risdefnU3731-niVgHEBSlp6tJt9pWO_Yr0FZCNS8Y0B5lNVdeuuVMxCmS8ZRufrUgD0AP75xqeWZkDdP-4wQhjj-F42eStfr_DNABNWq8hQAKygBWxJ4tys3NDpDK6qV3ZN4b/s2048/IMG_2918.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1535" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWY1Ags6risdefnU3731-niVgHEBSlp6tJt9pWO_Yr0FZCNS8Y0B5lNVdeuuVMxCmS8ZRufrUgD0AP75xqeWZkDdP-4wQhjj-F42eStfr_DNABNWq8hQAKygBWxJ4tys3NDpDK6qV3ZN4b/w640-h480/IMG_2918.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ride to Robin Hill Park, 2017<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX6ivRyWWnGoU5PWkdITLBnwv7leO5QFIOxmof84TI3eJBs8Zq7F-fA_OtDEur9T9ZOBVYRQAz265debCigpYaM1PG2FH1vutDzKBHc-SxTdUYS_B3q9f6POjhqsvXfNEhaGpplDPo5LE2/s1280/Flandersat30-Jan2021crop+-+1.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1005" data-original-width="1280" height="502" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX6ivRyWWnGoU5PWkdITLBnwv7leO5QFIOxmof84TI3eJBs8Zq7F-fA_OtDEur9T9ZOBVYRQAz265debCigpYaM1PG2FH1vutDzKBHc-SxTdUYS_B3q9f6POjhqsvXfNEhaGpplDPo5LE2/w640-h502/Flandersat30-Jan2021crop+-+1.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Together again, with Chelsea Crabb, January 2021<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtwXTubJKerXkOOMwREZYiiJ49MgTf3UoX9tzOwFFgCcJzaM4sgZp3mBiG7atixsZtBjyAaGgB3wFqHSCOJ5tikhlavwxIWt9LTKn3oNVQnkArbEkWXUK94pE_3O2jD65LIQbWaa_U331Z/s1280/Meho%2526PrinceMeet+-+1.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtwXTubJKerXkOOMwREZYiiJ49MgTf3UoX9tzOwFFgCcJzaM4sgZp3mBiG7atixsZtBjyAaGgB3wFqHSCOJ5tikhlavwxIWt9LTKn3oNVQnkArbEkWXUK94pE_3O2jD65LIQbWaa_U331Z/w640-h480/Meho%2526PrinceMeet+-+1.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meeting the next generation: Chelsea's new horse Prince greets Meho, January 2021<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>xxxxx<br /></p>Wise Horseman at Freedom Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05030656717082840863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5009060359888081602.post-65026105060735160422021-03-06T15:03:00.000-08:002021-03-06T15:03:16.628-08:00 Observe, Observe, Observe!<p>by Mary Gallagher<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyA3aahZr5ZRLGGpL6T5Mir-o7oQkX6CWgdzUZTpvSXhPQgGrCQ8FKTO5cdSRTyl_Byt151VIxfm1G5Ud40SmrB5nh0pCjryzRd57hpAYQFsvERf6d9sjClJPYbE3sJsXS0fl4EYQ0-60M/s1280/Pecan+shoulder+in+-+1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyA3aahZr5ZRLGGpL6T5Mir-o7oQkX6CWgdzUZTpvSXhPQgGrCQ8FKTO5cdSRTyl_Byt151VIxfm1G5Ud40SmrB5nh0pCjryzRd57hpAYQFsvERf6d9sjClJPYbE3sJsXS0fl4EYQ0-60M/s320/Pecan+shoulder+in+-+1.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pecan responds to Mary while keeping an eye out </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>Imagine standing on the ground, watching a horse in the process of spooking. What can we observe? </p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>Thought exits: “Yikes! What is that spooky thing?!” Their mind goes blank—run! They turn around, get ready to run again—head up, lots of blowing.</li><li>Thought returns: They turn around, freeze—stand still (testing the stop) run again, stop without freezing, take a few steps. Then—</li><li>Extend nose, while blowing and smelling.</li><li>Stretch and reach with nose and neck.</li><li>Cautiously move in the direction of the nose, engaging the feet.</li></ol><p>Spooking is something all horse people have witnessed, but I’ve made a point here to break it down to predictable components—sort of a slow motion camera to show the process. We can expect this pattern in a spooking situation, and that kind of predictability gives us options, if we can train ourselves to 'observe, observe, observe'. Now extend that expectation to all horse behavior. <i>What if every movement is the horse testing to see if it is safe to linger or better to leave...?<span></span></i></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p><br /><i>An expression of body language. </i>An especially clear example of communication through body language, spooking is helpful here in its exaggeration of the horse's thought process. Horses and humans both have body language, except that unlike the horse, the human has lost the habit of observing body language as a survival tool, and isn’t aware that it is going on 24/7.</p><p><br />I call the horse’s process described above <i>testing</i>: I have found through long observation that they are always testing outcomes before they commit. Always. I believe this is a survival instinct, written in their genes, deep in their most primal DNA. Being observant of the changes horses make in their bodies can give us insight to what they are thinking and setting up to try. Likewise, horses are great anticipators and keen observers, themselves. Even domesticated horses are constantly observing the environment, reading and anticipating movement in their perimeter in a way once crucial to their survival. </p><p><br /><i>Testing through movement is how the horse learns.</i> What is he testing for? Safety and comfort, all the time. How does he determine all is well? By testing what he knows—is it still safe? Have you ever had a horse do exactly what you wanted, three times in a row, and then the fourth time he changed his response? In my observation, the repetition caused his instincts to kick in, triggering some survival concern, and the horse chose to test the outcome to make sure all was still safe. In a natural setting, horses test everything, all day long with their herd mates, such as, who’s on top today?</p><p><br /><i>Direction and response. </i>As the leader in most horsemanship scenarios, the human directs the horse, and the horse responds to the best of his knowledge. But it’s an exchange: around and around the arena we go, and if there are no changes, the horse will create change, just because he is a horse. We can anticipate that natural response to improve our leadership and introduce changes that make sense for what we are doing, and help our horse move forward with confidence that all is well.</p><p><br /><i>Becoming better observers of our horses</i> is key to deepening our leadership abilities.<i> </i>This is why I challenge you to be an observer <i>before</i> the horse acts on something in an unanticipated and undesirable way. Of course, that’s the ideal, but the point is to keep our skills alive and <i>in tune with our horse’s reality</i>. Observation is the first step toward <i>synchronization</i>, which is the next step in operationalizing body language in horsemanship, and the topic I’ll discuss in next month’s blog post!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></p>Wise Horseman at Freedom Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05030656717082840863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5009060359888081602.post-60878288063046951342020-09-03T12:39:00.105-07:002020-09-03T14:35:05.118-07:00Horsemanship at Beach Camp - A Conversation<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi4Ereai-xdEGQ-__4nqfJAcoBcLEzgXLM-J0H6O225AMxtxrpfSG141LtTIpvo9dl_hgDolvnb03x-Yfp_zkMjJrJNTKu00TsIiW757WkDz2CVHJN8UN2Qf4xsc0r7qS77556zSszGUpX/s1280/BeachCamp2020+-+7.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi4Ereai-xdEGQ-__4nqfJAcoBcLEzgXLM-J0H6O225AMxtxrpfSG141LtTIpvo9dl_hgDolvnb03x-Yfp_zkMjJrJNTKu00TsIiW757WkDz2CVHJN8UN2Qf4xsc0r7qS77556zSszGUpX/w256-h192/BeachCamp2020+-+7.jpeg" width="256" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First ride on Long Beach<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><i>Newsletter editor Mary Tulin gets Mary Gallagher and Kathy Schmidt to talk about hors</i><i>emanship at the beach—how they took a group of Hoof Beats students and horses for a private clinic in Long Beach, Washington. [Photos courtesy students Haleyanna Fell, Elise Dean, and Elly Dam.]</i><br /><br /><b>Kathy Schmidt:</b> When I tell people about Beach Camp with the kids, they always ask, did you gallop on the beach? People have a romantic idea of that, and are sure that’s what we went for.<br /><br /><b>Mary Tulin:</b> Well....did you?<br /><br /><b>KS:</b> Of course! But that was on the last full day—after three days of preparation. You have to take into account the readiness of both the students and the horses. Some were raring to go on day one, but their horses needed time and prep; and some horses would have been fine, but their rider wasn’t quite ready. <br /><br /><b>Mary Gallagher: </b>Besides, there’s a lot of great stuff to do with horses that’s not galloping full tilt!<span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p style="text-align: left;"><b>KS:</b> (laughs) Right! I have to say, I was so impressed with how far these students have come with their </p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><p><br /></p></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><p><br /></p></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;">horses! Simon (a big hunter-jumper) arrived at the Farm a few years back, never having been on a trail ride, and I remember his challenges with life outside of an arena. At the beach he was amazingly calm and seemed to be having fun. I had to tell Haleyanna how impressed I was with how far she had brought him! And your boy Grasshopper, who has been on the Farm since the beginning, who has rarely been in a trailer, even. He settled right in and did fine, though of course there was a lot to take in at first. </div><p><b>MG:</b> We had a general outline for camp, for instance, we knew that games would be a big part of our activities, both in the arena and at the beach. Some were old stand by, tried and true games, and some we devised based on the needs of the group. Kathy and I met each morning to select the right games to help everybody progress, then at night we would review the day and think ahead a bit to the next day. Kathy was great at tracking the progress of individuals, pairs, and the whole group!</p><p><b></b></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6U-CIq_CWaQhSel4ElBeycu-kt1zeScc9yIi2mF3BlO7KrDwJbazGTVckrGTYToVWwurx9GbH0VEXcKVeR6NP7enwiBD3R_0O-9pckTA14RJkXWPdkbpAPCEN3KOL-fbZ1QRYn6NXzwlz/s1280/BeachCamp2020+-+32.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6U-CIq_CWaQhSel4ElBeycu-kt1zeScc9yIi2mF3BlO7KrDwJbazGTVckrGTYToVWwurx9GbH0VEXcKVeR6NP7enwiBD3R_0O-9pckTA14RJkXWPdkbpAPCEN3KOL-fbZ1QRYn6NXzwlz/s320/BeachCamp2020+-+32.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mary teaches braiding<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Also, the kids had asked to learn show braiding, so I brought supplies and everyone got to try their skills. As far as food went, each student was responsible for a meal and brought food for it—I helped them prep, and we ate very well.<br /><b> <br /></b><p></p><p><b>KS:</b> I haven’t eaten that well for a while! Brook even made Thai food—everybody did great.<br /><br /><b>MT:</b> So tell me more about how you set things up for success.<br /><br /><b>KS:</b> Mary and I basically set things up with a few key parameters: safety first, of course! and also—fun! But you have to plan for where the students are, individually, where their horses are, then the horses as a herd and their readiness to be away from the herd—that’s really big when you’ve got this unlimited beach, plus waves! It’s one thing to be in our Farm bubble, where the horses know where their herd is and what the different spaces are—they are in a zone of safety around the property. So beach camp tightens that herd bubble and the horses are less ready to go away from that safety.<br /><br /><b>MG:</b> So that’s where our ground work classes come in...<br /><br /><b>KS:</b> ...and the games!<br /><br /><b>MG:</b> We operate from the assumption that everything we do with our horses is horsemanship. Catching,</p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8EvtjjZZOTJuFMAhh72Ga_0NG_2gYhaDZZnsZBXIhavSCKcoR9YGpcxQKc1Kr-QCt0HT1cjifxZlNWy32nr8wYxBKtwzUbhOaIpMcr2FVq6_GYGyXN7IdaIX0Do2UF_x3AT5x04Goj7v0/s1280/BeachCamp2020+-+34.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="973" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8EvtjjZZOTJuFMAhh72Ga_0NG_2gYhaDZZnsZBXIhavSCKcoR9YGpcxQKc1Kr-QCt0HT1cjifxZlNWy32nr8wYxBKtwzUbhOaIpMcr2FVq6_GYGyXN7IdaIX0Do2UF_x3AT5x04Goj7v0/s320/BeachCamp2020+-+34.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coach Kathy and Hazelnut<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>leading, opening gates, even hanging out together... the ordinary things are all real moments where our interaction with our horse teaches them something—positive or negative. So we want to get in the habit of being aware of what we are doing and what we are training our horse to do, at any given moment.<br /><br /><b>MT: </b>So you said games helped with that?<br /><br /><b>KS:</b> Yes, everybody can have a lot of fun, while tuning up their horsemanship. For herd bound horses and kids who are just gaining confidence, there’s Duck Duck Goose. It’s fun, and works that herd boundary, as one rider and horse circle the group, pick another, then race for the empty spot. Figure 8s by turns in the group extends that ability to move away from and return to the herd.<br /><br /><b>MG: </b>And Red Light, Green Light, which we turned into a leading game as a way to better connect kids and horses, so the student doesn’t find herself constantly correcting an enthusiastic or nervous horse. Actually, we turned it into— red light, orange light, yellow light, green light, blue light, and purple! Red=stop, orange=slow, yellow=slow saunter, green=normal walk, blue=power walk, purple= jog. It was great and sharpened up their communication, for sure!<br /><br /><b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX_ziHPwlPS_yqcWMfo5QsBjAYLPrO763k9jCn_01Mt8R3UJq7X6RQWIXQUncNeaDSwBprx2nZZ4zx0dUcJ73DlW2vLHGcKuak_pUGNucY61TG1KhuAMce0T4gWNr5u5X3VCf8OwtfEAXP/s1280/BeachCamp2020+-+1.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX_ziHPwlPS_yqcWMfo5QsBjAYLPrO763k9jCn_01Mt8R3UJq7X6RQWIXQUncNeaDSwBprx2nZZ4zx0dUcJ73DlW2vLHGcKuak_pUGNucY61TG1KhuAMce0T4gWNr5u5X3VCf8OwtfEAXP/s320/BeachCamp2020+-+1.jpeg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walking to the beach.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>KS:</b> Right, so when we are leading the horses to the beach, nobody gets pulled along by their horse, or has to be constantly on the horse’s case. It really pays off! I should say that from the start, we had paired the students/horses by experience. And we talked about each of them committing to helping their own horse first, then their partner and horse, then the whole group/herd. We were fortunate to have some Beach Camp veterans—Grace, Brook, Elise, Elly and Lily—to help those who were first timers. Grace is a Hoof Beats alum, by the way. Each day at the beach, I would assign two of them to be my extra eyes and ears, herd leaders, activity demonstrators, and all around support. They really came through!<br /><br /><b>MG: </b>We should mention that in the beginning, after we’ve arrived and settled in where we’re staying, we always take that first walk to the beach. It may be that day, or first thing the next morning. But it’s a great opportunity to see how everybody is doing, how the horses feel about the beach and the waves. They can roll, eat a little grass on the dunes, basically acclimate.<br /><br /><b>KS:</b> Ah yes, that first walk on the beach this time also included kids in the water! It’s such a great way to arrive. Mary, you’ve always made a point of that first beach walk, and that’s where our ground work really gets fun, too. The waves—which are fairly gentle, on a wide, flat sandy slope—are a great place to practice yields and other movements, with water lapping around everybody’s feet!<br /><br /><b>MT:</b> So, this was a fairly big group, compared to recent years. They know each other well and ride together four days a week—but surely you had special considerations, being on the longest beach in the USA…?<br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCUC_S-PlqcItNCw2Pqk37bUSZlVi9rPrPb34Vr74o2nbM7IW_9L9Cdt3Ah0eh6DZtAp3_uIgtWPo62Z_ApOa4meqmpy_w5vzGL2rIRU4VSU_xiyUxamYq7DEF3FdmdsKBwYlQwsJb9Iz9/s1280/BeachCamp2020+-+28.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="881" data-original-width="1280" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCUC_S-PlqcItNCw2Pqk37bUSZlVi9rPrPb34Vr74o2nbM7IW_9L9Cdt3Ah0eh6DZtAp3_uIgtWPo62Z_ApOa4meqmpy_w5vzGL2rIRU4VSU_xiyUxamYq7DEF3FdmdsKBwYlQwsJb9Iz9/w500-h344/BeachCamp2020+-+28.jpeg" width="500" /></a></div><p><b>KS:</b> We definitely wanted to help students and horses to stick together, but also the whole group. There was an important theme of group and trail etiquette, which not everybody knows. Those of us who take trail rides regularly from Freedom Farm make a point of group awareness. For example, letting the group know if you need to deal with something, you say, “Wait, please!” Or let the group know you need to have a learning moment, say turning your horse, “Turning!” And of course, nobody charging off, even at a trot, without checking in with the rest. Doing so can quickly create a situation where herd anxiety gets triggered. So, we set that expectation with the group, and they were all really good and our rides went quite smoothly.<br /><br /><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibQqpXd-ReXQhQUFRjoeeJlcNZZUSDZtWUvMEW8qiFs7KluRkyUseH2NDyQ0okM3AJNPECA5NF_ZhtUPKhq4ICc-c59nzvj8Udf8n5PDHMODYgdt9pemyDyfistPJw3WRU42xRn3kDgcWB/s1280/BeachCamp2020+-+13.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibQqpXd-ReXQhQUFRjoeeJlcNZZUSDZtWUvMEW8qiFs7KluRkyUseH2NDyQ0okM3AJNPECA5NF_ZhtUPKhq4ICc-c59nzvj8Udf8n5PDHMODYgdt9pemyDyfistPJw3WRU42xRn3kDgcWB/s320/BeachCamp2020+-+13.jpeg" width="320" /></a></b></div><b>MG:</b> So to recap, we always focused on staying within the bounds of what each horse could do, and what the students were comfortable with. Once you have that settled, it’s easier to try the next step.<br /><br /><b>MT:</b> So speaking of next steps.... you did ground work in the mornings, and rode on the beach in the afternoons. And had some special sessions, like show braiding…<br /><br /><b>MG:</b> Oh, and we did an unexpected service for Cindy, our host. She’s got some beautiful horses, one of whom has been having issues and was in need of a maintenance trim to help balance the feet. Elise got right in there with me and we were able to coach Cindy and her helper Robin with maintenance trimming techniques. I think they were surprised and pleased. It was a bonus, for sure.<br /><br /><b>MT:</b> <a href="https://www.freedom-farm.net/wise-horseman-at-freedom-farm" target="_blank">Wise Horseman</a>, to the rescue!<br /><br /><b>MG:</b> Well, we were there and glad to help.<br /><br /><b>MT: </b>And that final full day group ride, did it feature any galloping, perchance?<br /><br /><b>KS:</b> Yes! By then everybody was ready. We formed a herd group, standing quietly together, and from there each rider could choose to go alone or with their partner. I should mention what we did NOT do: gallop all together, or gallop/canter towards home. By forming a herd, we gave the horses an anchor. The student whose turn it was could walk back the way we came, then have their canter or gallop toward the group, going past us, then allowing the horse’s natural wish to stay connected with the herd, to help end the gallop and turn back to us. ...At a walk or trot! It was great! Everybody got their turn, and they all galloped on the beach.<br /><br /><b>MT</b>: Wow, sounds wonderful. Final comments…?<br /><br /><b>MG: </b>The kids all worked together to feed and water the horses, clean up, etc. Easiest Beach Camp ever!<br /><br /><b>KS: </b>And of course there was extra horse time, the braiding, the hot tub, camp fire with s'mores and LOTS of giggling!!!<br /><br /><b>MT: </b>Aah, camp!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxF9ddmFG4k6zMEBA_hoq0yvlnFXxW4RqfKmw1Sr9Dxx_-TatTkch_OO4inv2yDJwSMHhLSDfx_iQPgu2u-M0hf6eaMrfBrRZgVapflkVepYWwY8fkzuMS8jJuzfpbo5auDqWbbKQONhoQ/s1280/BeachCamp2020+-+27.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxF9ddmFG4k6zMEBA_hoq0yvlnFXxW4RqfKmw1Sr9Dxx_-TatTkch_OO4inv2yDJwSMHhLSDfx_iQPgu2u-M0hf6eaMrfBrRZgVapflkVepYWwY8fkzuMS8jJuzfpbo5auDqWbbKQONhoQ/s1280/BeachCamp2020+-+27.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="633" data-original-width="1280" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxF9ddmFG4k6zMEBA_hoq0yvlnFXxW4RqfKmw1Sr9Dxx_-TatTkch_OO4inv2yDJwSMHhLSDfx_iQPgu2u-M0hf6eaMrfBrRZgVapflkVepYWwY8fkzuMS8jJuzfpbo5auDqWbbKQONhoQ/w625-h310/BeachCamp2020+-+27.jpeg" width="625" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grace and Grasshopper, Maddie and Cysco, Lily and Joia, Brook and Amen, Elise and Blackie, Zoe and Monty, Elly and Harriot, Samantha and Mocha, Haleyanna and Simon<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /><i>Note: You can see more photos of Beach Camp 2020 in an album on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/freedomfarm.portangeles/" target="_blank">our Facebook Page</a>! </i><br /></p><br />Wise Horseman at Freedom Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05030656717082840863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5009060359888081602.post-78778956574002986272020-06-04T18:50:00.000-07:002020-06-04T18:51:57.158-07:00Fun and Imagination Can Be Useful Tools in Training: Introducing Colts to the TrailerBy Mary Gallagher<br />
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Recently I trailered a couple of young horses I’ve been training back to their home at Wensleydale Farm in Oregon. I invited two of my advanced Hoof Beats students, Elise and Elly, since they had been handling and riding the trainees, and since there are more great young horses at Wensleydale, including new colts. I really enjoy coaching my students, and this day was extra fun for us all because we got to play with baby horses!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUDp5Rnd1R1Hlz5lNjDQ8gEbH6Kh7KLCeDzEK8381QfaIlE2QWneDXo_pzqK8vR_qQqd-X9ea5-emF9zCWR4kcpKRurtTZ0c_Mu-9zahEIOY1qhlqNwlPVZn61KbI_br5JtSBwvEfsrpmy/s1600/Elise+%2526+Colt+in+Barn+-+1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUDp5Rnd1R1Hlz5lNjDQ8gEbH6Kh7KLCeDzEK8381QfaIlE2QWneDXo_pzqK8vR_qQqd-X9ea5-emF9zCWR4kcpKRurtTZ0c_Mu-9zahEIOY1qhlqNwlPVZn61KbI_br5JtSBwvEfsrpmy/s320/Elise+%2526+Colt+in+Barn+-+1.jpeg" width="320" /></a><br />
Horses are full faculty learners at birth, ready within a few hours to follow Mom out into the big world. What this means for trainers is, you can’t start too early exposing a baby horse to all sorts of different things, familiarizing them with human contact and making it easier for them to adapt to the human world in the future.<br />
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With talented students, it is a match made in heaven—a curious colt and an imaginative handler. In this case, there were no great deeds to accomplish, just a chance to let the girls help two colts test out life in a safe way.<br />
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We decided to try some basic yields which would help prepare the youngsters for trailer loading. Elise and Elly played some preparatory games on line, getting the babies to follow a feel in all directions. After they all got comfortable moving around outside, we thought of asking them to move in and out of open stalls in the barn.<br />
<a name='more'></a>Both babies found that following a feel was safe and fun, and extra interesting when it meant entering and leaving a familiar place. The same rhythm continued—following a feel in, following a feel out, until it was easy. After that, going half way in, then backing out offered a great simulation of the trailer loading experience.<br />
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Also, there will be many times a colt will experience leaving a friend, or losing sight of a friend, so this game of loading in and out of the stalls will pay off in lots of ways in the future. It’s a kind of peek-a-boo for baby horses.<br />
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<i>To the trailers! (Almost.) </i>We had plenty of time, so after playing in the barn, we took the babies out to where the trailers were parked, and practiced loading on to a sheet of plywood and a plastic tarp. The plywood and tarp made strange sounds and had different textures, to help desensitize the babies to stepping on other strange surfaces.<br />
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Both babies were confident and curious as they left the barn, so the progression to the plywood and tarp was not too big a step for them. Once again, our aim was to make sure the babies could follow a feel in all directions over the plywood and tarp.<br />
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We made a point of having no expectations as to whether this day would be the day the babies would load into a trailer. The students would make sure to play enough to be able to stop and leave the babies in a good place for next time.<br />
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<i>To the trailer for reals.</i> On the other hand, we were all still having fun, and there was still time, so we decided to continue and introduce the trailer.<br />
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Importantly, before allowing the babies to go all the way into the trailer, I had Elise and Elly ask them to stop part way in, and back out. I like to work on unloading as part of trailer loading first, before the horse loads all the way in. I have seen too many problems with horses afraid to get out of the trailer after walking in. It is so worth it to spend a lot of time allowing the horse to learn what it will feel like to unload safely and confidently.<br />
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<i>Straightness.</i> So as they are becoming more curious about the trailer I do little things like make sure they can step off the ramp straight and back straight away from the trailer.<br />
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<i>Steps forward and back.</i> I had them practice stepping on the ramp with one foot then the other foot, then do the same in reverse. When the back feet start making it onto the ramp, we practiced the same thing with the back feet. First one hind then the other.<br />
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The funny thing is, if you are a good observer you will find that the horse does this all on his own. I have learned by taking my time and allowing them to explore, testing which foot goes on and off, everyone forgets that going in was the objective, and soon the horses can’t wait to see what it feels like to have their whole body in the trailer. We even practice stepping back and then stepping forward and resting on the ramp. It is really fun way to teach trailer loading. Nowhere to go, let’s just play at, around, and in the trailer.<br />
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With the idea of play in mind, a relaxed attitude, imagination and sense of fun, our day was a <br />
complete success, with both babies stepping all the way in to a trailer, and backing out perfectly. And that to us at Freedom Farm, is the best kind of training session.<br />
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Wise Horseman at Freedom Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05030656717082840863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5009060359888081602.post-5024079704560272852020-05-04T10:18:00.000-07:002020-05-04T11:09:59.503-07:00Imagination is a Great Teacherby Mary Gallagher<br />
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I’ve been thinking a lot about imagination, as I do my rounds at Freedom Farm. As I shared last month, I’ve been spending more quiet time doing a greater variety of
things with my personal horses and trainees, and have been
encouraging my students to do the same with their horses. <br />
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Without the pressure of upcoming shows, and with the necessity of quiet, more individualized activities, we are discovering and developing new avenues of purpose with our horses, making use of our surroundings to develop, test, and hone our skills and our partner’s skills.<br />
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With a little attention, we can easily find sources of inspiration around us, to get us going on a meaningful journey of discovering our oneness with nature. And with our horses, by mindfully cooperating, we can awaken the intelligence innate in both us.<br />
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For example: recently, I came across a student video from earlier this spring. I had asked my Hoof Beats students to do something creative with their horses using two parallel poles. It was a chance to connect different kinds of moves, on the ground and in the saddle.<br />
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They did not disappoint! I was impressed with their creativity, and how each student <i>made their idea their horse’s idea</i>. Over multiple viewings, I became fascinated with how my students developed ideas—discovering boundaries through practicing trust, patience, and balance—while holding the connection with their horse. They had to communicate their idea with leadership and a kind attitude, staying in the moment while reading the horse, cooperating, and being flexible. <br />
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Horses are curious creatures, ready to engage with interesting patterns and focused activity. You can see them connect with their student's suggestion, working out how to get it done. As you watch the video, notice how just two poles spark the students’ imaginations and engage the horses.<br />
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The positive attributes of <i>connection, communication, and cooperation</i>, made real through the students’ imaginative play and creative efforts, really does pay off in every aspect of their horsemanship. I hope you’ll enjoy the video and try some of these ideas with your horse!<br />
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<br />Wise Horseman at Freedom Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05030656717082840863noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5009060359888081602.post-69868182085567500922020-04-08T09:13:00.002-07:002020-04-08T16:13:48.536-07:00Lots of time on your hands? Work on Enhancing that Relationship!<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-weight: bold;">By Mary Gallagher</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Creative grooming.</td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">With all the extra time we are spending at home during this month of quarantine, I thought it would be a perfect time to really focus on enhancing my relationship with my horses. Young Einstein, one of my trainees from Wensleydale Farms, </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "helvetica";">offers a perfect example of the benefits of enriching and enhancing our relationship through fun and seemingly random </span><br />
activities.</div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">When I begin with any horse, I spend time observing them before we start. I try not to have a set-in-stone plan of what I want to do, but just a general idea of where I want to go. I start from who the horse is, and where their natural skills will take them.</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Sure,
there is the usual pan of oats and grooming, but even that should not be
the same every time. I make sure to groom him untied, most of the time.
And with all the hair the horses are shedding this time of year, it’s
nice to groom in an area where we don’t have to sweep it up, like out on
the grass. (Birds love using it for nests)</span> </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Einstein is almost three, a growing part-draft horse whose strengths, I feel, will lie in being an all-round ranch horse. So along with his general training, I have been taking him for outings around the farm. These are not necessarily riding excursions, but I do put a saddle on him in case I come across something that I would like to do while riding. </span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Einstein is very calm, but also loves to play, so this works out great for exploring. He is up for anything I come up with. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">We go for some kind of outing every day. Mostly I begin with a walk—he will follow me just about anywhere. We begin with </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Curious cow and Einstein...</td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">places he has seen, and then I add in a little ground work, connecting to the feet over and around obstacles. </span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">We then explore something new, a safe walk through a paddock or field where other horses are, that I protect him from. Being around a herd unfamiliar to Einstein requires me to be the alpha, so as to keep him safe. This is great, because he is super curious about the other horses but doesn’t have to worry about being bit kicked or chased. This kind of outing will come in handy when we travel to new places and he will need to be sure of my leadership in more unfamiliar environment.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">On our outings he learns about manners:</span></div>
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<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">How to go in and out of gates, in all different ways</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Not grabbing grass</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Walk next to me </span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Walk behind me </span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Walk on the right side</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Walk on the left side</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Walk at my pace—fast, slow, or back up</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Don’t walk ahead of me</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Jog off with no dragging on the lead line</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Pick up his feet easily and hold them up for me</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Rope his feet and have him give to pressure </span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Trail walks over logs and </span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Hill climbing, up and down</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Fun things, too, like checking out what the cows eat, what they smell like and even touch noses.</span></li>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">I also have been moving him to lots of different places around the farm for short periods of time, to just hang out. Sometimes I put him in an unfamiliar corral, or tie him in a strange place, while I pick up poop or do some kind of nearby chore. Other times he can help me do some chore, like raking around the many feeders around our property. Of course he is curious about the chores, but he has to learn to stay back so I can do my work. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Other fun activities include things like dragging a tarp or barrel, putting a rope around a foot and leading him a step or two—just a matter of a little imagination. Just getting out of his pen for a while every day adds up. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reviewing the barrel drag...</td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">So, what seems like lots of down time from our usual equestrian schedule is actually a real resource for a wise horseman. For Einstein, it’s a time to grow in self-confidence—while learning about the world. For us, it’s a chance to grow and improve the relationship. And that’s a great way for a young horse to spend his days.</span></div>
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<i><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">[see more photos below, and even more on the Freedom Farm Facebook page! - MG]</span></i></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Next month’s post: </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 12px;">Quiet Confidence</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-l3O9T6TYqUoKv-_1qg8_y5DFSnXu5zn9892BY-scUDRV1QGvHb0hCHOv892zw8_Keyb3Yh4iYRKRNie9-q7pDVHHdyU-KDomwkeHomrjhDbmMGqZH2ssq8AvUBBj34u3ER1gRhd0w2DV/s1600/F632FCF3-5BEA-4BDC-9F48-C6E74C2177C2.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-l3O9T6TYqUoKv-_1qg8_y5DFSnXu5zn9892BY-scUDRV1QGvHb0hCHOv892zw8_Keyb3Yh4iYRKRNie9-q7pDVHHdyU-KDomwkeHomrjhDbmMGqZH2ssq8AvUBBj34u3ER1gRhd0w2DV/s400/F632FCF3-5BEA-4BDC-9F48-C6E74C2177C2.heic" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A little exercise with a buddy...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Easy on from the fence.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs3LWRvwGGeVTUv4aU-2gWr4PYzZgCoqXRz1GWGg2nP1rCus17Cv4WLc8O_IUExexxuX5dcIeJPH1ZUHxxAe8thbYcIUbmrymkv9SrP-mFGmT-q92NWethWyGz2g2EUulDcz1voKz5QzmP/s1600/DE12A7DF-4D24-4BF2-8A43-6B52E1739EAC.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs3LWRvwGGeVTUv4aU-2gWr4PYzZgCoqXRz1GWGg2nP1rCus17Cv4WLc8O_IUExexxuX5dcIeJPH1ZUHxxAe8thbYcIUbmrymkv9SrP-mFGmT-q92NWethWyGz2g2EUulDcz1voKz5QzmP/s400/DE12A7DF-4D24-4BF2-8A43-6B52E1739EAC.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A nice day for a ride.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0hUr47u4W8DuskMOvVjgDx8dTaX8HBk3ozpzfB7l3C9hVnQPSbGKpezAU4wGeLW0JEFEe1ivrtdF8BzMXA-Aelb6cuuxDQ4KHrdoh74ffsufpxJXw6b6X6jItSS2O5wu4vwkfl4ljYeny/s1600/EA585FB5-0CA5-46BE-BED6-FFEC2015F79E.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="958" data-original-width="1280" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0hUr47u4W8DuskMOvVjgDx8dTaX8HBk3ozpzfB7l3C9hVnQPSbGKpezAU4wGeLW0JEFEe1ivrtdF8BzMXA-Aelb6cuuxDQ4KHrdoh74ffsufpxJXw6b6X6jItSS2O5wu4vwkfl4ljYeny/s400/EA585FB5-0CA5-46BE-BED6-FFEC2015F79E.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dragging the barrel is good practice for chores to come.</td></tr>
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Wise Horseman at Freedom Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05030656717082840863noreply@blogger.com0