Connection training, hooking on and join up

This week I took a lesson with a student who hasn't worked with me for about 3 years.

Previously I had done around 1 years worth of handling work on the ground with her 2 year old arab mare.

And it was such a good reminder for me on why I don't like to do join up even though we do a version of it and asking our horses to hook on in our connection training.

My main problem with join up is that it doesn't clearly define to the horse what we want them to do.

So for horses who don't need connection training it is of no benefit other than as a free lunge but for horses that do need connection and relaxation training it doesn't adequately guide them through the process.

This is where it is important to be clear on your values and the purpose of the exercise you are implementing. The purpose of join up is ideally to help our horses self regulate and manage their emotions and stress and teach them how to approach us. Sending the horse around the round yard doesn't help them with this, they have to stumble across the answer themselves.

Now, I totally get all the building blocks are there for why this should work but at the same time, we're missing the real key.

Connection isn't forced, it's earnt.

And teaching a horse to learn how to self regulate and control emotions by running them only serves to get them more fit than you and dealing with high energy by running.

So we break it down and do relaxation exercises first, separate to, and before we do our send away and invite in exercises (ie free lunging). And we also teach them how to approach us separately by just giving them the invitation and rewarding them when they do. We also then do our hook on exercises by invitation and we think it's totally fine if they don't stay with us because that is an indication of the strength of connection and relationship we have with them and therefore we have to work on that more.

It does mean it can take a little longer to do it perfectly as a trick but it also means we focus on the connection first and the trick second so that the quality of the relationship and the horses ability to process their emotions is first and foremost and then we can challenge the strength of connection with how long they stay with us and introducing obstacles not the other way around.

Circling back around to my lesson…

I like to free lunge horses if I have the opportunity so they can have a run, stretch their back and have a buck if they want to, I don't force it of them if they don't want to. And what I saw as I sent her out on the free lunge was her energy come up and her body language became tight and tense so I quickly invited her back in - and because we had done this work previous to free lunging, I was able to do our relaxation and connection work to bring her energy back down and get her to focus and stay connected with me.

Instead of sending her around the round yard until she gave me relaxation and connection cues, I asked her to stay with me until she gave me relaxation and connection cues before I sent her back out.

And this is the real difference.

It is up to us to show our horses how to do this, not hope they stumble across the answer themselves. Because we are the ones that are creating the stress and the tension in the horse by driving them around a yard they cannot escape with a whip and no clear answer to what they are supposed to be doing.

If this sounds like the kind of way you want to do ground work, why not join us in our free Facebook community?

Connection: Why you want it & how you can start getting it

We hear about it. It’s a term used in the horse world frequently.

But really, what is connection?

Connection is taking the conversation we built on the ground and transferring it to the saddle.

Connection is a willingness of our horse to seek out that conversation with us and to do that it has to be through pressure they put into the bit and our body (ie legs and seat).

This conversation or connection is similar to that of a dance partner moving together as one. There are a lot of pieces of the puzzle to come together to get to that point.

Firstly, our horses need a positive relationship with the bit or bitless bridle pressure. If our horses haven’t had a good bitting or bridling experience, have pain where the pressure of the bridle is applied or have dentistry issues there is no way of establishing that connection.

We have to ensure our bridle is comfortable and that we aren’t trying to control the horse through the force of the bridle pressure.

There are quite a few things they also need for this.

• They need to know to and how to seek the release of pressure;

• They need to know that pressure goes away when they find the right answer;

• And then they have to have had enough practice with the aids for bit pressure to know what behaviour makes them go away. Ie turning right makes right rein pressure go away, turning left makes left rein pressure go away, stopping makes 2 rein pressure go away and they have to be comfortable with that conversation.

Connection is also being able to say “no” and express their concerns and fears from what we are asking.

Our horses shouldn’t be forced to say yes sir, no sir, 3 bags full sir.

They need to be able to communicate if they don’t understand, can’t do what we are asking, are nervous or unsure etc. We start with this on the ground as well by opening up that conversation through consent, and the confidence to investigate scary things through targeting.

To become a good dance partner and establish flow and connection under saddle, both horse and rider have to be able to have a strong core and balance independently.

Quite often the horse or riders fitness is the limiting factor to that connection in the saddle. We establish this on the ground with lunging and in hand work and then bring it along in the saddle with our conditioning exercises to unite the movement of horse and rider.

Once we have a willing horse looking to have a conversation and a balanced horse and rider the connection comes from the horse working into and seeking the contact. Not sucking behind it, pulling through it, lifting above it. This is why it is so important not to force submission to the bit. Connection can’t be established through force and submission.

Want help developing a connection under saddle? Join our “Ride with heart” workshop that will be jam packed with tips on developing feel and connection in the saddle.

Join us live and ask questions!!

Are you your horse's human?

There are a lot of different training methods out there. So many varying opinions.

I wont say our Training Trainability method is perfect, because no single training method is perfect without adaptation (and we aim to provide that flexibility and adaptation within the membership).

But I will say ours gives something most others don’t - connection.

And connection is a vital part of what our horses desire, with the added bonus of providing forgiveness when we don’t get something right.

Horses, by nature, live in herds. They need a community, a dynamic of relationship, to provide them protection, friendship and even - ocassionally - to put them back in their place. The herd confidence in their alpha sets them up for the best harmony. They have spent centuries evolving this way.

With that in mind, we can’t expect our horse to behave any differently with us. The path of domestication hasn’t taken out that particular need - so that means we must tailor our own interactions to be more herd-like.

Cue funny picture of humans grazing… maybe not.

We should, however, be considering how we can become a part of the herd - in a way that is managable, allows our horse to easily slip into a process with us, knowing they are protected, have a companion, and know their boundaries. Even if they do test them sometimes.

That level of interaction takes us from just being their leader to creating a deeper connection. It means that you will have a horse that wants to spend time with you, just quietly hanging together, just within breathing space or even slightly touching.

Connection is what makes us our horse’s human.

And I wouldn’t want it any other way.

Biggest Take Aways From The First Do No Harm Summit

We are very excited (and still somewhat recovering) from an epic weekend.

That’s right - the First Do No Harm Summit concluded on Sunday just past, with an awesome attendance and presentations from some amazing fellow equestrian professionals.

So we thought we would sum up some of our biggest take aways from the event - just to get you thinking as well!

(Missed the summit? Click here to binge watch until May 18th 2020, or join the Facebook Group to access them after!)

The Key to a Stronger Bond

Equestrian Movement

This is one we discuss often, and the condenced version of the Equestrian Movement Stronger Bond Workshop revealed there are 3 key things we need to be providing our horses: consistency, confidence, and consent.

Thinking Business In A Changing World

Full Strides Solution

Even the smallest ‘extra income’ solution, whether it is agisting (boarding) friends horses or making horse hair jewellery should be approached with a business mentality. Simply having an outline of what happens in case of an event has the capability of staving off exorbitant legal fees - and loss of relationships!

Bit Fitting - Avoiding Wounds

The Bit Fitter

Well, besides having everything I was ever taught about a bit thrown out as myth, I learnt that I seriously need to look at my horse’s mouth more closely! However, there are a few great tips to getting a bit to fit correctly and comfortably.

Owner’s Hoof Care Checklist

The Glorious Hoof

There is so much about the anatomy of the hoof that can change so quickly, and impact our horse’s posture and movement - but there are many things we can pick up early if we know what to look for. Also, the well known 6-8 week cycle we tend to use is too long for most horses.

The Fundamentals of Aromatherapy

Evoke Aromatic

Aromatherapy can help us create a connection with our horses by working on both their and our emotional states. So, so loved her breakdown of the horses olfactory system and how it has direct access to their emotions and trainability.

3 Secrets to Improve Your Dressage Riding

Equestrian Movement

Katie shared so many free tips, but I definitely resonated with the idea that more forward does not equal faster - in fact, the way to create more forward in your horse is to create more slow!

Boundaries for Better Horsemanship

Savvy Horsewoman

Treat your horse like every day with them is the first day with them. No expectations, just work with what you are given.

The Importance of Correct Halter Training

Stokers Ridge Ranch

A horse can be trained to have a “default” - their reaction to a particular stimulus. By creating more positive neurons than negative, focusing on softness, and breaking down the training to the very basics - all the way down to halter training - gives them the best chance to change that response.

Rider’s Posture & Fitness

@PhysioZane

“Perfect” posture is not always possible, because bodies are made differently. The focus should be on your optimal posture, and how you can tailor that to your riding. I have a new trick to try on my next ride as well!

Strengthen & Supple Your Horse

Equine Muscle Matters

Helping to create balance in your horse can be as easy as one small pole exercise, that can be done on the ground! Also, the correct way to apply carrot stretches.

Worm Your Way Into Your Horses Heart

Equestrian Movement

Ok, so I presented this one. But I did learn that when you refer to tapeworm segments as mini ravioli sacs, people never want to eat ravioli again…

The biggest take away, though, is that all our horses should be treated as individuals. Just because it works one way for one horse doesn’t mean it will work perfectly for all horses. Tailoring your work to your own horse, and to yourself, will result in the best success.

Who Should Move Their Feet?

One of the things we talk about at Equestrian Movement is showing up for your horse as a good leader.

Being a good leader means your horse can be a good follower and look to you when feeling challenged, uncomfortable or scared for direction rather than just reacting.

However, one of the big ways a horse will test you and challenge your leadership qualities is by trying to move you and push you around.

If your horse can move your feet, they are controlling where you are going so that makes them the leader. You are following their cues. However when you recognise that your horse is moving your feet and can firstly stand your ground and secondly step into them to move their feet, then you become the leader. They are following your cues.

This can feel like it’s easier said than down with some of our bold, pushy horses, but with consistency and follow through, over time it really does work.

Our favourite exercise for this is walk when I walk, stop when I stop, go when I go. This has been a huge game changer for many of my students and what we always go back to when we start to lose our horses engagement in their work. We go into a lot further detail about this in our Facebook group if you are having trouble implementing - feel free to join and ask questions (click here).

For some of our nervous horses, or horses that have experienced trauma, you may find that initially they aren’t trying to move your feet but are trying to get away from you.

If you start working on your relationship and establishing that connection, they WILL start to relax and bring their walls down around you. This is when they will start to challenge you as a leader, because they are becoming comfortable and confident with you.

This is also something that can happen when you just buy a horse. It will take them time to get used to the change and settle into the routine. I call this the honey moon period and they can be on their best behaviour. Normally by about 3 months they will start to relax and as they relax challenge you to see if you are effective enough to be a good leader or if they need to take over.