When a horse is fully engaged, it significantly enhances a training session. Similar to a child who is attentive in school, they are more receptive to instruction and can respond to subtle cues. You can no less and achieve more. Distraction is a key factor in horses not responding promptly to cues. Once we have a horse focused and waiting for instruction, we can adopt a more connected, subtle approach. An attentive horse can detect subtle cues, which may give the impression that they are anticipating instructions. However, they are actually responding to our energy and body. Studies have shown that our bodies react 100 ms before we have a conscious thought, rendering our energy and nonverbal cues more potent than physical instructions. A distracted horse will seem ignorant, heavy and you’ll have to be loud. None of that is fun, so getting their attention before anything else is key to a session that feels good - for you and the horse.

Can you please do a video/lesson on how to start training the ground tie?

This category is about help. Feel free to ask for advise or help with an issue you may have. Don’t forget to add a picture of your horse !

Eliza could you please do a video on catching a horse?

Sometimes the hardest of arena training is working on your straightness. There is nothing worse than a horse that doesn’t follow your focus and feel. But a little training hack to help straighten your horses is always ride with a bend… Two reins is the downfall of many riders. Consider each side of the horse independently. And the flexibility of each side is key to straightness. Flexibility of the ribs allows flow thru the body and flow will bring straightness. Soften the horse into straightness, one rein at a time. #bettertogetherhorsemanship