Connected Horsemanship:
Clicking Forward!
Hi there! I miss seeing you in person, but hope that these weekly emails help to keep you motivated and give you ideas to work with. Hopefully you’re enjoying time with your horse and letting your horse give you feedback about what you are doing well and what might need to change. Horses have always been my best teachers. Experiment and search to find what helps your horse to be soft, relaxed, willing, enthusiastic, and connected.
This week’s Connected Natural Horsemanship Challenge is: In the saddle — can you have your horse stand still, facing the same direction, for 3-5 minutes? If not, does your horse stand still on the ground when you put slack in the lead line? If so, back in the saddle, try helping your horse move his/her feet and then go back to the same spot and ask him/her to stand still, facing the same direction, again. Repeat this step until your horse is able to stand still a little longer. Then get off or ask your horse to move BEFORE your horse moves his/her feet. If your horse is able to stand still, rub him/her with your legs on his/her side, rub with your hands on their neck and withers, and wait for relaxation. An enjoyable ride starts with relaxation!
The key skill we’re focusing on this week is relaxation. Without relaxation, you have a tense horse ready to spook or run off with short, choppy strides that aren’t too comfortable to ride. There are times we may cause our horses to lose relaxation (especially when working on a new skill), but we should always be sure to start with relaxation and bring them back to relaxation as often as possible during our ride. If you transition often between the thing that causes your horse to lose relaxation (such as an upward transition, new obstacle, new pattern, etc.) and return quickly back to relaxation, your horse will eventually combine the two and be able to relax during the _________ (upward transition, new obstacle, new pattern, etc.) I make a point to always start and end with a relaxed horse, even if there were moments of tension during the ride. This means waiting to release when your horse finds relaxation – making this a pattern will help your horse to relax sooner. When working with your horse, seek softness and relaxation. These two key skills will make everything more enjoyable for you and your horse!
Seek the Connection,
Annie Shank
PS If you haven’t already, join Connected Natural Horsemanship’s facebook page and support and encourage one another there!
April 30, 2020
CNH Challenge #6: Can you stand on the mounting block, or sit on a fence post and ask your horse to come and pick you up? In other words, will your horse place himself next to you where it’s easy for you to get on and then stand still waiting for you to get settled in the saddle? Think of this as your horse inviting you to climb aboard for a ride and not as a task you can make your horse do. How can you help your horse to want you on his back? How can you suggest to your horse that you’d like to get on without demanding or making him come to pick you up? Hint: Think of playing the game, “you’re getting warmer/colder,” rather than sideways towards with your horse. Remember to reward the slightest tries!
Post your natural horsemanship questions, challenges, successes, pics and short videos on Connected Natural Horsemanship’s facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/
Stay Connected,
Annie Shank
April 23, 2020
Hi there. I’m hoping this finds all of you well and able to continue playing with your horses! Some of you are asking when I’ll resume in-person lessons and group activities. I know many of you are anxious to get in-person feedback. Please be patient as I’m trying to keep everyone safe and I know at least a couple of my students have come into first or second-hand contact with COVID-19. Some of the rest of us may also have come into contact and are simply unaware. Airing on the side of caution, I’ll continue with video and phone coaching exclusively through the end of May, at which time I will re-evaluate the degree of risk and whether or not it’s reasonably safe to resume private and semi-private lessons. In the meantime, please continue to stay safe, build your immune systems, and not take unnecessary risks. By the way, riding your horse (or any outdoor exercise) is a great way to help build your immune system!
This week’s challenge is: Try saddling your horse without tying him/her. Can your horse stand still and willingly accept the saddle and cinch/girth? If not, pay attention to when your horse gets agitated, nervous, or antsy and address the issue. Go back to that step as many times as necessary to correct it while staying connected with your horse. Then, try bridling. Does your horse help you put the bridle on by lowering his/her head and taking the bit politely? Does he/she stand quietly while you adjust the bridle? Or, if you ride in a hackamore or halter, does your horse act like a partner and seek to put his or her nose in? Does he/she turn their head towards you? If not, find ways to help your horse seek the bit or halter. Note: it may also require you to consider how you use the reins. Are you soft and gentle with the reins or quick and strong? This could be the way your horse gives you feedback. If so, it may take a few sessions to prove to your horse that he/she can trust you with the reins.
Thanks to the individuals who are participating and letting me know how your challenge sessions are going! I love getting the emails, videos and posts. Keep it up! Remember, staying connected with your horse and being their cheerleader is more important than completing any task— the challenges are ideas to have fun with and building blocks for success with your horse. It doesn’t matter if you successfully complete a challenge in one session or in twenty! Keep it fun and you’ll be on the right track. If you haven’t already clicked like and follow on the Connected Natural Horsemanship facebook page, feel free to follow and participate there also. I look forward to hearing about your challenges and successes! As always, I’m happy to send you quick hints to help you find success with your horse.
Seek the Connection!
Annie Shank
P.S. If you would like to be removed from my email list, please respond to this email with the word "Remove" and I will take care of that.
April 16, 2020
I get to do silly (yet purposeful) tricks and practice riding perfectly and interact with my horses, strengthening my connection with them. It warms my heart when, after a particularly demanding session the day before, my horses see me coming and come meet me at the gate to their pasture. I’m grateful for the respite these beautiful creatures give me. I hope all of you experience this same magic.
This week’s Connected Natural Horsemanship Challenge (Challenge #4) is: Send your horse on a circle at the trot and ask for 2 good laps in both directions. Good laps means your horse is looking in on the circle or straight on the circle (not looking to the outside or trying to escape), your horse maintains his own gait and speed/rhythm, your horse does not pull on the rope, your horse does not put too much slack or tension on the rope (the circle is round), and your horse is relaxed! If this does not describe your horse’s circles, do something to help him find this picture. Hint: the process does not usually look like the end result!
When you’re working with your horse, remember to hold a vision in your mind of what you’re working towards. That way, you’ll know when you’re on the right track and can communicate that to your horse! You horse NEEDS to know when they’re pleasing you and when they’re understanding what you want. So many horses try to please people only to feel like they cannot and then give up. Go ahead, get the perfect picture in your mind and then strive towards that, but remember to acknowledge your horses’ tries along the way and to encourage them. You need to be their biggest cheerleaders, letting them know you saw them trying and appreciate their efforts and improvements along the way! If you do this, your horse will keep trying and often will try harder! Part of clear communication with our horses is simply letting them know when they’re on the right track. Fortunately, this simple recognition also strengthens the connection with our horses, helping make everything better.
Let me know how it goes. I love hearing from you!
Stay Connected,
Annie Shank
April 9, 2020
March 30, 2020
March 23, 2020
I hope you and your loved ones are well. In response to the current crises and need for isolation, I've launched personalized video and phone coaching to help students receive continued support and growth in their horsemanship. If you are receiving this email you likely took lessons or a clinic with me at some point. Thank you for sharing part of your horsemanship journey with me.