Category Archives: Horsemanship

Topics on general care, training and welfare of horses

There is only one ‘must’ in riding

Posted on February 23, 2019 by liascott

I’ve heard it all of my riding life, but social media seems to have brought it out in full force. I’m talking about any riding advice that begins with, “You must …” I don’t think it matters the discipline, there … Continue reading →

Posted in Horsemanship, Thinking Out Loud | Tagged "Natural" Horsemanship, bad training, equine biomechanics, equitation, good training, Horse training, horsemanship, rider biomechanics, the nature of horses | 5 Comments

The explosive equine

Posted on February 12, 2019 by liascott

A few years ago, in the course of trying to retrain Tally after the “trainer” who started her had botched it so badly, I was making one last walk circle before getting off. But my dismount did not happen as … Continue reading →

Posted in Horsemanship, My Journey | Tagged Andrew McLean, behavior modification, flight response, horse behavior, Horse training, impulse control, Roxie, Tally, The Truth About Horses | 5 Comments

Noble and the mud

Posted on January 31, 2019 by liascott

There is one constant, every winter – Noble hates the mud. Once it reaches a certain point of sloppiness, there is nothing that will entice him to cross the ‘bog’ to reach the higher ground and grass. This has been … Continue reading →

Posted in Horsemanship, Thinking Out Loud | Tagged horse preferences, horsekeeping, horses, Noble, personal preferences, shelter, stalls, turnout | Leave a comment

The fearful equine

Posted on January 2, 2019 by liascott

A recent Facebook conversation about positive reinforcement led to someone asking a question about one of my favorite fallacies – if you comfort a fearful or spooking horse, aren’t you just reinforcing the fear? I first encountered that idea when … Continue reading →

Posted in Horsemanship, My Journey | Tagged Angelo Telatin, animal behavior, animal emotions, fear, Noble, positive reinforcement, spooking, Tally | Leave a comment

Why do you ride?

Posted on November 10, 2018 by liascott

Riding is a selfish act – there is really no getting around that fact. Horses do not ask to participate in the activity, they are conditioned for it. That said, I have over forty years of experience that horses can, … Continue reading →

Posted in Classical Training and Philosophy, Horsemanship, Thinking Out Loud | Tagged Classical horsemanship, friend to the horse, Gustav Steinbrecht, Horse training, horsemanship, perfection, rider's ego, riding horses | 1 Comment

It’s All About You!

Posted on October 7, 2018 by liascott

Your horse still trundles along, heavy footed and maybe also heavy in your hand. Or, your horse is constantly in danger of putting you on the fast track to front tooth implants, with his head always in your face. Perhaps … Continue reading →