Somatic Rider and Energy Medicine

Awesome visual.
I often taught to think about giving a piggy back ride. If the 'rider' leans one way, the person giving the ride tries to get under their weight to stay balanced. This video shows this concept.

Think of this when sidepassing, closing a gate, leg yielding...if you lean in the opposite direction of where you want the horse to go it makes their job harder. I prefer to think of it as staying in the middle and using your intention, with a subtle weight shift in the direction.

In the past it was often taught to 'open the door' (take the non-pushing leg off the horse) to allow the horse to move in that direction. This would inadvertently cause the rider to lean away from the direction of travel as they applied pressure.
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1D6a8uUrfs/

Send a message to learn more

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1E7RnQxbMg/

The Horse That Carries the Dawn

An elder once told me,
“Speak gently to what is wild,
for the wild is only a prayer
that never learned to kneel.”

There are spirits born of distance,
made of wind, hunger, and open land.
They do not belong to our hands—
they answer only to the heart.

A young soul brings no rope,
only trust folded inside her voice.
She knows the old way:
nothing sacred comes by force.

The sun keeps its fire low
when two silences understand.
Even the earth grows quiet
to hear a promise being made.

So let the path be slow,
let the dust rise and settle.
Some bonds are not owned—
they are honored, then carried forever.

🎨Artist and storyteller: Dorothy Vera

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1JonjV1xMb/?mibextid=wwXIfr

I have noticed something about old horses.

The older they get, the less interested they seem in proving anything.

The young horses run.

The young horses test boundaries.

The young horses worry about where they stand.

But the old horses…

The old horses seem to know something.

They know where the water is.

They know where the shade will be in the afternoon.

They know which storms matter and which ones will pass.

They know that not every disagreement requires a fight.

Not every noise requires alarm.

Not every moment requires action.

Sometimes they simply stand quietly beneath a tree and watch the world unfold.

And I wonder if wisdom might look a lot like that.

Not knowing more facts.

Not having all the answers.

But no longer feeling the need to chase every fear, every ambition, every disturbance that passes through life.

I think our culture often celebrates youth because youth is exciting.

But there is a different kind of beauty in age.

A quieter beauty.

The beauty of perspective.

The beauty of patience.

The beauty of having survived enough seasons to recognize that life is not a problem to solve.

It is something to experience.

When I sit with old horses, I often find myself slowing down.

Breathing differently.

Thinking differently.

As if they are reminding me of something I once knew.

That not everything valuable moves quickly.

That not everything important can be measured.

That there is a kind of richness that only arrives with time.

Perhaps that is why I love old horses so much.

They seem to carry a message our world desperately needs to hear:

You do not have to remain young to remain beautiful.

You do not have to remain productive to remain valuable.

And you do not have to keep proving your worth once you finally understand that you already have it.

O

If today’s post resonated with you, you’ll find much more in my book, Chosen, Not Obeyed. It’s an invitation to see horses—and perhaps yourself—through a different lens.

📖 Get your copy here: ⁠ https://a.co/d/0dPCSVyv

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1H4gYxtoiX/

Send a message to learn more

If anyone is looking for a nice 2 Horse bumper pull straight load trailer, my trailer is currently taking bids in the Olds Alberta Online Machinery Auction until Thursday. Ring 2 Lot #2350 More pics on the auction page.

2015 Sundowner Sunlite 16' Trailer - we only did a few trips with it. It was mostly used to store my tack. Previous owner only used it a few times as well.

In excellent condition, very clean and well maintained. It features a 7’6” interior height. The trailer includes a rear loading ramp for easy access, along with drop-down windows on both sides for good ventilation.

At the front is a spacious walk-in tack room with two saddle racks located under the mangers, as well as plenty of additional storage space for all your equipment. With its dual axles and thoughtful layout, this trailer offers both stability and convenience for hauling horses comfortably and safely.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17XtxtdhpS/

A great bit of new research in an infographic from Hartpury University. Pole work isn’t just about trotting over poles. Depending how we use them, different effects are seen. Higher poles, wider poles and doing them quickly create more extension (dipping) of the spine. This may not be ideal - go low, go short, go slow!

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1UTPSS4tuG/

One of the strangest things about traditional animal training is how often calmness is confused with consent.

An animal freezes…
and we call them “well behaved.”

An animal suppresses their discomfort…
and we call them “respectful.”

An animal gives up trying to communicate…
and we call them “bombproof.”

But what if some of the behaviors we praise most are actually signs the animal learned their voice doesn’t matter?

Because truly relaxed animals don’t just obey.
They express.
They explore.
They question things.
They say yes freely.
And sometimes…
they say no.

That “no” is not failure.

It’s communication still alive inside them.

And honestly?
I think that’s something sacred.

The future of horsemanship — and animal relationships in general — may belong less to those who can control animals most efficiently…
and more to those who can make animals feel safe enough to stay emotionally honest.

That kind of trust can’t be demanded.

It can only be protected.