Gabi Neurohr - Understanding Horses

This is so exciting - my book has its own app now! For easy listening and reading plus works on any device.

No more issues with files not compatible with certain devices or complicated download.

It even remembers where you left off in the audiobook and has a sleep function! You can even listen to the audio AND read at the same time.

My husband Thomas really built a great, intuitive, easy to use app.

If you already bought my book as the audioversion - you must have received an email today with a link to download it.

You can add it with a few simple clicks to your homescreen on mobile for easy access.

If you don't have my book as Audioversion yet, comment Book below and I will pm you the link to get it!

so excited about this app as it makes listening to the book such a nice experience 😍

p.s.: I read the whole book myself and the forword was also spoken by Berni Zambail himself.

I have a surprise for everybody who got my Book as the Audioversion! Keep an eye on your email inbox today 😁

😱 what a memory! In 2017 June 16th my life almost ended

3 years ago today my life went upside down. Because of this horse. Mayana. Because of my stubbornness. Because I didn't listen to my horse. Because I pushed it too far.

3 years ago everything almost ended. I am so glad it didn't. I was incredibly lucky. Lucky that someone saw my horse running home without me. Lucky that this person decided to ask every neighbour with horses if they were missing a person.

Lucky that they found me 3 hours after my fall. Unconscious on the side of a path far away from home. Alone. Brain damage, like a stroke. No memory, loss of coordination, loss of sp*ech.

3 years ago my life changed. Sometimes we need a huge push from life to make a big change. To stop thinking and acting in the same old loop. Start going forward in a new, better direction.

Crazy and scary memories that come up about that time. The weirdest thing I remember is that I didn't feel my love for horses anymore for about 2 months. It scared me. Maserati was 1 month old. He was cute, no question. But there was no more magical draw to my horses.

It was as if I lost part of myself. Part of my soul. Would I fall in love with horses again?

I got sidetracked by my ego from my true reason why I loved horses so much. Why I wanted to spend my life with them. I needed this accident to find the real reason back.

After 2 months I started to feel "it" again. That magical draw, that fascination. The peace, the quiet happiness. Especially when Maserati took a nap with his head in my lap, Mayana grooming me back. Tara asking for scratches. Mazirah answering when I call her.

This feeling of friendship is what I am after. Not performance, competition, showing off. Just me and my horses.

Why do you love horses?

Today my horse didn’t want to work but I took him anyway

WHAT? After yesterday’s post Gabi is now doing the opposite?

Let me explain.

This evening I wanted to take Maserati for a session. Usually we have a session every second day - we had a ride yesterday too, so this was an extra session. (Miracle - I had unexpectedly more time).

He came to the gate greeting me like always.
I gave him a cookie and scratches. All happy.
But when he saw the halter, he turned away a little. Clear feedback - oups.

I always take my horses feedback seriously. Especially if a horse is usually easy to catch and halter.

Its information.

But this time, I didn’t back down. I opted to still take him for a session despite him saying “I don’t feel like it”

Why?

I am working on stuff Maserati finds hard physically. He is learning dressage basics and to use his body better, in a more balanced and correct way.

As he is so wobbly and holds a few “not so ideal” movement patterns, he finds that hard at times.

The thing is - if I only work on it if the horse “feels like it”, he won’t make the progress needed so he can feel strong, balanced and happy after a while.

Consistency is key when working on physical fitness.

Anyways - I opted to slightly change my plan though as he seemed not so happy about work.

One of my main objectives is to create a “happy learner”.

And to achieve this, I always balance my sessions.

2 focus sessions - 1 fun session.

2 sessions of focused work - balanced by 1 session of an activity my horse enjoys.

Such as a trail ride (if confident), fun pole puzzles, liberty play, creative groundwork. Or just a grazing walk.

Whatever it is - something to lighten the mood and “air the brain”.

And thats what we did today! I took him to the arena and had a nice groundwork session with him.

Made sure to praise him lots, let him show me his favorite exercises and allow him plenty of grazing after the session while I raked the arena rail flat.

So, no, I don’t always back down when a horse tells me “I am not in the mood”.

There is nuance to this and I even think it’s not always beneficial.

We need to listen to the horse, but then think about why the horse feels that way and what we can do to improve how the horse feels in the LONG RUN.

For example, a horse that has made loads of negative experiences during training or riding in the past, won’t be able to say yes at all at first.

But if I don’t take the horse for a session or a ride, I have no chance to show the horse that things are different now.

So, this would be another case where I will take the horse anyways. Because only then I can proof to him/her that he can be successful, that I take his worries into consideration and that working together can be a positive experience.

Does this make sense?

pic of Masi last year just before leaving for a trail ride. No pic of today

p.s.: I write about the happy learner principles in chapter 12 of my book Understanding is the Key. I always consider them, use them to plan my sessions and to evaluate whether to back down or if I should rather keep going. Horse Training is an Art and we have to evaluate every day new about what would be best for my horse today so he can be happy and confident in the long run

I wanted to ride - but my horse didn’t.

Yesterday I finally had time to ride Mayana again after more than 10 days. The weather was good too. Not too hot, no horse flies, no rain.

I took all tack down to tack her up. She was still ok to put the halter on, came to the grooming place and was happy as long as I focused on brushing over itchy spots.

But when I was done with grooming, and about to saddle up, she was clear about leaving.

(I never tie my horses up for grooming - this way, I always get good feedback about where the horse is emotionally that day.)

Misbehaving horse? She has to stand still?

No, for me this is feedback. Sometimes she needs to go for a quick p**p or p*e before she is happy to put the saddle on.

So i let her go. But she went straight to the bedding area in the shelter and went to stand at her spot where she always takes her naps.

Hm…

Alright. Disappointment creeping in. I really wanted to ride.

But I know Mayana - she either is happy to go for a ride, or not.

And when she gives a clear yes, she will stand at liberty for tacking up!

So, this was a clear “I don’t feel like it today. And on top, it's my nap time. Please not now.”

That little voice “come on, just take her anyways” was there and it would have been so easy.

But then the other voice kicked in "hey, whats most important? Why do you love horses?"

Mayana is my precious and riding is really just the cherry on the cake. My main goal is to spend a good time with her and knowing she has fun too.

So, I went to her, took the halter off, put it away and sat down on the wooden beam that keeps the bedding where its supposed to be.

Masi, Tara and Salimah joined us and we had a nice 45 minute nap all together in the shelter. ( I obviously came right before collective nap time...)

Mayana and Masi with their heads over mine. It was so calming and relaxing.

After 45 minutes they woke up, wanted some scratches and then wandered off.

I got their dinners and fed them as it was time.

And afterwards - Mayana came and stood at the gate looking at me “can we do something together now?”

“Yes, we can go on a walk in the forest!”

And we had the most happy, energizing and relaxing walk in the forest! With a happy, ears forward, bouncy Mayana who clearly enjoyed our time together.

You know, I 100x prefer to just sit with my horse or change plans and just go on a walk if I feel my horse doesn’t feel right that day, than ride anyways and have a mediocre ride.

Why do I have horses?

Because I love them, because I see them as my friends and my first priority is that we all have a good time.

Yes, I love riding and I love the feel of a good ride, of making progress and feeling my horse move well.

But it's the second motivation. And I do my best to never let it override my first priority.

I know when Mayana says YES to riding, we have the most amazing rides. I rather have 1 amazing ride a week, then 4 rides that feel pushed and mediocre.

What would you have done?

P.s.: today she said YES to riding and we did have an amazing ride!