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206: Is Dressage Good for Horses?
It depends... what is the mindset behind the actual dressage training? I share a really great article about the need to change the current mindset around competitive dressage that I tend to agree with, a lot. I explain the different factions of dressage and how confusing that can be, especially in America. Finally I talk about the essence of dressage and how dressage fundamentals are exactly the same as working on balance or doing rehab work with horses, even though it looks pretty darn different from what people expect. Host: Kirsten Nelsen, professional horse trainerdeveloper of Training for Optimal Balance www.kirstennelsen.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kirstennelsen.substack.com
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205: Choosing a Saddle
Choosing the right saddle has two sides to it - the fit for the horse and the fit for the rider. Finding a saddle that both horse and rider agree upon is important for success with any horse. Having a good saddle fitter can be incredibly helpful in the process, and preferably not a saddle fitter that only sells one brand of saddle unless you have done saddle research on your own. With good balance as a rider we can adapt to saddles far easier than horses can. When it comes right down to it, the comfort and stability of the saddle for the horse is what really makes the difference between ease of riding or not. Guest: Deb Romero, Certified Alexander Technique Instructorwww.optimalposture.orgHost: Kirsten Nelsen, professional horse trainerdeveloper of Training for Optimal Balance www.kirstennelsen.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kirstennelsen.substack.com
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204: How Good Can It Get?
Perceptions are personal, for people and horses. It is the perception of things that affect us, that motivate different responses. It is perceptions, more than actual events, that shape how we organize our lives and how we feel most of the time. With horses and people, the key to overcoming fear or even things that stress us out, is changing the perception we have of it. This is a process that cannot be forced but can be achieved. Changing a perception of something requires gentleness, kindness and patience. We have to prove to the body and mind that something perceived as unsafe can transition into something that feels safe. This requires delicate repetition, not force, and respecting thresholds instead of trying to blast through them. The question, “how good can it get?” is a way to help us focus on what we want, instead of what we don’t want, and opens us up to a change in perception. Guest: Deb Romero, certified Alexander Technique Instructorwww.optimalposture.orgHost: Kirsten Nelsen, professional horse trainerdeveloper of Training for Optimal Balancewww.kirstennelsen.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kirstennelsen.substack.com
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203: Why Horses Pull The Reins
Horses ripping the reins from our hands, snatching the bit or just leaning on our arms all drive us crazy, but it is not a behavior issue and it is not personal. When horses lose control of their own body weight distribution during motion then too much weight passes through the barrel and lands on the forehand. While this does not cause horses to actually fall most of the time, it is a landslide of weight that they cannot control and we feel this weight distribution change in our reins the most. The problem is not really in our hands, that is just the final result. The problem is that the horse cannot control weight distribution during motion. This means that no amount of leverage or clever tricks with reins or bits are going to resolve the underlying issue. We have to look at this problem back to front, not front to back. Guest: Deb Romero, Certified Alexander Technique Instructorwww.optimalposture.orgHost: Kirsten Nelsen, professional horse trainerdeveloper of Training for Optimal Balancewww.kirstennelsen.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kirstennelsen.substack.com
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202: Picking Out a Horse
We often get caught up in horse sales videos - looking at all the cool things that a horse can do. But it can be a different story when the horse arrives at the new home with a new owner. Deb and I share some tips for picking out the right horse for you, what to look for, what to check and how to have a realistic view of getting a new horse settled in. It helps to let your heart lead the way. Guest: Deb Romero, Certified Alexander Technique Instructor www.optimalposture.org Host: Kirsten Nelsen, professional horse trainer developer of Training for Optimal Balance www.kirstennelsen.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kirstennelsen.substack.com
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