If we never examine or give thought to our lives or the reasons why we do things, we are at the mercy of our reactions and whims. The subject of thinking, truly giving thought, is on my mind frequently. I don't think we as a species are taught to mindfully think about all that much, … Continue reading Why Do I Ride?
When Gabe and I set out on this adventure I had set the expectation for myself to figure out who I am without horses as the focal point of my life. If I could have brought my beloveds with me on this expedition I certainly would have, but I don't think either of them would … Continue reading Who Am I Without Horses?
Recently, I was observing the handling of a few horses. I aim to observe through the lens of curiosity rather than judgment, though at times it's certainly a challenge. There are many different approaches to horse training, everyone does it differently. My least favorite approach is domination, sometimes called "horse breaking" which happened to be … Continue reading Are you in an Abusive Relationship with your Horse?
I stand atop a hill in the pasture, eyes on my pony below. I observe her for a moment munching hay or napping. I take in a lungful of air and loudly call her name, then follow it up with a loud wolf whistle, a whistle I chose specifically so she would know, that I … Continue reading Building Connection (Friendship)
Client working with her horse Casper on a new trick Desensitizing has become a somewhat controversial word in the horse industry. On the one hand, we don't want our horses to flee from horse monsters such as plastic bags or bodies of water, puddles, shadows, etc. On the other hand, too much too soon, also … Continue reading The Horse -Curious, Creative, Whole
Amanda Soper 