When you touch a horse with focus and purpose to create better performance, I would say that your are engaging in a practice commonly referred to as “natural horsemanship” or “equine communication.” This approach emphasizes building a strong bond and understanding between the horse and the handler/rider through a new type of mind set that develops deeper trust and respect. Here’s what  I believe unfolds when you introduce a new aspect of “training” that requires absolutely nothing from your steed other to be present to receiving something and requiring absolutely nothing of them in return. Now that is is a completely different paradigm. Did you ever hear the expression, There’s nothing better for the inside of a man than the outside of a horse,” I think almost all of us get it! I believe it might havre been Winston Churchill but it also sounds a bit Mark Twain like!  Everyone knows though that it is absolutely true! 

The first step is to establish a connection with the horse. All hearts have a magnetic field. According to a study by Hearth Math Institute, a human heart puts out an energy field up to eight to ten feet, as measured by a magnetometer. A horse’s electromagnetic field, however, is stronger and five times larger, creating a sphere-shaped field that completely surrounds you and can directly influence your heart rhythm and emotions. How could is that!That’s one of the reasons why we love being around them.

 Within seconds of touching a horse, his or her heart will project an energy field. If your field is imbued with love, the horse will know that this predator (you) isn’t going to eat him or at least ask nothing of him at the moment, and begins to relax into the field that you are projecting, one of care and concern. I know there are those of you out there that thinks this is all bullshit or horseshit more appropriately. My guess is you are like a frog croaking majestically in your little pond, totally unaware of the whale swimming in the sea! This isn’t for you right now in your incarnation.No worries. 

When I first connect, I like to use Linda Tellington Jones’ approach of light circles near their vertebrae, just like what we taught at the Cayce-Reilly school of massage for two legged types. I don’t need to go into the anatomy, just do it because it relaxes them and opens the lines of communicationI promise you it will work.  Now you aren’t asking anything of them, just bringing some gifts!  Just focus on your intentions. Horse are tuned into body language, just tell you are here to give them something special for everything they have done for you. Pay attention to their reactions. When they have had enough they will let you know. . treat the horse with respect.

Building trust and respect is the core of this approach. Treat the horse with kindness, patience and most importantly consistency…do it often!!If she shows signs of discomfort or stress adjust your speed and depth. Everyone of them has a different personality don’t treat them as a one thing! Tune into them constantly with your heart connection. Take breaks from the touch, breath, and reconnect to their hearts with a smile from your heart, be like the Buddha! THEY GET IT!!Always prioritize the horse’s well-being and ensure that your interactions are safe and respectful. And watch how over time everything begins to change between you both everything!

My  life around horse exceeds a half of a century. Some of the techniques I witnessed  that “horseman” asked of their mounts to create behavior and physical changes border on cruelty. Obviously, approaches to any discipline are handed down and the negative ones become ingrained. I have witnessed “trainers” using methods to get their horses to pick up their knees while jumping that instilled fear in them to where jumping became a frightening and painful experience where the horse avoided jumping altogether which  then cascaded into more training techniques that I consider not only cruel but stupid! I have witnessed Park horse that were asked to exaggerate their knee movements using shoeing techniques and tying annoying things around their feet so that the horse lifted its feet abnormally high because they were frightened of what might get “attacking” their feet. 

Using fear and pain as tools in horse training is not only ethically questionable but can also lead to long-term physical and psychological harm to the animals. Positive reinforcement and humane training methods that focus on understanding the horse’s natural behavior and using it to shape desired responses tend to yield better results in terms of both performance and the horse’s overall welfare.

 In either case, where the knees aren’t being raised up and held up, or held up  long enough in a jumper’s case. It might be as simple as a muscular imbalance. Maybe, just maybe, there is an issue with the triceps and the serratus thororacis that could be addressed simply by manual intervention of these muscles. And if there is no apparent issue in the presence. Working those muscles could prevent future problems. It’s quite simple to address those muscles and find out if there is a potential that they are involved in the problem.

As the equestrian community evolves, there is a growing emphasis on science-based, horse-friendly training techniques that prioritize the well-being of the animal. Many trainers and riders are adopting methods that prioritize building a positive relationship between the horse and rider, and that focus on clear communication, trust, and the horse’s natural abilities.

Continuing to raise awareness about these issues, sharing your insights, and advocating for ethical and responsible training methods can contribute to positive changes within the equestrian world.

Bill Berryman was a highly experienced and skilled farrier from Wales who immigrated to Colorado  in the early part of the 20th century with a unique background and a deep understanding of horses and their movements. His years spent driving teams of horses hauling the red slate rock that was used in the building of the University of Colorado from the Lukenon Quarry in Lyons to Boulder, Colorado which was 17 miles in each direction gave him a unique perspective on shoeing. Really in many ways he was the last of breed of horsemen (and maybe I should include women) who used horses to haul freight over rough dirt roads for years on end, and had the ability to observe long hours of the horses movements and the use that knowledge to the best of his ability to craft shoes to enhance their movement and protect their feet.

Farriers who have spent considerable time observing and working with horses in real-world situations often develop a keen eye for confirmation and a deep understanding of equine biomechanics. This knowledge enables them to provide customized shoeing solutions that address the specific needs of each individual horse, whether it be for general maintenance, performance enhancement, or corrective purposes. Such experienced farriers are valuable assets to the equestrian community, as they play a crucial role in maintaining the health and soundness of horses across various disciplines and activities as we all know. I also believe even the best shoeing job isn’t as good as nature intended, unless the horse has some very challenging confirmation problems. That is why I believe the various forms of myofascial manipulation and cranial sacral therapy can be a perfect addition to the horse overall well being and performance if the shoes might create some imbalances in the lower leg that would translate in to the shoulder and then through the entire structure.

The question of whether horses can maintain their soundness using alternatives to traditional metal horseshoes, such as over boots made of tough rubber or other materials, is a discussion within the equestrian community. Easy boots and similar hoof protection options have gained popularity among some horse owners and riders who seek alternatives to traditional metal shoeing.I used them on my Arabian mares in endurance rides and the everyday trail riding and often just left them barefoot riding in the mountains of Utah and Colorado with great results. The hooves maintained great health being left unshod, and when it was time to do a competitive ride, I just slipped on the Easy Boots,( which weren’t always so easy to slip on I must admit)

Easy boots and other brands are designed to allow the hoof to expand and contract naturally as the horse moves, promoting better blood circulation and overall hoof health. This can be beneficial for some horses, especially those with healthy hooves and a proper barefoot trimming regimen. They definitely protect against abrasive surfaces, including rocks, and sharp objects, which can be particularly useful for horses working or riding in challenging terrain. They also provide additional traction in slippery conditions.

Also for some horses, avoiding the use of metal nails and shoes may help preserve the integrity of the hoof wall and prevent potential issues related to nail holes and shoe-related injuries. If transitioning from traditional shoeing to easy type boots or barefoot hoof care, horses usually  require an adjustment period. The hooves may need time to strengthen and adapt to the new conditions especially thin walled hooves which in my heyday were a great many thoroughbreds. Maybe with the mixing with warm bloods their hooves have changed somewhat.

Also I want to make it clear that the use of easy boots or alternative hoof protection is not a criticism of traditional farriers or shoeing practices. I had my ass higher then my head on many occasions.  Many farriers are open to exploring different options and will work with horse owners to find the best solution for each horse’s individual needs and circumstances. And of course you will still need their service for trimming, unless you are educated enough and want to do it yourself.

As with any decision related to horse care, the focus should be on the well-being and soundness of the horse. Keeping an open mind and being receptive to exploring different approaches can lead to the best outcomes for the horse’s health and performance. Managing their structure is always a good idea in every way possible

Facia, fascia, fascia everywhere and why you should care! Its quite a buzz word these days as it should be. But, when Dr. Ida Rolf was trumpeting its value in human health way back in the 1950’s and 60’s it was falling mostly on deaf ears!  This system of surrounding connective tissue of strands and layers, forms a complex whole-body network. For a long time, the fascia was believed to be no more than just a silky covering on the muscles. Fortunately, in recent years, science has brought it more to the foreground and brought to our attention how important fascia is to health and performance. 

Fascia is now classified as its own organ. Pull out all the other tissue and you will still have the form of the subject… sort of that is. In other words, the fascia forms a suspended network that pervades the entire body. That’s what the name implies: fascia means “bind” or “band” and “binding together” is exactly what this important organ does. The connective tissue varies in strength: it can range from very, very thin to a thick layer; as for example, in a horse’s superficial and deep flexor tendon (where it is as thick as a finger). Or at the lumbar area of a human. Believe me I know after 35 years working with mostly human and horse fascia. There is fascia throughout the entire body, from head to hind to hoof, which penetrates and encloses the bones, muscles, muscular connectors, organs, blood vessels, and nerve pathways. Muscles and fascia form one interconnected communicating network. Fascial tissue is comprised from 60 to 70 percent water. This fluid works like as a lubricant between the layers of fascia, so that the muscles can glide over one another without rubbing. Quadriceps and hamstrings often get stuck together and can’t do their “jobs” as well if there were no adhesions between them. The fascia connects multiple joints and muscles together at the same time: straight, crossing, diagonal, and spiral in form. So, too, organs are surrounded by fascia, which keeps them in the correct position within the abdominal cavity.Fascia is extremely strong and impacts  the horse’s stability and mobility. It also possesses receptors and sensors, making it one of the most important organs in the body for communication. More on the importance of that fact that in a later post.

I have also observed for 35 years how this complex organ is also plagued by dysfunction. If it wasn’t,  I wouldn’t have had a job!  Among other things, when fascia gets “stuck” this impacts its structure and function often detrimentally to the horses well-being. An adhesion can come about through injury, overuse, underuse (think standing in stalls for hours a day), mental stress or too much pressure on the tissue. Imagine how a poor fitting saddle and an imbalanced rider impacts the tissues below them. When the fascia is “stuck” as we called it at the Rolf Institute, the fluid between the layers of tissue dissipates leaving the fascia dry, tough and inflexible. In a horse with chronic back pain, there’s always a change of the large, thick fascia of the back. That is why I spend more time there then probably anywhere in the body. This  definitely limits their movement capability; it prevents the lifting of the back properly, which again limits the forward and backward movements of the limbs. So, if fascia is a unit of tissue in the horse’s body from front to back, but also from outside to inside, you might now be grasping the picture of what Dr. Ida Rolf said, the source of pain isn’t always where you think it is. Fascial health is important in the maintenance of strength and stability. We can impact the dysfunction in the fascia with our educated hands and elbows, (Dr, Rolf was known as Mrs. Elbows) and impart a more healthy emotional and physical response in our horses. Injuries are less likely to occur and more freedom in movement means better performance and recovery when the fascial regains or maintains its elasticity. All this can be achieved with an educated touch, an attitude of love and respect for these noble animals who give us such joy day in and day out. And in many cases, despite dealing with abusive “owners” who don’t even recognize the suffering they are causing their steeds. More on that issue in the next post!