With Flair and Finesse

Riding with Finesse: The fourth savvy of a four-part series about the Four Savvys and how to become a natural with horses through communication, knowledge and psychology rather than force, fear or intimidation.

Finesse means you and your horse can perform with precision, with collection and with great refinement. It means your aids are almost invisible to the on-looker. This is the ultimate accomplishment for a rider. From a horseman‟s point of view, collection is the result of respect, impulsion and flexion properly combined. If you don‟t have a horse‟s respect, you won‟t truly get impulsion. He‟ll either be sluggish or racy, non-responsive or over-reactive. If you don‟t have impulsion, you‟ll have to resort to force to get flexion. Remember: Two reins for communication, one rein for control.

Read more: Becoming A Natural Horseman: Part 4

With No Strings Attached

Teaching your horse at liberty. The second of a four-part series.

A woman once told me that she didn't have a problem trailer loading her horse. I asked her if she could send her dog into her pickup truck from where she was standing. "Sure," she replied. I then asked her if she could send her horse into the trailer from where she was standing, too. "Oh, no," came her shocked reply. I told her that she did have a trailer loading problem, and why. Though she may not have wanted to admit it, she did have a problem.

Read more: Becoming A Natural Horseman: Part 2

With Free Style Riding

Freestyle Riding: The third savvy in a four-part series about the Four Savvys and how to become a natural with horses through communication, knowledge and psychology rather than force, fear or intimidation.

True horsemen are admired for their ability to ride by the seat of their pants. This is because it's so rare to find someone who can, on the very first ride, allow a horse total freedom. . Most people have to learn how not to freeze up, dig in with their legs or clutch with their hands. As natural predators, we humans need to reprogram our unconscious reactions in order to allow a horse freedom while we're mounted. The best way to learn this is through riding Freestyle.

Read more: Becoming A Natural Horseman: Part 3

On Line Logic:

The first in a four-part series about the Four Savvys and how to become a natural with horses through communication, knowledge and psychology rather than force, fear or intimidation.Rather than using human logic, a true Horseman approaches a horse with an attitude and communication techniques that make perfect sense to the horse. A horseman understands horse psychology, how horses think and behave, and is able to use this knowledge for relating to and developing a horse. This deep understanding of horse psychology is what I simply call Savvy.

Read more: Becoming A Natural Horseman: Part 1