Patrick King Horsemanship & Dressage

09/04/2026

"Classical horsemanship is therapeutic riding." - Charles de Kunffy

Of course we must make sure tack is comfortable and correctly fitted, known physical issues are appropriately addressed, and obvious signs of pain or discomfort are taken seriously.

But we can also do horses a disservice by becoming so afraid of asking them to work correctly when it feels difficult that we never give their bodies the opportunity to develop and become stronger.

A horse struggling with something does not necessarily mean that he is in pain. Think about going to the gym: learning a new movement can feel difficult and awkward at first, and it takes time to develop the strength, coordination and balance to perform it well. Horses are no different.

A good rider is also the horse’s physical therapist. Thoughtful, progressive training develops the very things that help horses function better in their bodies: strength, coordination, balance, mobility and confidence.

The goal isn’t to ignore discomfort or assume every problem can be trained through. It’s to listen, address physical concerns when they arise, adapt the work when necessary, and recognize that correct training itself can also be part of the solution.

09/04/2026

"Six to eight months to build muscle. The problem is you can start to like see the increase in size of the muscle. Right. So you think, oh man, we're getting fitter, right? I mean, you can see that pretty quick. They lose their fat and you can kind of see his pectorals and you think, he's getting fitter because you can see the muscles. It doesn't mean that they've made mitochondrial density that I mentioned earlier to fuel the ability to shed the toxic waste that's built up from doing an exercise of any duration." - Jec Aristotle Ballou

Enjoy this bit of wisdom from Episode #46 of Talking About Horses

https://www.academyforclassicalhorsemanship.com/podcasts/talking-about-horses/episodes/2148953410

🎙 Catch this full podcast episode and many others by visiting TalkingAboutHorsesPodcast.com

09/03/2026

If you’ve ever tried to force or push your horse into a turn on the forehand or turn on the haunches by shoving with your leg or pulling with the rein, you already know the frustration. The horse braces against your hand, the rhythm falls apart, and the hindquarters swing wide or freeze completely.

Here is the hard truth every dedicated rider eventually learns... 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗽𝘂𝘀𝗵 𝗮 𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝘀𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗶𝘁.
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When a rider relies on physical force (clamping with the legs, gripping with the knees, or using heavy rein pressure) it creates an immediate bracing response from the horse. Instead of engaging their core and finding clarity in your aids, the horse becomes heavy on the forehand, hollows their back, and simply tries to escape the pressure. The movement stops being a conversation about geometry and balance, and turns into a wrestling match.
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True collection and lateral gymnastics don't come from brute strength. They come from absolute clarity of aids and genuine comprehension from both the rider and the horse. When your horse truly understands the requwest for the movement, the aids become microscopic, requiring only a quiet shift of your seat bones, a soft opening of the leading rein, and a supportive outside leg. The horse then takes ownership, taking responsibility for maintaining their posture and rhythm instead of needing you to carry them through the movement. Fluidity replaces friction, transforming a turn on the haunches into a sitting, self-carrying expression of engagement rather than a choppy, pivoting shuffle.
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Stop trying to make your horse's body go where you want it to go through sheer effort. Instead, focus on setting up the preparation by finding the balance, keeping the softness, establishing straightness, and using a subtelty of your aids to clarify the question. When the question is clear, the right answer becomes easy for the horse to give.
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🐴 What is the biggest hurdle you face when schooling turns on the forehand or haunches?

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Our focus this month in the 𝘼𝙘𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙢𝙮 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝘾𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙃𝙤𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥 is "Turns on the Forehand and Haunches" Be sure to look back over our recent posts and stay tuned for more on this subject all month long.

Want to try the Academy 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝟮 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸𝘀? Visit https://www.academyforclassicalhorsemanship.com/joinacademynow

09/02/2026

"If something's not going right with the horse, you may think that you're clear on your intention, but there's always a doubt in the back of that intention. Is it gonna happen? Is this gonna go the way I want it to? But if you just say whatever it is you're doing to the horse, give me this, give me that. Like he doesn't understand verbally [...] but you're clear on your intention when you say something and then they pick up on that."

🤝🧘 Another fantastic discussion with The Masterson Method, Integrated Equine Performance Bodywork in episode #62 of Talking About Horses. You can find the full episode here: https://www.academyforclassicalhorsemanship.com/podcasts/talking-about-horses/episodes/2149002521

🙌🎉We’re just 5 weeks away from this year’s Hand In Hand Clinic. This one‑of‑a‑kind event blends classical in‑hand work with bodywork for three days of learning focused on relaxation, mobility, engagement, and more. Participant spots are full, but audit spots are still open! And new this year: the Free to Move Livestream event. Join us from anywhere in the world and get lifetime access to both an in‑hand and bodywork course, plus the full real‑time clinic and replay access. https://training.horseclass.com/ftm-enroll?am_id=patrickking

09/01/2026

When we look at our foundational ridden exercises, 𝗧𝘂𝗿𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱 and 𝗧𝘂𝗿𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗮𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀 are often treated as simple maneuvers to check off a list. But when approached through the lens of classical progression, they are powerful developmental tools that shape how your horse thinks, moves, and carries weight.

Here is how each movement directly benefits your horse and lays the groundwork for advanced education...

The Turn on the Forehand serves as your entry point into lateral work and suppleness. By asking the horse to yield their hindquarters away from your leg, you teach them to soften through the ribcage and accept the guiding aids without rushing forward. The primary benefit here is mental and physical relaxation. The horse learns to confidently yield to pressure, with a conversation of multiple aids more sophisitaced that the simple "go" and "slow". It prepares the body for basic leg-yielding and ensures that when you ask for lateral movement later, the horse responds with understanding and confidence, rather than brace and tension.

As your horse progresses, the Turn on the Haunches shifts the narrative toward collection and engagement. Instead of shifting weight forward, you are now asking the horse to navigate around a more steady, engaged inside hind leg while the forehand travels in a wider arc. The immense benefit of this exercise is that it encourages the horse to ultimately lower the croup, bear more load on the hindquarters, and naturally lighten the forehand. You are actively building the core strength, joint articulation, and balance required for future pirouettes and true longitudinal collection.

Together, these two movements give you access to a more complete conversation in your horse's foundational education. One teaches the horse to yield and accept the leg, while the other teaches them about beginning to collect and carry weight behind. Mastering both bridges the gap between basic forward motion and refined, harmonious horsemanship.

🐴 How often do you work on these with your horse?

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Our focus this month in the 𝘼𝙘𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙢𝙮 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝘾𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙃𝙤𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥 is "Turns on the Forehand and Haunches" Be sure to look back over our recent posts and stay tuned for more on this subject all month long.

⭐️ 𝗪𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗺𝘆 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝟮 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸𝘀?

Visit https://www.academyforclassicalhorsemanship.com/joinacademynow

08/31/2026

"The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now." - Chinese Proverb

08/30/2026

What are you and your horses up to this weekend?

08/28/2026

I’m delighted to share 𝗔 𝗖𝗼𝗮𝘁 𝗙𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗗𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺𝘀 by my friend Anita Parra.

A beautifully illustrated rhyming story inspired by Anita’s own horse, Sterling, celebrating the extraordinary bond between horses and the people who love them.

This book is written in the voice of her Irish Sport Horse, A Sterling Chance, seventeen years and counting. His journey from playful foal to trusted partner has taught Anita lessons about courage, friendship, love, resilience, and finding joy in every stage of life. Readers, both young and old, will surely discover a little of their own story within Sterling's.

📖 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗲-𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲:
StellarSterlingPress.com

08/28/2026

"So when we're talking about stepping out of our comfort zone to grow, if we step out of our comfort zone into the window of tolerance, we have the potential of growth. If we step too far across the second threshold into panic, we cannot grow."

🐴 👨‍🏫 This was a great discussion with Riding Far, LLC in episode #60 of Talking About Horses.

Be sure to take a listen to the full episode, available here! https://www.academyforclassicalhorsemanship.com/podcasts/talking-about-horses/episodes/2148992366

08/27/2026

There's a big difference between a horse that moves away from pressure and horse that moves into a release.

🐴 What do you think of as the difference?

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Our focus this month in the 𝘼𝙘𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙢𝙮 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝘾𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙃𝙤𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥 is "the Horse as an Active Participant." Be sure to look back over our recent posts and stay tuned for more on this subject all month long.

Want to try the Academy FREE for 2 weeks?

Visit https://www.academyforclassicalhorsemanship.com/joinacademynow