http://www.twinoaksfarm-ky.com/

Twin Oaks Farm - Horses and Fun, 4402 Potts Road, Louisville, KY (2026)

10/23/2026

From Katrin Silva Could not have said it better!🥰

Stretching a horse forward and down has fallen out of favor in some equestrian circles. Doesn’t it, people ask, put a horse on the forehand? Doesn’t it work against the ultimate goal of collection, of shifting more of the horse’s weight onto the hindquarters, of lightness and carrying power?
It’s a legitimate question. Yes, a low neck does tend to put a horse on the forehand. No, a low neck does not in and of itself build a correct top line. No, forward and down is not a cure-all. But teaching a horse to stretch forward and down nonetheless plays an important role in developing true collection, and, even more importantly, in developing athletic, happy riding partners. Here is why:
Many horses come to my barn because they are confused about contact, connection, forward, straightness, or the rider’s aids in general. Some of them have developed the wrong set of muscles, e.g. the underside of their necks. Others are stiff, hollow, tense, braced, defensive, one-sided, or curled. They have learned to tolerate a rider, rather than communicate with a rider. Before I can think of lightness or collection with such a horse, I need to explain more basic concepts, like relaxation, alignment, and, from there, contact. Teaching a correct forward and down stretch can relax a tense horse, help straighten a crooked horse, and help a curled horse reach for the bit, rather than tuck his nose behind it.
How do we teach the forward and down? I like to use circles and spiral-out leg-yields for this purpose, first at a walk, then at a relaxed trot. I keep offering the longer rein whenever I feel the horse stretch the outside of his body. I offer the stretch whenever I think the horse will take the invitation. But - and this is crucial - my hands have to remain friendly. The invitation has to remain an invitation, not a summons. I can’t force a horse to stretch. Pulling the neck down will not teach the horse anything useful.
I also can’t chase a horse into a stretch. I’ve seen videos of horses rushing around the ring in a hurried, unbalanced trot, with their necks low but their noses tucked in. This is not what I’m looking for. The tempo has to stay even. The stretch should help a horse relax more, not less. I want to be able to walk or halt from a stretch, without shortening the reins or the horse’s neck.
Once a horse has figured out how to stretch, the stretch becomes a reward. A break from collected, physically demanding work. A yoga pose in between weight lifting reps. At the same time, the stretch becomes a test for cow correct my contact is. I release horses into a stretch when I think “Now he feels great - forward but not hurried, soft but engaged, supple but not noodly.” Then, the stretch will tell me whether that’s actually true or not. If my horse speeds up, I was holding him together with the reins. If my horse raises his head and becomes a tourist, He was unfocused. If he hollows his back, I was manipulating him into a “frame” he was not ready for. I take the feedback, then work on what the horse told me to work on: alignment, balance, confidence, understanding of the aids, relaxation. And when I think I’ve made progress, I offer the stretch again.
Teaching a horse to stretch takes a rider with patience and tact, but once the horse takes the invitation, he finds himself in a happy place. Stretching forward and down feels good to every equine I’ve ever worked with. It’s always an aha-moment when the tense, crooked, upside-down horse realizes there is an alternative to the way he was moving.
Of course, we don’t stay in the stretched frame forever or exclusively. I use it as a warmup, as a break, as a reward, as a check for how correct my work is, and as a reminder to relax when tension creeps in. I use it for brief periods, at first at the walk, later in all three gaits.
Dressage helps horses become well-rounded athletes and riding partners through a combination of weight lifting, cardio, dance, yoga, and zen meditation. Stretching is time on the yoga mat - an important piece of the process, nothing more, nothing less.

10/22/2026

From Stephanie Keith. Do I agree? Yes! Are some carriage horses not treated as well? Yes.! I believe there needs to be enforced regulations. There are people now that believe that it is inhumane to ride horses. Do some people ride horses inhumanely? yes! Learn, do better, do our best to keep our horses, happy and healthy.

I spent some time talking to the horse carriage drivers yesterday in Central Park and I used to be against the horse carriages and after spending time, I am 100% in favor of keeping the horse carriages. All the horses were extremely well cared for. The horses and riders were very loving with each other. One driver said that she loved her horse like it was her family and that she is really offended that people say she is abusing her family. She added that a horse with a job, is a safe horse, because it can earn not only what it needs for its upkeep but can earn the money needed for the retired horses too. Who is going to pay for 200 horses to run free in some farm upstate where the minimum per month is $900/month? That's $180,000 per month. Terrible tragedy for that person who died from the horse but as another driver put it, one death in over 100 years is the safest story of the transportation industry in history. Fight me lol

10/22/2026

From Dr. Shelley Appleton. Something to think about!

Must We Touch Everything We Love?❤🤔

There is something rather peculiar about the way humans greet horses. We see a beautiful animal, and almost immediately we feel compelled to approach it, start talking, reach for its face and give it a good scratch, rub or pat. Sometimes rather enthusiastically, with our excitement or nervous energy pouring out through our hands and voices. Then we wonder why the horse becomes unsettled, having just subjected it to a rather generous helping of our own emotional state.🫣

And we do all this because we're being friendly. At least, that's what we think.🤨

But have you ever stopped to consider whether the horse experiences our enthusiastic displays of affection in quite the same way?

Horses have their own social etiquette. When meeting another horse, they often begin by observing from a distance, approaching and investigating through smell. They pay attention to posture, movement and the responses of the other horse. Some are curious and approach readily, while others prefer their space. If an approach is unwelcome, they have a wonderful range of expressions, from a subtle movement away to a rather emphatic reminder that personal space is not merely a suggestion.

And smell is particularly important to horses. Their sense of smell helps them investigate their surroundings, recognise other horses and gather information about the world. While we humans tend to focus on what we see and hear, horses are also paying attention to a world of smells that we barely notice.

I remember reading a story in a Mark Rashid book* about a woman who was having difficulty getting along with a horse. As I recall, Mark eventually identified her strong perfume as a possible source of the problem. It's an anecdote rather than a controlled experiment, but it certainly made me think. Ever since, I've avoided wearing perfume around horses and deliberately choose deodorant with very little fragrance. After all, why add an overwhelming cloud of artificial scent to an animal that relies so heavily on its nose?👃

Of course, horses also enjoy physical contact. Mutual grooming is an important part of their social lives, particularly between familiar companions. But they don't automatically greet every unfamiliar horse by rushing over and giving it an enthusiastic neck massage.

Humans, meanwhile, have our own social customs. In some cultures, greetings involve hugs, kisses and handshakes. In others, such as Japan, a respectful bow can acknowledge someone without physical contact. What constitutes friendliness in one culture might be considered intrusive in another. Yet we often forget that horses belong to an entirely different species, with their own ways of understanding the world.😎

When I work with a horse I don't know, I deliberately avoid unnecessary touching and talking. I focus on grounding myself by paying attention to my actions and being thoughtful about what I do. I think of it a little like martial arts, where movements are deliberate, balanced and purposeful. I know the horse is observing me, trying to work out what I'm doing and what my movements mean.

I want that horse to learn to understand me. I want to establish clear communication between us, without constantly throwing in random touches, pressure and noises that the horse then has to work out. Which of these things means something? Which is a request? And which is simply the human equivalent of someone who cannot stop talking or waving their hands around?😆

I suspect some people might interpret my approach as cold or unfriendly. Perhaps they think I don't particularly enjoy 'loving on horses' because I'm not constantly stroking, scratching or talking to them.

But I see it quite differently.🤓

My greatest expression of love and respect for a horse is to consider how they experience me, rather than assuming they understand and enjoy the affection I'm trying to show them.😬

Horses can certainly enjoy human touch, and I'm not suggesting we should stop scratching or showing affection to them. But I do think we could become much more thoughtful about when, why and how we do it.

Once a horse feels at ease with me I enjoy showing them I am very good at discovering their favourite scratch spots.🥰

Perhaps the next time you meet a horse, resist the urge to immediately touch them. Be quiet for a moment. Give it some space. Pay attention to how they observe you, and become more aware of what you're communicating through your movements.

You might discover something rather lovely about that horse when you're not so busy trying to convince it how lovely you are.🙄

Collectable Advice 322/365. Please SHARE so more people can take a moment to not be so instinctively human and consider the horse's perspective.❤

*From memory it was the Mark Rashid book - A Good Horse Is Never a Bad Color. If you haven't read Mark Rashid's collection of books, you should. Read them in order. They are a great enjoyable read.📚

10/16/2026

We were discussing this earlier this week. Be an ACTIVE rider not a REACTIVE rider!

One of the biggest shifts in a rider’s education happens when they stop simply reacting to what just happened and start preparing for what is about to happen.

A lot of beginner and intermediate riders ride one stride at a time. The horse falls through the corner, so they try to fix it after the corner. Maybe the horse's inside shoulder drifts and they correct it after the horse has drifted to the inside of the arena. These riders are constantly responding to problems that have already developed instead of preventing those problems in the first place.

As instructors, we can help riders learn to think one step ahead as these riders progress. Instead of only correcting the mistake afterward, start asking them what needs to happen before the movement begins. Before a transition, ask where they need to prepare and what needs to change in the horse’s balance before they give the aid. Before a corner, ask when they should begin organizing the bend. Before a jump, ask whether they already have the rhythm, direction, and balance they want before they turn onto the line.

This is where specific preparation points can be really useful. Rather than saying “Get organized”, give the rider a place where that organization needs to happen. You might say “by this cone, I want the trot organized,” or “before you reach the corner, establish the bend.” For jumping it might be “Have your canter before you turn onto the line” or “Make your decision before you get to the fence.” Giving the rider a clear preparation point helps them understand that good riding often begins several strides before the actual movement.

Another useful exercise is to have the rider narrate what is coming next. Ask “What do you need to prepare for before you get there?” This can be especially helpful for riders who tend to wait for constant instructor direction. Instead of riding until they hear the next command, they start planning their own ride.

You can also let them feel the difference between early preparation and late correction. Ride the same exercise twice, once with the rider preparing well in advance and once with them deliberately waiting too long. Then ask what changed. Did the transition feel smoother? Was the corner more balanced? Did the horse stay straighter? Did the rider need less rein or leg? That contrast can make the lesson much more meaningful because they are not just being told to prepare earlier. They can actually feel why it matters.

Ultimately, we want riders to move away from thinking “Something went wrong, now fix it,” and toward “I know what is coming, so I am going to prepare for it before it becomes a problem.” That shift from reacting to planning is one of the biggest steps toward independent riding and building "feel".

10/16/2026

🐴 NEW YORK CITY’S CARRIAGE HORSES: ANIMAL WELFARE OR POLITICAL AGENDA?

Approximately 160 privately owned horses. More than 200 licensed carriage drivers. An entire industry facing elimination.

On October 22, 2026, the New York City Council is expected to vote on legislation that would permanently ban horse-drawn carriage operations throughout the city, effective June 1, 2028.

The proposed ban has been championed by animal-rights organizations and now has the support of the mayor and City Council leadership.

As someone who has spent decades working with horses, including years overseeing the welfare, veterinary treatment and rehabilitation of hundreds of working horses in Indonesia, I strongly oppose this legislation.

Not because I believe working horses should be exempt from welfare standards. Quite the opposite.

Because genuine animal welfare must be based on scientific evidence, individual assessments and measurable outcomes — not political pressure or opposition to the use of animals for work.

🐴 1. WORKING IS NOT ABUSE.

A horse pulling a carriage is not automatically a suffering horse.

Horses have worked alongside humans for thousands of years. Whether that work is appropriate depends on the individual horse, its health, the conditions under which it works and the quality of its management.

Proper equine welfare assessments examine:

• Body condition and nutritional status
• Soundness, gait and lameness
• Hoof condition and farrier care
• Veterinary health and preventative treatment
• Workload, rest periods and environmental conditions
• Housing, social interaction and behavioral well-being

New York City already regulates carriage horses through licensing requirements, veterinary examinations, working-hour restrictions, weather limitations and mandatory vacation periods.

Have there been individual welfare incidents and documented concerns? Yes.

Those incidents deserve serious investigation, appropriate enforcement and corrective action.

But individual welfare violations are not evidence that every horse in an entire industry is abused.

Where is the comprehensive, independent veterinary assessment demonstrating that NYC’s carriage horses, as a population, are experiencing unacceptable welfare despite appropriate management?

Where is the comparative evidence demonstrating that eliminating their work will improve their long-term quality of life?

Those questions deserve answers before an entire industry is prohibited.

🐴 2. THESE HORSES ARE PRIVATELY OWNED.

This is an extraordinarily important distinction.

The carriage horses do not belong to New York City.

They do not belong to animal-rights organizations.

They do not belong to rescue groups.

They belong to private individuals who have purchased, trained, housed, fed and cared for them.

Some owners may have worked with their horses for years.

A privately owned working horse does not suddenly become a rescue case because politicians decide its occupation should no longer exist.

These horses are not automatically abandoned, neglected, unwanted or in need of rescue.

Private ownership does not exempt anyone from animal welfare laws. Owners who neglect or mistreat horses must be held accountable.

However, responsible owners should not automatically be presumed incapable of providing appropriate care simply because they operate carriage businesses.

The proposed legislation does not mandate confiscation, but it would eliminate the horses’ existing occupation and impose restrictions on future transfers.

Owners would face losing the businesses that help finance their horses’ care while potentially remaining responsible for those animals for decades.

Why should responsible owners and their horses be subjected to the same blanket prohibition as those responsible for documented violations?

Why not evaluate the welfare of individual horses and enforce appropriate standards?

🐴 3. WHO WILL GUARANTEE THEIR CARE FOR THE NEXT 20 YEARS?

Approximately 160 carriage horses could be affected by this legislation.

A coalition of more than 30 rescue and sanctuary organizations has offered to help coordinate retirement placements.

Their willingness to assist is welcome.

But offering placements and guaranteeing lifelong care are two very different things.

I have not found publicly verified evidence that every affected horse has a secured, fully funded, legally enforceable lifetime retirement arrangement.

Horses can live well into their thirties.

Some of these animals may require another 10, 15 or even 20 years of care.

Consider the financial implications.

At a hypothetical average of just $500 per horse per month, caring for 160 horses for 20 years would cost $19.2 MILLION.

That is an illustrative calculation, not a confirmed retirement budget. Actual costs will vary, and individual horses will have different remaining lifespans.

Nevertheless, it demonstrates the scale of the responsibility.

Who guarantees the funding?

Who pays for veterinary emergencies, ongoing farrier care, specialist treatment and appropriate housing?

What happens if a sanctuary closes?

What happens when an adopter experiences financial hardship?

Who monitors these horses five, ten or fifteen years after they leave New York?

The proposed legislation includes protections against horses being transferred for slaughter or into another carriage business.

Those are safeguards, but they are not the equivalent of a fully funded, independently monitored, lifetime care guarantee.

And critically, many owners may have no intention of surrendering their horses in the first place.

A healthy, privately owned horse does not require rescue simply because its job has been abolished.

Removing horses from public view does not automatically improve their welfare.

An appropriately managed working horse may enjoy better welfare than a retired horse receiving inadequate nutrition, exercise, hoof care or veterinary attention.

Retirement must be judged by the quality of the life provided — not simply the absence of work.

🐴 4. ANIMAL RIGHTS AND ANIMAL WELFARE ARE NOT THE SAME THING.

This distinction is frequently lost in public discussions about working animals.

Animal welfare focuses on an animal’s physical and psychological well-being, using scientific evidence to evaluate its living conditions, health, management and experiences.

Animal-rights philosophies may oppose particular forms of animal use regardless of whether acceptable welfare standards can be achieved.

Both are established positions, but they are not interchangeable.

The campaign to ban NYC’s carriage horses has received substantial support from animal-rights advocacy organizations over many years.

Those organizations are entitled to advocate for their beliefs.

But political influence, public demonstrations, emotional campaigns and celebrity endorsements do not replace objective veterinary evidence.

A prohibition may align with the philosophical objectives of an animal-rights organization without necessarily demonstrating an improvement in the welfare of every affected horse.

The question should not simply be whether people approve of horses working.

The question should be whether those horses are healthy, appropriately managed, protected from avoidable suffering and able to experience a good quality of life.

That is an animal welfare question, and it deserves an evidence-based answer.

🐴 5. REGULATION AND ENFORCEMENT ARE ALTERNATIVES TO PROHIBITION.

New York already has laws regulating carriage-horse care and working conditions.

Those laws can be strengthened.

Independent veterinary examinations, transparent inspection records, appropriate workload restrictions, improved operating conditions and meaningful penalties for violations are all measures capable of directly addressing welfare concerns.

Alternative legislation, Introduction 937-2026, proposes changes to carriage operations, oversight and related regulations rather than eliminating the industry.

The City Council should carefully evaluate whether better regulation and enforcement could achieve measurable improvements before resorting to prohibition.

There are also legitimate human safety concerns, including the tragic death of a young tourist in June 2026.

Those concerns must be addressed seriously.

But determining whether particular traffic conditions or carriage operations present unacceptable risks is a separate question from whether horses are inherently suffering because they work.

Both deserve careful examination rather than being treated as interchangeable arguments.

🐴 6. WHO ACTUALLY BENEFITS FROM THIS BAN?

The political campaign against NYC’s carriage industry has lasted for decades.

If this legislation passes, animal-rights organizations will achieve a longstanding objective.

But what happens afterward?

The carriage drivers lose their livelihoods.

Private owners lose the ability to continue their existing businesses.

And approximately 160 horses face significant changes to their lives and management.

Some may retire successfully.

Some may remain with their owners.

Others may face uncertain futures.

The consequences will depend on individual circumstances, finances and the quality of the arrangements made for each horse.

The end of an industry is not, by itself, proof of an animal welfare victory.

A genuine welfare achievement should be demonstrated by healthier horses, reduced suffering, better management and improved long-term outcomes.

Those results should be measured and documented.

🐴 THE HORSES DESERVE EVIDENCE, NOT ASSUMPTIONS.

I have spent years working with horses whose welfare genuinely needed intervention.

I have seen neglect, malnutrition, untreated injuries, poor hoof care and inappropriate workloads.

I have also seen healthy, well-managed working horses receiving excellent care and maintaining a good quality of life.

That experience has reinforced one fundamental principle:

Working is not inherently abuse, and retirement is not automatically welfare.

Every horse deserves appropriate care, sound management, veterinary oversight and protection from suffering.

That includes working horses.

It also includes retired horses.

Before New York City eliminates this industry, its lawmakers should be able to demonstrate that prohibition will produce better outcomes for the animals concerned.

They should also explain how they intend to protect the interests of responsible private owners and guarantee appropriate long-term care for horses that require rehoming.

Animal welfare should never be reduced to whether an animal has a job.

It should be about the quality of that animal’s life.

I oppose Introduction 943-2026 and support evaluating stronger, enforceable welfare protections as an alternative to an outright ban.

PROTECT THE HORSES. RESPECT RESPONSIBLE OWNERSHIP. DEMAND SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE.

🐴 WORKING IS NOT ABUSE. ANIMAL WELFARE MUST COME FIRST.

⸻

📢 HOW TO MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD

The New York City Council is expected to vote on the proposed ban on October 22, 2026.

People who oppose the legislation can contact:

NYC Council Speaker Julie Menin
📧 [email protected]
☎️ (212) 788-7210

NYC City Council — General Correspondence
📧 [email protected]

Find your City Council representative:
https://council.nyc.gov/districts/

Read the proposed ban — Introduction 943-2026:
https://legistar.council.nyc.gov/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=8067835&GUID=53C552B4-4BC2-41DA-A14A-560E74E7F3E1

When contacting legislators, ask them to consider the private ownership of these horses, the absence of verified lifetime care guarantees for every affected animal, and whether independent veterinary evidence supports prohibition rather than strengthened regulation.

The horses’ future deserves careful consideration before an irreversible decision is made.

10/16/2026

From Cliff Schadt Jr. certainly something to consider!

Spooky horses: lack of confidence, learned behavior—or some of both?

For a long time, I held to the popular opinion that horses that were spooky in the arena or out on the trail lacked confidence. Maybe they’d had a bad experience, or maybe they were naturally more sensitive. In working with them, I spent a lot of time reassuring them and trying to help them become braver about whatever bothered them.

As the years went by, and especially through working with Martin Black and Evidence Based Horsemanship, I started paying closer attention to something else: what the rider did immediately after the horse spooked, and what the horse appeared to learn from that response.

Think about a horse trotting around an arena who shies away from a corner. Quite often, the rider takes hold of the reins, slows down, takes their leg off, and stops. Then they drop the contact, pet the horse, and look intently at whatever caused the reaction. From there, they may try to walk the horse over to investigate.

I understand the intention. I’ve done it myself. We want to reassure the horse and give him an opportunity to sort through what happened.

But I began noticing that, with some horses, the more consistently we responded that way, the more consistently they found something to spook at. The same corner became an issue every lap, and sometimes other places started becoming problems too.

That made me question what our response was teaching.

The initial concern may be entirely genuine. But if shying away repeatedly interrupts the work and produces a complete release of our aids, the horse can learn that response brings relief. He doesn’t have to be deliberately trying to avoid work. He simply learns from what happens next.

We may intend to build confidence, yet inadvertently establish a pattern where uncertainty changes the direction of the entire conversation.

So I started experimenting with keeping that conversation going.

Responding to the first hesitation

I try to recognize the change before it becomes a full spook. Every horse has a bit of a tell.

Some become distracted, raise their head, and brace through their neck and shoulders. Some drop a shoulder or drift off the line we’re traveling. Others get sticky, shorten their stride, or begin to suck back behind my leg.

What I’m feeling for is a change in the exchange of energy between us. We had a certain rhythm, pace, softness, and direction. As soon as one of those begins to change, I need to become more attentive and clear with my guidance.

At that first hesitation, I increase the support from my seat, leg, and hand. There’s no anger or punishment in it. My intention is to offer enough direction that the horse can find comfort in following my aids instead of becoming increasingly occupied with whatever worries him.

The amount depends on the horse’s response. I’m looking for enough influence to help him recover the stride and shape we had, and I need to recognize when that begins to happen.

Helping the body stay organized

My aids work together to help the horse travel in balance, with an uphill feel and alignment from poll to tail.

On a straight line, I want his body following that line. On a circle or through a corner, I want a natural arc through his body that fits the path we’re riding. My inside leg helps maintain that shape, while my outside aids support the alignment so his shoulder or hindquarters don’t escape.

Straightness on a circle doesn’t mean making the horse’s body rigidly straight. It means keeping his body organized along the curved line of travel.

As he approaches the troubling spot, I’m giving his feet a clear direction and helping him maintain the balance to follow it.

What forward should feel like

Forward needs to match the energy of the gait I’m asking for.

If I’m riding a light jog and my horse begins leaning on my hand and dragging me around, that isn’t the forward I want. Neither is a horse that gets so sticky that I have to beg for every step.

With an active, supporting leg and a receiving hand, the energy should feel regulated and smooth. I should feel it travel from my seat and leg into my hand and back through the horse’s body, without constantly having to manufacture it or hold it back.

There’s a balance point in that energy. That’s what I’m trying to maintain through the uncertain moment.

Depending on what changes, I may need to ask him to reach a little more into his stride or help him recover his alignment. The aim is to return to the rhythm and quality of movement we had before his attention wandered.

Timing the release

My release is tied to the moment I feel him begin to return to the original energy, pace, and softness.

I don’t need to wait until we’re past the scary spot if he starts making that change before we get there. As soon as I feel him respond, I begin to soften.

That means I lighten my leg, soften my hand, and soften through my body. I maintain enough connection to continue riding, but the stronger support becomes lighter because he’s responding to it.

The timing matters. I want him to find relief in recovering his balance, rhythm, and connection with me.

Working closer in manageable steps

If my horse is concerned about a corner, I’ll circle back and find a distance where he can pass while still maintaining rhythm, balance, and a useful response to my aids.

If that distance is ten feet, that’s where we begin.

On the first pass, I might feel him shorten his stride and brace his neck. I support him with my seat, leg, and hand, keeping our line clear. The moment he begins reaching forward again and softening, I lighten my aids and let him continue.

Then I come around again. If that pass felt settled, I may ask for nine feet, then eight. If he’s still struggling at ten, I stay there or give him more room.

The distance changes according to the quality of his response. Getting closer has little value if he’s becoming more frantic, losing balance, or no longer able to follow my guidance.

A few good passes may be enough for that session. I want to build on what he can handle and give him a chance to develop confidence through successful repetition.

I’ve found this approach useful with obstacles, troubling places in an arena, things encountered on the trail, and traffic-sensitive horses when there is a safe space to work. I frequently see confidence improve when the rider becomes more consistent about directing the feet and recognizing the right moment to soften.

There are certainly times to stop and investigate, and real hazards or physical discomfort need to be addressed. But I think it’s worth questioning whether our automatic response to every spook is helping the horse or contributing to a pattern.

For me, so much of this comes back to the feet. When we can influence them to travel rhythmically along a clear line, with the body in balance, we often find relaxation and softness becoming available.

We also have to pay attention to ourselves. If every spooky moment changes our breathing, tightens our body, and draws all our attention toward the thing the horse is worried about, that changes the guidance he feels from us.

I want my horse to learn that he can feel uncertain and still follow my direction. Through that experience, he can discover that he’s capable of handling more than he initially thought.

Our job is to give him enough support to find his way through—and enough feel to soften the moment he starts.

Twin Oaks Farm - Horses and Fun

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