You guessed it, Monday has rolled around and marks another ‘the day after AIR Radio Channel’s Online Radio Broadcast!’ If you happened to miss the live show, never fear! You can listen to this Sunday’s show, and all our previous shows, online still.

• Link : Lazy – Sensitive : Horses & Humans

Have an idea for a radio show topic, or a horse/equestrian related question you would like to have addressed? Let us know your thoughts and we may choose your idea to discuss on our next show!

This topic not only keeps showing up in front of me, but is something I feel could use the help of all possible until it has been fully recognized and eradicated. Besides, I found that there is a petition to impose a 2-finger noseband looseness rule to the FEI, which would prevent riders from crank-noseband tying their horse’s mouth shut. Perhaps this would inspire rider’s to seek out education and learn how to use their aids? Let’s hope so…

Have you read the article by Jimmy Wofford, “Is It Art or Violence?” that was published in Practical Horseman? I found it posted online here and here. Excellent stuff, I highly recommend you read it.

What brought me about on my tangent today were several videos on YouTube that I found, or I should say were sent to me. Several people had posted questions asking why the rider was training the horses with their noses behind the vertical and such. When I followed the link on the video description where they were advertising more horses for sale, I was sad to see that it was the norm and not an exception.

What kills me about the use of hyperflexion – or even mild overflexion.. why stop there, weight in the reins altogether – is that is is completely unnecessary when you are communicating with the horse! When we stop communicating and begin dictating is when force becomes a factor of necessity in controlling, directing and ‘dancing’ with the horse. It is merely a more subtle form of shooting at someone’s feet to make them dance.

Every time I go out riding I think of the pure joy involved in finding not only relaxed ‘obedience’ (rather the willingness to say ‘yes’ to my questions and requests), but also collection on a loose rein, without any nosebands, on a simple snaffle, no spurs or the need of my whip. Still it is deemed necessary to remove any physical strength and comprehensive eyesight from these horses in order to dance with them. Do ballroom dancers find it likewise necessary to tie their partner’s hand behind their back and blindfold them in order to waltz?

*Sigh*  btw, working presently on some springtime videos talking about collection with release of the aids and more… so stay tuned.

And tomorrow is yet another radio broadcast in which I will be discussing Lazy and Sensitive horses, the nervous system response to stimulation and more. I will once again be joined by Cheryl Frei, who works with me through Awareness In Riding as an Equestrian Life Coach. You can tune in at 12 noon (cst) to our fully interactive online radio broadcast.

I’ve talked about the use of pressure when working with horses before, written about it on here as well… which is exactly why I am excited to say that it will once again be the topic of conversation during my next online radio broadcast this Sunday!

Links :

• Tune Into LIVE Broadcast! (12 noon – 3.15.09)
• AIR Radio Channel
• Radio Schedule

Our next radio broadcast will be Sunday, March 1, at 12 noon (cst)! I am excited to say that we will be covering the topic of Passive Dominance, which ties in well with our previous show’s topic about the Ego. Please bookmark the date and join me online for this fully interactive broadcast. Not only can you call into the show, you can also join in on the chat dialogue, even upload images and media to help create a truly one of a kind broadcast! We love hearing from our listeners and hope you will be one of them!

February 15 Broadcast – Ego Based Horsemanship : Horses & Humans

Links :

• Listed to Recorded Show
• AIR Radio Channel

Thanks again to everyone who joined us for our second radio broadcast today where I was joined by Cheryl Frei. We discussed the connection of life coaching to horsemanship as well as how ego plays a role in both our personal lives and our interaction with the horse.

If you happened to miss the live show, you can still enjoy the recorded show online.

Link : Ego Based Horsemanship : Horses & Humans

As promised, the links discussed during the show are listed below. Our next broadcast is March 1 at 12 noon (cst) where we will be discussing Passive Dominance, how we become leaders with our horse, and how we mistake dominating with leading.

Links :

• (article) Are Loneliness, Feeling Cold, and the ‘Winter Blues’ Linked?
• (Cheryl Frei’s website) The Unexpected Path & (blog) Support For The Family In Crisis
• Link to March 1 Show
• AIR Radio Channel

Sunday afternoon was the mark of my first radio broadcast online, and in case you weren’t able to make it to the live broadcast you can still catch the recording!

Link : Sorry, not currently available.

Our next show will air live on Sunday, February 15 at 12 noon (cst). The topic is still in the “air” so if you have a question or topic you would like to have discussed please send an email to us! We are also working towards having guests on our show and are excited to be able to offer this to our horse friends…

Link : Tune Into AIR Radio Channel

That time of the year is here, as we find ourselves (at least in the north) climbing out from the short dark days of winter that can at times be brutal. Waking up we dust off some of the remnants of snow – or at least prepare for the day when we can finally shovel that last bit of snow from the walk ways. I feel like that time of the year has started. I am more energized through the day, I’ve stopped stocking up on food to keep me warm and insulated through the hibernation phase. Maybe it is just all of the Vitamin D from the daily dose of sunshine bouncing off the remaining piles of snow… Whatever the cause, I am happy to see the threat of spring!

What I really want to talk about however are relationship skills. It isn’t every day that the interactions with people in  my life bring about great ephiphanies in the way of how we relate with the horse and build communication, trust and motivation in each other, but I am lucky enough to have regular encounters that spur some greater understanding.

I’ve come to find that the way in which we build a relationship with the horse is the fundamental foundation that everything else is built upon. If we have a poor foundation everything else fails – communication, trust, motivation, etc. With that note, I will be broadcasting live for the first time on internet radio on February 1 at 12 noon (cst). I will be discussing various aspects of relationship building with the horse. I would like to invite you to tune in, let a friend know and pass the word around. Viewers will be able to call in or email questions throughout the show for a truly interactive experience. This is in partnership with Awareness In Riding through their AIR Radio Channel.

These radio broadcasts are scheduled approximately every two weeks on Sundays at 12 noon (cst). Be sure and subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on broadcasts. You will also be able to check the schudule of broadcasts by visiting either the AIR Radio Channel or our Calendar of Events. Previous broadcasts will be available for a time on the AIR Radio Channel as well.

Any inquiries regarding the show’s contents and topics can be directed to Awareness In Riding.