Horse Progress: Ready for challenging tasks?

Horse Education

Evolving the Ask

By Samantha Harvey, Founder — Alternative Horsemanship™ the Remote Horse Coach

"How do I get my horse to be okay with ___?" (trailer, the scary corner, saddling, the farrier, fill in the blank.) Usually, someone is describing the big scenario, and the horse is already overwhelmed by it.

When I start with a horse, I'm not focused on the "final outcome". I'm presenting tiny segments to help him learn how to think through a scenario (rather than fixate)... to search (offer more than one try without getting emotionally triggered) for an answer instead of waiting to be driven or pushed... to try... and just as important, to let go of a thought (anticipation, fixation, concern, worry).

Most horses I meet have never been taught this nor is there a differentiation between directing their thoughts from their movement. Too many horses in their initial training learned to tolerate, comply, shut down (offer no physical resistance), or get bigger (to make the human go away). This leaves them unable (and overwhelmed) the more that is asked of them.

Once the equine learns these skills, I present small scenarios to practice the Conversation. Not "load in the trailer," but "how do you feel about walking toward, around, away from it?" I observe his feedback during the interaction, and especially after. Is there a look away, a held breath, a stiff jaw, a step back, is his tail swishing... all of which is him telling me where/if there are concerning aspects. He's not being "naughty" or "testing" me. He's giving me feedback.

Rather than mindlessly repeating to "just getting through it," as I address each concern, I'm also assessing the quality and effectiveness of my communication. By presenting scenarios in smaller segments, it allows me an opportunity to pause and recognize if the horse is becoming defensive towards my aids- and I can address that aspect. It also gives him time to process- his concern and my communication. Then I may ask for a little more.

Here's what people don't consider... the more often a horse is supported by the human to learn how to work through and let go of his concerns, the more the person is "proving" themselves to the horse to be trusted, and the increase in his try will follow. By the time I present something much larger, it isn't "a concern" to him anymore, because he's been prepared with each segment presented along the way, and he is offered relevant communication.

If the horse falls apart when you ask for more, the "why won't he do it?" is ignoring the "what did I miss in the preparation?"

How do you know he needs help or is ready for more?

Your horse will "tell you" in subtle feedback, before he does something dramatic. The trick is noticing the behavior that most of mainstream society teaches you to ignore, because when it is, (or critiqued rather than addressed) it evolves into the potentially dangerous responses.

He's telling you there's a concern when you see him...

• Looking away or fixating on something else when you step toward him
• Holding his breath, or short, quick, labored breathing despite not having physically exerted himself
• Tightness in the jaw, wrinkles in the muzzle, worry lines around the eye
• Head up, neck shortened and braced, "ballooned barrel," or "hollowing" of the back
• Tail swishing or clamped
• Ears hyper-flicking back and forth or back and rigid
• Tripod-like stance, braced knees/hocks
• Constant shifting away, or stepping backward
• Freezing in place (this one gets mistaken for "being good")
• Fidgeting, pawing, or hurried movement
• Getting pushy, crowding, or leaning toward/at the human
• Eyes dull and "checked out"... shut down- i.e. "no response" at all

Even if he has displayed the above behaviors and still complied, does not mean he is "ready" for more- and it is usually when he is asked to offer more- that the horse "suddenly" shows dramatic resistance.

He's ready to move on- or for you to evolve the ask- when you see...

• A deep breath out, or a sigh that shows up on his own
• Real-time mental processing- soft blinking, gentle chewing, rhythmic breathing
• Jaw, lips, and eye softening
• Head and neck held at a natural height, without skin tension or twitching (such as when touched)
• Tail softly hanging, ears relaxed or one tipped toward you
• Shifting a hip, or standing balanced without mentally bouncing all over
• Brain and body in the same place... he isn't looking around with anticipation
• Curiosity- softly looking toward/inspecting something (without imposing/pushing/trying to bite it), perhaps offering a small, soft step toward the unfamiliar/scary thing
• The same quiet response several times in a row, without anticipation or rushing
• Willing to be mentally directed "away" (not physically moving his feet away) from the concerning area- without having a flee, increase in tension, or a fixation on the thing he is unsure of

As you are assessing, remember that a one time soft response doesn't mean he's fully worked through a scenario. Experiment with one small change, and observe his mental and physical responses. Even if not yet fully confident, if he stays "available" and thinking, he's ready for more. Adapt with how you offer a release- which may be just mental, or mental and spatial. Sometimes, it takes literally moving the horse away from a scenario to "pull the release valve" and then you see the full body shake, blowing, yawning, passing manure, etc. in his let down of tension as he mentally processes.

If during any "segment" a concern reappears, that tells you what hasn't been fully addressed to help the horse mentally let it "go."

A final thought... When just observing the horse, notice what the difference is in your perception of what equine behaviors you'd classify as a "quiet," relaxed, or shut down horse.

— Samantha Harvey, Alternative Horsemanship™
The Remote Horse Coach

Horse Training Help- Segmented Learning

The Positive Influence of Segments

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By Samantha Harvey, the Remote Horse Coach
Alternative Horsemanship™

I've been back in the US for the last three weeks, teaching Private Clinics across the western States. Some things taught included working on preparing a young horse to accept a rider, re-educating one that had previous trauma associated with being ridden, riding in areas that were once "scary," (re)introducing saddling, hoof handling after farrier trauma, interrupting quiet patterns of fixation, building confidence, or teaching the humans to offer real-time adaptability in how, when, and where they offer supportive communication, to simultaneously build the horse's try and trust.

I thought I'd share a post from earlier in the year, reiterating the importance (to the horse) of why presenting/asking reasonable segments is crucial to evolve the partnership.

P.S. I'll be heading up the East Coast in November and still have a few days open, visit Private Clinics for details.

Underrated Human Skills to Improve our Horse Time

"I have a plan"

"I want to work on x, y, and z"

"I need to practice for the upcoming event/competition/trip"

"I just want to try one more time"

These are the often taught ideals- meaning if you the human are "focused enough" the horse should and will comply... and then you show up and your horse is .... pacing, calling out to the neighbor, doesn't want to be caught, willing to be caught but anticipative and pushy, etc.

So what do you do?

• Get annoyed?
• Offer critical communication?
• Get lost in the story of wondering "why" the horse is reacting as he is?
• Compare what your horse does versus "theirs?"

Or do you...

• Adapt?
• Break down what you're asking of your horse into smaller segments?
• Address the horse's distraction (without criticism)?
• Let go of your original intentions and "meet the horse in the moment?"

How one perceives the horse's behavior often reflects their skill set- the more one has learned how to interrupt and redirect the horse's thought, help him drain (literally) physical tension, and are able to separate out asking him the focus from his movement, the more options a person has to help the animal work through a troubling scenario, let go of it mentally, and be available to willingly participate.

But, for a lot of people, they either don't realize how few options they have in their "toolbox" (how they communicate")- until the day the horse is "suddenly" reacting or offering new responses or behaviors...

Rather than thinking of your horse time as "training for the moment"- if you shift your focus to creating a common language- (see the how, what, when, where post I made last week,) and then refining your understanding of how the horse's thought and movement is connected, what patterns occur when he is triggered, teach him how to think through scenarios versus physical compliance, the more "options" you have for presenting anything, anywhere, at any time- whether or not you've practiced a scenario before.

Catching and teaching the horse to lead - i.e. having the horse willingly participate without using food, coercion, or patterns of familiarity- requires more than 50% of the skills you'll need for everything that follows... yet for most people- catching is how quickly will the horse comply to be in close enough proximity without too much physical resistance that they can physically get the halter on...

Most horses I observe "tell me" everything I need to know about their perception of the human experience based on their behavior during the catching.

Work with Samantha

Alternative Horsemanship™ with Samantha Harvey the Remote Horse Coach offers horsemanship clinics worldwide, distance horse coaching, equine re-education and rehabilitation, colt starting, and lessons. I'll be heading up the East Coast of the USA in November, and still have a few days open. Message for details.

Email to learn more

Horse Riding Skills- Improving Transitions

Horse Transitions- Mental and Physical

Reading the horse before, during, and beyond the gait change

By Samantha Harvey, Founder — Alternative Horsemanship™

Most horses I meet fall into two categories:

• Fearful or defensive (tight, rigid, lethargic movement) when moving forward
• Or hyper reactive and overreacting with fast, fleeing movement when moving forward

Here are some of what I look to address in re-educating or starting with the inexperienced horse.

I work with the untacked horse first, I am watching for disconnect in his brain and body, defensiveness towards human pressure, imbalance in his movement, and dramatic upward or downward transitions. This tells me what I need to address before adding tack.

I'll work the horse on a lead increasing and decreasing my spatial distance, being able to direct his focus and energy. Watching for triggers if I move in a certain manner or towards various body parts. All the while the lead rope acts as my communication support to help him think and slowly in segments work through any troubling areas.

Later, I work on the quality of tacking up while the horse is not tied. I'm looking for potential mental triggers from previous experiences of saddling that may lead to fussy, chaotic behavior.

My goal is to help the horse learn to let go of fears, tension, etc., during the tacking up as it directly influences his movement if he retains defensiveness.

At some point, I'll add in working with the horse loose while tacked to notice if there is a change in his mental and physical state. I'd address those concerns by breaking things down into smaller segments with supportive, specific conversations, allowing him lots of opportunities to pause, process, and release tension.

By the time I'm riding it often is like colt-starting, irrelevant of the age of the horse. Being able to first direct the horse's thoughts, allows him to understand what will be asked, and he can prepare to move his body accordingly.

Then I add energy indicating I'm asking for his movement, focusing on adaptable, soft changes and transitions within a gait, focusing on the horse learning to balance and carry himself... before asking for changes between gaits.

I use the analogy that transitions should not feel like you're popping the clutch. There should feel like a slight increase or decrease within one gait before asking for the next gait.

Otherwise there is often a lurching or jumping into a faster gait, or a "falling into" a slower gait.

So many people randomly ask for transitions in an unclear, chaotic manner, often creating a "surprise" cue, and unintentionally teach the horse to respond in unwanted defensive behaviors.

Then the rider feels like they have to "contain" the horse's chaos, and a vicious cycle of the horse experiencing anticipation, defensiveness, flee, and fear starts to be associated with speed.

— Samantha Harvey, Alternative Horsemanship™
The Remote Horse Coach

Interested in improving the partnership?

Join me for an Intro Consult — an opportunity to discuss where you are with your horse, ask questions, and pinpoint what aspects of your equine partnership need refining to create positive, long-term change.

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Labels: horse transitions horse movement problems groundwork

Human Perceptions and Horse Problems

What Are You Basing Your Horse-Related Perceptions On?

Perspective & Approach

Horse-Related Perceptions - Gaining Perspective

By Samantha Harvey, Founder — Alternative Horsemanship™ the Remote Horse Coach

I was watching a discussion between an astrophysicist and a psychologist... The topic was related to people's perception. I'll share the example:

When you're driving down the road, if you see someone driving much faster than you, what do you think of their behavior? If you see someone driving much slower, how do you mentally react?

So... the "argument" was that whatever speed you happen to be driving, you consider this the "correct" speed, and disagree with, judge, or critique the faster or slower drivers.

If You're the Only One With a Problem...

They went on to present that if you are the only one having a problem, and everyone surrounding you isn't, then maybe what you perceive as a problem isn't everyone else — it's you.

This belief system is so commonly and deeply ingrained in many societies, and 100% why I specifically stepped away from "the mainstream" world of horses.

You could apply the "logic" to any topic — religion, politics, etc. — and it is just as much of a trigger in terms of horses and training.

The Rage Bait Problem

On any social media platform, finding the rage bait horse-related posts, the emotionally triggering ones, the fixated one-size-fits-all system, is easy. The algorithms reward posters for engaging the public — even in a negative, aggressive, degrading manner — especially in the case of unasked-for opinions.

I know in recent times I may sound like a broken record, but I cannot emphasize enough how much one's perceptions 110% influence their mental "playback" — or interpretation — of an experience, their emotional response, and the physical behavior that follows based on their thoughts and emotions.

Every Witness Tells a Different Story

Take a witness account — whether a crime or an accident — police will question bystanders and get drastically varying stories in each person's first-hand account of "what happened." To the individual, their perception is based on many factors, including what past experiences have taught them. This can affect their ability to separate factual events from their perception of what happened. The same goes for when people interact with horses.

So, the uncomfortable question of the day: What are you basing your horse-related perceptions on?

This isn't meant to trigger self-doubt or analysis paralysis, but instead to revisit why you believe what you believe about the horse, the interactions, and how you communicate.

Where Your Beliefs Actually Came From

Consider your mindset when you were in your early 20s, then your 30s, then perhaps later in life. You are still "you" — but what influenced your ideals, motivation, behavior, and emotions to evolve or change? Lived experience. Social influences. Relationships... and so many other aspects of life.

Past horse-related experiences will cause you to unintentionally filter your perception and understanding of what is happening. If your initial interactions with horses were with a hard-to-catch or resistant horse, you probably unintentionally established a mental pattern of anticipation, tension during interactions, and increasing lack of confidence — all of which you'd bring to the next horse you interact with.

If your first instruction was from someone aggressive and dominant in how they taught, berating you for asking questions, how would that affect your learning as the student? Or your mindset, perspective, and confidence, even when learning from a different instructor later on?

Why Questioning Makes People Uncomfortable

Unfortunately, I have found that "questioning" things can make people uncomfortable, especially in the horse world. Which is more reflective of human dominance mindsets than it has anything to do with the horses.

The problem is, the deeply ingrained "follow the program," "get with the program," or "don't question the authority" mentality can lead to crippling learning experiences for the horse, who resorts to dramatic and dangerous behavior, while the human student frequently becomes overwhelmed by the equine's responses while receiving critique or berating from the instructor or coach.

Society has constantly shined a light on singling out the "outcast" — those who don't conform or comply with the "norms." If we look back at history, what positive changes would never have occurred if we considered those who voiced "new" or different ideas, perspectives, and opinions as fundamentally wrong solely because, at the time they were first voiced, they weren't accepted by most of society? Change only occurs when "the way we've always done it" is questioned.

I have found this to be incredibly true in the horse world. I encourage you, every so often, to take a few minutes and explore whether the belief system your horse perceptions are based on is still relevant to your current state of being.

— Samantha Harvey, Alternative Horsemanship™
The Remote Horse Coach

Curious?

Join me for an Intro Consult — an opportunity to discuss where you are with your horse, ask questions, and pinpoint what aspects of your equine partnership need refining to create positive, long-term change.

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Labels: horse perception, horse learning help, rider mindset, alternative horsemanship horse training tips

Why the Horse Training Hasn't Worked

Perspective & Approach

You've Tried the Trainers.
Here's Why It Hasn't Worked.

Your skepticism about horse professionals is probably well-earned. Let's talk honestly about what's actually going on — and what it would take to change it.

By Samantha Harvey  ·  Alternative Horsemanship™

I'm going to start with something most people in my profession won't say: if you've worked with multiple trainers and clinicians and still feel like something fundamental is missing — if your horse is "better" for a few weeks and then isn't — your instinct that something isn't right is probably correct.

That's not a comfortable thing to say, because I am a trainer and clinician. But after 30 years of working with horses and humans on six continents, I've seen the pattern repeat too many times to pretend otherwise.

The frustrating part isn't that people are trying. Most horse owners I've worked with are trying very hard. The frustrating part is that most of what gets offered in this industry is focused on the horse — on changing his behavior, managing his responses, producing a more compliant animal — without honestly addressing the variable that is actually most in play: the human.

The Symptom Gets Fixed. The Cause Doesn't.

When a horse has an unwanted behavior — refusing, tension, defensiveness, reactivity — the standard professional response is to address that specific behavior. The pulling, the spooking, the bucking, whatever it is. And often it gets better, at least for a while. The trainer addresses it, demonstrates something that works in their hands, the horse responds — and the owner leaves feeling like progress was made.

But here's what doesn't get addressed: why that behavior was happening in the first place, and what role the human's communication, timing, awareness, or emotional state played in creating the conditions for it. A horse that is tense and reactive is telling you something. Most training "fixes" the telling, not the thing being told.

"Unwanted horse behaviors are symptoms, not causes. Learning to interpret the subtle, underlying equine communication allows you to recognize and address root issues rather than mask them."

I use the word "surviving" to describe what many horse-human interactions actually look like, even when they appear functional. The rider gets through the session, the horse doesn't do the really bad thing, nobody got hurt. But neither party was actually communicating with the other. The human was managing, and the horse was tolerating. That's not a partnership — it's an ongoing negotiation between two unclear parties, and it's exhausting for both.

The Human Filter Nobody Talks About

Here's the thing about horses — they are the most honest communicators most humans will ever encounter in their lives. They have no agenda. They are not being stubborn, ornery, or difficult on purpose. They respond to what is actually being offered to them, which is why the same horse can be completely different depending on who is handling him.

What they respond to is clarity, consistency, and someone who is actually present. What most humans bring to the interaction — without realizing it — is anticipation, emotional filtering, unconscious habits, and unresolved tension from the last thing that went wrong. The horse feels all of it. He doesn't know what to do with it. He responds in ways that then get labeled as "bad behavior."

I warn students when they begin learning this: once you can see it, you cannot unsee it. That's both the gift and the difficulty of this work. Because once you genuinely start to understand what the horse is communicating, you realize how much of what you thought was happening in your interactions was actually just your own story layered over the top of the horse's real response.

What Most Professionals Are Incentivized Not to Tell You

I don't say this to be harsh to my colleagues, but the economics of the training industry create a particular kind of pressure. Clinicians who fill arenas rely on dramatic visible transformation in a short window of time. The before-and-after, the moment of connection, the horse that was "bad" and is now "good." Those moments are real. But they happen in the trainer's hands, with the trainer's timing, read, and awareness — and then the owner goes home without the foundational understanding that made those moments possible.

The result is a cycle that I see constantly: take a lesson or attend a clinic, feel inspired and hopeful, go home, things gradually slide back, take another lesson or find another clinician, feel hopeful again. The horse gets older and more confirmed in his patterns. The rider gets subtly more discouraged, even if they can't quite name it.

The students who make the most lasting progress in their horsemanship are not always the ones who improve fastest. They are the ones who become genuinely curious about the process of learning, rather than focused on arriving at specific outcomes quickly.

They stop asking "how do I get my horse to stop doing X?" and start asking "what is my horse actually trying to communicate when he does X, and what is my role in creating that situation?"

That shift in question changes everything.

What "Alternative" Actually Means

I named my approach Alternative Horsemanship™ for a reason. Not because it is trendy, and not as a marketing word. Alternative, in this context, means an alternative to the default — to the widespread industry approach that prioritizes compliance, repetition, and performance over genuine understanding of equine behavior and honest assessment of the human's role.

What that looks like practically:

• We don't label horse behavior as good or bad — we read it as information
• We address the human's timing, presence, emotional state, and clarity — not just what the horse is doing
• We look for root causes instead of managing symptoms
• We don't progress to a new skill until the foundation underneath it is actually solid
• We accept that real change in a horse-human relationship is not fast — and that's not a failure, it's honest
• We understand that the goal is a genuine partnership built on trust, not a more obedient animal

For the Person Who is Done with Quick Fixes

If what I've written here resonates, it's probably because you've already been through enough cycles of hope and disappointment to be skeptical of the next thing that promises results. I understand that completely, and I'm not asking you to take this on faith.

What I do offer is access to how I think — through articles, videos, and an introductory consultation where I can hear specifically what's going on with you and your horse. Not to tell you what's wrong or offer a formula, but to have an honest conversation about what is actually happening and whether this approach is something you want to explore further.

If you're the person who has been quietly thinking there has to be something more real than what you've been offered so far, that's probably a useful instinct to follow.

If this way of thinking speaks to you

The Intro Consult is a conversation, not a sales call. It's a chance to discuss where you are with your horse, ask questions, and see if this is the right fit for where you want to go.

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7 Questions to Improve Time with your Horse

Horse and Human Help

Improve Time with your Horse

Samantha Harvey- Alternative Horsemanship ™ the Remote Horse Coach™

I believe people can learn from many different forms of shared horse knowledge (even if it is what not to do,) BUT I find without a clear foundational basis, the constant barrage of "dos and don'ts" that drastically differ in shared horse training approaches, theories, and methods can be exhausting for the student to filter through.

Horse Help- Understand and Communicate Clearly

 

In Conversations with the horse, we are asking them to mentally "search" for what is being presented, and then to physically act upon those thoughts.

The Effective of your Horse Communication

 I find that sometimes making comparisons outside of the “horse world” helps folks better see/believe when they are with their equine.

Horse Skills- The missing "tool" of the Positive Alternative

 In many training approaches, the moment a horse does something unwanted, the response is correction. The focus is only on stopping, blocking, and criticizing the equine behavior, to “teach him a lesson.” This leads to what I call “surviving” the experience/ride.

Horse Help- Improving your Equine Communication- Eliminating the Brace

 Horse Help- Improving your Equine Communication- Eliminating the Brace

Hurried horse behavior problems

 

A lot of humans anticipate "what will happen" when with their horse.

There is a fine line between being aware of your surroundings and things that are occurring at the moment, but also not fixating on potential unwanted outcomes.

I suggest that folks notice their own thought patterns. Whether it is occurring before they are with their horse or in a moment with the equine, to learn to notice when their mind gets "stuck on a thought."

Horse Learning without Guarantees

 The only consistent thing I have found to be true is humans ARE seeking connection.

Repeatedly, social media videos that “do best” show the horse that is willing to interact with people, offering an emotional connection. The promise gives viewers hope, triggering interaction… A great motivator for change, or to “activate” people- whether to react, sign up, or buy into a belief system- is to engage the human emotion of hope.

Horse Help: Understanding before Expectations with Alternative Horsemanship™

 

“Understanding Before Expectations”

Have you ever driven a vehicle that suddenly started drifting, pulling, or moving in a way you didn’t want?

If that happened, would you stop the car, get out, and try to physically force the wheels into the direction you wanted them to go?

Of course not.
You’d start by troubleshooting:

• What is the condition of the tires?

• Is there an issue with the axles or brakes?

• Are the fluids low?

• Is the steering column misaligned?

Even if you didn’t understand the mechanics yourself, you would look for or seek guidance to find the root cause of the problem.

Why don’t we do the same with our horses?

In traditional training, when a horse shows unwanted behavior, the common response is:

• Add more equipment

• Use harsher aids

• Try to force compliance

• Speed up the training

• Push/drive/chase the horse through his resistance

But all that does is magnify the holes—
in the horse’s education
and in reflect a lack of human understanding.

When we mask symptoms instead of addressing root causes, unwanted behaviors don’t disappear…
they simply morph into something else.
Balking becomes bolting.
Tension becomes spooking.
Resistance becomes shutdown.
And owners are left wondering what the horse will do next.

Alternative Horsemanship™ is not about controlling the horse.
It’s about understanding the horse—
their communication, mental state, and natural responses.

Instead of reacting to problems,
we learn to see the early subtle signs of worry, anticipation, or defensiveness.
We teach the skills to learn how to recognize and address the root cause before it becomes a unreasonable or potentially dangerous behavior.

This approach focuses on building a foundation through:
✔ Clear communication
✔ Observing the horse’s communication
✔ Understanding how to influence the horse's mind to create changes in equine behavior or natural instincts
✔ Awareness of your own mindset, emotions, and habits
✔ Interactions that create a safe space for learning to build trust—rather than demanding fearful compliance or forced submission

Whether you realize it or not,
you are always teaching your horse.
Your energy, timing, clarity, and intention is reflected in the horse's responses.

If you’re tired of:

• Fixing the same problems over and over

• Hoping for “good days”

• Wondering what your horse will do next

• Feeling like training is a guessing game

Then it’s time to build a foundation based on understanding rather than reacting.

Because the quality of your horsemanship isn’t measured by:
❌ fancy equipment
❌ how quickly you get results
❌ what someone else can make your horse do

It’s reflected in:
✔ Intention
✔ Commitment
✔ Adaptability
✔ Clarity
✔ And your willingness to help the horse in front of you

Alternative Horsemanship™ branched into becoming The Remote Horse Coach to help you virtually learn how to create a relationship that’s not dictated by fear, dominance, or performance pressure—
but by communication, confidence, and calmness.

If you're ready to replace hope with understanding,
reactiveness with clarity,
and frustration with confidence—
learn how Alternative Horsemanship™ the Remote Horse Coach can help you on horse journey.

Let’s begin building a partnership founded on awareness, curiosity, and mutual respect.

Visit the Individual Virtual Horse Coaching or the Horse Learning Video Catalog