#and all those natural horsemanship trainers

[theadventurek9]

It's happened.

I just saw a trainer that advertised themselves as a 'Natural dog trainer' that they communicate using the dog's own language and how they correct each other naturally at a level that is needed. No harmful tools of the balanced community, no permissive force free training.

Please excuse me while I stare off into the distance as the dog world may find natural dogmanship as they found natural horsemanship. The whole take as much pressure as it needs to manipulate the animal using the species's 'own' behavior.

Parelli would be proud.

[xtruss]

Meet a New Generation of Black American ‘Cowboys’

With these images, photographer Kennedi Carter smashes an age-old stereotype: Cowboys aren’t all white men on horses, battling Indigenous people.

— Story and Photographs By Kennedi Carter | July 18, 2023

Doniyel Hooker bought her horse, Chance, in 2018. Whenever possible, Hooker, a math and science teacher, brings Chance to her elementary school to provide new experiences for her students. She’s ridden Chance on trails and even through the French Quarter of New Orleans.

The first time I saw a Black horseman, I was maybe six years old. I’m 24 now, grew up in the suburbs of Durham, North Carolina, but my mother’s family is from Dallas, and we’d drive back to visit. I remember this as one of those things where you’re chilling in the back seat, you see something crazy, your head does a complete 180. Cowboys! The white-man-on-a-horse archetype; battles with Indigenous people: That’s what I was most familiar with, from going to the movies with my grandfathers. So about five years ago, as I began to photograph on film, I thought it would be very interesting to turn that cowboy narrative inside out a bit. It’s always important to expand the narrow confines of what we perceive to be American culture, and how we as Black people sit inside it.

I’ve had a whirlpool of feelings, being a witness to these people. There’s a rich history of Black American cowboys, but for my work I’ve used the word “equestrian”—more inclusive now, I think. For a long time I observed from the ground, asking equestrians whether I could photograph them; I’d never ridden a horse myself until I climbed onto one while visiting trainer Silas Plummer outside New Orleans. Did I feel fully comfortable or at home? No. I thought a lot about not falling off. But in the Louisiana town where my grandfather was born, his sharecropper family didn’t have cars, so one assumes they were using horses or mules to get around. That was beautiful to circle back to, very ancestral.

And my biggest takeaway, working with all the equestrians, is just how alive they feel when they’re on a horse. There’s a freedom that comes from interacting with animals, with nature, with the land. This is what one form of that freedom looks like.

Horse trainer Silas Plummer holds Kash outside Child’s Arena stables in Bridge City, Louisiana. From wranglers to rodeo riders to jockeys, Black men and women have made their mark in many areas of horsemanship. In the United States, for example, an estimated one in four cowboys in the late 19th century was Black.

MaLana Lewis first rode a horse at age five during a camping trip. Her family later got her into barrel racing classes, and she has collected 24 first-place ribbons with her horse, Star. This photograph was taken in 2020, when Lewis was nine.

Left: Born to formerly enslaved parents in Texas, Bill Pickett became the best known Black rodeo star at the turn of the 20th century. He created the sport of bulldogging, or steer wrestling. Pickett performed around the world and was the first Black man inducted into the National Rodeo Hall of Fame. Courtesy North Fort Worth Historical Society

Right: After barrel racing as a teen, Esperanza Tervalon now trains with JaxieBaby in Bend, Oregon, to “go low and slow” in western pleasure riding competitions. The political consultant turns to horses to bring peace to her life. “I get centered. I always leave the barn feeling better than when I walked in.” Photograph By Kennedi Carter

In the early 1900s, Black communities held festivals and rodeos in cattle country across various southern states. Here a group of cowhands show off their steeds at the Negro State Fair on the Fannin County Fairgrounds north of Bonham, Texas, in 1911. The annual event involved four days of parades, music, and rodeos. Racers also competed for prizes of $2 to $50. Courtesy of Erwin E. Smith Collection of The Library of Congress On Deposit at Amon Carter Museum of American Art, Fort Worth, Texas

Trigger was Vinsha Torain’s first horse, and the two have ridden together since the college student was 13. Torain helps run the family ranch, started by her grandfather, in Siler City, North Carolina, and also heads Torain Ranch’s riding club, composed mainly of Black women.

Left: Nat Love, also known as Deadwood Dick, was born into slavery on a Tennessee plantation in 1854. After the Civil War he moved west and spent 20 years driving cattle. He got his nickname in Deadwood, South Dakota, after beating out every other competitor in roping and shooting contests.

Right: Isom Dart, born into slavery as Ned Huddleston in 1849 in Arkansas, was killed in 1900 in Colorado by a bounty hunter. A jack of many trades, including cook, miner, stunt rider, and horse and cattle thief, he was, ironically, shot for suspected cattle rustling once he’d gone straight. Courtesy Denver Public Library, Western History Collection

Jamel Robinson puts a client’s horse through exercises on a trail in Siler City. He started riding when he was four and training horses when he was 17. Robinson plans to stay in the business, which he learned from his father. “Horses keep me in a good mind space,” he says.

[zippyequestrain]

Essential Horse Training Equipment for Beginners

Embarking on the journey of horse training for beginners requires not just a good understanding of horses but also the right equipment. The proper horse training equipment ensures safety, effectiveness, and comfort for both the horse and the trainer. For those new to this world, it can be overwhelming to determine what is necessary and what can be left for later. Here’s a guide to the essential horse training equipment for beginners that will set you up for success.

1. Halter and Lead Rope

The halter and lead rope are fundamental pieces of horse training equipment for beginners. The halter is used to control the horse’s head, which, in turn, helps guide the entire body. A lead rope is attached to the halter and is used to lead or tie the horse.

For beginners, a nylon or leather halter is recommended due to its durability and ease of use. Make sure the halter fits properly; it shouldn’t be too tight or too loose. A lead rope that is at least 10–12 feet long provides enough length to maintain a safe distance while still having control over the horse.

2. Lunge Line and Lunge Whip

A lunge line is a long, sturdy rope, typically 25–30 feet in length, used to exercise a horse in a circle around the handler. This is an essential tool in horse training for beginners as it helps to teach the horse to obey voice commands and develop better movement.

The lunge whip is used in conjunction with the lunge line. It’s not meant to hit the horse but to guide it, signaling changes in direction or speed. Beginners should practice using the lunge whip with care, focusing on clear and calm signals that the horse can easily understand.

3. Training Saddle and Saddle Pad

A good training saddle is another critical piece of horse training equipment for beginners. While there are many types of saddles, a general-purpose or all-purpose saddle is ideal for beginners because it’s versatile and can be used for various training activities.

A saddle pad or blanket is placed under the saddle to provide cushioning and to prevent chafing on the horse’s back. When selecting a saddle pad, make sure it’s appropriately sized for the saddle and offers adequate padding for your horse’s comfort.

4. Bridle and Bit

The bridle and bit are essential for controlling the horse while riding. The bridle consists of straps that go over the horse’s head, while the bit is a metal piece that goes in the horse’s mouth, helping the rider communicate directions.

For beginners, a simple snaffle bit is often recommended because it’s generally milder and easier for the horse to accept. As with all horse training equipment, ensuring a proper fit is crucial. The bridle should sit comfortably on the horse’s head without pinching, and the bit should rest gently in the horse’s mouth without causing discomfort.

5. Protective Boots and Wraps

Protective boots and wraps help safeguard a horse’s legs during training. They are particularly important when training on uneven ground or performing activities that involve sharp turns or high speed, which could strain the horse’s legs.

There are various types of boots, such as brushing boots, tendon boots, and overreach boots, each serving a specific protective purpose. Beginners should choose boots that are easy to apply and provide adequate protection without restricting the horse’s movement.

6. Training Stick and String

A training stick and string are versatile tools in horse training for beginners. They can be used for groundwork exercises, helping to establish boundaries, guide the horse, and reinforce commands. The stick acts as an extension of the trainer’s arm, allowing for clearer communication from a distance.

These tools are especially useful in natural horsemanship techniques, where communication and body language are emphasized. Beginners should use these tools with patience, focusing on subtle, consistent signals.

7. Grooming Kit

A grooming kit is not only essential for maintaining a horse’s health and appearance but also for building a bond between the horse and trainer. Grooming tools like brushes, combs, hoof picks, and sponges are basic necessities in every beginner’s horse training equipment arsenal.

Regular grooming keeps the horse’s coat healthy, promotes circulation, and provides an opportunity to check for injuries or irritations. Additionally, grooming sessions help the horse become accustomed to being handled, which is important for its overall training.

Conclusion

Equipping yourself with the right horse training equipment is a vital step in horse training for beginners. Each piece of equipment serves a specific purpose and contributes to a safe and effective training experience. By investing in quality, well-fitting equipment like a halter, lead rope, saddle, bridle, and grooming tools, beginners can build a strong foundation for their horse training journey. Remember, the right equipment not only enhances training outcomes but also ensures the well-being of both the horse and trainer.

[horsesarecreatures]

I’m currently reading a book about introversion. It’s very good and nuanced, and before I do a review of it I want to dissect a few individual sections. This particular bit got me thinking about my riding in a new way. Most things I do best alone, from studying to drawing. And yet, this is the first time in my life I’ve gone almost a year without taking any riding lessons. Up until Brian left at the previous barn, I’d never been at facility without an instructor before, so taking lessons just seemed like the natural thing to do. And don’t get me wrong, I did learn a lot from them. So when Brian left I thought it was going to be very hard to progress with Amba.

But actually, I’ve found that not only did I not get stuck, I’ve also been doing lots of things I’ve never done before even as a rider of 17 years and owner of three prior horses. I knew how to ride and ask for flying lead changes, but I never taught them to a horse before (while I did train Chip on my own to an extent, it was to transition him from western to English. He did already have changes when I got him though he was a pain about doing them). I thought they would be very difficult to get, but Amba started offering them on her own and I was able to add in the cue. Now I’m aware that there’s a degree of good luck here, as some horses will never do a flying change voluntarily or will only do it their stronger direction. But there have been other things too that I’ve been able to accomplish without a trainer that I probably wouldn’t have otherwise, either because I would have just assumed they’d be better at it and let them do it first, or because it wouldn’t have even occurred to me to try because I would have been more focused on traditional things to teach a young primarily English-ridden horse.

Like the spinning for example. Not only have I never trained a horse to spin before, I’d never ridden a spin, period. The closest thing to it that I’d previously done was probably turn on haunches. So I used those to teach her, and it really wasn’t hard at all. But would I have even bothered to experiment with it if I was in a program? Probably not. I likely wouldn’t have done as much bridleless work with her or consistently worked on the Spanish walk, either.

I probably will not be taking any lessons for the foreseeable future. It’s not that I don’t want to or think I’m above them, but with a $1,000 a month to pay in board I frankly can’t afford any extra expenses. But I’ve definitely changed my mindset and don’t see it as the big progress-stopping hindrance I thought it was going to be, and in fact I think certain aspects of my riding and general horsemanship have improved by having a lot more time to experiment with my own ideas. In general I do things alone, so why did I think my riding and training Amba was going to suffer when she’s a smart and generally level-headed horse? Probably because I’ve been being told that I need lessons to improve my whole life. And while I do think lessons with a good teacher cause people to improve, and for a lot of riders they are the best option, they’re not the only option.

[princessanneftw]

Inside Princess Anne's lifelong love affair with horses

As the Princess Royal approaches her 70th birthday, those who know her recount the most enduring relationship of her life

By Eleanore Kelly for the Telegraph

The Princess Royal has spent a lifetime with horses. Like her siblings, she started riding at the age of three. But what makes her remarkable is the success she achieved as a competitor. Aged 21 she was crowned European Eventing Champion at Burghley. She was riding Doublet, a horse bred by the Queen, for polo, and gifted to the Princess.

At the 1975 European Eventing Championships, she finished second on Goodwill, another horse owned by the Queen and her mount at the Montreal Olympics in 1976, where she became the first member of the British royal family to compete at an Olympic Games. She rode winners in horse racing too, notably in the Grand Military Steeplechase at Sandown over jumps, and the Diamond Stakes on the flat at Ascot. No wonder she won BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year award in 1971 - the first ever event rider to carry off the trophy.

There were always ponies around during her childhood. Both her parents rode regularly, as did her older brother, Prince Charles, who developed a keen interest in polo and was considered a gifted player.

In those days polo was a men-only game, so not something his sister would have pursued, but she was a member of the Pony Club where she would have tried most equestrian disciplines with other young enthusiasts. Perhaps the attraction to eventing was the camaraderie that is always synonymous with a risk sport; horses are no respecter of titles.

When she became more serious about eventing, her parents arranged for training with Alison Oliver, wife of international show jumper Alan Oliver, who was based near Windsor. She is widely credited for propelling the Princess on the road to international equestrian stardom.

Lucinda Green, one of Princess Anne’s eventing peers, describes her as the pin-up of their era. Lucinda was a fellow team member at the Montreal Olympics and remembers the Princess having a crashing fall halfway around the cross-country course and suffering concussion. She remounted and finished the course but to this day cannot remember the rest of the jumps.

“She was extremely brave and good enough to get on the British team on two very different horses. Goodwill, her horse in Montreal, was not easy. He was big and had no brakes - I definitely wouldn’t have ridden him,” says Green.

With animals so often comes heartbreak, which even Princesses cannot escape. Her partnership with Doublet, a diminutive chestnut with the heart of a lion, ended in tragedy. The pair were destined for the Munich Olympics when the horse who had defined her career shattered a hind leg in an accident at Windsor and had to be put down.

At a time where security at sports events was minimal, The Princess was hounded by the media. “I always admired the way she coped with the press. That added the most unbelievable pressure on top of trying to do her sporting best. Tough for her but she put our sport on the map and kept it in the spotlight,” observes Green.

In 1985, she was persuaded to ride in a charity horse race at Epsom (home of the Derby). By this stage she’d hung up her eventing boots and had two young children. Yet she was always game for the challenge, if it involved horses.

Horse racing requires a very different technique from eventing, so she approached trainer David Nicholson for help. Known as “The Duke” because of his imposing personality, he suggested she come to his Cotswold yard, little expecting she would turn up almost every day for several years to ride out.

His wife Dinah became familiar with the Princess, as she would join them in the kitchen for breakfast after exercising the horses. “She was so dedicated and determined, driving 40 minutes every morning and arriving at 7.15am on the dot, so she could tack up her horse before riding out on the gallops. Then she would have breakfast with us and sometimes there would be a jockey - Richard Dunwoody or Peter Scudamore. The conversation would mostly be about horses. After breakfast, she would set off for a busy day of royal duties.”

Even if she had a royal engagement in London that went on late into the night, she would still get up after a few hours sleep to drive to the yard in Stow-on-the Wold. Acquaintances say her security detail looked permanently exhausted from keeping up with her.

After the charity race, in which she finished a respectable fourth, she asked Nicholson if she could continue riding out at his yard. It seemed the attraction was as much about the camaraderie of yard life as it was the actual race riding. “She became very fond of the people in racing and was always very natural with the stable lads, who liked her.”

There was a horse she was very fond of too, called Cnoc Na Cuille. He was a big winner for her in her career as a jump jockey (including the Grand Military) but soon after finishing third at Warwick, he dropped dead, probably from a heart attack.

“The Princess was not one for showing emotion but she was clearly very upset about it,” says Dinah. Soon after this she gave up race riding, although she has bred a few race horses herself at her home, Gatcombe Park in Gloucestershire.

For 37 years, thanks to the Princess, Gatcombe has hosted eventing competitions, including the prestigious Festival of Eventing. The cross-country course is designed by her former husband Captain Mark Phillips, an Olympic medallist and four-time Badminton winner (once the golden boy of British eventing), and the Director is their son Peter Phillips.

Princess Anne’s daughter, Zara Tindall, a former European and World Champion event rider and silver medalist in the London 2012 Olympics, regularly competes there and the Princess hands out the prizes.

Tindall has even more eventing accolades than her mother and, like her, she was voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year (in 2006). Her mother has always been hugely supportive of her children’s interest in horses. Every Christmas, the Princess would drive the children’s ponies up to Balmoral* (think they mean Sandringham?) herself in a horsebox so they could all ride.

There is also a strong equine theme to the Princess Royal’s charity work. She’s President of World Horse Welfare and the Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) as well as Patron of the Pony Club and the Injured Jockeys Fund (IJF). She was President of the International Federation of Equestrian Sports (FEI) from 1986 to 1994, a role she took over from her father, Prince Philip.

Roly Owers, CEO of World Horse Welfare, describes the Princess as having a deep love of horses, devoting a huge amount of time to all aspects of horse welfare. Former champion jockey John Francombe describes her as the best after-dinner speaker he has ever heard, with a great sense of humour, persuading well-oiled guests to open their wallets for charity and even persuading them to adopt horses themselves.

Rehoming unwanted horses is a large part of the World Horse Welfare’s work and the Princess is a rehomer herself. “On one of her visits to our rescue centres, she met a Welsh Cob called Annie and asked if she could have her. I believe she still rides her today.”

“She has always had a clear opinion but understands horses better than anyone,” says Owers. That once got her into trouble, at the 2013 World Horse Welfare conference when one of the topics was the European Horse Meat scandal. “She made a comment about the value of horses that was translated as ‘Princess Anne eats horse meat’ by certain journalists.”

What the Princess had actually said was: "Should we be considering a real market for horsemeat and would that reduce the number of welfare cases, if there was a real value in the horsemeat sector? I chuck that out for what it's worth because I think it needs a debate."

As Owers remembers, “it was unfortunately the first time we filmed the conference and broadcast it live, so you can imagine it created 48 hours of hysteria.” Though whether the Princess actually sits down to pony steak for Sunday lunch is not known.

Caroline Ward of the RDA remarks on her extraordinary empathy. “She understands the challenges our participants face and what they get out of the experience of riding horses. She will talk to them about their ponies and what it means to them to spend time with horses.

“These riders, many of whom find communication and mobility so difficult, will always open up to her. They are bound by this common interest and love of horses. She will also chat to the volunteers, to make them feel all the more special.”

Ward recalls the time Princess Anne helped a rider load her difficult horse into the horse box. “She came to our RDA National Championships at Hartpury College. She saw this struggle and despite not being dressed to get stuck in, she clearly couldn’t walk by without offering assistance. Well, this horse took one look at her and realised this was someone who meant business, and walked straight into the horsebox.”

Ex-jockey and racing journalist Brough Scott has known the Princess for many years through sport and her support of the IJF. “At charity events, rather than entertaining the fat cats, she is happiest talking to the ex-jockeys, many of whom are in a wheelchair. One really likes her for that, even though she is not trying to be liked.”

To be a successful rider, you have to build a relationship of trust and mutual understanding with your horse. That means controlling your fear and emotions. Eventing, a combination of the three disciplines of dressage, cross-country and show jumping, is perhaps the truest test of all-round horsemanship, demanding both accuracy and courage. It is only for the bravest of the brave, says Scott.

“Princess Anne wasn’t simply a Royal who rode, she was an athlete who achieved great things in her eventing career and rode courses that would have terrified most people. That must have given her self-confidence and fulfillment.”

In her public duties too, the Princess Royal has given her all, incidentally personifying the characteristics necessary for a fine horsewoman: discipline, dedication and courage. Are they a matter of her breeding and upbringing, or do we have her love of horses to thank for that?

[madrivervalleyicelandics]

Everything is Connected.

One of the big takeaways I have been ruminating on since returning from the International Hoofcare Summit is how holistic horsecare MUST be in order to meet the horse’s needs.  As professionals we specialize in different fields, but as horselovers and caretakers we have a responsibility to gain as much knowledge as we can about all aspects of horsemanship because they overlap.

For example…

The first lecture I attended at the Summit contained this little factoid:

Left to their own devices, horses chew 70-90 times per minute.  Unlike humans or dogs, horses are incapable of producing saliva when they aren’t actively chewing.  That means that a still mouth is a dry mouth.  

This was brought up at a hoofcare conference because it connects to the digestive system of the horse, and nutrition is SO important to hoof health.  We know that gastric ulcers are an extremely common problem in domestic horses across the board.  We know that horses are designed to be eating forage continuously throughout the day, and we know that their tummies are constantly producing the acid they’d need to digest that forage regardless of whether we fill their bellies or not.  And we know that ulcers inhibit nutrition, cause pain, make horses sick and unhealthy - and that will ultimately tank their hoof quality.  A lot of us have already moved away from the concept of separate meals, and switched over to slow feeder systems that allow our horses to eat a more natural diet, but we may not have thought about the specific importance of saliva, and chewing, to gut health.  Without saliva and chewing, the risk of ulcers is further perpetuated.

As the lecturer began tying this back into hoof health, I was already going a step further, and tying this into what I know as a trainer.  

A few years ago, I fell in love with French classical dressage because of it’s use of mouthwork to train the horse to chew and swallow on cue during training.  This act of chewing and swallowing creates freedom and movement in the hyoid, a little bone suspended from the skull via muscles and ligaments which connect to the tongue, pharynx, neck, sternum, and scapula.  That means that when the horse can’t freely chew and swallow, the forelimbs are LITERALLY restricted.  Everything is connected.

Click here to read a great post that explains this anatomy in very simple language with great visuals

So we already know that by training the horse to chew and swallow, we can physically FREE UP the forehand, giving us a horse that moves more freely, comfortably, and expressively under saddle.  And on the flipside of that, we already know that we should avoid things like tight nosebands, restricting reins/hands, harsh bits, or allowing the horse to travel behind-the-vertical or with a braced/tense head and neck position because this will restrict the hyoid and, by extension, the entire front end.

And now, this bit of information - that horses can’t produce saliva without chewing and swallowing - think about that in terms of riding a horse that braces/holds tension in the head and mouth while ridden.  A still mouth is a dry mouth.  The horse that pokes his tongue out of the side of his mouth, the horse that needs a tight noseband to be ridden effectively, the horse that feels light but is actually holding tension in his head and neck so that he doesn’t have to truly engage with the rider’s hands - these horses are not chewing and swallowing.  So not only are their forehands restricted, but their digestive tracts will suffer while being ridden.  And this will make them uncomfortable, which might make them feel tense, or irritable, or nervous, or grumpy, or listless.  Especially if you ride for an hour or more at a time.  And then add in the pressure of competition, the physical excitement of hard work like jumping or upper level dressage or a good, fast gallop, all of the possible stresses our horses might encounter while being ridden, while not chewing and swallowing… They’ll be more prone to ulcers.  Their nutrition may suffer as a result.  And as a result of that, their hooves may suffer.  

But by using mouthwork to train the mouth classically, we offset this.  We keep them chewing and swallowing while they work.  We help them to feel better, keep their digestive tract working, keep them feeling more comfortable and therefore relaxed, content.  And then they’ll be healthier.  And they’ll have better hooves.

Everything is connected.

There is so much to learn, and know.  This example is just the tip of a very big iceberg.  I could go on, and tie this into the importance of good posture and healthy balance of the teeth, because teeth, posture, and hooves are all inextricably linked.  When the horse’s teeth are imbalanced, they get incorrect feedback about where they stand in space (their proprioception) - you can experiment with this by standing up and thrusting your jaw forward and backwards, and taking note of how your balance shifts without you even really meaning it to.  When the horse can’t eat and chew normally, or when the horse is ridden in an artificial/tense posture, or when the hooves are left imbalanced/ left to grow too long between trims, all of this impacts posture and the way the teeth will wear.  Everything is connected.

Or we could talk about how restricting the front end will impact the way the horse’s limbs move, how it will change the way the horse lands and pushes off from the ground, and how this will impact the pressures and forces on their hooves and will impact way their hooves grow, the distortions flares and imbalances they’ll develop to compensate.  Everything is connected.

That means that we all need to work together, professionals and hobbyists alike.  No one person can do this alone, it takes a village to assemble a healthy program for a horse - the training, the hoofcare, the diet, the lifestyle, the vet care, the bodywork, the dentistry - it ALL matters.   It’s ALL connected. 

At the end of the day, we who love horses cannot hyperfixate if we want to meet our horses’ needs as effectively as possible.  We must be holistic caretakers, and have (or develop within ourselves) this passionate curiosity to learn as much as we can about each aspect of our animals.  Professionally, we specialize, we become experts, we hone in on our best skills to teach and help each other, but I believe that all of us have responsibility to learn as much as we possibly can about the WHOLE horse.  Those of us who have access to new learning and information should share it, demystify it, make it as accessible to others as possible.  Those who don’t should seek it any way they can. 

Knowledge is a gift.  Horses are a privilege.  None of this ought to be taken for granted.  Being around so many experts and so much knowledge was exciting and deeply inspiring to me.  It was also a great and humbling reminder of how lucky I am to have these animals in my life, and of the responsibility I carry to be the best caregiver I can be, and to not become content with what I know.  There is so much more to learn, and so much further to go.  Let’s get to work.

[theclassicalhorse]

"There is a quasi-holistic model of behavior that says everything is in harmony until some part of it breaks down and needs to be fixed.  The question asked under this model is “What do you or your animal need to bring your life back into order?” Problems are interpreted as system malfunctions which can be diagnosed and fixed.  Most non-scientific animal training advice is made on the basis of this model.  The diagnoses are things like “lacks respect” and “stubborn”.  Adding some respect or getting rid of the stubbornness are problematic training goals.  Animal trainers know that you can’t teach an animal something that will magically make it understand and perform all other desirable behaviors.  Animal trainers know you have to train one behavior at a time and they are adept at motivating their trainees.  Concepts like respect and stubbornness become irrelevant.” - Dr. Patricia Barlow-Irick, Ph.D., "How 2 Train A _____”

Often times in “natural horsemanship” type training methods, it is believed that a horse’s lack of ability to perform specific desirable behaviors can be remedied by a prescription of activities meant to target the root cause of the problem.  As Dr, Barlow explained in this quote, often times the “problem” is diagnosed as “lack of respect”, lack of leadership, “dominance”, stubbornness, lack of trust, etc.  The idea is that by performing these prescribed activities, such as “gaining respect by round penning”, “showing that you are the leader of the herd by moving the feet”, tying a horse with a short rope to punish “stubbornness”, sitting in your horses stall and reading a book, etc, your horse will learn to respect you, see you as a leader, and trust you, and therefore, will perform desired behaviors (like respond to subtle cues, circle around you at liberty, or self load into the trailer.)  In reality, a horse won’t do what you haven’t taught it, plain and simple.  If you haven’t clearly taught your horse to respect your space bubble, they probably won’t until you do, which makes it extremely unfair to punish a horse for crowding you when they’ve never been taught an alternative behavior.  If you’ve never taught your horse to take treats from your hand gently and without getting pushy,  they won’t do it till you’ve taught them.  If you haven’t clearly taught your horse to stick with you at liberty, or to circle you at liberty, they won’t until you do, which makes it extremely unfair to punish a horse for not “staying with you” when they’ve never been properly reinforced for staying by your side.  If you haven’t taught your horse to back up from a verbal cue, they won’t do it until you show them what your voice cue means, which makes it extremely unfair to punish a horse for not immediately responding to your voice (horses don’t speak our language you know)!  If you’ve never taught your horse to calmly and confidently hold their legs up for an extended duration for the farrier, they won’t until you do, and please don’t make your farrier be that person!  So no, “trust building exercises” will NOT teach your horse to trot beautifully symmetrical circles around you at liberty.  Round penning 4 times a week will NOT teach your horse to self load.  Positioning chakra crystals on your horses back once every lunar cycle, while your equine reki specialist pets them on the head and tells them that they’re a good horsie will NOT teach them to lead calmly and quietly on the ground!  It is extremely unrealistic to expect any animal to perform something you’ve never specifically taught it to do.

In my opinion, these beliefs are CRIPPLING to the unsuspecting amateur horse owner who just want to have a good relationship with their horse.  Salespeople - eghhem- trainers (some on purpose, some unknowingly) tend to shroud the true inner workings and psychological effects of their training methods with smoke and mirrors.  They’ll tell you that the key elements to achieving success with their methods are “establishing trust and respect”, “finding energetic and emotional balance”, “learn to be leader of the herd”, “learning to speak horse”, “insert any hog-washy statement here”.  You can whack your horse on the ass with a special carrot stick as many times as you want, chase your horse in a round pen as long as you want, meditate in your horses stall as much as you want, and yell in your horses ear “I AM YOUR HERD LEADER” till the cows come home only to find you passed out on the floor from lack of oxygen… but you’re never gonna get those desired behaviors until you understand how to TRAIN them.  

[robertjameshomeservices]

The Story behind “The Ultimate Guide to an Extraordinary Service Business”: From Idea to Best Seller

If anyone told me back in high school, that by the age of 27 years old, I would be the owner of a home services franchise network, I never would have believed them. Honestly, I would have thought they were completely out of their minds!

I hated school, couldn’t wait to get out, and truly didn’t see myself as a business leader. I had absolutely no desire to go into the “corporate world.”

I could never have imagined that I would take my part-time, one-man band car cleaning business into a national brand, James Home Services. Or that it would grow into a 400-franchisee strong network supplying over $20 million in professional home services annually, for nearly 20 years.

I was just a kid with a horse obsession—I dreamt of being a world-class horse trainer and escaping to beautiful Queensland to pursue a business career in the racehorse industry.

At 16 years old, I was off chasing my dream and learning as much as possible about the training, breaking, and education of horses; I lived to be around these beautiful creatures! I had natural horsemanship skills that very few possess and went searching for the adventure of a lifetime.

By the age of 21, I had my professional trainers’ license. I had focused on learning absolutely everything about horses and the skills needed to get the best out of them. I was very good at what I did; I was a gifted horseman.

I could read the animal and understand what they needed. In addition, I was lucky enough to have excellent mentors that taught me all about preparing horses for racing.

Unfortunately, what I didn’t learn was how to run a business. I was naïve, and thought good horsemanship was all that mattered. If I was the best in the business, then people would be begging me to help them train their horses. What I didn’t know was that it was much more about running a business—a racing stable business.

I had not learned any actual business skills and I really, honestly did think that if I was good enough, if I worked hard enough, it would all just miraculously come together.

Most business owners think exactly the same way I did—that it is all about the technical skills. If you are the best horse trainer, mechanic, house cleaner, lawn mower, lawyer, accountant, engineer, or a pet groomer, then obviously your business success is guaranteed. Right?

I could not have been more wrong …

This is the first mistake made by most business owners. Good technical skills are only a part of the foundations that create an extraordinary service business.

My horse business started out alright. I had some contacts that became some of my best clients. In the early days, I had some big milestones and was certainly living my dream. I loved it, but the problem was, I also had a young family to feed and the horse business could be up and down. I needed to find a secondary income.

So, I took an “opportunity” I was offered at a local pub to do some shifts. It was a nightmare; I was terrible at it and I resigned at the end of my first shift.

I was stunned by how rude customers could be. To this day, I have huge respect for those working in these areas. No way was I going to work in that environment.

A friend then randomly recommended that I consider starting a car cleaning business. He said the guy he usually used was so busy that he couldn’t fit him in and, that I could work in the middle of the day around my horse training business.

He would be my first client, actually. I respected his opinion, I knew I could learn to clean a car professionally, much easier than training horses. So, why not?

And with that conversation, my car cleaning business was born. It filled my days and helped to feed my young, growing family. I was 23 years old, had a wife (who also worked), two young sons and two businesses. But you know what? I still hadn’t figured out how to run a business.

I still thought it would just happen, how hard could it be to get people that wanted to get their car cleaned? There were heaps of dirty cars around, and I was going to be the best! Easy, right?

Well … I did do a few things right though. First, I found a guy who sold car cleaning chemicals and equipment and really knew his stuff. Darren, who would end up being the main supplier to the whole James Home Services network.

Darren taught me how to use his products and equipment and was always available for technical advice. He was a good guy and a huge help.

Secondly, I knew I needed to look professional, so I invested in a trailer, 500 brochures, uniforms, and business cards. I was off and running and looked the part to prove it. I had all the gear, but no idea what to do with any of it.

With that, I started my first ever marketing campaign. I took my 500 brochures and marched into all the local businesses. I was thinking, this won’t be hard, I’ll be flat out by next week. Boy, I could not have been more wrong!

The problem was that I had no sales skills. And I mean—None. At. All.

I was terrified as I walked into each business. I would literally throw my brochure on the front desk and run back out the door before they could say “no,” or anything else for that matter.

I got one $10 car wash out of those first 500 brochures; not quite what I had planned. Luckily, I finally realized that I was the problem. More importantly, I realized it was my lack of skills in this area that was the problem in both of my businesses.

I decided to learn: I found there were hundreds of sales books in the library and you could borrow them for free. So, I read … and read … and read. I tested the skills, measured the results, and wrote my own fool-proof rules.

I remember reading a great book called The E-Myth by Michael Gerber. I am not exaggerating when I say that this book completely changed my life.  It taught me that long-term success in any business is all about the systems you put into place.  I set about the systemization of both of my businesses, and it changed everything!

My car cleaning business went through the roof. The systems were so good I could have had an 18-year-old run the business.

Our systems were very straight-forward, easy to follow, and very, very effective. I knew I had developed something special and that anyone who followed this recipe would have a very successful service business.

And with that … the big dream was born.

I saw other service franchise systems and knew ours was better; because of the foundation that we had put into place.  It quickly became clear that we had what it would take to build a large, successful network.

Then one fateful day, I was sharing this dream with a client and he was so impressed that he bought into the business immediately.  Within 2 months we were selling franchises, and I was just 27 years old.

Robert James and James Home Services grew at a rapid rate. We quickly expanded throughout regional Queensland, and within 2 years we were the largest home services business in the state. The systems were created to stand the test of time and to grow with the business.

If anyone told me back in high school, that by the age of 27 years old, I would be the owner of a home services franchise network, I never would have believed them. Honestly, I would have thought they were completely out of their minds!

I hated school, couldn’t wait to get out, and truly didn’t see myself as a business leader. I had absolutely no desire to go into the “corporate world.”

I could never have imagined that I would take my part-time, one-man band car cleaning business into a national brand, Robert James and James Home Services. Or that it would grow into a 400-franchisee strong network supplying over $20 million in professional home services annually, for nearly 20 years.

I was just a kid with a horse obsession—I dreamt of being a world-class horse trainer and escaping to beautiful Queensland to pursue a business career in the racehorse industry.

At 16 years old, I was off chasing my dream and learning as much as possible about the training, breaking, and education of horses; I lived to be around these beautiful creatures! I had natural horsemanship skills that very few possess and went searching for the adventure of a lifetime.

By the age of 21, I had my professional trainers’ license. I had focused on learning absolutely everything about horses and the skills needed to get the best out of them. I was very good at what I did; I was a gifted horseman.

I could read the animal and understand what they needed. In addition, I was lucky enough to have excellent mentors that taught me all about preparing horses for racing.

Unfortunately, what I didn’t learn was how to run a business. I was naïve, and thought good horsemanship was all that mattered. If I was the best in the business, then people would be begging me to help them train their horses. What I didn’t know was that it was much more about running a business—a racing stable business.

I had not learned any actual business skills and I really, honestly did think that if I was good enough, if I worked hard enough, it would all just miraculously come together.

Most business owners think exactly the same way I did—that it is all about the technical skills. If you are the best horse trainer, mechanic, house cleaner, lawn mower, lawyer, accountant, engineer, or a pet groomer, then obviously your business success is guaranteed. Right?

I could not have been more wrong …

This is the first mistake made by most business owners. Good technical skills are only a part of the foundations that create an extraordinary service business.

My horse business started out alright. I had some contacts that became some of my best clients. In the early days, I had some big milestones and was certainly living my dream. I loved it, but the problem was, I also had a young family to feed and the horse business could be up and down. I needed to find a secondary income.

So, I took an “opportunity” I was offered at a local pub to do some shifts. It was a nightmare; I was terrible at it and I resigned at the end of my first shift.

I was stunned by how rude customers could be. To this day, I have huge respect for those working in these areas. No way was I going to work in that environment.

A friend then randomly recommended that I consider starting a car cleaning business. He said the guy he usually used was so busy that he couldn’t fit him in and, that I could work in the middle of the day around my horse training business.

He would be my first client, actually. I respected his opinion, I knew I could learn to clean a car professionally, much easier than training horses. So, why not?

And with that conversation, my car cleaning business was born. It filled my days and helped to feed my young, growing family. I was 23 years old, had a wife (who also worked), two young sons and two businesses. But you know what? I still hadn’t figured out how to run a business.

I still thought it would just happen, how hard could it be to get people that wanted to get their car cleaned? There were heaps of dirty cars around, and I was going to be the best! Easy, right?

Well … I did do a few things right though. First, I found a guy who sold car cleaning chemicals and equipment and really knew his stuff. Darren, who would end up being the main supplier to the whole James Home Services network.

Darren taught me how to use his products and equipment and was always available for technical advice. He was a good guy and a huge help.

Secondly, I knew I needed to look professional, so I invested in a trailer, 500 brochures, uniforms, and business cards. I was off and running and looked the part to prove it. I had all the gear, but no idea what to do with any of it.

With that, I started my first ever marketing campaign. I took my 500 brochures and marched into all the local businesses. I was thinking, this won’t be hard, I’ll be flat out by next week. Boy, I could not have been more wrong!

The problem was that I had no sales skills. And I mean—None. At. All.

I was terrified as I walked into each business. I would literally throw my brochure on the front desk and run back out the door before they could say “no,” or anything else for that matter.

I got one $10 car wash out of those first 500 brochures; not quite what I had planned. Luckily, I finally realized that I was the problem. More importantly, I realized it was my lack of skills in this area that was the problem in both of my businesses.

I decided to learn: I found there were hundreds of sales books in the library and you could borrow them for free. So, I read … and read … and read. I tested the skills, measured the results, and wrote my own fool-proof rules.

I remember reading a great book called The E-Myth by Michael Gerber. I am not exaggerating when I say that this book completely changed my life.  It taught me that long-term success in any business is all about the systems you put into place.  I set about the systemization of both of my businesses, and it changed everything!

My car cleaning business went through the roof. The systems were so good I could have had an 18-year-old run the business.

Our systems were very straight-forward, easy to follow, and very, very effective. I knew I had developed something special and that anyone who followed this recipe would have a very successful service business.

And with that … the big dream was born.

I saw other service franchise systems and knew ours was better; because of the foundation that we had put into place.  It quickly became clear that we had what it would take to build a large, successful network.

Then one fateful day, I was sharing this dream with a client and he was so impressed that he bought into the business immediately.  Within 2 months we were selling franchises, and I was just 27 years old.

Robert James and James Home Services grew at a rapid rate. We quickly expanded throughout regional Queensland, and within 2 years we were the largest home services business in the state. The systems were created to stand the test of time and to grow with the business.

During this time, we not only grew the business, we also expanded into different services. Our services included car cleaning, house cleaning, external house cleaning, carpet cleaning, pest control, lawn and garden care, pet grooming, laundry and ironing services, as well as window cleaning.

James Home Services grew at a rapid rate. We quickly expanded throughout regional Queensland, and within 2 years we were the largest home services business in the state. The systems were created to stand the test of time and to grow with the business.

During this time, we not only grew the business, we also expanded into different services. Our services included car cleaning, house cleaning, external house cleaning, carpet cleaning, pest control, lawn and garden care, pet grooming, laundry and ironing services, as well as window cleaning.

The foundation we built transferred beautifully into each division of the business; just as it was designed to do. Our foundation was tested repeatedly and never failed. Now, all we had to do was to develop “technical” skills.

We went on to national expansion and eventually reached across Australia. We had a turnover of $20 million worth of services across the country each year.

After 20 years in the business, the network was sold to a commercial cleaning company. In those 20 years, I saw thousands of families have successful home services businesses, with our proven systems at their core.

In this book, I am going to introduce you to my 9 Foundation Steps.  These basic rules will show you step-by-step how to build an extraordinary home service business. These rules will help you duplicate the foundation we built when we created James’ Home Services.

The only catch is that you must use all of them if you want to be successful. Like all great recipes, they have to be followed rigorously if you want to get a consistent predictable outcome.

I hope this book can give all services business owners the tools to build an extraordinary service business. Running your own successful family business is the best game in town, have a fair dinkum go and enjoy the journey.

Originally Posted:-http://www.robertjameshomeservices.com/the-story-behind-the-ultimate-guide-to-an-extraordinary-service-business/

[shiranuiis]

honestly, as rare as it unfortunately is, nice horsemanship is incredible and beautiful. i will never get why vegans call horseriding non-vegan (yes, i am familiar with that one single study that showed minor spine changes in horses that were ridden. but those horses were ridden competitively, and the study didn’t even take into consideration how often these horses were ridden, how long, and if the rider was actually a suitable fit considering their weight and height) 

some people say the horse doesn’t get anything from that relationship, but that is just not true? with positive reinforcement and a situation where your horse isn’t your servant but your partner, who is allowed to make their own decisions and learn to trust you, a horse’s experience when being ridden can be stimulating physically and mentally. just as we train dogs and sometimes cats to enrich their and our lives.  another argument is that you can do a huge amount of fun exercises with a horse from the ground, which is 1000% true! ground work is super super important, and should always come before riding a horse. but that doesn’t mean that riding should be completely ruled out, because some stuff you just can’t do from the ground.  horses are natural flight animals, the best thing you can do for them is giving them security, assurance and ultimately help them grow confident. 

that all being said, it’s true that a lot of competitive riders are assholes, and pressuring horses into certain situations is still pretty common.  

but there’s many amazing trainers who show how true horsemanship should look like. just one of many examples:

just let horses be free, with or without rider, and let them enjoy themselves without pressure or fear. no problem with the sport, many problems with entitled humans.

[mado-science]

Zen Mind Zen Horse If I could only recommend one book to any person interested in natural horsemanship it would be Allen J. Hamilton, M.D.'s "Zen Mind Zen Horse." Dr. Hamilton has incorporated the wisdom of leading horse legends such as Ray Hunt, Monty Roberts, Ga Wa Ni Pony Boy and others with science and spirituality to create an amazing "bible" for students at any level of horsemanship. In this powerful book Dr. Hamilton shows a deep and clear understanding of the nature of these beautiful sentient beings we call horses. He leads us step by step toward a better understanding of all aspects of horsemanship. I am struck by his commen sense and respect for his students and horses. I am going to give each of my students a copy of this book. As a native american woman, horsewoman, registered nurse, equine therapist and mother to many I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Read it and be blessed. Go to Amazon

Enlightened Horsemanship Will Change the World Dr. Hamilton has the distinct honor of being gifted with a brilliant mind and compassionate heart. He has used his knowledge of neuroscience, horses and zen to bring a very practical and sensible manual on horse training to the world- with both the horse and rider in mind as a symbiotic unit. Most so called natural horsemanship trainers neglect to mention the spiritual nature of the horse in conjunction with the rider and so fear to tread into the space of 'energy' or 'chi' - I imagine partly because they fear they won't be taken seriously. However, Dr. Hamilton is succinct and pragmatic in his articulation of training methods while also establishing the fact that a person's energy field, i.e. thoughts, intentions, posture, philosophy, etc. will always have an impact on the horse. Go to Amazon

Learn how living in the present can change your life! This book is wonderful!!!! I read it while my daughter was in recovery and I couldn't put it down. Dr. Hamilton explains how horses live in the present, ALWAYS @ 100%, in order to survive. He shares with his readers how learning about horses can teach us to live in the present as well. If you can't get out of the past; if you are afraid of the future; or if you just can' t seem to figure out how to live in the present, read this book. Dr. Hamilton shares touching examples of how he uses equine therapy to help his patients get the very most out of every single day. His terminal patients live longer, fuller lives. You don't have to be ill to benefit from this book. You don' t have to love horses. I knew nothing about horses when I read this book. It was recommended to me by a equine therapist to help me understand how I could stop worrying about my daughter all the time by living in the present. It has helped me understand the beautiful benefit of living in the present. I find myself wanting to read it over and over whenever I lose my way. Thank you so much Dr. Hamilton. Great for all people. Everyone should read this book! Go to Amazon

Wonderful, inspiring book full of spirit and practicality! As an agnostic, I was surprised by the beginning of the book with what seemed to me a lot of religious talk. Shortly after, I remembered the title of the book I had just bought and decided to settle in and read it with an open mind. I couldn't put it down after another few pages and now, after recently finishing it, I I realize this is one of those books I'll be reading again and again. The spiritual (note I don't call it religious now) context is beautiful and it helps to put my finger on just what it is I love about my animals and being with them. I think it applies to many more animals than just horses, including donkeys, mules, and goats. The concrete examples of how to apply these concepts to training are invaluable and practical. I love the combination of philosophy with exercises, and really can't recommend the book more highly. Go to Amazon

The Very Best Book I have a lot of books about horses. Having gotten interested in horses relatively late in life, I have chosen natural horsemanship as the best way to establish a relationship with these animals. Without a doubt " Zen Mind, Zen Horse" is my favorite book. Many of them, most of them, talk about the fact that horses are prey animals and I have to believe that - but so what? Of course a prey animal needs to be concerned about whether they are about to be attacked and eaten but that still doesn't tell enough for me to "get it". Then I bought "Zen Mind, Zen Horse". I wish I had found this book in the beginning. It explains it all in a way that I can understand how we can best establish a relationship and really a partnership with a horse. I could give up all the other books but not this one. Go to Amazon

Four Stars great book so far...wish it was available in audiobook though Five Stars I got this for my husband and he has already ... Good night light for the money Great book! Awesome book! Essential Reading Must Read for Horselovers and Business Owners Anyone who loves horses

[mcrmadness]

4, 11, 18 & 26 for the non american ask^^

Thanks! :D

4. favourite dish specific for your country?

Does rye bread count? You just can't get the perfect type of rye bread from anywhere else than from Finland, and I think also Estonia loves their rye bread? There's probably some dark breads in Scandinavia too but I feel like they might be a bit sweeter, which is not my favorite. (They also had rye bread in Poland when I visited there, and it was fine but not like the one I've got used to here :D)

The typical, good Finnish rye bread is almost or only 100% rye and it's slightly sour. I usually eat only rye bread that is 100% rye because the wheat there is totally pointless and if it's not wholegrain, it's just... basically same as putting sugar in the bread, (the wheat there) has absolutely no nutritional value.

***

11. favourite native writer/poet?

Hmm. I don't like poems in any language and apparently this is something I've had since I was a little kid because I always took some Finnish poetry books from the bookshelf (my mom loves poems, especially this author's) and yeeted it to somewhere in the room............. I just didn't like having it in the bookshelf at all XD

I also haven't really read any books from Finnish authors. I don't think we have THAT big of a scene, it's quite difficult to be any kind of artist in Finland cos you have to do so much work for that and it still might not be enough. I guess most here do several things, or write a book as a sidejob because it might be impossible to make a living with that. The first and latest book written by a Finn (Antti Holma) was this autobiography by someone who started as an actor, but doesn't even live in Finland anymore because this country just doesn't offer him suitable work anymore, and he can still write occassionally when living abroad. I liked the book tho, but I don't know if I he is the best answer for this when his books are literally the only two books written by a Finn that I have read.

I own more of non-fiction by Finns, but mainly those are just horse related books, e.g. about the history of Finnhorse, or horse training books from an animal trainer Tuire Kaimio, and her books were my first touch to "natural horsemanship" when I was 13.

Also, Finland of course has a long history of writers, there's lots of big names and altho I like reading, I'm so bad at reading books people label as classics. I haven't read any of those books that "every Finn has read". Like, no... I'm not interested in most of the topics, I even hated Kalevala (our natural epic) at school because I hate poems so much that I was crying blood (also from my ears) whenever I had to hear those super annoying Kalevala rhymes.

***

The rest of the stuff under the cut.

18. do you speak with a dialect of your native language?

Yes!!! I'm from the East Finland and from an area where there is no particular dialect but it's like a mixture of all the Eastern dialects, and there's lots of variety already within the area of my municipality (the other end speaks slightly differently than the other end, and I live here in the middle :D). So this is really a mix of Savonian, South- and North-Karelian and I think something might come here from the Central Finland too.

I'm also extremely fond of dialects and my paternal grandma was from South Osthrobothnian, very close to the West coast, and I just recently talked about it with my mom and she said that altho my grandma lived and also died here in the East (and I was born here and have lived my whole life here so far), she absolutely hated the Savonian dialect and always said that she's not going to start talking in it EVER XD And she didn't! She always talked in her South Ostrobothnian dialect and altho I don't really remember much of that - I was 13 when she died - I guess it still is so strongly in my genes because every time I hear that dialect somewhere, I just feel like I had gone home and I feel so warm inside! Also I relate so strongly to the stereotype of West Finnish people, they're said to be very reliable and honest, and I'm a nice mixture of that AND the Savonian stereotypes too. ("A cunning Savonian", for example, lol. Apparently it has something to do with the dialect/worrisome nature of us and we not really giving straight answers, even if it wasn't even actually LYING - there's also a saying that "When a Savonian is speaking, the listener is in charge.")

That's also why I have, unintentionally, adopted lots of the Ostrobothnian dialect into how I speak, so my personal dialect is not only what people here normally speak, but also has lots of features from the Ostrobothnian dialects.

When I write online, I often clean up my dialect a bit because this Eastern dialect is actually really, really strong. I love how it (also) sounds, it has this very relaxed sound to it, like there's no worries in the world? I love it. So when I write, I write a bit closer to the common spoken Finnish, but when I start speaking... my dialect gets very strong again. Sometimes, if I'm nervous, I go more into the cleaner version because this dialect is also very noticeable and usually whenever I speak it somewhere else, people will comment on it because West Finns often find it so funny or cute sounding - or the opposite, some find it extremely obnoxious and wish no one would speak in it :D Actually if I see anyone commenting how annoying the dialect is, I start talking or writing in it even more strongly on purpose XD

Another funny thing I have noticed about how I speak is that, well, in Finnish the 1st pronoun is "minä", most people say "mä", but in my dialect it's "mie". I have always found that fun to say, but I have never liked writing it. Whenever I did comics or wrote stories/fanfiction in Finnish, I always wrote "mä". I just could not hear "mie" with them. But lately I have noticed that when I want to talk about me in a written form, like a comment on youtube, writing "mie" will give away immediately that I'm from the East and the dialect will piss off people. Sometimes they even come to comment to me something racist about Russia altho I have no connections to Russia? My whole family tree is from Finland, I might even have some roots in Germany, actually. So I very often have now replaced that with "ite" when I write - it comes from the word "itse" which, well, it's easiest to translate into German as it means "selbst". So basically I say "I myself...", but I use it like a pronoun because you can do that in Finnish, and it gives me the opportunity to avoid using "mie" and sounding "childhish", but still I have a pronoun there. Fortunately in Finnish you can also leave out the 1st and 2nd pronouns but when I add "ite" there, it kinda just emphasizes the verb even more.

Omfg I love languages and linguistics and dialects so much, I could just keep going about Finnish dialects and mine but I could imagine it being very difficult to comprehend if you don't have any existing knowledge over Finnish overall! :D

***

26. does your nationality get portrayed in Hollywood/American media? what do you think about the portrayal?

Very rarely, currently I can't remember any that would have not had Finnish people working with it. Usually Finland is not really known in the US, I think not everyone even in Europe know what or where is Finland even, so usually any time this country gets mentioned somewhere, everyone goes crazy.

There's probably not a single video on youtube without at least one comment going "Suomi mainittu, torilla tavataan!" if Finland has been mentioned in the video. That phrase means "Finland mentioned, let's meet at the market place!" I even use this tag in Tumblr whenever I see some random post with lots of notes and someone mentions Finland (and the someone is not Finnish themselves).

Actually, now I just remembered something! In The X-Files there has been a mention a few times! I don't remember anything else but this one episode about a chess player boy, and Scully says "Helsinki syndrome", which is an alternative/old name for "Stockholm syndrome" :D Always have to throw a party after that line XD (Jk :D)

There's also this one time when Conan O'Brien made fun of Finns on tv, and he got a bunch of angry letters from Finns and he actually apologized on tv :D Then, I don't remember if it was before or after that, he noticed he actually looks a lot like Tarja Halonen, who was our president at the time, and he made some jokes about that and in the end he actually visited Finland and even met with her, a few times :D That was HUUUUGE for us Finns XD I remember watching the episode of his visit to Finland with my family lmao.

Now I also remembered something else... SO TYPICAL OF ME :DDD ...also typical of me to forget it right after remembering it. Wtf was it again? Oh yeah! I watched lots of Jackass and Viva La Bam when I was a teenager, and it was so exciting to see how excited Bam Margera was over Finland, because he was really into Finnish (metal) music. He even once made a movie, which wasn't that interesting tbh, called "Where the F* is Santa?" and it was kinda sweet of him how he got so angry every time someone said Santa Claus comes from the North Pole, because he knew he comes from Rovaniemi, Finland instead, and he tried so hard to pronounce the name correctly and corrected everyone who thought Santa doesn't come from Finland :DD

Okay I think this is ENOUGH ::D

[patmcgroin1]

Texas Holdem Mistakes - 3 Mindset Mistakes That Cost The Game

Natural horsemanship currently is very popular within the last few years, with Pat Parelli's name at the the very best list of trainers using this model. He has his own unique put in place for horse owners to follow, or to really take into consideration when working their own horses. One among the great things about natural horsemanship is that you can use the methods on your young horse that hasn't yet been worked with, or on an older horse which you want to help. We enjoy dance and sing to pop music, especially Hannah Montana! It's extremely therapeutic and invigorating to put her CD loud and jump near the room. In addition love Black Eyed Peas, Fergie, Pink and Rihanna. And that is the thing about entertainment. May possibly not all like sports or Harry Potter movies, but all of us love to drink! When I show my wife how she might laugh at sports and she or he shows me how I would be inspired by your favorite shows. THAT'S entertainment! Khloe Kardashian has been making headlines over weight loss couple of days as a her marriage to Lamar Odom. Several reports have claimed that Kardashian has kicked her husband involving their shared home after he had an affair with a model while playing a 메이저놀이터 out of town. The reports are surfacing in several publications, it will sounds like Kardashian isn't bothered by the reports. As mentioned by a new tweet released on July 10, Kardashian is now denying the cheating reports by claiming that she loves her husband. The advertising system which isn't right will give much convenience of the member to run the trade. It's all about numbers business. We all grasp not every bit of the offline network marketing member flourish. Why? You actually do it manually, significant skills need to have to master, you likewise need to trade your a person to your effort (presentation, follow up, group meetings, etc). Both types has residual income potential and potential to leverage speed of your income to grow and your own time. "I go about doing not think you should say those tips about Iris with her husband near to." Ethan cautioned. James' eyes widened when he heard them mention her name. His heart almost broke towards a thousand pieces as he heard the nasty things they were saying about her. James' heart raced with anger. More than anything he want to go straight to the billiard room and slam him against the wall. But something kept him from doing this can. He could not break his promise to Iris. Hyacinth and Olivia stood in the entranceway and watched as Gerald escorted James out with the game floor space. Hy gazed at her husband insolently. This time she has not been going to allow him break free of with his sadistic associated with playfulness.

[zippyequestrain]

Horseback Riding in Bangalore | Zippy

Horse riding or Equestrianism is a popular sport that has been followed since ages. It is a great leisure activity for both adults and children and is also a perfect exercise.

Bangalore is home to many horse riding schools that offer classes for both beginners and experienced riders. Here are some of the top horse riding schools in Bangalore.

Zippy Equestrian Academy of Equation

Horseback riding has a long and storied history in India, dating back to the Maharana Pratap's time. In fact, he was known for having one of the best mounted armies in the world. Aside from equestrian sports such as show jumping and cross country, there are several ways to enjoy your time on the back of a horse. Fortunately, the city of Bengaluru has a few horseback riding schools that are worth checking out.

Zippy Equestrian Academy of Equation is a top of the line horse boarding facility that caters to the local community and equestrian aficionados. They offer a number of programs including a fun summer camp for the kids that is sure to keep them on their toes all summer long.

They also provide an exemplary stable service for those who own horses of their own. If you are looking to sign up for the finest horse boarding facilities in Bangalore, Zippy should be your first choice. You can check out their website for more details and booking options. The best part is, they can do it all without breaking the bank.

Horseback riding is a great sport for all ages and a fun activity to enjoy with friends. It's a great way to get in shape and spend quality time with your loved ones.

If you're looking for a horseback riding school in Bangalore, Zippy Horse Riding is an excellent choice. This horseback riding school offers beginner lessons for both kids and adults.

It's located on the vast grounds of Bangalore Palace and is a great place for beginners to start learning how to ride horses. They don't offer show-jumping or cross country lessons, but if you're a beginner, they'll give you the basics and help you develop your skills gradually.

The trainers are very responsive to emails and texts, and they're easy to schedule lessons with. They also focus on soft connection between you and the horse, which is important for building skill, strength and safety.

The facility is spread over a 300 Acre campus, making it one of the top horse riding schools in Bangalore. It also has world-class arenas for training, and an hour long natural hack trail for leisure rides. Its rates are also affordable and it's a good option for beginners to learn how to ride horses.

Zippy Horse Riding Academy

Horseback riding in Bangalore is one of the best leisure activities for both adults and children. It is not only a good exercise but also a great way to bond with nature.

There are a few horseback riding schools in the city that offer lessons for beginners as well as advanced riders. Here are some of them:

Located off Kanakapura main road, Zippy is one of the most professional horse riding schools in Bangalore. It provides basic horse riding classes for both kids and adults as well as training for serious horse riding enthusiasts in Dressage and Show Jumping.

They have several ponies for beginners as well as horses for experienced riders. They also offer horse boarding facilities and stable management services for those who own horses.

Zippy has been consistently committed to their mission of creating a professional coaching center for horse riding academy. They have a team of experienced trainers who provide quality instruction to help students learn the basics of equestrian riding and horsemanship.

They have been teaching equestrian riding for over 20 years and are known for their professional training methods and equipment. Their beginner program teaches students the English style of horse riding and helps them develop confidence, strength and equestrian skills. They also encourage private lessons a minimum of twice a week to ensure that their students build a strong foundation for future riding.

[horsesarecreatures]

what exactly is wrong with rick gore (who would trust anyone with that surname btw) and clinton anderson (read andersuck- I know some of what shitty person he is but would like to know more)

Rick Gore sucks as a person. He has said that women shouldn’t ride horses because they are too emotional, that english riders are stupid and prissy, is anti-helmet, is anti-bit on the grounds that they are all abusive even though he can’t use one correctly, and in the few videos where he does ride he just bounces around in the saddle. All these things make me think that the people who are listening to him don’t have much horse experience themselves. And like I said, his personal Facebook is filled with racist posts if you look back enough. 

Clinton Anderson has similar things wrong with him in the sense that he has also made misogynistic comments. In terms of the way he treats his horses, he is more outwardly abusive than Rick Gore. I’m sure you’ve probably seen the gifs on here of him smacking and whipping horses for no reason. 

They’re also both natural horsemanship trainers, which is based on incorrect notions of equine behavior. If you look search for them on my blog you’ll find posts by other people on him that go into more depth about what is wrong with individual incidents regarding them. 

Edit: Also check out those two blogs linked in the previous post if you haven’t already.

[aanna-barard]

    Photo by Skitterphoto on Pexels.com

It was all the fault of spring blossoms, well sniffing them at least. We had been walking out on a lovely spring morning, dozily sauntering along country lanes sniffing spring blossom. Every cottage garden we came to seemed to be bursting garlands of blooms and scents and I could help but slow our walk to a crawl as my senses took everything in. We had just a short section of main road to traverse before getting back to a quieter lanes. I instinctively gathered up the reins to trot on hoping not to meet any traffic. It was then it happened. The only way I can describe it was a strange lifting of my horse’s back under me, a sense of his shoulders and neck filling out and rising up, a sense of his hip bending and flexing under him. He literally felt like a cat under me as if he could pounce and go in any direction in any pace immediately. What was happening? What ever it was I loved it, he felt exquisite, not out of control but buoyed up under me ready to break out in any pace |I wanted in any direction at an instant. But how could that be, he was a green young horse, but in those moments I felt I had everything and more I could ever need from him. I felt like he had levitated up under me and now was capable of any of the upper level movements. What on earth had had happened to precipitate this we had only been walking?

Walking, yes that all we had been doing, but by walking in such a slow, concentrated manner with a steady eye dropper beat I found the counted walk and as I held the rein contact in a neutral open hand I had precipitated cessation de machoire’ or yielding of the jaw the prerequisite to setting the horse on the haunches. Racinet J.C. (2009) Falling for Fallacies. Falling for Fallacies: Misleading Commonplace Notions … – Amazon UKhttps://www.amazon.co.uk/Falling-Fallacies-Misleading-Commonplace…/386127969…

Hence that delicious feeling of levitation and ‘Rassembler’, or joining together of all my horses forces into a balanced, impulsed display of lightness and ease and ultimately collection. Henriquet, M. (2004) Henriquet on Dressage.Henriquet on Dressage: Amazon.co.uk: Michel Henriquet, Catherine …https://www.amazon.co.uk/Henriquet-Dressage-Michel/dp/1570762996

That I had found this so easily and quickly is what Racinet explains as ‘the “differential calculus’’ of horsemanship’ that had resulted in the rapid, easy display I had experienced. Racinet J.C. (2009) Falling for Fallacies. Falling for Fallacies: Misleading Commonplace Notions … – Amazon UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/Falling-Fallacies-Misleading-Commonplace…/386127969…

Of course I did not know any of this then only that I had by default on that spring morning inadvertently put my horse in a balance I was to chase after for a number of years until it became habitual to us. It was to take much research and reading to unearth the clues as to what had happened. What had actually happened was that I had found the pinnacle of classical French equitation called Legerete, (lightness) a superior riding, without force or coercion. I could not deny its thrilling sway over me, ‘Sometimes simply walking up or down a hill would produce the same feeling of utter thrilling levity as if gravity itself was being suspended, as I felt him lift his shoulders and elongated his stride into a poised and proud walk’ The Spiritual Horse’ (2010) Barard. A. Unpublished Work.

But why had no one told me about this before? Why was there so much chasing and stressing of forward, forward and leg, leg, leg and long and low and the trot emphasised as the primary pace by trainers in England, especially for young horses? Why had no one told me that as Racinet explained that one could cut to the chase so to speak using a superior equation to get to the answer quickly and without stress. No one told me I realised because no one knew. At least non of the trainers or other rider I knew. Ignorant of the spell bounding and magical effects of such a walk leading to such a superior balance they would never experience what I had. From that moment I kept its secret like a kernel, quietly nurturing it in my heart. I had experienced another horsemanship as Racinet attributes this type of balance to, now nothing else would suffice for its magnificent power. Racinet J.C. (1994) Another Horsemanship, A Manual of riding in the French Classical Tradition. Another Horsemanship: Amazon.co.uk: Jean-Claude Racinet …https://www.amazon.co.uk/Another-Horsemanship-Jean-Claude-Racinet/…/09333160…

#dressage #horse #equestrian #horses #horsesofinstagram #showjumping #pony #equine #horseriding #pferd #equestrianlife #instahorse #dressagehorse #riding #love #horselove #dressur #horsephotography #horselover #pferde #instagram #cheval #eventing #jumping #equestrianstyle #photography #like #nature #beautiful #bhfyp

#lusitano #horse #portugal #dressage #horses #horseriding #sso #horsesofinstagram #starstableonline #lisboa #lusitanos #cavalo #equestrian #turismoequestre #torresvedras #cavalos #equine #dressagehorse #o #horsegame #horselife #horsetours #lusitanohorse #passearacavalo #turismodeportugal #instahorse #dog #myhorse #pferd #bhfyp#wordpress#

                            BEWARE!! SNIFFING SPRING BLOSSOMS CAN LEAD TO MANY THINGS EVEN DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS.

It was all the fault of spring blossoms, well sniffing them at least. We had been walking out on a lovely spring morning, dozily sauntering along country lanes sniffing spring blossom. Every cottage garden we came to seemed to be bursting garlands of blooms and scents and I could help but slow our walk to a crawl as my senses took everything in. We had just a short section of main road to traverse before getting back to a quieter lanes. I instinctively gathered up the reins to trot on hoping not to meet any traffic. It was then it happened. The only way I can describe it was a strange lifting of my horse’s back under me, a sense of his shoulders and neck filling out and rising up, a sense of his hip bending and flexing under him. He literally felt like a cat under me as if he could pounce and go in any direction in any pace immediately. What was happening? what ever it was I loved it, he felt exquisite, not out of control but buoyed up under me ready to break out in any pace |I wanted in any direction at an instant. But how could that be, he was a green young horse, but in those moments I felt I had everything and more I could ever need from him. I felt like he had levitated up under me and now was capable of any of the upper level movements. What on earth had had happened to precipitate this we had only been walking?

  Walking, yes that all we had been doing, but by walking in such a slow, concentrated manner with a steady eye dropper beat I found the counted walk and as I held the rein contact in a neutral open hand I had precipitated cessation de machoire’or yielding of the jaw the prerequisite to setting the horse on the haunches. Racinet J.C. (2009) Falling for Fallacies. Falling for Fallacies: Misleading Commonplace Notions … – Amazon UKhttps://www.amazon.co.uk/Falling-Fallacies-Misleading-Commonplace…/386127969…

Hence that delicious feeling of levitation and ‘Rassembler’, or joining together of all my horses forces into a balanced, impulsed display of lightness and ease and ultimately collection. Henriquet, M. (2004) Henriquet on Dressage.Henriquet on Dressage: Amazon.co.uk: Michel Henriquet, Catherine …https://www.amazon.co.uk/Henriquet-Dressage-Michel/dp/1570762996

That I had found this so easily and quickly is what Racinet explains as ‘the “differential calculus’’ of horsemanship’ that had resulted in the rapid, easy display I had experienced. Racinet J.C. (2009) Falling for Fallacies. Falling for Fallacies: Misleading Commonplace Notions … – Amazon UK

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Falling-Fallacies-Misleading-Commonplace…/386127969…

  Of course I did not know any of this then only that I had by default on that spring morning inadvertently put my horse in a balance I was to chase after for a number of years until it became habitual to us. It was to take much research and reading to unearth the clues as to what had happened. What had actually happened was that I had found the pinnacle of classical French equitation called Legerete, (lightness) a superior riding, without force or coercion. I could not deny its thrilling sway over me, ‘Sometimes simply walking up or down a hill would produce the same feeling of utter thrilling levity as if gravity itself was being suspended, as I felt him lift his shoulders and elongated his stride into a poised and proud walk’ The Spiritual Horse’ (2010) Barard. A. Unpublished Work.

  But why had no one told me about this before? Why was there so much chasing and stressing of forward, forward and leg, leg, leg and long and low and the trot emphasised as the primary pace by trainers in England, especially for young horses? Why had no one told me that as Racinet explained that one could cut to the chase so to speak using a superior equation to get to the answer quickly and without stress. No one told me I realised because no one knew. At least non of the trainers or other rider I knew. Ignorant of the spell bounding and magical effects of such a walk leading to such a superior balance they would never experience what I had. From that moment I kept its secret like a kernel, quietly nurturing it in my heart. I had experienced another horsemanship as Racinet attributes this type of balance to, now nothing else would suffice for its magnificent power. Racinet J.C. (1994) Another Horsemanship, A Manual of riding in the French Classical Tradition. Another Horsemanship: Amazon.co.uk: Jean-Claude Racinet …https://www.amazon.co.uk/Another-Horsemanship-Jean-Claude-Racinet/…/09333160…

#dressage #horse #equestrian #horses #horsesofinstagram #showjumping #pony #equine #horseriding #pferd #equestrianlife #instahorse #dressagehorse #riding #love #horselove #dressur #horsephotography #horselover #pferde #instagram #cheval #eventing #jumping #equestrianstyle #photography #like #nature #beautiful #bhfyp

#lusitano #horse #portugal #dressage #horses #horseriding #sso #horsesofinstagram #starstableonline #lisboa #lusitanos #cavalo #equestrian #turismoequestre #torresvedras #cavalos #equine #dressagehorse #o #horsegame #horselife #horsetours #lusitanohorse #passearacavalo #turismodeportugal #instahorse #dog #myhorse #pferd #bhfyp#wordpress#

    BEWARE!! SNIFFING SPRING BLOSSOMS CAN LEAD TO MANY THINGS EVEN DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS. It was all the fault of spring blossoms, well sniffing them at least. We had been walking out on a lovely spring morning, dozily sauntering along country lanes sniffing spring blossom. 1,650 more words

[carolinecarterrecruitment]

🐴 Love horse psychology and helping horses? 🐴⠀ JL21513 Wiltshire - Experienced Groom Required/Riding optional.⠀ ⠀ *Accommodation available *Own horse welcomed *IRO £17-£18.5 K P A ⠀ ⠀ Specialist trainer of young horses and those with behavioural issues with over 35 years experience and a unique insight into the psychology of the horse, is now looking to add to his happy team. ⠀ ⠀ This team offers a unique service to the racing industry in dealing with horses who have issues. Using natural horsemanship based on observation of horses in the wild means that this trainer, is in ever growing demand from other trainers all over the UK, Ireland & Europe. This is rare chance to join an innovative and friendly team to assist in looking after racehorses and the yard's own bloodstock. ⠀ ⠀ All usual duties. Riding not essential but applications from riders welcome as there is the possibility of riding lead horses and quiet racehorses according to skill & experience.⠀ ⠀ See full details and apply directly to the employer on The Grooms List: https://thegroomslist.co.uk/equine-jobs/21513/experienced-groom-stablehand/ ⠀ ⠀ #jobs #Vacancies #jobvacancy #workwithhorses #equinejobs #groomsjobs #groomrequired #equinecareers #recruiting #findwork #findajob #equinerecruitment #hiringnow #horses