“Good judgment comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgment.” Val Giessler, a mentor to Unbranded’s Ben Masters, utters those words in the new documentary’s trailer. Read more about Unbranded. It comes to mind, too, when I think of all the ways my horsemanship has […]
Read moreCategory Archives: Training
The Power of a Good Start
Earlier this month, we traveled to Livermore, Colorado, with Raechel Nelson and her 10-month old gelding, Gunner. The purpose? “To give him a chance to socialize with some other geldings and to give him some room to run around, stretch his legs and grow up […]
Read moreIntroducing the ‘Not Too Old to Learn Challenge’!
We’ve been celebrating the NickerNews and BestHorsePractices community with guest columns and photo albums dedicated to our readers and their equines. Inspiring stuff. And as often happens in the dark, quiet months of winter, I got to thinking: Let’s do something with these inspirations. Let’s […]
Read moreLessons in Listening
“Listen to your horse.” “Trust your horse.” They sound earnest and profound, but what do those statements really mean? And how can you listen to your horse and still be the Lead Horse? (Trainers tell you that, too.) Finding the intersection between telling and listening, […]
Read moreEclectic Horseman for your continuing education
For 13 years, Eclectic Horseman Communications has brought us regular, vital doses of straight talk and continuing education. Eclectic Horseman, the magazine, has some 3,000 subscribers, including several hundred in Australia, United Kingdom, Poland, and the Czech Republic. The Horseman’s Gazette, an adjunct DVD subscription […]
Read moreSaddle Struggles and Progress
If progress must be defined by always moving forward, then my progress with the mule would not be progress at all. Since my last posts, we’ve ridden many miles. Most have been pleasant, full of camaraderie and connection. There’ve been some unexpected bolts and bucks […]
Read moreFinding the Ideal Learning Environment
When I was a kid, there was no such thing as ‘learning disabilities” or “learning styles.” You learned or you didn’t. I wasn’t diagnosed with dyslexia until teetering on the verge of not graduating from college. Up until then, I just assumed I wasn’t as […]
Read moreMule Progress comes in Leaps and Bounds
My first trail ride with the new mule was successful if success can be measured by staying on and nothing bad happening. But Jolene’s lack of bend and the absence of a one-rein stop revealed glaringly large holes in training. So, we added two elements […]
Read moreProgress with Ride Along Dog
Development of our Ride Along Dog took a long pause as we moved from Iowa to Utah last year. However, after a few outings here, Kip, the young Australian Shepherd, is making great strides. Partial credit is due to the new use of an electric […]
Read moreComeback Challenge Beats All
For years, I’ve been reporting on colt-starting events and saying to myself: Amazing stuff, but rescued horses are way more challenging than these untouched two-year olds. They’ve got baggage by the bucketful, troubled pasts, bad habits, and even horsey PTSD sometimes. Why not work with […]
Read more