2022 was the year we cantered forward (pun!) into a more mature version of Horse Listening. With 11 years now under my belt, I've changed focus this year to spending more time working on the Practice Sessions and developing it into a robust resource for beginner and intermediate riders. What was once an archive of exercises has now morphed into an online coaching platform much like I do in-person, but virtually!
Nowadays, the Practice Sessions revolve around a monthly theme. I create weekly goals that are short patterns or quality of movement exercises dedicated to the theme. Then much of my writing time is devoted to writing tips that connect with the exercise of the week - including topics such as aids, rider position, theory around the "why" of skills and exercises, and what we're looking for in terms of movement and feel from the horse. 2022 saw us consider basic skills, as well as more difficult, feel-based concepts such as "Feel - And Stepping TO The Bit", "Like A Strung Bow!", Walk/Trot and Trot/Walk Transitions, Lateral Suppleness, Impulsion, and so much more!
Meanwhile, the blog was incredibly well-read with over 1.1 million page views! Our Facebook Page grew by tens of thousands (I can't keep track) and zoomed past 50,000 followers - and we now boast a total of 60,300 subscribers to the blog as of today!
Which brings us to the top 20 most read articles of 2022. Combined, there were over 314,000 page views by just these 20 articles this year. And now, without further adieu, please enjoy the best of the best in 2022!
Well, there you have it! I hope you enjoy browsing through our top articles of the year, and thanks again so much for all your likes, comments, shares and follows.
Wishing you the best New Year's, and lots and lots of Horse Listening in 2023!
When you enter the horse world, you might not really know what you're getting into. Especially if you want to become proficient at riding, set and meet some goals, and make regular progress. Every day can bring a new discovery, whether you intend it to happen or not!
Over the years, as you become more entrenched in the world of horses and riding, some "truths" repeatedly reveal themselves until you truly do "get" those essential lessons that will necessarily make you a better horse person, and a better human being. Here are the top 6 essential lessons that I've learned over my years of horsing around.
6) When to back off or leave it for another day.
Because you won't really have a choice. In the end, no matter your goals and desires, the horse is a partner in this whole "thing" (whether it's riding or ground work). And he's big. And there's always the possibility of you getting hurt. You might make a few mistakes in the early days, and not recognize the signs that your horse is giving you. But over time, you'll know just when he's had enough, and how useless it really is to force beyond that certain point.
And you'll definitely learn that with horses, stopping what you're working on, especially if things seem to be getting too complicated, will NOT result in your horse being worse the next time - as long as you end on a good note.
Anyone who knows horses knows that you really can't make a horse do anything. The very fact that they weigh tens times the average person makes it that much more remarkable that they allow us to do the many things we do with them. Let's face it - when they don't want to do something, we'll know! Which is where the listening comes in.
If you are sensitive enough to recognize and accurately interpret their actions, you'll be able to get the feedback you need to make all kinds of decisions - from training to feeding to turnout friends tocomfort and safety- it's all there for you to "listen to" and understand.
And the more you listen, the more rewarded you will be. Just as with people, when horses are well nourished, happy in their daily routines, comfortable and confident in their environment (and people)... that's when the sky is the limit. You will absolutely be able to recognize the happy, willing, giving horse when you learn to listen.
4) Patience and perseverance is the key.
Being patient when it comes to horses doesn't necessarily mean that you end up doing nothing and waiting till eternity for something to happen.Quite the opposite, actually.
In fact, if you can develop the self-control and skill that is necessary to know when you should repeat something, do something else, add something, break something down, or call it a day - then you can make incredible gains in fairly short manner.
Because having patience invariably allows us to make good progress, limit stress and set up for success - for both the horse and the rider. And the perseverance that is required isn't always the drill and skill type - it's the getting-up-and-doing-it-again-the-next-day kind of get up and go that sets us on our path and allows us to achieve.
3) Step only 5% out of your comfort zone. That's when the real learning happens.
I have to confess that I learned this from yoga, not from horse riding. But the horses continue to reinforce this notion for me over and over again Just think about it. If you push you or your horse too far out of your comfort zone, then bad things happen. We lose focus, harmony, beauty. Things become too difficult.
On the other hand, not challenging ourselves leaves us in an obvious plateau that we simply don't struggle enough to overcome. And so this concept of just 5% out of your comfort zone is enough to jazz things up, challenge and maybe even frustrate enough to motivate the required change, but then allow for the comfort zone that is inherently necessary to allow learning to be successful.
2) Maintaining balance is the key.
Well, horses teach you that right from the first time you sit in the saddle. But the nuances that we master at first become almost insignificant as we develop feel and core and seat and independent aids and so on.
Then we learn about the horse's lateral and longitudinal balance and wow - the feels we get when we first realize what "level" feels like, and then what "up hill" feels like! And then there's the bend and the 3 tracks and the lead changes and the half-passes... well, by then, we become friends with a whole new concept of balance that is simply non-negotiable. And we finally recognize how important good balance is to the horse's health and longevity, especially if he's going to be a performance athlete.
1) You're never going to be perfect! Not in this lifetime anyway...
As Charles deKunffy so eloquently says, "one strives, but never arrives...."
It's ok to settle on the fact that you'll never learn enough, even if you're determined and consistent and hard working (which will definitely get you very far). But there's always going to be something more. Something new, some other detail you never knew about.
And I'm sure that's what keeps bringing us die-hards back for more! 🙂
Which essential lessons can you add to this list? Comment below!
Finally! The Ultimate Rider-Centered Program!
Ready for something completely different? If you liked what you read here, you might be interested in the new Horse Listening Practice Sessions.
This is NOT a program where you watch other people's riding lessons. Start working with your horse from Day 1.
I don't believe in putting my work behind a paywall. But there are expenses in every venture. If you really liked this article, consider tipping us! Your tip will help me keep producing more riding TIPS (pun!) with free access to everyone. With thanks for reading!
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Buy the book for many more riding tips! Horse Listening – The Book:Stepping Forward to Effective Riding
From the first book in the Horse Listening Collection: Horse Listening, The Book
"There are many reasons why we enjoy riding horses. Maybe one of the most appealing facets of riding is the sense of freedom: freedom from our own limitations, freedom from gravity, freedom to (literally) roam the Earth. Time stands still while we have the privilege of feeling movement from the back of our four-legged friend.
Riding gives us the place to just be.
Of course, there are other purposes too. Some of us revel in the challenge of learning the skills required to becoming a good team member of this unlikely duo. Riding is like no other sport or recreational pursuit simply because of the equine partner that must not only carry us, but also do so effortlessly and gracefully. As we develop our specific skill sets, we also grow as human beings in character, emotional maturity and mental acuity.
But there is one other motivation that drives some of us to persevere in the never-ending learning process that is horseback riding: improving the horse. As your own skills develop, you begin to realize that not only can you meet your own needs through riding, but also that you can even become an instrument of benefit for the horse."
And so begins the book that reflects the most important learning I have had in all of my riding years: that I want to be the best rider I can be for the sake of my horses.
This book is geared toward the rider:
- the rider's motivations
- the essential skills for the rider
- some specific strategies
- solutions to common problems
- and the results: the great horsey moments we get to experience
Along the way, you will find chapters that discuss everything from the seat to the leg aids to the reins, discussions on half-halts, imbalance, halts, straightness and more!
Special in this book are the "In The Ring" sections that give specific suggestions based on the preceding chapters. Take these to the barn to try with your own horse!
Well, it's that time of year to take stock of where we've been and where we're going. We had another action-packed year here at Horse Listening, launching and then building on the newPractice Sessionsprogram. It has been met with great reviews and Premium members are seeing success with their horses, trying out the exercises and joining in on the conversation in our private Facebook community. We're now into our sixth month and the program has blossomed from just exercise videos to audio Q & As, audio downloads of all the videos, mini e-books, demo videos and much more!
Click to learn more
Then, we were thrilled to introduce our Horse Listening Book 4: 20-Minute Exercises To Add Variety To Your Rides just before the end of the year. The pre-order period is now over, but keep an eye out for the official book launch, scheduled on or about December 29th. The digital version will be sent out to everyone who pre-ordered on December 29th.
OK, let's get to the top 10 articles of 2018. These are the most widely read articles, my dear horse listeners, and they really do represent some of the best I've written over the years. I was surprised to note that this year, the top 10 articles range from one written in 2018 all the way back to the first year of the blog, 2011. This is interesting, because most years, the newest articles get read the most. This year, the articles seemed to be more diversely read. And some of the oldies are still very goodies!
Without further ado... <drumroll, please...> Just click on the image to read.
I started this blog "back in the day," when blogs were blogs and people wrote them for passion and for the love of the horse. In the good ol' days, the bloggers I read were intent on sharing for the purpose of information exchange, opening conversation, "listening" to comments from readers, and basically, doing it for fun and for free.
That was my mission from the get-go, in any case.
While I've now published books and started the membership site (which all help me to afford the new and the old on the website), my mission for the blog has not changed, even as the whole blogging environment has morphed around me. I will continue to share what I know right here on the blog, week in and week out. I love hearing from you, love the encouragement you send my way through likes, shares, and comments, and I especially love getting to know some of you and your horses personally, across unlimited miles.
Here's to much more of the same as we head into 2019. The sky is the limit!
Happy New Year!
Kathy & Cyrus
Photo Credit: K. Arbuckle
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Backstory: Blustery spring day - snow in the morning, rain mid-day and sunshine-y evening with tree-bending wind gusts throughout. Horses inside during the day. Me coming into the barn for evening chores.
Me: Hi girls! Aren't you lucky to be inside on this weird weather day?
Horses: Heyyyyyyyyy.
Horses: Blue sky... <sigh>
Horses: Oxygen... <deep breath>
Horses: Green grass! ... <yummy yummy>
Me: You want to go out? OK but...
Horses: Letusout! Letusout! Letusout!
Horses go out.
Me: (Cleaning stalls) Doo...doo...dooo....
Me: (Filling water buckets) Doo... doooo .... doooo
Don’t miss a single issue of Horse Listening! If you like what you are reading, become a subscriber and receive updates when new Horse Listening articles are published! Your email address will not be used on any other distribution list. Subscribe to Horse Listening by Email
Buy the book for many more riding tips! Horse Listening – The Book:Stepping Forward to Effective Riding
Thanks to everyone who participated in our Happy New Year Giveaway by writing down your favorite article. I truly enjoyed seeing which articles resonated the most with you.
Five Years Of Horse Listening is compiled out of the top 20 most widely read articles from the blog. It celebrates the fifth anniversary of the blog, and is available in both digital download and paperback versions. Our 5 winners today will receive a free copy of the digital version. The draw was randomly done and included all comments up to midnight on Jan. 2, 2017.
If you didn't win and would still like to get the book,click herefor more information.
Congratulations to the winners below! Please contact me privately by email to receive your digital copy of Five Years Of Horse Listening! fwdnrnd@gmail.com
Why Rising Trot Is Not Rising At All
Move to stay still on horseback.
Why Would You Bother to “Scoop” Your Seat Bones
How to ride the stumble out of your horse
Dear Adult-With-Many-Responsibilities Horse Person
We just had our first taste of real cold weather this weekend, and I was reminded again about the "Blanket Rule" video I did last winter on Periscope, which was subsequently deleted within 24 hours! Many people tried to watch it later and couldn't, and so I decided to write the story into the blog so it's here for future reading.
The reason I decided to actually use video that day was because of the weather conditions. The sky was gray and dismal - with a very fine misty kind of rain that you only find when you walk beside the Niagara Falls! It wasn't quite rain - just a steady, consistent mist. It wasn't cold like it is now, and the ground was soft and muddy. But the mist did a great job to illustrate my reasoning behind my blanketing practices.
Like you, I'd seen the Facebook articles and comments about letting horses be horses, and sensitive "city" owners who cover their horses because they can't take the cold themselves. Those thoughts had made me second-guess myself but I still stuck to one rule that you can count on: listening to the horses themselves.
I used my two geriatric horses, Annahi and Kayla, to demonstrate for the video.
First off, we looked at Kayla. She is 34 years old and although her teeth are going and she is now a little rickety in the hind end, she's the picture of health. In her youth, she always grew wickedly wild mammoth fur in the winter. Kayla was tough and fast to ride, no-nonsense and safe.
I never needed to blanket Kayla. I was THE anti-blanket girl (plus, let's face it - blankets were rare and fairly expensive at that time). Horses need to grow winter coat, I thought! It was the healthiest way for them to live, and I wasn't going to interfere with nature.
In fact, those were the "good ol' days" of riding outside in the chest deep (to her) snow, riding only as needed in the worst of the cold, and otherwise not doing much of anything during the winter. We'd ride a bit in the indoor just to keep them moving and some of the horses would come in at night as part of their regular routine.
She never seemed to care about living out in the elements. She ate constantly, rolled in the snow, napped when the sun came out. To this day, she has the kind of fur that stands on end in the cold, and because of its length and thickness, it can actually keep the falling snow off her skin. She is the poster girl for the image of a horse that is completely covered in snow, calmly blinking the ice out of her eyes.
The video showed what I meant because that misty rain literally sat on the ends of her fur. There were tiny little droplets forming but they did not get to her skin. Most of her fur was still dry (maybe also because of the oil that gives her coat the great shine it has).
But these days, she's wearing a light winter blanket. When she was 28, I noticed that she seemed to be a little more tense through the real winter cold. She had lost a bit of weight and condition the year before, so I decided to borrow one of my other horse's rain sheets and put that on her, just to help break the wind and keep her dry.
The following spring, during their annual shots and teeth check-up, the vet commented on how good she looked. She did! She was shiny, she was shedding out nicely and she had good weight on her. I hadn't noticed much though, and when he asked me what I had done differently this year, I told him I hadn't done anything! The feed was the same. The turnout was the same. The herds were the same. Nothing had changed!
Until I thought about it. "Uh -- I did put a blanket on her in the winter," I said.
"That's it!" he said. "She just needed that extra bit of warmth to keep her condition up. She looks better this year than she has the last three to four years." And so I learned that even the toughest, most natural horse might actually need human support under certain circumstances.
Then I bought Annahi.
Annahi is the exact opposite of Kayla. She is thin skinned and thin coated. She doesn't eat much at any time. She is a ballerina to ride and sensitive to the aids. She's also sensitive to bugs in the summer, and weather in the winter.
She introduced me to horse-style shivers. The kind that happen over the whole body. The knee-knocking, large-muscle shaking tremors that look alarming if you've never seen such a thing. Most amazingly, she would present her shivering frame in mild temperatures, just because of a wet, breezy weather change. As I was the "au naturel" girl, I waited through a few such episodes to give her opportunity to grow out her fur, and toughen up. Surely, all horses acclimatize to cold weather!
Well, Annahi was the one to teach me otherwise. She continued to shake in rain, in snow, in windy weather. Her coat never grew much - great for our indoor arena rides, but not so much for outside turnout. And so I familiarized myself with horse blankets. The instant I put one on her, her shivering stopped. Completely. And her coat gleamed. And she rode better - well, no wonder, as her muscles didn't have to be so tense during turnout.
She told me that some horses just weren't bred to live comfortably in our extreme weather changes - hot or cold. She taught me that some horses would actually lose condition based on the weather outside, that some horses need turn-in so that they can be their best when we ride. Well, I also became "blanket girl."
The video was the perfect vehicle for the illustration. Annahi's coat was opposite to Kayla's on that fine misty-rain kind of day. Even with that limited bit of moisture, her coat was soaked! The fur was flat. The skin was wet. There was absolutely no insulation quality on her neck area that was exposed to the rain.
In years since, I've learned that all horses have their own needs, and you simply can't decide what is best for them. They will tell you, if you listen carefully enough. And they will thrive. It's all about management and understanding all the options out there.
So I chuckled when I saw those articles and comments - because, really, there is only one blanket rule for blanketing horses: it depends. 🙂
Finally! The Ultimate Rider-Centered Program!
Ready for something completely different? If you liked what you read here, you might be interested in the new Horse Listening Practice Sessions.
This is NOT a program where you watch other people's riding lessons. Start working with your horse from Day 1.
I don't believe in putting my work behind a paywall. But there are expenses in every venture. If you really liked this article, consider tipping us! Your tip will help me keep producing more riding TIPS (pun!) with free access to everyone. With thanks for reading!
Click to learn more.
Buy the book for many more riding tips! Horse Listening – The Book:Stepping Forward to Effective Riding
It could be at your local "grassroots" show. Or not at a show. It can happen in your riding ring, on the trails, or during ground work.
Describing the sentiment behind theFEI's #TwoHearts hashtagto the non-horsey set can sometimes be a difficult proposition. After all, it's just a horse. And realistically, it's only doing what it's being told to do - like your phone, it's programmable and robotic.
Right?
Not likely.
After you've ridden for a while, you'd probably have many #TwoHearts moments to cherish. For me, it was down center line, with my own mare, at a dressage show.
We'd been showing for a while - at least a year or more and beginning to be comfortable enough to really enjoy the experience. We were finally getting into the swing of things. I had developed a comfortable routine that made the logistics of preparing for and getting to the show effortless and extremely efficient.
My mare Annahi, too, was getting into the groove. She walked off the trailer, headed calmly through the unfamiliar show grounds, checked out the various horses, and settled into the grooming/tacking/warm up session before our scheduled show time. Then it was our turn to go into the ring.
It's one of those feelings I'll never forget.
They say that horses are trained to do as they are told, that they are forced to be ridden and perform - and given a choice, they'd rather not, period. Maybe there are some horses like that, I don't know.
But if you ever had a chance to be a partner to a 1000 pound horse that told you with every fiber of her being that she was MADE to go down that center line, you might change your mind. I sure did.
In dressage, it's a bit different because unlike most other disciplines, you are in the ring.
All.
Alone.
Everyone's eyes are on you. The judge is watching. You notice the scribe who sits beside the judge and gives you a smile on your first pass, before the judge rings the bell. If you're not used to having everyone's attention, it can be somewhat intimidating.
Well, maybe not everyone is watching. There will be people outside of the ring walking, talking, and not even noticing you at all. Sometimes they can unnerve you in a different way - distract your horse, take you out of your mental bubble.
And so as we entered down center line, I was unprepared for what was about to happen. I was busy trying to maintain my composure, thinking a little ahead to where I was turning after the salute, and basically trying my best to not interfere but also stay active enough to keep Annahi in a strong and true rhythm to the halt.
Ananhi did something I hadn't felt before.
She grew.
At least two inches. Her withers came up, her stride strengthened, and we bounded down that center line like we were born for that moment.
Like Annahi was telling me, "You just hang on and look pretty. I GOT THIS."
The perky ears, the awesome expression, the bounce in her stride, the sudden power - she was telling everyone at that show: "Watch me."
At first, I didn't know what to do with that attitude. I'm not shy but so far, I hadn't been excessively bold during the entrance. We halted, I saluted, and we skipped into that first trot like we were the only thing that mattered that day.
I figured I'd better step up and match my horse's 'tude - hang on and look pretty, right?
Sure enough, everyone stopped what they were doing and watched. I thought I could see heads turn as we cruised into the first movement. We certainly had the judge's attention, and we were off in a flurry of spirited energy.
I don't remember what our score was at the end, or how we did specifically, but I do know I was really happy with the ride. More important than anything else was that feeling of joy and exuberance that wasn't mine. It was Annahi's.
I have to say that there is nothing more confidence-building than a horse that likes to be a show diva. That first time was amazing, but Annahi was like that for the balance of her show career. She loved being in the ring, getting everyone's attention, and strutting her stuff.
Thanks to her, I became the rider that went down center line thinking, "Watch us!" and acting like it was the best time of our lives. Well, it was. There really wasn't any way I could discourage her attitude and instead, I emulated it.
So when I first saw #TwoHearts, I instantly remembered that moment. Riding really is about two hearts, and the constant communication you have with your horse. While we tend to think it's always about us, the horse certainly has a whole lot to say in the matter. If we can learn to listen, we can learn so much about ourselves - and the partnership that is horse riding.
Do you have a #TwoHearts moment to share? Post in the comments below.
Don’t miss a single issue of Horse Listening! If you like what you are reading, become a subscriber and receive updates when new Horse Listening articles are published! Your email address will not be used on any other distribution list. Subscribe to Horse Listening by Email
Horse Listening – Book 2: Forward and Round to Training Success
If you enjoyed the above article, you'll find many related chapters about horses and riding. Your favorite Horse Listening training articles are compiled in this beautifully bound paperback (or digital) book.
Ten Habits of Competent Riders: This is our most popular post by far. What do great riders have in common that makes them appealing to watch, steadily develop their riding skills and become role models for others to aspire to emulate?
If you haven't heard of Periscope, it's a new live stream platform from Twitter. Basically, I can use my phone to play a live stream of whatever I'm doing while I'm online. If you follow my account, you will be notified when I go online and you can join me any time during the live stream or up to 24 hours afterward.
The stream gets automatically deleted after 24 hours of being online.
Periscope is meant to be an informal platform - so don't expect TV-like spotlights or memorized scripts. In my case, it's going to be horses, barns, me dressed for the barn, and just some good ol' down-to-earth chatting. Plus I still have to learn to use my phone so I get the best picture and sound. I realize that my first stream was very gray - maybe because of the white snow in the background - but I'll work on that.
If you like it, stay online and connect with me through the chat dialogue. You can let me know where you are, what you're doing, and if you have any questions you'd like answered. I can read the chat as I video.
There's also this thing where you can "like" what I'm saying by "giving hearts". Just tap on the bottom right side of the screen and a heart will float up the side. It's cute and gives positive feedback.
You can watch it on your phone or your laptop or other device. As long as you get the link off Twitter, you just go to the page and click on the play button. That's all there is to it!
Well, I'm going to give it a try for the next while. I'll probably video things mostly from the ground, as I usually have to hold the camera myself. But I'll play with different ideas and see how we can connect through Periscope.
You might still be able to see that first stream before it goes offline. Just click here: https://www.periscope.tv/w/1BRJjNApzoRJw
Thanks and let me know what you think!
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Why Rising Trot Is Not Rising At All