Wilde Oats Horsemanship

06/12/2026

Good thing to know! This happens in both English and western saddles…

04/29/2026

More thoughts on the hackamore.
Why beginning riders absolutely SHOULD ride in the hackamore.

In my last post I talked about people claiming to be masters/experts in an art they have not had even enough practice in to understand the basics let alone be teaching others.
Because many of these trainers have experience with other tools but find the hackamore difficult for themselves some will tell you that you are not ready to ride in one. This comes from their own lack of knowledge and misunderstandings of the tool. Remember, when someone tells you what you can not do in a hackamore they are actually telling you what THEY can not do in a hackamore.

The hackamore gives you a much more honest communication with your horse than what you get in a bit. If you do not have a good seat, are out of balance, out of timing, or inconsistent with your signals the hackamore is simply not going to work well for you. And that is actually a good thing. It gives you VERY important feedback. In a bit many people make up for these deficiencies in their riding with the discomfort and pain the bit creates in the mouth. The bit has a pain compliance response and many riders are unknowingly creating a pain based response that they misinterpret as lightness, soft feel or whatever you want to call it. I see this a LOT in snaffle but riders and riders using two hands on a shank bit.

The hackamore has no significant pain compliance component. You can not force a horse even by accident. If you are not getting the desired response you have to think your way through the problem instead of forcing your way through it even if unintentionally. Because of this the beginning rider learns to be a much more conscious rider. They learn how other very important aspects of riding besides the reins influence the horse.

If your goal as a beginner is to become a better rider and have much better communication with your horse then the hackamore is absolutely a fantastic tool. If your goal is simply to “control” your horse then the hackamore is probably not for you. Then again if a riders focus is on control instead of communication they should probably stay away from horses and just buy a motorcycle or something. 😉

04/08/2026

Still have a couple spots left ✔️

https://pocketsuite.io/book/wilde-oats/item/working-equitation-with-aurora

03/31/2026

Working Equitation Workshop with Aurora Quinn!

Come and see what Working Equitation is all about 🙂 Aurora Quinn will be teaching you all about the obstacles in Working Equitation. Class is on April 18th from 10AM to 4PM with lunch included. Limited Riders spots available so hurry and click the link below to register ✔️

https://pocketsuite.io/book/wilde-oats/item/working-equitation-with-aurora

03/31/2026

Working Equitation Workshop with Aurora Quinn. April 18th in Honeyville, UT

02/09/2026

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01/30/2026

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01/07/2026

Had to share! Thanks Danee Rudy for the meme!

By Rudy Horsemanship

12/13/2025

Sharing again as we start looking into 2026!

11/20/2025

One of my priorities with horses is to prove to them that my aids are there to help them become more relaxed, energized, and balanced.

At first, I show them that my touch won't hurt them... There's nothing to be afraid of. They don't need to do anything.

So many people go from there, straight to using their touch as a cue to ask them to do stuff.

But there's another magical & important relationship to establish around touch, and that is that our touch will be healing. It will help them feel BETTER than if we weren't there.

This is usually the job of bodyworkers and massage therapists... and it's always done standing still.

I started the Moving Massage technique so I could let the horse show me what he needed, and lovingly facilitate release during movement (even while riding) without adding pressure, or demand.

When doing it in motion, the horse (and you) get immediate feedback about their bodies. You can see their strides, breathing, balance change.

But it's more than just 'bodywork in motion'... It is a shift in the relationship you have with your horse... and it's a bridge between 'nothing' and 'something'... It is something else! 😉

This exercise never stops surprising me with how transformative it can be. Deep chronic tensions can melt away through awareness, love, patience, & trust.

I put together a Video Mini-Series on this, plus will do a Live Q&A on December 9th.
Get immediate and lifetime access here:
https://go.dressagenaturally.net/moving-massage-mini-series-7020