MacPhail Equine

08/15/2024

This is an interesting topic! Have you read yet? I like to read through once for overall info, and then go back and read critically to assess the research methods and conclusions. I’ll add my critique in the comments ☺️

“Horses have the ability to think and plan ahead and are far more intelligent than scientists previously thought, according to a Nottingham Trent University study that analysed the animal’s responses to a reward-based game.

“The horses cannily adapted their approach to the game to get the most treats – while making the least effort.

“Previously, research has suggested that horses simply respond to stimuli in the moment, they don’t proactively look ahead, think ahead and plan their actions – whereas our study shows that they do have an awareness of the consequences and outcomes of their actions,” said the lead researcher, Louise Evans.”

https://www.theguardian.com/science/article/2024/aug/12/horses-can-plan-ahead-and-think-strategically-scientists-find

The actual research paper…

“Whoa, No-Go: Evidence consistent with model-based strategy use in horses during an inhibitory task”
Louise Evans et al.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168159124001874?via%3Dihub

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07/23/2024

“The root cause of all judgment is the fear of not being good enough, not being worthy of love, and not being safe.”
― Gabrielle Bernstein

Art Credit: Shannon Ford

07/01/2024

Pushing with the leg into a closed hand is a cheap cop out for good back to front riding - it doesn’t take much education or self discipline to push and hold, and the results are heavy, tense, and not conducive to suppleness. It creates a brick without the ability to breathe deeply or feel the seat of the rider, let alone enjoy the aids of the rider.

Good back to front riding, in essence, is about educating the hind leg. It’s about teaching the horse to flex the joints downward, so the front legs can flex upward. It’s about creating swinging, suppleness, stability, and a swinging, moving back.

To get this, the rider commits to becoming stable and supple themsleves. They commit to the discipline of learning to use aids subtly with good timing, and to never use an aid outside of their own center: the emphasis is on the seat, and so the hand is never a solution to a stability problem. The rider gains over time the discipline to check themsleves first: to not make knee jerk corrections to the horse when it’s likely the rider has lost center, feel, rhythm, or swing. It is a commitment to responsibility to be what you want the horse to be- to provide a balanced opening forward, not to chase, prod, beg, or threaten the horse into balance (which is an oxymoron and an impossibility)

This way of riding creates a very confident horse who is calm but energetic. One who can breathe deeply, feel unafraid of the aids but understands they are actually their friend , one who has very comfortable gaits to ride because of their suppleness. It creates long term soundness and best of all, it creates a deep and lasting friendship between horse and person.

The reason so much poor quality back to front riding can be seen is because it’s easy and requires no real
Self discipline from the rider - the focus is all about making the horse take a shape and go forward. It’s cheap and easy enough to learn quickly.

The reason so little high quality back to front riding can be seen is because of the arduous commitment to better positioning and mind frame development - to be flexible mentally while maintaining commitment.

It could take me two lifetimes to get it. I’m not great at it now, but I am committed to learning and grateful for the guidance toward the most beautiful way of being with a horse I’ve discovered. Some days it feels incredible, other days too difficult to manage. Some days I miss feeling like I know what I’m doing. But overall I adore the art, and the self development required.

If it were easy everyone would be doing it -

06/18/2024

Great info for these hot days we’re experiencing currently in the Northeast!

06/11/2024

I’m even more conservative with my 4 and 5 year olds but this is a wonderful idea of a more ideal timeline for starting young horses. There’s a lot that can be done in daily handling and it doesn’t mean we leave them alone at all - but physical training and performance work can wait til 6 years of age and beyond 👏