Riding – The Tie Rail

Planning and Pressure

Years and years of riding horses have taught me that you really only need two things to, as a rider, get your horse to do stuff: (1) a plan and (2) escalation of pressure.

[x_section style=”margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px; “][x_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” bg_color=”” style=”margin: 0px auto 0px auto; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px; “][x_column bg_color=”” type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px; “][x_text][/x_text][/x_column][/x_row][/x_section][x_section style=”margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px; padding: 0 0 0 0px; “][x_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” bg_color=”” style=”margin: 0px auto 0px auto; padding: 0px… Continue reading How to Pony a Horse

Your Seat

[cs_content][cs_section parallax=”false” separator_top_type=”none” separator_top_height=”50px” separator_top_inset=”0px” separator_top_angle_point=”50″ separator_bottom_type=”none” separator_bottom_height=”50px” separator_bottom_inset=”0px” separator_bottom_angle_point=”50″ _bp_base=”3_4″ _label=”Section 1″ style=”margin: 0px;padding: 45px 0px;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” _bp_base=”3_4″ _label=”Copy of Copy of Row 1″ style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ _bp_base=”3_4″ _label=”1/1″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][cs_text _bp_base=”3_4″ class=”cs-ta-justify”]When people refer to “your seat” they’re talking about how your butt stays or doesn’t… Continue reading Your Seat

Using Your Voice

When working with horses, you have four basic aids: legs, weight, hands, and voice. Of these aids, voice is often overlooked or forgotten—maybe because people are embarrassed or think it sounds silly, or maybe because people just plain forget most of the time. Truth is, a lot people spend much of their time around horses without ever making a sound. And if… Continue reading Using Your Voice

Being Malleable

[x_section style=”margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px; “][x_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” bg_color=”” style=”margin: 0px auto 0px auto; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px; “][x_column bg_color=”” type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px; “][x_text] What does it mean to be malleable? Why must we be it? How do we be it? Well let’s start at… Continue reading Being Malleable

Mounting and Dismounting, or How to Get On and Off a Horse

I see it all the time, people mounting in a way that makes their hose scared or uncomfortable and puts them (the rider) in danger. When getting on or off a horse, there are a bazillion options of where to put and organize your body parts. But keep these rules in mind when deciding how to do… Continue reading Mounting and Dismounting, or How to Get On and Off a Horse

How to Swing Up on a Horse – With a Saddle

DON’T DO THIS. But if you want to, this is how you can. But… DON’T DO IT. Below is a brief how-to. Stop laughing and press play.

On Relationships & Shoveling Poop REPOST

The following seems fitting after the post Letting Things Take as Much Time as They Need to Take. Think of it as real-world proof that everything takes time. But even more important is what happens after that time has been taken. On Relationships & Shoveling Poop addresses that end—taking your time is worth it. Caro’s relationship with her horse (after… Continue reading On Relationships & Shoveling Poop REPOST

Circles, Let Us Count the Ways

Here’s the deal. If you work with horses, circles are your friend. Use them. Abuse them. Incorporate them into every activity you can. If something isn’t working, circle. And when you get dizzy, keep on goin’. What is a circle? A circle is round-ish. Depending on what you’re doing, you may be in the center of… Continue reading Circles, Let Us Count the Ways

Horses and People and the Rule of Three

[x_section style=”margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px; padding: 0 0px 0 0px; “][x_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” bg_color=”” style=”margin: 0px auto 0px auto; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px; “][x_column bg_color=”” type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px; “][x_text]Here’s the deal—for a horse to listen to you, you must mean what you “say.” If you don’t mean what you say,… Continue reading Horses and People and the Rule of Three

LAPD Mounted Unit in Venice, CA

[x_section style=”margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px; padding: 45px 0px 45px 0px; “][x_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” bg_color=”” style=”margin: 0px auto 0px auto; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px; “][x_column bg_color=”” type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px; “][x_text]I can’t think of a cooler thing than to wear a uniform on a horse. A kid’s dream job. Or maybe even… Continue reading LAPD Mounted Unit in Venice, CA

Entropy and the Inevitable Decline into Disorder

[cs_content][cs_section parallax=”false” style=”margin: 0px;padding: 0px;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][x_image type=”none” src=”https://thetierail.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/entropy-e1435215512609.jpg” alt=”” link=”false” href=”#” title=”” target=”” info=”none” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover” info_content=””][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][cs_section parallax=”false” style=”margin: 0px;padding: 0px 0px 0;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto 45px;padding: 0px 5%;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ class=”cs-ta-center” style=”padding: 0px;”][x_custom_headline level=”h1″ looks_like=”h1″ accent=”false” class=”man”]Entropy[/x_custom_headline][x_gap… Continue reading Entropy and the Inevitable Decline into Disorder

The Importance of Not Taking It Personally

The Rule:When you’re working with horses, you’re not allowed to take anything personally. Why? There are a lot of reasons. First and foremost: horses are horses. They are not people, so when they do things, they do them for horse reasons, not people reasons. We, as humans, have all kinds of reasons why we do what… Continue reading The Importance of Not Taking It Personally

My Approach

My Approach is the hardest definition I’ve had to produce yet. The short and sweet is that My Approach is Natural Horsemanship with an emphasis on the school of “I’m open to new ideas.” I wish I could say I believe in whatever works, but when I take a hard look into myself, I have a few beliefs that outweigh this… Continue reading My Approach

The Four Natural Gaits (Plus a Few)

Horses (and a few other animals) have four legs and feet to deal with. Luckily millions of years of evolution have given them four different patterns of ways to move their legs that work pretty well. We call them: walk, trot, canter and gallop.

If your horse wants to move… And you don’t.

Lets say you’re standing there having a good ‘ol time just standing still, talking to a friend. Out of nowhere your feet start to move. They just start walking around. Walking to no place in particular, at least none that was discussed and agreed upon. Would you be happy about this? What would you say… Continue reading If your horse wants to move… And you don’t.

Trail Riding

Trail riding can give you some of the most wonderful experiences you’ll ever have on a horse. On a great ride, you can experience some of the greatest things about working with and riding horses: interaction with nature, the power of the horse, a great controlled and totally connected trot or canter, good conversation or just… Continue reading Trail Riding

Sitting a Trot

First of all, let me just say that this is the hardest part of riding horses. Sitting a trot is usually where most people get off balance or fall off for the first time. It ends up going the same way just about every time. The rider asks the horse to trot by squeezing with… Continue reading Sitting a Trot

Los Angeles Therapeutic Riding

The Children’s Ranch They do it right. Nicest people with the nicest place. The Children’s Ranch Foundation *** Ride On Can’t say enough about this place. If you’re looking for Therapeutic Riding or are looking for a place to get your certification hours in, this is one of the best places around. Ride On Therapeutic… Continue reading Los Angeles Therapeutic Riding

Online Resources

PARELLI’S ONLINE RESOURCE http://www.parelli.com/articlestips.html This is a great place to look through some of the best training articles on the net. When you find a place like this, it’s hard not to spend the whole afternoon reading. HORSETRADER.COM http://www.horsetrader.com/ Looking to buy a horse? Thinking about it? Look here first. Start searching, see what’s out… Continue reading Online Resources

Reading materials

CHA COMPOSITE HORSEMANSHIP MANUAL The Certified Horsemanship Association has one of the most comprehensive and well organized manuals out there. It’s really too bad that more people don’t know about this. It’s organized into four sections that will take you from novice through advanced riding. I’ve found this to be my go-to manual for 20… Continue reading Reading materials