Un-Natural Horsemanship

Reintroducing leg and rein contact to both sides of the body at once- a big deal for this boy. I really like these as comparison photos highlighting:

“Tension in the jaw = tension in the back. Tension in the back = tension in the jaw.”

The top two photos were taken near the beginning of the ride and I can see subtle but clear signs of this tension. His muzzle is pinched with flared nostrils, strain in the jaw and a worried look in his eye. I can see the signal/energy getting stuck at C3 with restricted ROM in the front limbs. He appears (and feels) to be holding himself back from the contact with his psoas, destabilizing his pelvis so we are not travelling on two tracks and the flight path of the hind limbs is compromised, seen in disunited diagonal pairs. The traffic jams rippling through his body are, imo, all legitimate and fair responses to my request of “can you carry me confidently forward in the bridle”. Until we change his relationship to contact, his answer is rightfully, “No”. And because he’s brilliant and bold and beautiful inside and out and has known tremendous love, the second part of his response is, “But I’ll try”.

The bottom two photos were taken near the end of our ride and demonstrate subtle but lovely changes- his face has softened, with his expression changing from concern to curiosity to confidence. He has relaxed the sympathetic bracing in his neck, allowing his shoulders to open and his sternum to lift. He has begun to release holding in the lumbo sacral junction and we are on two tracks with the diagonal pairs becoming united. We may have gotten a little loosey goosey but we were stoked about it! And this is what it’s all about- we’re just out here having a good time 💫

PS- my secret is that I tell him that even though he sometimes feels like riding a shopping cart with a missing wheel down a steep hill, he is a Magnificent Beast who also sometimes feels like galloping the great Bucephalus across the Persian plateau 🦄

HRH Handsome Pants, before and after our ride today 🦄💫

I absolutely adore my Franklin Balls! 10/10 recommend for riders of all levels and disciplines. These are the two sets that I like to use most:

I have found that riders who tend to an anterior (forward) pelvic tilt (often accompanied by pinched knees, hollow back and tight wrists and elbows), sitting on the softer balls or peanut can help to open their hip angle and connect to their seat. The proprioceptive feedback supported by the balls encourages a tight rider to ground and soften and allow themselves to be moved by the motion of the horse.

For those who tend to a posterior (backward) pelvic tilt (often accompanied by a collapsed core, rounded back and forward head position), sitting on the harder balls or peanut can help the rider to close their hip angle and connect to their breath + core. The proprioceptive feedback through the balls encourages a loose rider to come into alignment and integrity through engagement, finding stability with the horse’s movement.

I stick these handy dandy balls under thighs, arms and seat bones primarily at the halt, walk and sitting trot. For myself, I like to bring them out once a month or so, whenever the feeling takes me and am always glad when I do!

Making Friends 💕 honorthehorse Harmonized Horsemanship

A couple of years ago, Zak and I began offering multi-day intensives at our farm. These fully immersive experiential’s have become important to us as we take great pride in opening our doors, our hearts and our herd for those curious to explore the Art of Horsemanship.

Sharing a testimonial from one of our recent students, I was bawling reading this and am overwhelmed by how wholly seen, appreciated and loved it moved me to feel. Thank you, Kelly 🥹💗

“I went to Chiara's farm feeling completely in over my head, carrying the quiet weight of uncertainty with my sensitive, explosive gelding, my mare with fierce and strong feelings, and a baby horse just learning how to navigate the world. But stepping onto her farm changed everything. In the small, sacred details behind every movement, from the intentionality of haltering to the precise, quiet timing of grooming and riding, Chiara taught the missing piece of horsemanship no one else dares to talk about. She didn't just teach me how to handle horses, she taught me how to truly listen, transforming our daily interactions into a profound, mutual partnership built on deep understanding. I left her farm not with a list of rigid rules, but with a quiet, fierce confidence, returning home knowing in my bones that I am exactly the right person to guide my horses through whatever lies ahead”. ~Kelly S.