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Bar T Horsemanship Training Tips: Safe Space

In this video series, Jim Thomas talks about helping a horse find a safe space, and how to transfer that one safe into other areas or tasks for the horse. Dr. Steve Peters is on site for this demonstration and offers input as well. We will be posting a three-part series of these videos with Mason the horse, Jim's perspective and some insight from Dr. Peters. Stay tuned for parts 2 and 3 but each video has information independently useful.

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The Horseman, The Potter

Riders often come to me for advice because they’re having a hard time getting their horse’s mind and body soft and willing when they go to work in the arena. I always respond with the same question— “How do you go about your lesson with your horse?” Their response always seems to be the same. “I catch my horse, lead him to the barn, put him in cross-ties, groom and saddle, lead him to arena, get on and hit the rail for our warm-up.” Usually, they go on to say that the horse starts pushing through all directions once they

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To Scold or Not to Scold— That is the Question

When working with horses we often hear, “You just need to show him who’s boss,” or “I hope you didn’t let him get away with that.”  Do these phrases sound familiar?  As I continue on my own horsemanship journey, I find myself wondering what I was thinking in the past when I would sometimes scold a horse.  Did the punishment meet the crime? Was it really a crime?  Was it a behavior I or someone had taught the horse?  Was he just escaping a fear? All these are valid points in decisions we must make, split-second, to continue the positive

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