Days 91-97 – Phil’s Courage’s Journal

If it ain’t raining, you ain’t training. This is an old military saying that echoes in my ears when it rains from my time on active duty (Army). It was very applicable to this week’s training. It seemed every time I tacked up Phil and started some warm up ground work the sky would just…

Read More

Help! My Horse is Rearing.

Rearing under saddle is an unpleasant reaction. In its extreme form, flipping over, this action can be life threatening. Understand, it is a reaction usually caused by rider error.

Read More

Days 63-69 – Phil’s Courage’s Journal

Week of June 8th-June 14th – Is your horse loving on you or is he dominating you? At the show last weekend I witnessed a horse rubbing his head on his handler. I over heard the handler comment that her horse was “loving” on her. This is an all too common scenario. When I first met…

Read More

Days 33-39 – Phil’s Courage’s Journal

The ground work is reinforced every day whether it is actual moving Phil’s feet in the round pen or by simply leading him from pasture to barn. I try to be creative and my have him serpentine or walk backwards while going from barn to pasture. In the arena I have been focusing on softening…

Read More