A HOLISTIC ROUTINES
Obviously, how we train the horse is important for the performance. But its not more important than how the horse shows up to the training. If we overlook how the horse manages himself, and experience life the 23 hours of the day we are not training it, the progress we can achieve in the ridden i limited. If we however, take responsibility for the horses experience 24/7 (in our domesticated and non-natural to the horse environment) and make sure his routines support his wellbeing and training - also on a emotional level - we have a much higher chance of succeeding in the saddle. Especially if we want to succeed with authentic connection and joy for both horse and rider.
Here are the main pillars of our day to day care system:
CALM
80% of the worlds sport horses has stress ulcers. 100% of the horses arriving at our yard when we started had ulcers. To prevent this huge block to peaceful performance it’s important to understand that this is developed because of how the horse experience their life and routine. Its developed by feeling stressed on a regular basis.
We take huge pride in not cutting corners in our routine and care. The horses knows their routine and are given tools to know how to manage themselves at all times, so they stay calm and regulated throughout the day whatever is on the schedule. The daily routines with all it includes are set up to support the horses experience (this has priority over the humans convenience). For instance, we feed our horses four times a day, they always have hay and straw available, and they are given an education in stress management both from the ground and in the ridden. Our horses learn how to manage their stress as much as they learn to move for the sport.
Feed is another topic. The horse creates healthy energy from fibers, rather than sugar and carbs which most yards feed. Therefore our meals are free from sugars and grains, and everything is organic. Most commercial feed brands has a base of sugars or grains, and its hard to find organic food. The horse is about 10 00 times more sensitive than humans, and if we are sensitive to eating healthy to perform at our best so are they. Providing them with natural good food is hugely important.
COMFORT
In order to perform at your best it’s important to be comfortable in your own body. Everywhere in your body. The gut is important here, and we mentioned the feed above. The feet is another pillar, and here we do it differently to most. Here's one reason of many to why we dance with bare feet:
The horses hoofs supports the horse’s body like a second heart, creating blood circulation via all the nerves contracting and expanding in the hoofs as they move. The horse can via this function heal most things in need of healing in the body and drain out toxins. If we however put shoes on the hoof, we block this function and kill half of the horses ‘heart’ (and with that a big chunk of their daily healing and circulation). This isn’t helpful if you want to live and perform at your best, so we keep all horses barefoot.
Important to note here is that our incredible farrier Nicole is also a Osteopath. An education included in her education to become a barefoot trimmer, as without the knowledge of how to align the body you can not align the hoofs and create functional feet. We salut her art of trimming and are not just saying ‘take the shoes off at any cost’, but its been a joy to observe the increased health in all horses at our yard trimmed in this way.
Other ways we support the horses thriving in comfort is regular visits by our physio Evie, and our reiki therapist Theodora. Theo helps the horses process stress that for one reason or the other has got stuck in their body, and I can’t rave enough about how helpful this work has been for some of them. Evie use something called Indiba, a radio frequency, to support extra circulation and healing if and where needed.
CIRCULATION & CONNECTION
Whether it comes from movement or routines that help to unwind stagnation, circulation is another important quality for the horse to feel good. The wild horse moves about 16h a day, and we are keen to support this natural need with training, frequent feeds, and going out on grass every day - even if you’re a stallion.
Last but not least, the main pillar of health in general and certainly a core value in everything done at our yard is connection. Throughout the days, and of course in the training, we listen to the horse - we do things in connection. We don’t demand what the horse does, we meet in the middle and lead them with connection [a sense of emotional safety]. This connection provides the information we need to know how to constantly regulate the horses, make sure they are enthusiastic about their work, has a sense of freedom and purpose, and thrive physically and emotionally.
If you want to learn more about this system and how to develop your capacity to connect, here is Linnea’s structured step by step program: Mind Body Dressage.