Interview with Michailia Massong at Hearts of Freedom Horsemanship. Michailia is an EAGALA Equine Specialist, Equine Assisted Therapies Director, Riding Instructor and Horse Trainer. She was Rodeo Queen of Alaska in 2017.

Join us for a discussion on equine therapy and how concepts of trauma and empathy are reflected in horse training and riding instruction.

Chapters:
Introduction
EAGALA
No Force Horse Training
Reading Your Student
Teaching Empathy
Goals for the Future
Trauma-Informed Horsemanship
How to Identify a Shut-Down Horse
How to Let Your Horse Say No
Conclusion

Question of the Week:
What are some things I can do on the ground to connect with a new horse or reconnect with one I've had awhile?

This week's episode focuses on how building a relationship requires a certain level of comfort and "conversation" between horse and human. The horse needs to feel safe in the human's presence before any work together will be meaningful. Connection is the foundation. 

Question of the Day:
I am able to lead one horse away from the herd calmly, but the others that are left behind worry. How do I help them through their separation anxiety?

In this episode, 
we discuss how to help horses through separation anxiety by oscillating between periods of stress and relaxation. We take them to the brink of what they can tolerate, and then return and wait on their deescalation.  We, initially, help them feel like they can control the situation by returning when they begin to stress. After they get some practice at this, we push their bubble a little further, all the while keeping with our program of leaving and retreating.

This episode is brought to you by Whole Horse Herbs. For herbal remedies for health and performance, check out wholehorse.com

Question of the Day: I recently inherited an amazing trail horse but he is old, 20-24, and has been sitting for 3 years. Do you have any tips for getting him back in shape in a gentle way?

In this episode, we discuss how to get a horse who has been out of work for sometime onto the trail and in shape. We look into hoof care, body issues, such as arthritis and tension, and how we can approach our conditioning using a long, slow distance program. We highlight that the most important piece is to get good at reading your horse and knowing when he can go further and when it has been too much for him. 

This episode is brought to you by Ningenuity. Visit ningenuity.net for website design, E-commerce and other services for your small business. 

Question of the Day: Can you give tips for catching horses that are hard to catch?

In this episode, we begin catching from outside the enclosure by first getting ourselves centered and in the proper mindset in order to convey the most calm to the horse. We adjust our breathing, our body position and our intent. Then, when we feel ready, we enter the area and get the horse's attention before approaching. If the horse leaves, we follow, but we don't add extra pressure. We work to catch their curiosity and draw them in by releasing for what we want. The episode ends with a description of the easiest way to put on the halter. 

Question of the Day: 
How do you work with a horse that pushes ahead of you when you are leading him?

In this episode, we talk about the difference between the horse following the feel of the rope and the horse following the person. We talk about how to teach a horse to not push ahead and how to lead more confidently. 

Question of the Day: What is the best way to go about desensitizing my horse to new stimuli? 

In this episode, we discuss different methods for desensitization. You will learn how to keep the horse’s curiosity alive and how to present new objects in a way that increases confidence, instead of worry. 

Question of the Day: My horse pulls back and is unsafe to tie. How do we get to where I can tie him confidently?

In this episode, we discuss confinement panic and come to understand that a horse that pulls back is one that does not know how to relieve pressure on themselves by putting the float back into the rope. Feeling this extreme confinement, they attempt to fight their way out of it and if they are successful, they learn this as a strategy. This strategy can be incredibly dangerous for a horse. Not only does it cause extreme stress, but many horses have severely injured themselves pulling back, so it is imperative to only tie a horse that understands this piece. I will walk you through some exercises that you can do to teach a horse to put the float back into the rope and tie safely. 

Question of the Day: My horses spooks at the trash can and other objects that are not dangerous. How can I get him over this? 

In this episode, we talk about helping a spooky horse gain confidence and not falling into the traps that can make his worry worse. 

Q&A with Samantha Salomon Horsemanship

Subscriber questions how to deal with her herd-bound horse that is out of control and dangerous. Discussion includes putting limits on anxiety and building both a stop and relaxation to make this horse more controllable and safe for her handler.