EMHH Episode 13: Is Your Horse REALLY Relaxed? Are You?
You want your horse to be relaxed and responsive. But do you know if your horse TRULY is relaxed? Some horses appear relaxed, but they’re NOT.
You’ll learn why “relaxed readiness” is essential for your horse’s athletic ability – and your own. You’ll learn why relaxed muscles have more potential strength than muscles that are chronically tight.
Want to help your horse - and yourself - have more flexible, balanced and confident movement?
Click here to join the waitlist for our online group coaching program, "Move With Your Horse."
You'll be among the first to know when we open our doors again. And you'll get special bonuses!
Questions? Email [email protected].
Thank you so much for being here. I can’t wait to talk with you again. Bye for now.
More FREE resources:
- Feldenkrais® for Riders videos: marydebono.com/rider.
- Join our free FB group, "Happy, Healthy Horsewomen."
- Click here to get a short, effective...
These Special Moves Can Help an Injured or Stressed Horse Recover
Slow, rhythmic movements can help an injured, stressed horse recover.
With my hands resting lightly on the bay mare’s rib cage, we simply breathed together for several minutes. Her breathing was shallow. And faster than normal. It was obvious that the horse was stressed. Very stressed.
The mare, whose name was Grace, had recently returned from a camping trip in the mountains. Three days of riding in rocky, mountainous terrain had taken their toll on the horse. She hadn’t been conditioned to handle that type of grueling work.
Her person, a well-meaning woman named Estelle, was distraught when she realized what she had “done” to her horse. Until they were out on the trail, Estelle didn’t realize that her fellow campers would be riding for several hours a day. For three days. On steep, rocky trails.
While riding with her fellow campers, Estelle had been caught up in the moment and probably wasn’t thinking clearly. The bay mare, wanting to stay...
EMHH Episode 12: Don't Overlook This if You Want a Sound Horse
You want your horse to enjoy a lifetime of sound, athletic movement. But you're probably overlooking the one thing that can help your horse enjoy sound, healthy movement.
In this episode, you'll learn why it's ESSENTIAL to pay attention to how your horse coordinates his movement, rather than focusing on the individual joints, muscles, etc.
Coordination is the key to healthy and balanced movement. It can reduce the risk of injury, allow strained parts to heal and restore freer, more youthful movement. It even affects your horse's emotional state!
Want to help your horse - and yourself - have more flexible, balanced and confident movement?
Click here to join the waitlist for our online group coaching program, "Move With Your Horse."
You'll be among the first to know when we open our doors again. And you'll get special bonuses!
Questions?...
EMHH Episode 4: Your Horse Has Habits Too - Here's How to Change Them
To get the FREE videos of Mary demonstrating the hands-on moves with a horse, go to MaryDebono.com/Horse.
Is your horse stiff to one side? Does your horse hollow her back or stand asymmetrically? Does he pin his ears when he tighten the girth?
In this episode, you'll learn how to identify and help change your horse's unhealthy habits of posture, movement and behavior.
You'll learn a gentle, effective way to enhance your horse's body awareness and help your horse release unhealthy habits of tensing muscles. This hands-on technique can also improve your "feel" and improve communication and connection between you and your horse. This is the first step in helping your horse experience more freedom and flexibility.
If you have any questions, please email [email protected].
I hope you join our FREE Facebook group, "Happy, Healthy Horsewomen."
I look forward to seeing you in the group!
xo, Mary
EMHH Episode 1: You Have to Do This Before Your Horse Can Improve
Click here to get the FREE videos of Mary demonstrating the hands-on moves with horses.
My goal in this podcast is to help you discover how you and your horse could have balanced fluid movement or relaxed mind, and a joyful connection with each other.
And one of the ways that I do that I help people get there is to take every day routine things that they do, like leading their horse, grooming their horse, tacking up their horse, and do them in such a way that it actually stimulates more flexible, balanced movement.
It can undo past damage to body and mind. It could encourage relaxation and responsiveness can encourage and create a positive learning state and build trust in partnership because you're inviting your horse into the conversation.
Questions? please email [email protected].
I hope you join our FREE Facebook group, "Happy, Healthy Horsewomen."
I look forward to seeing you in the group!
xo, Mary
Video Webinar - Using Feldenkrais to Improve Equine Performance and Partnership
Do you know who's been busy during the pandemic?
Wendy Murdoch!
An international clinician and creator of the SURE FOOT® equine stability program, Wendy has been using her stay-at-home time to interview DOZENS of equine experts.
And I'm honored to be one of them!
In the webinar, we discuss how the Feldenkrais Method® can improve equine athletic performance.
And to deepen your connection and partnership with your horse.
And so much more.
Some webinar nuggets:
00:06:00 - Learn the simple game that helped train my eye and predict how a horse would behave.
00:15:14 - I was so much older in my 20's! I had lots of aches and pains (including a hip problem and severe carpal tunnel syndrome). Then the Feldenkrais Method® changed my life.
00:28:50 - Does your horse struggle with one of these common issues?
00:43:09 - Why I help people upgrade their mindset habits. ...
Healing Sweet Pea's Suspensory Ligament Injury
The chestnut horse stood before me, her long mane gracing her arched neck.
I watched as the veterinarian and the horse’s person looked at a radiograph of the mare’s left front lower leg, which showed a clearly defined suspensory ligament.
The vet explained to the woman that the horse would not be able to recover from her suspensory ligament injury and would be permanently lame.
The woman was distraught by the news.
Confidently, I strode forward and announced that I could help the horse return to full soundness. I did my signature Debono Moves* work with the horse for five minutes and, magically, the horse healed.
Magically, indeed! Rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I recounted my dream.
I laughed at the arrogance of my dream self, but I didn’t dismiss the dream. It felt important. And there had to be a reason why the suspensory ligament was shown in such detail. I wondered what it all meant.
And just who WAS that beautiful horse?...
Think Outside the Stall
The chestnut horse’s life changed so drastically, so wonderfully, that having the ability to pick up both leads easily is hardly worth mentioning.
Except that the story starts with a problem at the canter. And an upcoming horse show. A big one.
I was teaching a two-week Debono Moves equine workshop at a large, picturesque facility. Green lawns studded with shady pepper trees surrounded the large barns, and riders had access to trainers of various riding disciplines.
Horses enjoyed the ample turnout paddocks and many happily lived outside year-round. All in all, it seemed like a lovely place to be a horse.
Except if you happened to be a horse in Barn A, Section 2.
That part of the barn was leased by a trainer who kept his charges locked up in dark stalls, the windows clamped shut to keep out light and to prevent the horses from experiencing the outside world. The equines were always outfitted with blankets and tail sets, and sometimes wore...
Help Your Horse Bend Better
This Simple Mindset Shift Can Transform A Stiff, Resistant Horse
Part 2: The Horse's Habits
In Part 1, I introduced you to Gina and her bay Arabian gelding, Piper. Gina was frustrated that Piper resisted bending, especially to the right.
Gina’s trainer had demanded that she use stronger, more insistent aids, but that just created more conflict and unpleasantness between horse and rider.
When Gina consulted me, I noticed that she sat heavier on her left seat bone, which made it difficult for her horse to bend. This unbalanced sitting can cause back pain, stiffness and tension in both horse and rider.
I led Gina through a Feldenkrais® exercise that improved her body awareness and helped her to sit balanced on her seat bones. Happily, it also got rid of her back pain and sciatica!
But the next time Gina rode, she was disappointed to discover that Piper still didn’t bend easily. She was sitting in balance, so why wasn’t her horse bending...
A Surprising Use for Your Lead Rope
***Important note about the video: Please be gentle! Your pressure should be VERY LIGHT and the movements should be subtle "suggestions." Never use force. Keep your hands and shoulders soft and relaxed.***
Don’t you love when something good comes out of something bad?
A number of years ago, my client Suzanne had a bay Morgan gelding with a suspensory injury.
Despite several months of veterinary care, farrier attention and TLC, the 12-year-old gelding was still off.
What ended up helping the horse was surprising.
Here’s what happened.
Suzanne asked me to give her horse, whose name is Bravo, a hands-on session.
I knew that helping the Morgan move more easily through his rib cage could alleviate stress on his front legs.
Less strain on his fore legs meant that he’d have a better chance of recovering from his suspensory injury.
But we had a small problem. Bravo wouldn’t...
