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kirstennelsen
United States
Приєднався 10 бер 2010
Kirsten Nelsen, professional horse trainer, owner of Wexford Training Inc. and developer of the teaching program, Training for Optimal Balance, shares theory, ideas, strategies and techniques to help horse owners improve knowledge, skills and training strategies in order to train their own horses successfully. All training ideas shared are compassionate, creative and always put the horse's health and well-being first.
170: Helping Our Horse Thrive
If we are not paying attention to signs of stress that our horse communicates and just call it naughty or disobedient, then horses suffer in the hands of humans. If we don't understand the essentials for healthy horse coordination, then our horse also suffers our ignorance by adapting and getting on with things while sustaining low or high levels of chronic discomfort internally. We can only help horses thrive in the domestic environment by understanding what horses need from us, how it is not optional for horses to feel safe and comfortable during work and how we can help our horse feel that way by how we work with our horse all the time.
Guest: Deb Romero, Certified Alexander Technique Instructor
www.optimalposture.org
Host: Kirsten Nelsen, professional horse trainer
developer of Training for Optimal Balance
www.kirstennelsen.com
Guest: Deb Romero, Certified Alexander Technique Instructor
www.optimalposture.org
Host: Kirsten Nelsen, professional horse trainer
developer of Training for Optimal Balance
www.kirstennelsen.com
Переглядів: 16
Відео
Improved Horse Balance on Long Reins
Переглядів 218 годин тому
01/16/25 Tracey and Stitch Stitch is showing some physical changes on the outside that are reflecting changes to skeletal coordination and strength building on the inside. Changes are starting to show through behavior, movement and outside appearances. As it gets easier for Stitch to work on circles more regularly, then the changes will gain even more traction. Schedule your own FREE intro less...
Transitioning Balance from Forehand to Hindquarters
Переглядів 4114 днів тому
01/02/25 Tracey and Pablo Suppling Pablo's forehand, especially the thoracic sling, is improving a lot because the spine is more stable through the back and because the pelvis is more engaged, allowing him to use the hindquarters as he should. This is a slow transfer from stabilizing on the forehand to stabilizing through the back and hindquarters, which is what lightens and supples the front e...
169: Balance is in The Middle
Переглядів 3728 днів тому
When we begin to understand what balance means in mind and body, we also come to see that our goal is not out there, ahead of us. Instead, our goal is in the middle, between 2 opposing problems, two directions, or any duality. Balance is an equalization of whoa and go, left and right, energy and relaxation or equal parts of any opposite qualities. Anything we have or do in excess is what define...
168: How Horses Respond to Aids
Переглядів 31Місяць тому
Any aid we give a horse, using reins, legs, seat or tools, does not automatically mean that our horse responds the way we want or does what we think we are asking for. Aids are a dynamic resistant force that we apply. Aid resist what is currently happening but does not really tell our horse what to do. We give a leg aid when we want to resist the current speed in order to get more speed from ou...
Rehabbing Suspensory Strain using Long Reins
Переглядів 56Місяць тому
12/12/24 Ginny with Talie, Bee and Storm It's a long one! Talie continues rehabbing a hind suspensory strain on the long reins, with the need to adjust and adapt during the healing process. Bee, another gaited horse, continues to make general improvements in her movement but unable to make a full change of posture yet. Both are good examples of how we have to adapt to what the horse is telling ...
Rafalko 9
Переглядів 133Місяць тому
11/17/24 Rafalko begins working on trot as our cooler weather project for the next few months. This is the first year he has been able to trot consistently for several sessions without showing any signs of lameness. I am excited to play with trot and canter, at least on the long reins, all winter. Kirsten Nelsen, professional horse trainer developer of Training for Optimal Balance www.kirstenne...
167: Feeling Leads to Seeing Our Horse
Переглядів 36Місяць тому
Because horses are naturally masters of compensation, in order to avoid the eye of a predator, we really have to feel balance before we can fully recognize it visually. We all try to determine if our horse is moving well by what we see in the use of the head, neck or legs. But how our horse balances during motion is determined by much deeper, more central parts of the body that then dictate how...
Improving Engagement with Long Reins
Переглядів 71Місяць тому
12/05/24 Tracey and Stitch Stitch has made big changes since the last video check in and the internal changes are starting to show in his body and movement. The circle getting easier for Stitch is the result of building core muscles strength, releasing outer muscle tension and making some positive changes regarding axial skeletal coordination. Discussion also includes how to recognize a thresho...
Prima 6
Переглядів 105Місяць тому
11/17/24 Prima continues with the same exercise, walking on small circles with the long reins, and her body condition continues to show improvement. Kirsten Nelsen, professional horse trainer developer of Training for Optimal Balance www.kirstennelsen.com
166: Our Horse's Nervous System
Переглядів 40Місяць тому
Dr. Hancock shares with us some important parts of our horse's nervous system that we may be influencing without really knowing it. The more we understand about how our horse's body works, which parts of the body are key parts of the nervous system, the more we can make better choices for our horse's well being. Both health and performance are affected by how well or how poorly our horse uses t...
Lexi 9
Переглядів 48Місяць тому
11/17/24 Lexi working under saddle. We had to take a step back from working on rhythm in the walk, using a tempo on the metronome, into full transitions to halt and even from halt to "up and back". When a half halt does not help stabilize the back and hindquarters within forward motion, then a full downward transition, full halt, and even an up-and-back movement which we can think of as a halt ...
165: The Anticipatory Reflex
Переглядів 29Місяць тому
The anticipatory reflex is an unconscious, core reaction in us and our horse as soon as we perceive a possible threat or possible destabilizing action to the body. This reflex is why we can't help but tighten everywhere when our horse does something unexpected, even when it is not dangerous. It's also why our horse acts out suddenly when something unexpected happens in the environment. We and o...
Rarely Wrong 9
Переглядів 115Місяць тому
11/17/24 Rarely's groundwork shifts from the very little support or guidance used in lunging into very supported and guided work of long reins on a small circle. So far, so good. Rarely seems to need the physical support in order to fully shift out of the posture of extension into the posture of long and low - which speaks to her struggles regarding axial skeletal coordination and stability. Ki...
164: Heliacal Star, a Book about a Racehorse
Переглядів 422 місяці тому
Author Victor Bahna joins us to talk about his new fictional thriller book about a Thoroughbred race horse named Heliacal Star. Victor shares his background with racing and race horses and how the book took shape. I share some of my favorite parts of the book, without giving away the story or ending! And of course, two horse people always have to share a bunch of horse stories and opinions. If ...
Use of Long Reins Affects Horse Balance
Переглядів 2432 місяці тому
Use of Long Reins Affects Horse Balance
How to Feel More through Our Seat as Riders
Переглядів 902 місяці тому
How to Feel More through Our Seat as Riders
going left at the beginning with the head/neck going to the right- is the tension on the outside rein causing that?
Great question - yes and no - the tension on the outside rein is increased when the horse makes the inside rein slack. The inside rein is slack because the body weight is tilted to the inside. The outside rein is adjusting the hindquarters, equalizing weight left to right. The neck bending to the outside means a significant weight adjustment is required in order to restore balance. As the pelvis stabilizes and weight is equalized left to right, then the neck will straighten out without the horse putting slack on the inside rein. It is a complex groundwork technique that equalizes internal body weight laterally and stabilizes movement from back to front. It looks backwards in the early stages if the horse is disengaged and on the forehand when starting.
Just don’t accidentally spill it under your favorite oak tree. It’s a root killer.
It is really caustic! Thanks for the tip. While it works to dehydrate and disinfect on hooves it is something to be careful with on skin or roots or any living tissue.
volume is too low. Hard to hear what you are saying.
Thanks for letting me know. Checking sound feels constant and is where I seem to have the most trouble! Will double check my settings and batteries again. Thank you for letting me know.
I was at a barn today for my granddaughters riding lesson. first time there - one of the horses had a cribbing collar on but it was sooo tight, i couldnt get a finger thru it at all. the horse kept coming to me and putting its neck near me to say..help me, its too tight. i was scratching his neck and side of face. He looked uncomfortable even when he was turned out.
That is more common than not. It is tough because the cribbing horse is hard on the property so the collar gets tighter until the cribbing stops. Even though the instructions are out there what you saw is also what I see all too often. All we can do is share info about a proper fit.
I love how you all do get off subject sometimes because it reminds me that it’s ok to be on one topic with your horse and have your horse offer up something else helpful and it’s ok to go there with them. I loved this podcast!
Thanks! Sometimes those tangents are the most valuable pieces! So glad to know that you enjoy the podcast too. Keeps us motivated to continue!!
Thank you so much or having me on your show, Kirsten! It was a joy to discuss horses with you.
You're most welcome! It was a joy to speak with you as well.
So interesting. Lifelong rider and I always struggle to feel settled in a saddle. I appreciate the repetitions and precise explanation.
I’m glad you found it helpful! We are told so often that we are not bold enough or don’t have enough talent - what we have is a physical challenge that is left completely and entirely unaddressed. I find it ironic that over 60% of horse owners are women and yet the archaic instruction is still geared to the male skeleton. This is where tradition has failed to keep up.
@ I find this helps with my everyday standing and walking posture, too.
How much of a horse's crookedness is due to the rider's imbalance?
A crooked rider can cause a horse to become crooked - because we are mass with weight that has a direct impact. Most of the time both horses and riders have their own habits of left to right imbalances., so it takes a bit of time to sort out. A crooked horse can cause a rider to become crooked if we are not aware of how to balance ourself on an unbalanced horse. Again - most of the time it is chicken and egg, hard to tell who influenced who because often times the horse we ride the most reflects our same left to right imbalances. Someone times the rider naturally counterbalances a horse’s crookedness, but that does not remedy imbalances, we just cope a little easier.
Hi from Tasmania, just wanted to say thankyou so much, I've been listening to your podcasts for awhile now and have learnt so so much, this one was very interesting as I've also been recommended long trot, ground poles but no hills by my vet. I've been using ground poles in a small way at walk with my Arab who is still on a rehab program. I shall now put my poles away 😊regards Kim
Thanks so much Kim! I am so glad you are finding the podcasts useful!
Generally how long would a training session practicing this last?
It can be done in short sessions or long ones, up to an hour like a normal training session. What I look for is the horse’s energy to come down a bit towards calmness even if not achieved fully in any single session. If the horse’s energy is escalating away from calmness after 10-15 min then I would try a different exercise that involves movement first and maybe do a little time with standing still at the end, after moving around a bit. As long as the horse is getting a bit calmer each time, then it will take hold. But every horse has a unique time frame for learning.
Any chance you can share some of the 60 bpm songs or playlists mentioned ?
I remember “mustang sally” from just a quick google search I did. I also found one of my favs “Feeling Good” by Nina Simone is also 60bpm. I just did a google search for songs at 60bpm and there were huge playlists offered by Spotify and Amazon. Wasn’t too hard to find in searches on your favorite platforms or google.
So interesting that molasses is an inflammatory yet stephanie told me to feed whatever it takes, including molasses, to get my horse to eat NAC which was part of her protocol. His Insulin went from 84 to over 200.
That certainly is interesting! As far as I know from my first interview with Stephanie she had molasses on the list of 5 top ingredients to eliminate. Have your horse’s numbers gone back down? Did you eliminate molasses? Just curious as I am learning about this too!
You can't spur algebra into your kid's head! I love that❤
Hübsch ❤
❤❤❤ sooo much relevant and amazing info- for Any rider🎉🎉 What moved the most was the Owner feeling Understood and Heard in her concerns, your responses🎊🎊. Her feeling more comfortable about her horse and Self is One of the most important feedback a trainer can offer- a rarity, indeed. Thanks to the owner and Kirsten Nielson for sharing this personalized jouney with anybody interested in learning❤❤❤
Great info. Can you talk about instability and stumbling, either front feet or back feet? The occasional toe stumble, even when they land heel first most of the time. Barefoot and sound! Yay!
Great suggestion! Yes. That will be a great topic for an upcoming podcast - soon. Thanks for the idea.
😂😂 we humans can find reason why something is not working ( getting my legs around my horse) and accept that. Once you shared your awesome knowledge - I became more aware of my own body/ MY spinal stability. This morning - 2 month later am rewatching this great educational lesson and am super greatful for you! Paying attention to my own balance First, than my horses', sure makes a BIG difference. We have progress for sure...update soon to be avaiable❤❤❤ Thanks Kirsten and Deborah❤❤❤
When the student is ready the horse (or mule) will appear.. Fascinating and exciting. This is a great explanation of what's going on in my mare that no one has addressed before. Thank you for what you do!
❤you two bring much needed info FOR the horse-via the learning human.🎉🎉 Thank you so very much for brining this free education and -for me-make me THINK!❤❤
Great information, thank you!👏
Thanks for sharing :) Do you use Science of Motion in your work ?
Jean Luc has been an important mentor of mine. I differ in techniques from the Science of Motion methodology somewhat, but the goals are the same and the theory for developing balance is the same.
@kirstennelsen that's great! Interested to see how you implement it :)
What about Vaseline?
That works as a barrier, it just does not have disinfecting or dehydrating qualities. As a barrier to moisture, Vaseline and hoof barriers can also act to trap moisture inside the hoof.
Am incredibly grateful to have learned from those two wonderful ladies how to move my body with more ease and efficency. My horse seems to notice the change as well- she too is more at ease moving in a relaxed, yet stable manner with me on her back. ❤❤❤ to both of you❤❤❤
Arab's are one of the most resilient breeds on earth. The thing I'm wondering is chiropractic treatment which most horse owners forget. Carrying weight on any back is going to affect skeleton alignment over the years. I had one full Arab and one Arab and saddlebred cross. Knees went out and rehomed to good trustworthy friends and still have them. Being 31 is incredible to begin with. She's beautiful.❤
Yes. The princess does get regular body work that is chiropractic in nature but works more with soft tissues. She loves it and it has helped her a lot. She is also just tough as nails that mare!
Good info, thanks! With Vern's EPM i always need to check for sweat or lack of... i also liked the physiology behind the heat acclimation, makes complete sense when u live with 4 seasons it does take a bit to get used to the weather changes.
Loved this podcast
❤Hercules
"The one place your horses still go upside down is during the transition from walk to halt and from halt to walk"...wise words Ladies.
This is a comprehensive summary of everything I needed to learn to work with Blaze. Watching what you are doing with the reins, legs,and back, listening to the introduction of what you are doing, and the continuing explanation of what is going on - all very helpful.
I DID read the article - 2x ( thanks for sharing/providing ❤❤) and Kinda understood, but you two ladies going over details and explaining sure helped. One thing I did not realize was the " Rib-cage, as a Stability muscle". Need to wrap my head around it for a little more ... Envious of you two, because you have each other to bounce off/ discuss/ brainstorm valuable reseach- findings. My horsie-friends are just not interested 😮 (besides Steph, that is). Thank you both for sharing so freely❤❤❤
That is why we started horse geeks - for the rest of us!
Wait. Is she saying that a strangulating lipoma can be caused by a grain diet? I've looked and looked and asked vets if there is any way to prevent this. They all said no. One of mine had 7 feet of small intestine taken out, and did well, but then had another strangulation a year and a half later and we lost him. 😞 He was a very picky eater (and hard keeper TB) and never did well on an all forage diet. I tried. So I did add some senior feed so he would actually eat. 😐
I need to do a follow up podcast about my horse that had 5 lipomas surgically removed. Just pure luck that none were strangulating. My mare lost a lot of weight on the forage diet and it has been hard to get back on her. BUT her poops restored to normal texture and not a single colic episode since. When I first tried the forage diet and she lost all that weight I panicked and put her back on senior. Then she had a bad colic - post surgery - where I thought I would lose her. I put her back on the forage diet knowing her poops had changed and just had to deal with weight issues another way. Losing weight became less of a problem than the colics! There is no direct proof that lipomas are an inflammatory response or related to the diet. I just know the theory as something new to consider and the anti inflammatory diet has definitely helped my now 31 year old mare remain colic free even though I still struggle to keep weight on her.
@@kirstennelsen thanks for the response. Strangulating lipomas are so frustrating and devastating. I've never seen a horse in so much pain in all my years. There just must be something to prevent this horrific experience. I look forward to the follow up podcast. 💜
@@theradiantcrone it is heartbreaking and without relief until surgery - and even then… Personally, just imho, I see the correlation between grain diet and lipomas in my mare. She lost a lot of weight but then I wondered if that wasn’t the truth of her body underneath chronic inflammation. Even though very skinny her poops returned to normal, soft ball formation where they had been cow patties or rock hard. Her movement improved with more willingness to go forward. But she looked like a rescue horse where she used to be a plump easy keeper. It was a struggle but she has not had any colics since. All worth it. I show my mare’s recovery under the playlist Wexford Training Barn on this channel under Prima 1,2, 3 etc if you are interested. It is slow but working. Am planning another update early August and I think she finally shows tangible improvement in weight and muscle.
My two favorite Teachers and Mentors 🎉🎉🎉🎉. Amazing Zoom- learning more and more about the fallacies of Cookie-cutter online courses.
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can I ask how many of those things you used for your house and what did it look really like in your yard or in did it have come in the mail yet and how
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and the only reason we don’t want him to come is that he’s we are the not a team we have the talent but he has to play in the right direction position so to be honest he is the one to play for the best club and I
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do I have a good time at work tomorrow morning at seven I can get go for it I don’t think it’s too late I have
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😢😊😢😅😂😅❤😅❤😅😂😮🎉🎉😮🎉😅😂😅😂😅😂😮😂😮🎉😮🎉😂😅😅❤😂😅😂😅😮😂😮🎉😮🎉🎉😮😂😅😂😅😂😅😂😅😂😅😂😮😮😂😮🎉😮🎉😮😅😅😂😅😂😅😂😅😂😮🎉😮🎉😮😂😅❤😂😅😂😅😅😂😅😂🎉
Ahhhh. NOW I get it! This is a great explanation. On inside circle inside front and outside hind ABduct and outside front and inside hind aDduct ( am better " seeing it in diagonals). I remember ABduction as " somebody is taken away" ( only have to remember one😂). Now I just have to figure out what would happen to rest of legs if outside front aBducts.
You will see the front legs go the opposite way when the horse bends the neck to the inside of a turn. The neck bend rotates the back - so the inside front adducts towards the midline and the outside front has to abduct away from the midline. This how horses “escape through the outside shoulder” but it is just the horse trying not to fall over when we try to make the midline and neck a banana 🍌
Pausing to interrupt a habit🎉🎉🎉❤❤. Love jt- will be another of motto❤
One of my two is very bug sensitive. Agree on using the SWAT on the belly. I also use on his sheath area or any little spots that he has scratched raw. In his ears I use Dermafas, as those get irritated by bugs quickly. Fly mask with ear covers. -- I haven't looked into allergy shots. That's an interesting idea. Thankfully I have Summer Sore flies / nematodes under control, so it's just regular fly situation. -- Gotta combine fly management with the avoiding raw spots from scratching etc. It's a complex situation. Thanks for your video.
Thanks for the extra info on product and I am glad you found the video helpful.
I aquire a dysfunctional balance after an accident- am aiming to get back into my functual Optimal balance?
Whenever we have an accident or injury the nervous system sets up a detour. We and our horses automatically alter our coordination to protect the problem, letting it heal, by working around it. Once we are healed the detour remains in place as a new habit in the nervous system unless we actively, consciously restore ideal coordination or use. This is why physical therapy exists for people - and is what we have to focus on as part of training our horses.
Love the " Allow Space" for the horse - much more fitting than Micromanaging.
Ohhhh❤❤❤ what an Eye-opener🎉🎉. I always hated the stiff perched riders...so, I moved with the horse...but it was not. A Still move- more like a Drunk Sailor😂😂 ( or rag-doll)- unbalancing my horse even more. Thanks to you two amazinng ladies and a great Zoom with Kristen I can NOW feel the difference in Self and my horse🎉🎉🎉
❤from contraction to relaxation...the in-between to me sounds like a " healing-crises". Makes so much sense now, how difficult this in-between phase is for horses. I want my horse to feel Safe with me, trust me- that's the relationship I want. What I have now is wonderful- but my horses deserve more. Thanks-as always...you guys make me THINK!!❤❤❤
And WHY is this amazing info not known to average mortal? So much info to digest- can't wait to have it all sink in. Instability!! Thank you two ladies so much🎉🎉
So boring.... tzzzzz
no one is making you watch... move along then
What's that name
Of horse? Prima
Turtle-Dust😅😅😅 that's what my rather imbalanced lil pony " kicks up". Love the ' straighness" thru tight turns. Your explanation ( not sure here or in the other videos I bing-watched) of " neck will straighten out last" ( think I quited this correctly). Thank you so very much fir all the great sensible info. Will DEFINATELY get your help in long-reining🎉🎉
Watching this one now❤. The owner is sooo endearing- had to giggle lil on the tangled ropes and her calm repeated ask to ask the equaly endearing horse to move. I can see myself do same. Great learning video- and soooo much education fro. You. Thank you🎉🎉
Interesting!! I heard you say : " tighten hindend lead and give slack to front lead" in the beginning, but ...I did not " get it " until end of video😅😅😅😅. Will re-watch a few more times. Just started to be interested in long-reining...your apporach- as far as I comprehend at ti's point- seems the most sensible one🎉🎉🎉. Thank you❤
It works literally back to front on long reins so it can take awhile to really grasp how it works the way I teach - but the results are consistently amazing. Worth the effort.
Thank you@@kirstennelsen