Relaxed & Forward Blog

Living the Question

"Why can't my horse behave for the farrier?" Sarah isn't the only one who asks this question. Picking up feet...
Read More about Living the Question

The Solitary Journey to the Heart of One Horse

I listened to a podcast interview with Jane Goodall this week. She is my personal superhero, and I will never...
Read More about The Solitary Journey to the Heart of One Horse

Calming Signals and Whiskers

I always thought of grooming as part of the warm-up for the ride. It's the price paid up front, a...
Read More about Calming Signals and Whiskers

Poetry Out Loud: Horse. Woman.

This blog will get back to some sort of new "normal" soon. What a year, huh? For now, just a...
Read More about Poetry Out Loud: Horse. Woman.

Calming Signals: How the Farm Says Thank You.

      It's Thanksgiving time and I should write something special, but I feel kind of ordinary. All I...
Read More about Calming Signals: How the Farm Says Thank You.

Altering Time to Benefit Your Horse

You have a plan for your horse and an expectation of how it will go, but it's taking way too...
Read More about Altering Time to Benefit Your Horse

Who’s Risk-Averse?

This week a stranger asked for my prayers. She posted a photo of an incredibly young girl with a crushed...
Read More about Who’s Risk-Averse?

Book Release: Horse. Woman.

Book Release! Available Now! Horse. Woman. Poems from Our Lives "It was a tough life if you was useless.” -Leafa...
Read More about Book Release: Horse. Woman.

Human Calming Signals: Authenticity

Some people are just so effortlessly magic with horses. They seem to do nothing, but horses hang on their every...
Read More about Human Calming Signals: Authenticity

Human Calming Signals: What’s Your Barn Persona?

How aware are we when we pull on a persona? We're usually aware when we tidy one up to make...
Read More about Human Calming Signals: What’s Your Barn Persona?

COVID-19 with Horses: How Are We Doing?

If horse people know one thing, it's that it's never just one thing. Having horses also means we partner with...
Read More about COVID-19 with Horses: How Are We Doing?

Real-Time Communication: The Land of What-If

My horse always pulls his head away. My horse never wants to go first on the trail. My horse always...
Read More about Real-Time Communication: The Land of What-If

Horse Woman, Our Narrative

Drawing by Rebecca Howard I usually write a gray mare rant annually on my birthday. I'm...
Read More about Horse Woman, Our Narrative

A List of Inedible Treats for Your Horse

It's funny how something someone says can turn over in your mind for years after. I had a visitor, and...
Read More about A List of Inedible Treats for Your Horse

Do You Need Riding Lessons?

It was a conversation about riding lessons. My friend said she thought it was strange that I'd worked so extensively...
Read More about Do You Need Riding Lessons?

Affirmative Training: Can You Take a Hint?

  It's a story that I've heard quite a few times. You've heard it too. The horse was getting a...
Read More about Affirmative Training: Can You Take a Hint?

How a Legend is Born

What is it about horses? I think I might have drawn them on cave walls at the beginning of time,...
Read More about How a Legend is Born

How to See It Like a Horse

My friend was tracing her Arabian's family tree. She'd driven north of Denver to see her horse's sire and ran...
Read More about How to See It Like a Horse

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your name and email to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.