I have been getting asked a lot for tips for building a connection with a horse. Here is a simple example from a clinic last year where Lorena is helping Bundy to be with her. Please note Lorena is guiding Bundy by interrupting his thought when he disconnects from her. She is not simply asking Bundy to walk over poles, but constantly checking in with him and asking him to engage with her.

IT IS NOT ABOUT WALKING OVER THE POLE.

The poles are just an excuse to ask Bundy questions. We used short poles (about 2 foot long) to introduce a new challenge that would inspire Bundy to mentally engage more than normal.

The first part of the clip shows how much Bundy struggled both physically and mentally. But towards the end I hope you can see a big improvement with them both working more as a team. There was still more work to do, but togetherness and Bundy's softness grew steadily.

Thank you Lorena and Bundy.

What new tasks can you think of that might help improve the connection between you and your horse?