Alternative Horsemanship with Samantha Harvey is based on more than three decades of equine-related experiences as an equestrian student, equine competitor, horse instructor, mentor, equine business consultant, and offering horsemanship clinics worldwide.
Sam offers many services including starting colts and rehabilitating "difficult" horses, working with various breeds, ages, and disciplines at both a local and national level. She teaches horsemanship clinics, groundwork, horseback riding lessons, and more. Her Alternative Horsemanship training approach helps both competitive and pleasure riders of all levels and backgrounds. She teaches Horsemanship groundwork and riding lessons to help riders interpret and understand horse behavior and to refine their communication, and build trust with their horses.
She has lectured, presented, and offered demos at equine symposiums and expos. Sam has taught horsemanship skills and equine behavior to pre-veterinary students, been a featured speaker on nationally syndicated radio programs, and regularly posts to her award-winning horse blog. She also has a regular Horse Trainer column and has contributed to several published horsemanship books.
Samantha Harvey offers specialized horsemanship clinics worldwide working in South America, the Caribbean, the South Pacific, and most recently in Asia. She also offers several intensive Equine Retreats each season teaching horseback riders how to refine their mental, emotional, and physical approach to improve their partnership with the horse.
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Many equine enthusiasts struggle to find a balance in helping their horse achieve a mentally, emotionally, and physically healthy state.
This month's livestreams will break down in four discussions many of the contributing factors that affect the equine's health that influence his behaviors and ability to participate in a willing, safe, and reasonable manner.
Livestream Schedule:
The Horse's Mental Health
Saturday June 3rd 9am pst
The Horse's Emotional Health
Friday June 9th 6pm pst
The Horse's Physical Health
Saturday June 17th 9am pst
Healthy Horse Behaviors
Friday June 24th 6pm pst
Replays available.
Connecting all the pieces to create fluid and clear communication between rider and horse.
Livestream Saturday May 27 9am pst
Replays of Part 1, 2, & 3 Available
I am not an equal nutritionist, nor a vet, but this is a generalized list of things I've learned to see based on the last three decades of working with many unhealthy horses.
I start with an overall zoomed-out perspective. Watching the horse and how they stand when in a calm mental and emotional state can give us a lot of insight as to what they are physically feeling. If they are consistent in postures such as specific odd/compensating leg positions that they seem to repeat when in a standing position, it often reflects pain issues.
Noticing a "pointing" with a front hoof (trying to alleviate pain) can reflect the consequences of an inappropriate diet and a variety of lameness or diseases.
Feeling each hoof for heat can reflect inflammation.
When I look at the horse overall I'm noticing things like the length/texture/curl of their coat relative to the season, their age, and breed. I'm looking at the shine, which is not reflected based on how clean the horse is, but if the horse is producing healthy...
For those of you who don't know, I seasonally split my time into two locations. For years I've observed the difference in my horses' health as I shift from the Pacific Northwest to the desert Southwest.
From changes in the quality of hay to grazing options to the types of grasses available, to the freedom to move in the woods and on texture terrain versus flat open spaces, all affect their health.
I often get "troubled" horses that come here for mental re-education and an emotional reset. One of the major contributors to the horse's behavior is his physical health. It affects his mental clarity, ability to be present, sleeping habits, and his emotional rollercoaster.
On one hand, over the last few decades the horse community as a whole has begun to raise their awareness to consider things like the horse's gut health, being insulin resistant, etc. These things were never discussed decades ago.
On the other hand, I find the way in which crops are grown presently has a huge amount of human influence, ...
Many equine enthusiasts struggle to find a balance in helping their horse achieve a mentally, emotionally, and physically healthy state. This month's livestreams will break down in four discussions many of the contributing factors that affect the equine's health that influence his behaviors and ability to participate in a willing, safe, and reasonable manner.
Livestream Schedule:
The Horse's Mental Health
Saturday June 3rd 9am pst
The Horse's Emotional Health
Friday June 9th 6pm pst
The Horse's Physical Health
Saturday June 17th 9am pst
Healthy Horse Behaviors
Friday June 24th 6pm pst
Replays available.
