Buy One Get One Free – Gift Subscriptions

Product Description

Eclectic Horseman is a family-owned business that has been helping horse owners improve their skills and relationships with their horses for 25 years.

Offer Expires at midnight 12.31.25

Subscriptions will start with issue No.146

In This Issue:

Horse Drawn Farm – Horse Powered Produce By Katrina Hays Photos By Steven McBurnett
This article profiles Ken Akopiantz and Kathryn Thomas, market farmers on Lopez Island who have been utilizing draft horses for nearly 30 years to work their land. They embrace this method, which provides natural fertility for their crops and aligns with low-carbon, regenerative agriculture principles, noting that the relationship between human and horse is a patient and meditative partnership.

My Horse Has a Hard Mouth by Katrin Silva
Katrin challenges the idea of a horse having a “hard mouth,” arguing that a soft mouth comes not from forceful pulling or using severe or bitless tack, but from trust and clear communication. True softness is the result of an educated rider’s hands building a trusting partnership with the horse, allowing for an ongoing, respectful dialogue through the reins.

The Walk: Power Exercises By Deb Bennett, Ph.D.
Dr. Deb emphasizes structuring arena time for horses using a four-part plan (Warm-up, Old Stuff, New Stuff, Warm-down and Buddy Up) to maintain the horse’s interest and focus. It stresses that figure-riding—performing arena exercises like circles and serpentines—is crucial for developing the horse’s suppleness and ability to be steered by the hindquarters, not just the reins.

The Cricket By Martin Black
Martin discusses the importance of the cricket—a small, noisy mechanism in a spade bit—as a key indicator of a horse’s mental state and an aid to softness. Black argues that a horse actively rolling the cricket is exhibiting an active, soft tongue and jaw, which translates to overall body softness and a more willing, well-tuned working horse.

Book Excerpt: Introducing the Hackamore to the Young Horse By Mike Bridges
The key to successful hackamore riding is locating the “sweet spot”—the most responsive area on the horse’s nose—by slightly adjusting the bosal’s height over the first few rides. The author details specific groundwork exercises using the bosal to teach the horse to yield his face laterally and vertically to light pressure before being ridden, ensuring a responsive, non-resistant partner.

Get Ready for the Fair- A Whole Horse Approach: Inside the Community of Jennifer Truett
Dressage coach Jennifer Truett attributes her success to a holistic training philosophy rooted in diverse equestrian experience and a background in psychology, which she uses to analyze riding sessions with a calm, “flowchart style.” Beyond her technical skill, she has cultivated a dedicated, supportive community at Dancing Horse Farm and emphasizes the horse’s complete physical and mental wellness before beginning any serious training.

Make Space For a Meaningful Pause By Donnette Hicks
Donnette emphasizes that the human tendency to relentlessly push horses for immediate goals creates excessive pressure, leading to resistance and stress in the animal. Incorporating a meaningful pause into training is vital, as it allows the horse time to process and internalize learning, leading to a chemical change that fosters better communication and a higher state of learning.

I Worry for the Middle By Amy Skinner
Amy expresses concern that modern horsemanship is dominated by two extremes: the old style of excessive pressure and dismissal of the horse’s well-being, and the new style of over-coddling and permissiveness that fails to instill confidence and essential life skills. The author argues that the truly valuable, but increasingly rare, skill lies in finding the “still space” of nuance and guidance between these two poles, resulting in a handy, confident, and soft horse.