Horse Geeks

Horse Geeks


Horse Geeks Episode 179: Restoring Healthy Function in Horse Rehab

April 03, 2025

The Horse Geeks Podcast - Where we look at horses and riding from the inside out

FREE TICKET link for the Art of the Horseman Online Horse Fair May 31-June 1, 2025 https://www.becauseofthehorse.net/a/23333/a2zsSgDH

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Topic: Changing habits of coordination is not an easy or quick process and there are many bumps in the road. Understanding the process that always includes a little difficulty, resistance to change, thresholds of physical changes and uncovering the mechanical issues that have been hidden helps us navigate through the process. Rehab, which involves altering patterns of coordination in both horse and rider, is often a messy process with lots of trial and error and wobbles along the way. It's sometimes good to know that is just how things go. While we seek the path of least resistance by adjusting in order to reduce defensiveness and increase cooperation, changing physical habits and restoring function to under used parts of the body is not easy for people or horses. The balance, comfort and ease that is on the other side of the these changes in coordination is something that we can understand as people but our horses will not understand until we work through the challenge and our horse experiences the ease first hand.

Guest: Deb Romero, Certified Alexander Technique Instructor
www.optimalposture.org

Host: Kirsten Nelsen, professional horse trainer
Developer of Training for Optimal Balance
https://kirstennelsen.com/

The workbook series mentioned is only available at: https://kirstennelsen.com/shop/