Amberley Marsden

We know why we love horses, but what’s in it for them? According to some animal rights activists, nothing. But anyone who has built a relationship with a horse knows that is not the case. Horses are herd animals, and they love to build relationships and work as a team. Photo Credit: A Sharper Image Photography Horses have this incredible ability to get in sync with one another. A herd of horses runs effortlessly as a whole, like a school of fish or a flock or birds. They operate through feel,...

Is dressage natural? That depends on how you view dressage. The word “dressage” simply means “training.” Is training natural? Absolutely – training/teaching/learning are part of adaptation as a species. Horses’ ability to learn and adapt determines their survival in the wild. Mares teach their foals, sometimes directly with a warning nip when the foal gets a little too rough. Sometimes indirectly, through example. Photo Credit: Jess Mayfield Photography What about humans training horses, is...

How much of your life do you spend in the present moment? As someone who has always tended to worry about things, I can tell you that I have spent a lot of time in the potential future. Not even the actual future; the potential future. Why is it only the “potential” future? Because, if you think about it, a lot of the things we worry about don’t end up coming true. Photo Credit: A Sharper Image Photography Have you noticed that many of us who own or ride horses seem to be prone to anxiety...