Amberley Marsden

Why do we show, and what makes horses shows so alluring? The answers vary for different people, depending on their personalities, goals, and experiences. Shows can be something we look forward to throughout the year, something we fear, or something that is just part of the industry. Photo Credit: Jess Mayfield Photography With show season well underway, those of us who show are right in the thick of things. Some of my students have already gone to five shows this spring, and it’s barely the...

What is one of the most powerful tools we have in our toolbox, that comes naturally? Maybe the answer will surprise you: visualization. Most of us think in pictures and have vivid imaginations. We use visualization all the time to create our reality, whether we realize it or not. Photo Credit: A Sharper Image Photography Have you ever focused really hard on something you wanted, and had it come to you? Maybe it was your horse, or something for your horse such as a new saddle. Perhaps it was...

How easy does your horse find dressage? How about learning in general? For some horses, things come naturally. For others, only certain things come naturally. Others still seem to struggle with most things we try to teach them. Photo Credit: A Sharper Image Photography I’m sure we’ve all met those humans who seem to be naturally gifted. You know, the ones who are insanely talented, who never seem to have to work at anything? They may play a variety of sports successfully, or perhaps they’re a...