There was a moment in my life when everything changed in an instant.

In the days before the accident, I was walking the barn aisle, feeding my animals, taking my horses out, and having fun.

Then everything shifted.

Suddenly… I couldn’t stand on my own.

Losing My Way of Life:

I lost my ability to move freely.

I lost my way of life.

I lost the freedom to care for myself — and the animals who depended on me.

And no one prepares you for what that does to your mental and emotional state.

Yes, there was physical pain — and plenty of it!

But what shattered me the most was the dependency I now had…

• The loss of independence in the most personal ways.
• The inability to do the simplest things without help.

If you live your life around horses, you understand this at a different level.

• When you can’t get to the barn…
• When you can’t lift feed bags…
• When you can’t turn horses out…
• When you can’t show up the way you always have…

You don’t just lose movement.

You lose a part of who you are.

The Decision That Changed Everything:

In the middle of that darkness, I made one decision…

“I was not going to quit on myself and I refused to quit on my horses.”

Because who would take care of them without me?

They became my reason to keep fighting.

What Happened Next:

As the months passed, my body began to change in ways that terrified me…

• Bone and cartilage loss
• Inflammation and swelling
• Metabolic shifts
• Depression
• PTSD
• Anxiety
• Memory loss
• Brain fog and confusion

I looked and felt as if I had aged ten years overnight.

And that’s when something clicked.

My accident was instant.

But the internal breakdown that followed?

That’s the same kind of breakdown many people experience slowly over time.

Not from trauma.

• From years of inflammation building quietly.
• From oxidative stress that goes unnoticed.
• From metabolic shifts we brush off as “just getting older.”
• From pushing through exhaustion because the horses still need to be fed.

Mine happened fast.

For many people, it happens gradually.

But the end result can look painfully similar.

• Needing help to move.
• Needing help to function.
• Needing help to live independently.

Why Prevention Matters to Me:

Chronic illness doesn’t always happen overnight.

But it can lead to the same result – loss of independence.

“And I knew I never wanted to experience that kind of dependency again as long as I lived.”

That’s why I became passionate about prevention.

Not because I’m afraid of disease.

But because I know exactly what it feels like to lose your independence.

And for those of us who love horses, losing independence doesn’t just affect us.

It affects our animals – who rely on us every single day.

So instead of accepting decline, I rebuilt my life from the inside out.

• Reducing inflammation.
• Supporting my cells.
• Stabilizing my metabolism.
• Protecting my brain.
• Filling nutritional gaps consistently.

Not extreme – Not trendy – Just intentional.

And slowly… my body responded.

My Mission Now:

Today, I am almost back to normal physically.

But internally and overall?

I am healthier and feel younger now than I did before the accident.

Even though I’m still finishing the final stages of recovery — physically, mentally, emotionally —

My mission is simple:

“To reach back and help others get through to the other side.”

• To protect their strength and vitality long-term.
• To help prevent chronic illness before it steals their independence.
• To help horsewomen stay strong enough to keep doing what they love into their 90s.

A Personal Invitation:

If you’re reading this, I’d love to give you a free internal health assessment and scan using a brand new health and wellness device.

Us horsewomen need to be healthy, not only for ourselves, but for our family, and especially for our animals.

If you’re local, we’ll do it in person. If you’re not, we can do it remotely.

Using the Prysm iO, we can actually see where your internal health stands right now – especially your antioxidants, immune system, and cellular health.

• No guessing
• No assumptions
• No judgement, just awareness

“What is not measured, can not be improved” – William Kelvin

If you’d like to learn more about this device first, you can visit the link below:

 https://aginggracefullywithteddie.com

If you’re ready to schedule your free assessment and scan, simply message me at m.me/teddieziegler or email me.

“Because prevention is easier than recovery.”

And staying strong and healthy enough to care for the horses you love is definitely worth protecting!

— Teddie

Below is a video of me and Merlin today, enjoying life again together.

This simple task, after 3 years of turmoil and recovery (starting from a wheelchair), meant the world to both of us.

The post Where I’ve Been – The Truth Behind My Silence appeared first on Teddie Ziegler Horsemanship.

If you have been following me on Facebook, you’ll have seen lots of pictures and stories.  If you don’t follow me, please look me up and send me a friend request.  I’d love to interact more with you.

I am still using a full leg brace and a quad cane when I am out with Merlin.  But that is only as a precaution.

This week is my one-year mark from the accident and at home, at PT, and anywhere that it is flat (safe) ground, I can walk almost normally. I still have a slight limp and I use a regular cane, but that is a whole lot better than before.  Yippee!!

As everything is connected…my complications have been with my hip and back even though I didn’t injure them.  So, I still have to use a cane as my hip has not gained enough strength to support me yet.  I can walk without it in the house but I’ve learned doing that only makes me lean over and take shorter strides which then causes injury to my back.

I have to be mindful to teach my body how to walk normally.  Nothing is automatic yet so I still have to tell myself to stand up straight, put my bad leg all the way out, walk through with a normal stride, and not pick up my bad leg until I am on my toes.  And then I have to say it again, and again.

As of the last doctor’s appointment:

1. I can bend my knee to 130 degrees (just barely) so I am starting to learn how to go down steps now.
2. All my bones are healed well but they found osteopenia in my lower back.
3. I have severe PTSD so leaving the house and trying to do normal activities is extremely difficult.
4. My depression is improving and so is my anxiety.
5. I have insomnia and can’t sleep past 3 hours, which makes life very difficult.
6. And even though I still have leg pain most of the time, the severity has diminished and is tolerable.  Unless of course, I try to do something normal like walking a mile, cleaning the house, or going up steps.

I am so grateful for my horse Merlin!

I get out to see Merlin at least once every two weeks as I have to depend on others to get me there.  I can drive, but being around the horses I need backup just in case.  My balance is still not good and we all know how fast a horse can be if he spooks or decides to go in another direction.  I trust Merlin, but I need to play it safe.

Every time I see him, my whole world feels like it’s all ok and everything is going to be great again.  He lifts my spirits and our connection warms my heart every time.  Horses are such healing creatures and blessings.

I have one more year of recovery to learn how to go up and down steps with two legs instead of just one, to learn to turn and twist, how to move faster than a walk, and how to do normal activities that require me to bend over, squat, lean, etc.  Plus, I need to continue to learn how to walk without a limp or assistance.

One of those things I have to learn how to do again is ride.  But “come hell or high water” as they say, I’m going to get there no matter what the doctors say.  We horsewomen have the spirit and determination most people don’t when it comes to our horses!

Thank you all for your continued support and emails.  They have really made a difference for me and have been an inspiration.

I wanted to share with all of you a video of me walking for the first time without my cane.

Of course, I did it with Merlin and he helped me the whole time. He knew I was still injured and he took such care to go as slow as I was and to stay at a safe distance while still helping me balance. I love this little guy. He’s only 3 but so gentle and smart.

Happy Horses!  And until next time, give your horses all the love in the world as they deserve it.

The post It’s Been A While… appeared first on Teddie Ziegler Horsemanship.

Here is a list of 21 positive Tips to bring you happiness in the New Year! 

1. Stay Positive…

You can listen to the cynics and doubters and believe that success is impossible or you can trust that with faith and an optimistic attitude, all things are possible.

2. Take a daily “Thank You Walk”…

You can’t be stressed and thankful at the same time. Feel blessed and you won’t be stressed.

3. Be Healthier…

Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and less foods manufactured in plants.

4. Talk to yourself instead of listening to yourself…

Instead of listening to your complaints, fears, and doubts, talk to yourself with words of truth and encouragement.

5. Post a sign that says, “No Energy Vampires Allowed”…

Gandhi said, “I will not let anyone walk through my mind with their dirty feet,” and neither should you!

6. Be a Positive Team Member…

Being positive doesn’t just make you better, it makes everyone around you better.

7. Don’t chase success…

Decide to make a difference and success will find you.

8. Get more sleep…

You can’t replace sleep with a double latte.

9. Don’t waste your precious energy on negativity…

Stop spending time with gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts, or things you cannot control.

10. Look for opportunities to Love, Serve, and Care…

You don’t have to be great to serve but you have to serve to be great.

11. Live your purpose…

Remember why you do what you do. We don’t get burned out because of what we do. We get burned out because we forget why we do it.

12. Remember, there’s no such thing as an overnight success…

Love the process and you’ll love what the process produces.

13. Trust…

Trust that everything happens for a reason and expect good things to come out of challenging experiences.

14. Implement the No Complaining Rule…

If you are complaining, you’re not leading.

15. Read more books…

I happen to know of a few good ones I can tell you.

16. Don’t seek happiness…

Instead live with love, passion, and purpose and happiness will find you.

17. Focus on “get to” vs “have to”…

Each day focus on what you get to do, not what you have to do. Life is a gift, not an obligation.

18. Don’t be afraid to “fail”…

The next time you “fail” remember that it’s not meant to define you. It’s meant to refine you.

19. Smile and laugh more…

They are natural anti-depressants.

20. Make time for relationships…

We are better together and the more we connect with great friends the more enjoyable life becomes.

21. Enjoy the ride…

You only have one ride through life so make the most of it and enjoy it.

How will you make 2024 more positive?

I have decided to finish a few things that I started in 2023.

You could also call them my 2024 Resolutions.

1. Making people’s dreams come true by continuing to develop and expand my business.
2. Finish writing and publish my third book in my “Helping Horses” series.
3. Continue healing to the best of my ability through the tragedies of 2023.

I hope you and your horse have an amazing 2024. Until next time, Happy Horses!

The post 21 Positive Tips for 2024 appeared first on Teddie Ziegler Horsemanship.

First, let me say thank you to Mark for filling in and doing a great job writing the weekly blogs while I was down.  He always has something interesting to talk about and is very helpful.

And if you haven’t checked out his new HorseConscious.com, don’t miss out.  It is a passion that will grow and blossom in the next few months.

Now, after two long surgeries, 16 days laid up in the hospital, and two weeks at home – I am doing ok.  I still can’t put any weight on my leg so I’m stuck to a chair.  When I do try to use a walker to get around a little, I have to hop on one leg.

Let me tell you, my good leg is really not liking doing it all.  Nor do my arms like the continual push-ups on the walker to move.  But the rest of my body has to adjust as my leg heals.

But I’ve learned a lot about some great natural supplements for bone, cartilage, and collagen.  Plus a friend and neurologist told me about this amazing device for light, color, and sound therapy.

When you have a severe injury like this, your mind and body get disconnected.  And that is just what happened.  As of 4 days ago when my brain told my thigh to lift my leg, nothing happened.  I could not lift my leg or make it move at all.

It felt like a fake thing attached to my body.  So strange! 

But after using the neurological device and the light therapy for entrainment, pain reduction, and reconnecting my brain to my body…I can now lift my leg and it moves how my brain asks it to.  I am very grateful for this.

If you want to know further details on the natural supplements I’m using or the amazing light, color, and sound therapy device, just message or email me.

It’s going to be a long haul to recovery, 4-6 more weeks until I can put weight on it, and then 3-4 months of learning to walk again.  But I have no other choice and I’m willing to put in the time and effort to make it work.

Now on to how it happened…

Short story, a freak accident.  I was playing with Merlin and just walking around the arena watching him have fun.  I stepped up and then off a few steps and must have landed firmly in a low spot in the arena.

My leg stayed in one place as my body turned to go in another and there was a “snap, crackle, and pop”. Oops!  Nothing I or my horse did wrong.  It was just one of those unlucky moments.

Luckily my husband was there and was able to call an ambulance and help me.

What was amazing was that Merlin knew I was hurt and exactly where I was hurt.  He came right over to me and started licking my leg.  He was so thoughtful and looked worried.

Since I was worried he might start to paw at my leg, I asked my husband to take Merlin out of the arena and back to his pasture.

He said Merlin really fought him on leaving and didn’t want to leave my side, much less the arena.  He said Merlin looked worried the whole time and kept looking back at where I was.

Then when I was able to visit him after 28 days away, he ran over to me at the gate, softly nuzzled into me, and whinnied.  He blew and nestled into me.  It was so sweet.  You could tell he really missed me as much as I missed him.

Then when I sat down, he sniffed at my leg in the brace and my foot.  The only thing I could move at that time was my toes.  And he seemed happy to see me move them.

It was so healing just to be close to him, even though I was holding myself up on one leg and hanging on the gate.

It didn’t last long, but it was wonderful while it lasted.

I am still amazed how horses know exactly when we are hurt and also where we are hurt.  I’m not sure if they can see it, hear it, smell it, or feel it.  But I am sure they know.

Horses are truly sentient beings that we are blessed to be around.  It is always a pleasure to be around a horse.  I am grateful each and every time.

Thank you all for your well wishes and emails.  Give your horse a hug from me.

Until next week, have a great weekend, and Happy Horses!

The post My Oops Moment… appeared first on Teddie Ziegler Horsemanship.

“Success is a Choice”

This is a motivational statement that emphasizes the idea that achieving success in any endeavor ultimately depends on the decisions and actions we take.

It suggests that we, as individuals, have the power to determine our own path to success through our mindset, efforts, and choices.

While it’s true that making positive choices, setting goals, working hard, and maintaining a positive mindset can significantly increase the likelihood of success, it’s important to also acknowledge that external factors, circumstances, and luck can also play a role.

Ultimately, success can be influenced by a combination of factors, including personal determination, skills, opportunities, and sometimes even elements beyond our control.

Therefore, while making the right choices is crucial, it’s also important to recognize the complexity of success and to be adaptable in the face of challenges.  Basically, having the right mindset to start.

And I’m sure we all know how many challenges life can throw at us.  But success in life, and any endeavor we take on, takes a balance of mindset, effort, and choices.

Being successful takes dedication and a conscious effort to be successful.  You can either have results or excuses!  But you can’t have both.

This statement encompasses the essence of the “success is a choice” mindset.  It emphasizes the need for deliberate, focused effort in the pursuit of success.

It also highlights a key principle:

The choice to either produce results or come up with excuses…is a choice we make, consciously or unconsciously.

This highlights the idea that taking responsibility for our actions and decisions is crucial on the path to achieving success.

This idea also encourages us to be proactive, persistent, and accountable for our own progress and outcomes.

To do this we will need to make 4 choices:

1. Have an Open Mind:

Having an open mind means being receptive to new ideas, different perspectives, and diverse viewpoints.

It involves a willingness to consider alternative opinions, even if they differ from your own beliefs or preconceived notions.

An open-minded person is curious, tolerant, and adaptable, and they’re often more inclined to learn, grow, and develop as a result.

Maintaining an open mind can lead to a richer, more well-rounded understanding of the world and the people in it. It can foster creativity, collaboration, and the ability to find innovative solutions to problems.

It’s an important trait for personal development, as well as for building positive relationships with others.

Remember, being open-minded doesn’t mean you have to abandon your own principles or values.  It simply means being willing to listen, learn, and consider other perspectives before forming a final judgment.

This approach can lead to greater empathy, understanding, and ultimately, a more fulfilling and enriching life.

2. Do the Work:

“Do the Work” is a straightforward and powerful mantra that emphasizes the importance of taking action and putting in the necessary effort to achieve your goals. It can’t be any simpler!

It’s a reminder that success is often the result of hard work, dedication, and consistent effort over time.

This phrase encourages individuals to avoid procrastination and to actively engage in the tasks and responsibilities required to make progress.

It acknowledges that simply having a goal or a vision is not enough; tangible results come from taking concrete steps toward that goal.

Ultimately, “do the work” is a call to action, urging individuals to take responsibility for their aspirations and to commit themselves wholeheartedly to the pursuit of success. It’s a reminder that success is earned through diligent and persistent effort.

3. Ask Questions and Listen:

Asking questions is a fundamental aspect of learning, understanding, and acquiring knowledge.  It’s a crucial skill in various aspects of life, including education, problem-solving, communication, and personal growth.

But it’s not only asking questions but asking the right, well-thought-out questions.  Then ask those questions to the right person.  Ask a mentor, teacher/trainer, or someone else who has the experience and knowledge to answer those questions.

Asking thoughtful and relevant questions is a skill that can be developed and refined over time.  It’s a valuable tool for continuous learning and personal development.

But when your mentor/trainer gives you a plan, listen to them.  Do it the way they told you to do it.  Don’t reinvent the wheel if they are giving you specific directions.  What’s the point of asking the good questions if you aren’t going to follow their answers?

4. Be willing to learn from failure and keep going:

This is an invaluable piece of advice!  Probably the most important part. Embracing failure as a learning opportunity is a key mindset for personal and professional growth.

Here are 5 reasons why it’s so important:

1. Learning Experience – Failure provides a unique learning experience that success often cannot offer. It offers insights into what went wrong and how to improve for the future.
2. Resilience – Embracing failure builds resilience. It teaches you to bounce back, adapt, and continue moving forward despite setbacks.
3. Innovation and Creativity – Failure encourages you to think outside the box and explore new approaches. It can lead to innovative solutions and creative breakthroughs.
4. Overcoming Fear – When you’re not afraid of failure, you’re more likely to take risks and step out of your comfort zone. This can lead to new opportunities and experiences.
5. Setting Realistic Expectations – Understanding that failure is a natural part of any endeavor helps set realistic expectations. It also prevents undue stress and disappointment.

Remember, failure is not a reflection of your worth or abilities. It’s a temporary setback that can provide valuable insights and pave the way for future success. Many successful individuals and organizations attribute their achievements to lessons learned from past failures.

The key is to analyze, learn, adapt, and keep moving forward.

So in summary:  Success is a choice that is developed fully with the right mindset, efforts, and choices.

Today’s lesson was all-encompassing as it relates to so many things in our lives, but if you put these principles into effect just in your horse training, you will be very successful.

Until next week, have a great weekend, and Happy Horses!

The post Success is a Choice! appeared first on Teddie Ziegler Horsemanship.

If you have, what did you do about it?

Did you figure out how to get that ideal to become reality for you? Did you try to train your horse to do what you wanted? Did you do research to figure out how to get that “end result”? Did you take courses, clinics, or get a trainer? How badly do you want to accomplish your goal?

If so, how did it go?

We all hit bumps in the road. It’s normal. So, when you hit a roadblock or a bump, what did you do about it? Did you try again? How many times did you try? Did you do more research, more clinics, more courses, a different trainer? How many trainers, clinics, or methods have you tried to get the end result you’re looking for? Are you still trying?

How many times did it take before you accomplished your dream goal? Or how many times did it take before you were so frustrated that you gave up and just decided to accept your current situation?

How long did it take you? Months or Years?

————————————————–

Well, the real question is…

“What are you willing to do to get your ideal horse, your dream relationship, and your perfect reality”?

————————————————–

If you are trying to accomplish something big or even something little with your horse, this is the most important question you can ask yourself. And you should ask it often. Your emotional reason for wanting this dream will drive you towards your answer.

Your answer to this question will show you how determined and committed you truly are to both your horse and to achieving your desired results.

I learned this early on when working with my horses. To this day, I plead with horse owners to NEVER GIVE UP on their horses. I really mean it, because I have seen that with the right determination, love and patience, that anything is possible.

I have seen miracles happen for my clients when they buckled down and gave it their all. Their horses were transformed into safe, happy, healthy horses that loved their new life with their owners. The clients themselves were transformed as well into confident, happy, strong horsewomen that could solve any issue.

It’s all in the determination to develop what you truly believe is possible and what your heart desires.

I’ve had a lot of clients get amazing results that they tell me they had only dreamt about. I myself have had some wonderful results with lots of hard to reach, shut down, and dangerous horses. It’s beautiful to watch. And you’ve heard many of my horse stories.

But this time, let me give you an example from my personal life…

If you’ve been following my blogs for a while, you’ll remember how I’ve been on a health kick for the past 5 years, especially with trying to lose weight. I know that is probably something that everyone goes through, but my experience has been a bit different.

Growing up I have always been the same weight, forever. I’ve always been slim and healthy. For the first 40 years of my life I never had to diet or even think about what I ate. I never restricted my foods and I never thought about calories or what I ate. I could eat two big macs, a large fry, and all the coke I could drink and never gain an ounce.

I was very healthy, active, and carefree. I was extremely blessed in this department and didn’t realize how lucky I really was until I hit 40. Then life changed.

At 40 I started gaining weight but only in my abdomen. At first I thought I was pregnant, but soon found out I wasn’t. Turns out I had 6 large tumors in my abdomen and one that grew to the size of a large bowling ball.

This all happened very suddenly and within three months I gained 60 lbs. After the doctors tried one thing after another trying to reduce and get rid of the tumors without surgery, six more months went by. By that time strangers were asking me when I was due because I looked like a very big 9-month pregnant woman.

I had been a size 8 all my life until then. At this point I was wearing maternity clothes because nothing else would go over my stomach. It was tough to say the least and something I had never had to deal with before. Then the doctors said that there was no other option and I had to do surgery. So they did.

It was major surgery and they found that the tumors had done a lot of damage internally so they had to do some fixing while in there as well. Unfortunately that meant that they had to take out more than the tumors. They took out part of my colon, part of my bladder, and had to do a full hysterectomy, plus other minor repairs. Wow!

Waking up in the hospital afterwards and learning about what they had to do because of the damage the tumors had caused was devastating. Besides the long recovery and pain associated with the surgery, the idea that they had taken my ability to have children crushed me.

That whole experience took a long time for me to recover mentally and physically. However, I was determined to get back to a normal life and back to my normal weight. I followed a very strict plan laid out in a book called “Weight Loss Cure”. It took a while and was extremely tough, but it worked for me. I eventually went back to my normal self.

After that I really didn’t have issues with my weight again until about a year after I moved to Maryland. When I went from gaining 5 lbs. to 20 lbs. and then to 50 lbs. over a short period of time. Of course I worried that the tumors had come back. So I went to the Doctors.

Luckily they said there were no more tumors. But they couldn’t figure out what was going on and they said I was perfectly healthy. I knew something was off, even though the doctors didn’t believe me.

They told me that because of my age and that I’ve been through menopause that it’s normal to be gaining weight. I wouldn’t accept that answer. You don’t gain weight that fast and only in your abdomen because of age. If that was the case, it would have been gradual.

Well, you know me, I did my research and tons of it. Turns out my liver was bad and getting worse and that was the reason I was gaining weight and couldn’t get it off. But I had to take my findings to my doctor, who then in turn agreed with me once she did certain tests. Then with both of us working on the same problem, I was finally cured.

I’m not complaining, I’m grateful that I found it and that my doctor agreed to check it out and believed my findings. But it was only cured because of my determination to find a solution and not “accept my fate” as other doctors had told me.

Now that that issue was resolved, I could get back to working on all the weight I had gained because of the liver damage. By the way it was advanced Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Damage.

Since giving it my all, not giving up on myself, and putting all the grit and determination I could muster helped find the solution…I decided to do the same here. So I didn’t just do one or two things to lose weight, I did them ALL. Everything I had ever learned that would help; I did them all at once. Yes it was really hard.

I ate only organic food and mainly food I grew myself. I gave up sugar, fast food, junk food, sodas, chips, and anything processed. I worked out every day using high intensity short workouts. I used an infrared sauna with light healing and a jacuzzi to relax in every day along with meditation. I swam and walked every day. Then I added intermittent fasting and all the right vitamins and supplements to keep my body healthy plus lots of hydrogen water for hydration.

It was really tough but well worth it. From Christmas until March 7th I had lost 32 lbs. and was feeling great. Since then I have lost another 10 and am hoping to lose the last 10 after my recovery.

But again, it wasn’t until I gave it my all and was determined not to give up until I reached my goal that anything really happened. This time I had a reason to be so determined. One that touched my heart…I had to lose weight so that I could get on Merlin in one year and finish our riding work from the saddle.

I had been doing pieces here and there, and losing and gaining for many years because I wasn’t giving it enough. Losing weight for my health wasn’t a strong enough reason to ignite the determination that I needed. But Merlin was. I was trying to do it the “easy way” and I didn’t push myself. However, when it truly meant a lot to me, I jumped all in and was determined to make it work. And it worked!

I’ve seen this same thing working with horses and clients trying to reach their goals. When they didn’t really feel it was important to them, they did things half-assed and let things slide. And they gave up easily. They would always blame their horse or someone or something else for their lack of determination.

There is nothing you can’t accomplish with the right determination. Never give up on yourself or your horse!

This week’s blog is meant to give you hope and push you to reach your goals with the right determination and the right drive. If you want it, see it, and go for it. But don’t waste your time if you’re not going to really go for it. Give it your all and the full heights of your determination and grit.

Otherwise, why even try if you’re going to give up so easily? If you want to reach your dream goals to have the ideal horse and your ideal relationship then you have to truly want it. And you have to work for it.

Just do it! As Nike would say. But when you do it, do it right. Be totally committed and determined to do it until you get it right, the way you want. You are worth the effort and so is your horse.

And if you need help or just support from a fellow horse girl, I’m here for you and would love to chat about it.

If this resonates with you and you haven’t yet dipped your toe into my programs, then click this link. Check them out and let me know if you have any questions, by contacting me. I look forward to hearing from you.

The post It Takes Determination… appeared first on Teddie Ziegler Horsemanship.

#1 – Nipping

Nipping is a “no-no” in my book. It’s one thing when your horse is checking you out, sniffing you, and touching you with his lips. That’s not what I’m talking about here. Nipping is when there is a deliberate “little bite”, a nip where your horse’s teeth close on your clothes or skin and there’s a pull.

Usually your horse is looking at you when he does this and seeing how you will react. This is an act of dominance to see if he can get one over on you. It isn’t meant to be mean or cause pain, just to jockey for position with herd dynamics.

But if you don’t stop this right away and actually catch it before it happens, it will quickly turn into a bite. You definitely don’t want to encourage that behavior by allowing a nip.

#2 – Biting

This is a major “no-no” in my book. A bite is usually done out of aggression, anger, or frustration. It’s a reaction to you not listening to something your horse was already trying to tell you and now he has to bite you to get your attention.

In this case he’s telling you louder that something is wrong, he’s not happy, and he wants you to fix it. If you ignore this behavior, your horse will only have to get louder for you to listen to what he’s trying to tell you. That means more aggressive. That’s not something to encourage by ignoring it.

A bit is a big sign that there is a problem. Figure it out now before the behavior gets worse, the bite gets harder, or more behaviors are attached with the bite.

#3 – Ears Pinned

Usually this is the first sign that there is a problem. It’s also the easiest to miss or ignore. Most people don’t realize how good their horses are at talking with their ears.

The ears can move forward and back as well as turn left and right. They can turn one ear to listen to their surroundings and have the other ear turned differently to listen to their owner. Horses’ ears are very telling.

When the ears are facing forward and up, your horse is attentive and happy. When they are pinned back and almost flat, your horse is upset and really not happy. In between could mean paying attention to different things, being interested, afraid, thinking, and more.

But if your horse’s ears are pinned back or his face looks rather unhappy to match those ears – don’t ignore this. Your horse is trying to tell you he is not happy with something happening right now and you need to do something about it to help the situation.

#4 – Stomping the Ground

Stomping the ground could be a nervous habit I’ve seen horses do when eating. They are basically saying that they aren’t comfortable with you that close while they eat. They could also be stomping their feet if there are a lot of flies around and they are bothered.

Either way, this means they are irritated or frustrated and trying to tell you they don’t like something. Don’t ignore this either because this can escalate into your horse striking out with his front feet or aiming for one of your feet while he’s stomping.

Being someone who was stepped on accidentally when I was young once or twice, this is not a good feeling. I’ve lost two toenails to this behavior. You should see how fast I move my feet when a horse moves his shoulder now.

#5 – Pushing into You

Pushing into you can be the fault of your horse or yourself. I’ve seen people lead their horse to a specific area and while they were walking they would accidentally cross in front of their horse, bumping into him. One person told me her horse kept pushing into her. In reality, when I watched this, she was not walking in a straight line and she kept bumping into him.

So this sign is when you are sure you are walking in a straight line and you can feel your horse deliberately move over and push into you. This may seem like a small thing, but your horse is testing the waters, so to speak.

Can he push you around and tell you where to go? Can he direct you in whatever direction he wants by pushing into you? If he can, he just went up in the herd hierarchy and now he will be able to do more to you because you are the low man on the totem pole.

This is not a position which you want to accidentally find yourself in. It’s one thing when the relationship is a give and take and you are aware of what’s going on. But if your horse knows that he is in charge and can push you around anytime he wants…nothing good will come of this.

If it gets worse, you may be accidentally or intentionally hurt. You definitely do not want to ignore this sign.

#6 – Not Allowing You to Halter

Now this one is one that could also be your fault or your horses. It all depends on how you halter. However, if your horse is definitely not letting you halter him by running away, picking his head up really high, or pulling his head out of the halter while you try to put it on, then YES your horse is telling you something.

Most of the time it’s not because they are trying to be bad and are doing it as a grudge. It’s usually because of something that happened last time they were haltered or something going on right now while you are trying to halter.

This is something that will get worse if you ignore it and it could turn into a major disrespectful attitude.

The little details mean a lot to your horse and when you ignore them, that in itself can tell your horse a lot about you and what your expectations are. Basically, you could be telling your horse something you really don’t mean to or want to.

These are just the top six (6) items that I see ALL the time that will always get worse if you ignore them. There are quite a few more than this but this will get you started.

The easiest way to fix them is just figure out immediately what’s going on and what your horse is trying to tell you so you can come to an understanding together. Remember this is a partnership and a relationship that you want to encourage and develop deeper. The best way is to be a good listener and pay attention to all the little stuff your horse is telling you.

This definitely means a lot to your horse as this is his natural way of communicating, body language. And actually, it’s a good thing that your horse is trying to talk to you and communicate his thoughts and feelings with you. You want to encourage that bond and communication by listening and helping your horse when he needs you.

If this resonates with you and you haven’t yet dipped your toe into my programs, then click this link. Check them out and let me know if you have any questions, by contacting me. I look forward to hearing from you.

The post Signs You Don’t Want to Ignore – Part 2 appeared first on Teddie Ziegler Horsemanship.

There’s a reason your horses did what they did and most of the time they are trying to tell you something.

Sometimes I wonder how horses have been able to “put up” with us for so long and have been so kind and gracious about most of it. I’m very thankful they are such amazing creatures, inside and out.

Here’s an example:

On one occasion when I went out to the barn and I was grooming Merlin by his stall, he looked at me funny and I knew he was asking for a mint. He touched my cheek gently, pulled it back, and turned his head slightly as if to ask a question.

So, I walked to my grooming bag and got a mint. Before I gave it to him I had the feeling that he was going to take it from me and he put his ears back.

I put my finger up and said “no, be nice” and he instantly calmed down, put his ears forward, and lowered his head and waited nicely for me to give him the treat. It all happened in an instant and was no big deal. Nothing bad happened and a possible situation was diffused quickly.

Merlin had just wanted the treat faster than I was giving it to him and he was getting pushy. He’s almost 2 years old and every once in a while he will push the boundaries to see if he can demand what he wants from me. It’s all in the socialization learning process.

Anyway, another lady at the barn saw the interaction and asked if Merlin was a biter. I said no he wasn’t, but that I also never let it get that far. I see the signs beforehand and stop it in advance.

The lady had no idea what I was talking about when I told her I look out for the signs in advance. She also told me that her horse bites her all the time. She also said that she figures he will eventually stop so she just ignores it. Boy she couldn’t be more wrong. That horse is just going to get worse.

I watched her more closely that day and a few days since and her horse is pushy, disrespectful, nips and bites, and even kicks out at her. He really doesn’t like her and she has no clue. She is ignoring all the signs and her horse will just get louder and louder by becoming more aggressive with her.

It is not a good situation.

I asked her if I could give her a few tips on how to fix the biting and she said, “No, I don’t see it as a problem. It will eventually go away”. No it won’t.

luckily Merlin has never bit me or even tried to bite me. He’s never kicked, struck, or bolted from me either. Most of that is because I notice the signs and do something beforehand so nothing escalates into any of those behaviors.

If you ignore these little behaviors, they will eventually grow into bigger and bigger behaviors and before you know it, you will have a dangerous horse. Then you will have to fix a large problem that will take more time, effort, and patience than if you had just stopped it when you saw the first sign.

It’s like a snowball rolling downhill. It will just keep accumulating until it’s so big it does major damage. We don’t want that.

Anytime your horse acts out, there is a logical emotional or physical explanation. Your horse is telling you he’s not happy with something and that there is a problem.

He is asking for your help. But the more you ignore him, the louder he will get. And eventually he will either get worse through a lack of trust and respect, become totally shut down and become inconsistent and unsafe, or just fight back and become dangerous.

I see all three of these things happen all too often. And if they had only fixed the little things in the beginning, instead of ignoring them, these things wouldn’t have happened. Plus the horse and owner would both be happier.

Next week, I’ll tell you about some more signs you should look out for but in the meantime, what “bad” habits does your horse display that you wish he or she didn’t?

Let me know in the Comments below!

If this resonates with you and you haven’t yet dipped your toe into my programs, then click this link. Check them out and let me know if you have any questions, by contacting me. I look forward to hearing from you.

The post Signs You Don’t Want to Ignore – Part 1 appeared first on Teddie Ziegler Horsemanship.

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During my childhood riding lessons, my trainer would tell me how “horses worked” along with teaching me how to ride. His name was Buzz. He was my first trainer with horses and my only resource at the time, other than the “My Friend Flicka” book.

One thing Buzz told me was that horses always follow a dominance/pecking order. There is a leader, and second in command, a third, etc. and this never changes. A lead horse is always the leader in the herd and so on.

That didn’t track with what I saw growing up with my three horses, but I didn’t question what Buzz was teaching me. He definitely knew more than me at such a young age. Looking back at this, when I did start questioning my early teachings, it may have been that the research on this was just not as thorough then.

What I’ve seen is that dominance in herds can and does change when needed and depending on the situation and the horses in the herd. For example: If there are 3 lead horses in a herd of 12, there is not going to be only 1 leader all the time. And when you are in that same herd and considered the leader when training, that void is filled when you leave.

Here’s a story of what I’ve experienced with my small herd of horses:

When I only had two horses, Jazz and Apollo, Jazz was always in charge. He was the lead horse. Jazz was also Apollo’s father. With the three of us, I became the ‘lead mare’ when with them, but when I was gone Jazz became the leader again.

Apollo was always at the bottom of the pecking order with the three of us. I had them at home and was with them every day and this hierarchy lasted for years.

Then when D’Artagnan came into the herd, the dominance/pecking order changed. D’Artagnan was the new horse and was at the bottom of the pecking order. At this time Apollo became the leader and Jazz became next in line, second. Jazz had lost his leadership role to Apollo.

Then as the year went by I noticed that D’Artagnan became the leader, Jazz was next in line, and then Apollo. Apollo went from leader of the herd back down to the bottom of the herd. Interestingly, Apollo seemed to enjoy being where he was and was comfortable being at the bottom. They all seemed to settle into their roles very easily and were happy.

Now years later, after D’Artagnan and Jazz had passed away and I only had Apollo I saw him change dominance again.

I moved Apollo to a new farm and placed him in a pasture with a new horse, Harry. With the move, I had no idea which way Apollo would go with a new horse.

I was told that the other horse, Harry, was a very dominant horse and that he took charge of all the other horses he had been placed with. The idea was to keep them in separate pastures for a short time but still allow them to share a fence line. Especially since Harry was supposedly an aggressive horse.

But that didn’t work…

Apollo got along with Harry over the fence line and I thought, “Aha, now he has a new friend, and he will be ok.” Not quite. He was lonely in his new place and would pace the fence line and whiny for Harry when Harry would go into his run-in shed across the field.

Apollo didn’t feel 100% safe yet after I left, and he wanted to be close to another horse. And on the third night a bad storm came up and he got scared. So, he pushed the fence down and popped right over it so he could be close to Harry.

Luckily, the two of them got along great and it settled Apollo down. I spoke to Harry’s owner and she said it was ok for the two of them to share pastures and stay together. We opened up the gate between pastures and they were very happy together.

The first few days Harry was definitely the lead horse and he controlled when Apollo ate, where Apollo stood, and how things happened in “his” pasture. But that only lasted about a week and then one day I came by and Apollo was in his run-in shed eating and Harry was outside, staring in, waiting for Apollo to allow him in to eat.

Surprise, surprise!

Apollo was now the lead horse again. Harry’s owner said that this had never happened before, but she was glad they were still getting along great and were a good team. Apollo stayed in charge of what they did, where they went, and when they ate for most of their time together.

They both seemed very happy and content with this new arrangement.

So just with these four horses, I’ve seen them all change dominance, leadership, and position in the herd. And each time, they seemed very happy at the results of the changes.

This has been my personal experience with changing dominance positions in the herd with my horses. I’m curious about what you have experienced in your herd with your horses. Please let me know in the comments section below.

If this resonates with you and you haven’t yet dipped your toe into my programs, then click this link. Check them out and let me know if you have any questions, by contacting me. I look forward to hearing from you.

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