In this episode of the Optimized Equine podcast, host Tamara Lee Barrett reflects on her experience attending the 5-star week at Thermal, a high-level hunter jumper show at Desert Int’l Horse Park. She shares insights about equine optimization she observed even at elite levels of competition.
Key Points:
Tamara emphasizes that her observations comes from a place of love for the sport, not to cast it in a negative light
She discusses the concept of "meaningless interactions" with horses and why all interactions should have purpose
The importance of maintaining consistent dialogue with horses during all handling activities (grooming, tacking, leading, etc.)
How small tensions and "withdrawals" from a horse's "account" accumulate into larger issues over time
Strategies for making handling interactions more meaningful and beneficial
The importance of supporting a resilient nervous system in horses
The significance of balance, straightness, and proper biomechanics in lunging and daily handling
She observes common issues in leading and bridling that create tension and crookedness
Tamara concludes that these optimization principles apply universally to all horse owners, whether they participate in competition or not, and are essential for horses' health, happiness, and longevity. She mentions she will be returning to Thermal for week 10 and looks forward to sharing more insights from her trip.
*Learn more about Tamara on Instagram, Facebook, X and at tamaraleebarrett.com*
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to the Experience
01:53 Optimizing Horse Interactions
03:14 Enhancing Horse Well-being
04:07 Meaningful Interactions with Horses
05:50 Understanding Horse Communication
08:13 Creating Positive Experiences
10:00 The Importance of Deposits and Withdrawals
11:35 Building a Resilient Nervous System
13:00 Pressure and Aids in Training
14:52 Balancing Performance and Relaxation
16:32 Lunging Techniques and Their Impact
17:16 Leading and Bridling Considerations
18:02 Conclusion and Future Insights
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