Horse Rehab – Sacred Connections Equestrian

Is your horse?

Spooky?

Uncooperative?

Difficult?

Even Dangerous?

Is being ridden scary, difficult and confusing for your horse?

“It was releasing and emotionally freeing to watch Catherine teach a lesson. There was no crying, no screaming, no yank and spank. This was the breath of

fresh air I needed in the equine community.”

Caroline A.

Sacred Connections Equestrian makes riding easier for horses, resulting in a horse that is:

Happy . . . Willing . . . Cooperative . . . Loving . . . Fun. . .

Horse, who is a Joy to Handle and Ride.

Most of the behavior problems we see in horses today can be referred to as “rein-
lameness.” This type of soreness is caused by today’s rushed, competition-focused training. Because the horse is not “head-bobbing lame,” it can be difficult to identify.

In his book, Balancing Act, Gerd Heuschmann, DVM, describes “rein-lameness”
saying, “A high percentage of horses brought to veterinary practices and clinics
with lameness symptoms are not satisfactorily diagnosed, if at all, by veterinary means.”

Rein-lameness often causes horses to move poorly, refuse to cooperate—even buck, rear
or bolt. There are many causes of rein-lameness ranging from poor hoof balancing and
saddle-fit, to today’s popular riding and training practices.

The solution is not difficult.

Repairing the Damage

We begin from the ground up, identifying and addressing all possible causes of pain or
discomfort in your horse, checking everything from hoof balancing to saddle fit. Where
appropriate, we will suggest veterinary care, bodywork, hoof balancing, chiropractic or
other modalities to help eliminate discomfort and/or pain.

Once we are sure your horse is either free from—or recovering from any pain or

discomfort—we begin simple, easy groundwork that supports natural movement and
balance, while building relationship and self-confidence. This work includes clear,
definite, two-way communication your horse can easily understand, along with
compassionate correction and lavish reward.

Finally we ride using Non-Interfering Techniques that allow your Horse the freedom to

stretch and build quality muscles and connective tissue.

Creating True Connection

Mounted work begins with a secure, highly functional position especially designed to
give your horse the freedom and encouragement he needs to rediscover natural
movement and balance. This allows your horse to relax, stretch and find his own
balance, and re-build the quality core and back muscles that help him more easily
balance and carry a rider. This makes being ridden easier for your horse.

With a secure, functional, non-interfering position, riders feel safer in the saddle, can

minimize tension, and are free to develop awareness of what their horse is saying to
them. This opens the door for strong, two-way communication your horse can
understand, which makes it easier for your horse to be heard.

Finally, SCE trainers gently guide you through this proven, step-by-step system

preventing mistakes that can scare, confuse, overwhelm or hurt your horse. This builds
your horse’s trust and self confidence, making him a calm, quiet, willing, cooperative partner.

Supporting Your Horse’s Future Health, Well-being and Soundness

When being ridden is difficult horses develop compensatory patterns and movements

that often cause soreness, rein-lameness, even permanent unsoundnesses.
Rushing a horse’s training, over working a horse, pulling it into a frame, hyflexion,
overwork, draw reins, tie-downs, harsh bits and many other popular “training”
approaches all contribute to the fear, stress, tension, and

lameness problems so common in horses today.

SCE helps riders learn to avoid these pitfalls and make riding easier for themselves

and their beloved horses. By using an historically, proven system, especially designed to make being ridden easier for horses, we support our horses’ health, soundness and well-
being for their entire lives.

Whether you are rehabilitating your horse, starting from the beginning or building on

your current training, SCE trainers will help you learn what your horse can and can’t do
in each phase of progress. Beginning with Non-Interfering Techniques, you will
discover how to build (or rebuild) your horse’s quality muscles, movement, balance and
self-carriage while preventing soreness, tissue damage, stress, tension and fear caused by
rushed, image image-focused techniques.

Make Riding Easier for you and your Horse

Meet Warlord

Warlord was given to us because he bucked everyone off and ran away. He had a saddle scar on his withers, a spur scar on his side and his tongue was badly scarred from a severe bit and tie-down. Being ridden meant pain, confusion and fear for Warlord.

After only a few months working with Sacred Connections Equestrian’s Non-Interference Techniques, Warlord was calmly and willingly trotting and cantering in a soft snaffle and completely loose reins—both inside and outside the ring.

Meet Normandy

When we first met Normandy, he could barely walk! His movement was a small, uneven shuffle. Today he is soaring over cross-country jumps and going on trail rides and hunter paces.

Meet Bodhi

Bodhi had been “trained” for Grand Prix level dressage movements at age 4 and 5—much too young to develop full collection. Bodhi soon became dangerous. No one could handle him without a stud chain, and no one would ride him without first lunging for 30 minutes. Being ridden, even trying to stand in the cross ties, meant real discomfort, at times even pain for Bodhi.

After only a few months working with Sacred Connections Equestrian’s Non-Interference Techniques, Bodhi became calm, happy, loving and cooperative. On completely loose reins, he would push from his hindquarters and lift through his thoracic sling into huge extended trots and forward transitions.

“I’ve never seen him move like this, ever,” said his owner.

He now responds softly to flexions, practices advanced lateral work, enjoys big gallops in the fields with his rider, is calmly jumping 3 feet and loving trail rides. He is easy to handle, stands quietly in the cross ties and the barn manager complements his manners. Best of all Bodhi now canters to the pasture gate when his owner calls.

Because individual circumstances may vary, no guarantees are made regarding the information contained in this website. Sacred Connections Equestrian, LLC, staff, officers, instructors, employees, representatives, and others acting on behalf of Sacred Connections Equestrian, LLC, make no guarantees concerning the level of success you may experience by following the advice and strategies contained in this website, and you accept the risk that results will differ for each individual. The information provided is in no way intended to diagnose or treat any health, soundness, nutrition or other imbalances. It is recommended a qualified equine practitioner be consulted for any questions regarding the horse’s health.