~Hanz The Thoroughbred: Episode 5~

“You can be a leader without being intimidating. The horse can be your partner without being your slave. I’m trying to keep the best part of the horse in there. I’m not trying to take anything away from him.”

~ Buck Brannaman~

In this chapter of Hanz The Thoroughbred, Hanz helps me grow more and more as horse owner and horseman. Hanz also challenges me to be more in tune with his particular needs as a full Thoroughbred, and we continue to grow as a team together through consistency and work every day.

The days at the new barn are starting to blend together. Winter has fully arrived, and the colder weather is here to stay for a while unfortunately. The leaves and bare trees are a clear reminder that the warm days of summer are behind us. The Eventing season in our area has officially ended, and the holidays are just around the corner. Hanz’s winter coat has come in beautifully—thick, shiny, and healthy. It’s a clear sign of how well he’s doing, and I’m really proud of how healthy he looks.

It’s been a while since my last blog post, and a lot has happened with Hanz. He’s settled into the new barn and seems completely comfortable here now. When we first arrived, there were a few small challenges, especially with the wash stalls. At first, Hanz was very hesitant to go in. He would stop, raise his head, and refuse to go into the stalls. Once I got him in, he would immediately try to walk back out before I could clip the cross ties.

It was frustrating at times, but I focused on being patient and calm and understanding. I applied gentle pressure to encourage him forward and gave him lots of praise whenever he made progress. Over time, Hanz started to trust the process and his new environment. Now, he walks into the wash stalls without any hesitation. It’s such a relief to see how far he’s come in just his short time being there.

This experience has taught me a lot about working with my horse. No horse is perfect, and when they become yours, you start to notice how much impact that you have as an owner of your own horse. I’ve realized that patience, consistency, and empathy are essential and required ingredients.
Part of my growing philosophy with horses is realizing that a great deal of support, paired with a great healthy dose of patience and empathy, yields trust and understanding between a horse and their person. This slowly diminishes a fear and dominance mindset.

Hanz’s progress under saddle has been fantastic lately! His saddle fits him beautifully, and it’s clear he’s enjoying our rides more than ever. Of all the things we do, hacking out on the property seems to be his favorite. The moment I settle into the saddle and ask him to walk on, he instinctively points himself toward the open fields and rolling hills. It’s as if he’s saying, Let’s go explore! While there aren’t formal trails on the property, the fields are stunning, and there’s still so much I haven’t had time to discover on the property.

The farm is also home to some cows, which adds a fun dynamic to our rides. The property owner, a hobby western rider, has occasionally hosted roping events, but hasn’t in a long time. I haven’t met him yet, but it would be exciting to connect with others who enjoys such a different equestrian discipline. While I’m at work, Becca often takes Hanz on long hacks, giving him plenty of time to stretch his legs and enjoy the scenery. She’ll even send me pictures during the day, and I can’t help but smile knowing he’s out there, relaxed and happy.

Having a supportive trainer and barn community has been a game-changer for me. Horses can be challenging, and trying to do it all alone isn’t realistic—or fun. I’ve learned so much from others and love hearing different perspectives on training and care. The team around me has made this journey with Hanz even more rewarding so far!

As the days grow longer and warmer, I’m looking forward to taking Hanz on even more hacking adventures. There’s something magical about riding out into open fields with no set agenda, just enjoying the ride together. That’s what riding is supposed to be: Fun. I can’t wait to soak up the sunshine and create more memories with this horse.

Since I work during the day, like most people, I feel incredibly lucky that Becca’s barn has a beautiful sand arena with excellent lights. Having access to such a well-lit space is a huge relief, especially as the days get shorter and as the clocks have fallen back an hour. Hanz doesn’t seem to mind working at night and has adjusted well to being in the arena, even when he can’t see the other horses on the property during our sessions.

When we first moved to the barn, Hanz showed some typical signs of being herd-bound. During our rides or groundwork, he would often glance away, distracted, and call out to other horses. His walk warm-ups were slow and unfocused; he’d snake or wobble as if unsure of where to go. I think it was his way of expressing some anxiety about the new environment. Each time he got distracted, I gently asked him to focus, and Hanz always came back to the task.

Over the past few months, those behaviors have faded and diminished well. With consistent work and patience, he’s built more trust in me and grown confident in his new surroundings. Now, he starts every session ready to work, and his energy and focus have returned. He’s forward, engaged, and curious—qualities I deeply respect in Hanz.

Every day, I’m grateful for Hanz. He has a kind and willing nature that makes him an incredible horse, and watching him grow in confidence has been so rewarding. Having a horse like him is truly a gift, and I don’t take it for granted.

Riding has a way of teaching you exactly what your horse needs if you’re willing to listen. With Hanz, I’ve learned so much about how he prefers to be ridden. One of my biggest challenges right now is helping him stay in a well-managed, “rounder” frame—a posture that keeps him sound, strong, and comfortable carrying a rider. Progress has come in small breakthroughs. For days and weeks, I’d get glimpses of success, where Hanz would engage his hindquarters, step into the contact, and work in a more balanced frame.

One day, while hacking Hanz along the fence line near his pasture, I found myself wondering, How can I do better? How does my position and balance affect his movement? It’s the kind of question I think all riders ask themselves. As the wind swept through Hanz’s mane, something I began to think: the energy of a horse’s movement always begins in the hind legs. That energy flows up through the back, over the topline, and into the horse’s poll. It’s the foundation of everything we aim for in Dressage—a cycle of energy from back to front and balance.

I decided to focus on his hind legs. I imagined Hanz stepping under himself and into the contact to engage his hind legs. I felt right away, but I wondered what else might be blocking him. As we walked, I experimented with with different aspects of my riding. What if my seat is too heavy? I shifted my weight into my heels, lifted slightly, and aimed for a feeling as though I was just touching the saddle without completely leaving it. The change was immediate—Hanz’s walk became more forward, with a noticeable march.

But the cycle wasn’t complete yet. The energy needed to reach the front of the horse. I worked on his flexion and roundness at the poll, politely asking him to supple and stretch into a frame where his head was on the vertical. Hanz would find moments of softness and balance but wouldn’t sustain them for long and kept trying to figure out what I was up to. Keeping my seat light, my body tall, and my legs engaged was exhausting—it’s a workout! With my my mind set on figuring out what I was trying to go for in the moment, we pressed on.

As I took a moment to reflect, I glanced down at my body and hands. That’s when it hit me—like a flash of insight sent by the riding gods. I realized I was actually reaching for the reins, straightening my arms, and breaking the connection between my elbows and the bit. This shift caused my upper body to tip forward, disrupting the head-hip-heel alignment and shifting my weight onto Hanz’s forehand ever so slightly. Even if my “contact” was slight, and light as possible, The energy cycle I was trying to create and receive back was being blocked by my hands and posture!

I quickly corrected my position, bent my elbows, and reestablished my connection to receiving the energy created. The change in Hanz was immediate—he rounded beautifully, came onto the bit, and moved with balance and ease. He lifted slightly from the forehand and I could feel the hindquarters engaging. For a brief moment, I felt like a Grand Prix Dressage rider, entering at A and preparing to halt at X. Hanz’s ears pricked forward, and we continued our ride. The energy created by the hindquarters was now “recycling” better and our ride continued on.

As the cold wind brushed past us, I felt a deep sense of victory. This ride was a reminder to stay patient, stay consistent, and most importantly, to keep loving the horse and the process.

Tuesday December 3rd, 2024