I have long aspired to offer a service that acts as an owner's manual for your horse - a relationship guide to help both horse and human fulfill their potential and realize their goals. This is that service!
I'm very happy to share with you the case file for Tuskon, which I will insert below. Tuskon is the first horse to come through the brand-new evaluation service, Strengths & Vulnerabilities Analysis. His owner felt this unique and fascinating service should be shared through the real case file, for which I certainly appreciate. But before we get to that, I wanted to tell you a bit more...
The truth is, I couldn't be more excited to offer this brand new, pioneering service option that I feel has, out of all the things I've done in my career to date, the most unique and valuable information for horse and human, that I have yet created. This new service, which is housed on this website in "Evaluation & Profiling" option, comprises core essentials from four of the most groundbreaking discoveries I have ever made in herd dynamics and behavioral genetics. Indeed, key elements from all of my work come together here. The four core essentials are: Psychological Pace Index (PPI), Human Compatibility Score, Cushion, and the fourth, which I offer as an option for those involved in competitive sports, Competitive Edge Rating. Honorable mentions for this service go to Herd Dynamic Evaluations / research in Herd-Psychology and Sensory Soundness/Unsoundness Analysis and Mapping of Emotional Energy Distribution and Stress Expressions. With many other components too numerous to mention.
In short, everything I have done through the years in the pursuit of unraveling the inner workings of natural herd psychology, communication and the behavioral genetic sequences of the individual horse, merge here. The result? The most comprehensive view you will ever get about the Emotional Conformation of your horse; you will discover "who" they are only through understanding the operating system running the machine. This information essentially becomes an owner's manual for the mind of your horse, your relationship handbook to help guide you forward. Deepening your understanding of who a horse is allows you to better accommodate and foster their emotional needs, only through this foundation can you and your horse realize your full potential.
Horsemanship is not itself a physical action, it is the pursuit of knowledge measured by the thoughtfulness of the acts that follow.
Everything that I do is in pursuit of that knowledge. Everything that I offer is the result of what I have learned so far while ever evolving forward, enriched by that which I shall learn tomorrow. From the services I offer here, punctuated by this brand new one that is the reason I'm writing you today, to the educational seminars and clinics I offer which can by the way be tailored to fit any level of interest or event needs. To Life Through the Senses Education Center also found here, where through the courses, modules and lectures I offer, you have the opportunity to deep-dive into research findings and make your own unique discoveries. In fact, for me the most important educational module to start with is not Understanding Sensory Soundness, but rather the module, A View From The Hoof, Herd Structure. If you don't get any other educational in my school program, I truly feel that getting Herd Structure, the lecture, is one that you just can't afford to miss out on. (A new lecture is about to be recorded, this one on the power of our emotional intent.)
A few things to keep in mind before I drop in the new case file. I of course hold back some bits in the analysis that are sensitive to the case for privacy reasons, and as you all know each horse case is unique and thus each analysis will also be unique to them. Additionally, I want to share that when you get a Strengths and Vulnerabilities Analysis, you automatically have the option to continue on with Coaching with Kerry, at a discounted rate. With the main analysis being complete you have the option to continue on with me. This entails the keeping of an updated filmography data base, ongoing analysis and progress monitoring, coaching and training recommendations, adjustments and enrichment tailored to the emotional conformation needs of your horse. You share with me your ultimate goals, your Unicorn Vision, and I will help you pursue it. I do not work against or in any way antagonistic to your current training regime nor do I work antagonistically to your trainer; not even close, I work with, not against. This is about fostering teamwork, the coming together for a common goal.
Who is this for? Every horse, every discipline, everywhere. From beginner to high level competitor, 5-Star Eventing, Grade 1 Flat Racing, beginner pony clubs...
If you have a pure and sincere love for horses, your pursuit of knowledge and personal growth is governed only by the freedom you allow yourself to pursue them.
It is not the horse's responsibility to understand our nature, it is our responsibility, to under theirs. And with this I hand you off to the case file. Also, I need your help with sharing this information and the information found herein on this website. I would be truly obliged if you shared this blog, this website, and/or joined us as a site member (free) and join our FB page.
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Client: XXXX
Horse: Tuskon
Service: Strengths & Vulnerabilities Analysis
Evaluation Overview:
Tuskon exhibits a high level of emotional energy, which, when properly expressed, allows him to be quite athletic. However, this energy also makes him quite strong as he moves through his body. With 70% of his emotional energy concentrated in Zone 1, the efficiency of his remaining five sensory aspect zones is compromised during intense moments. Tuskon experiences emotional turbulence when environmental stimuli affect sensory zones other than Zone 1, leading to interruptions in his fluency. Emotional “push” areas on the Sensory Map Detail indicate where unprocessed stimuli most strongly impact his mind-to-body fluency and control of motion. Additionally, the map shows the key zones where emotional energy is distributed, there are proportional averages during focus-to-task efforts; hyper focused, in other words, when the ballon has a lot of pressure in it.
Maintaining focus is a significant challenge for Tuskon. His sensory system is disrupted, making it difficult for him to sustain target-to-task and execute actions. For a horse to complete a task independently, the senses must go through six steps: Survey --> Orient --> Investigate --> Absorb --> Interpret, and --> Respond. The time it takes Tuskon to complete this sensory process, which integrates the external environment into his internal psyche, is slower than commonly required to match his high emotional energy. This mismatch between sensory processing speed and the physical pace of his motion or at-large environmental stimuli, leads to interruptions during his hyper-focused efforts. The deep well of emotional energy he possesses often bursts, causing him to physically filter this stress in various ways. His "heavy" energy naturally creates down-pressure, which can springboard upwards, a common trait for horses like him.
Tuskon requires more time in motion and extended focus duration between emotionally driven cues and physical triggers. Enhancing his focus duration in task scenarios with a compatible physical pace can help diffuse internal stresses. Incorporating more than one task option will provide Tuskon with an emotional outlet and escape route, aligning with his character traits and tendencies.
Sensory Soundness Notes:
Tuskon is hypersensitive to stimuli in Zones 3, 4, and 5 especially when in forward motion. This sensitivity diverts his attention and leaves gaps in his environmental awareness, this affects things like depth-perception and the process of orienting. At a minimal pace and with minimal zone pressures, Tuskon can work through these distractions and recover his mental posture, but there are limits. Any increase in his rate of motion or intensity of stimuli (even perceived stimuli) can compound his internal stress.
Recommendation: When stimuli in these zones cause withdrawal of forward focus, you can observe it in his ear articulations, which become tight back or quickly search and scan defensively. This is when Tuskon needs a nudge of strong emotional intent toward a target or objective point to disrupt his internal hyperfocus. A soft physical reminder combined with a strong emotional reminder, like saying, "We’re headed here, mate!" can be effective.
Arrows on the map, in and out, to and from the body, indicate the common direction of physical expression under high intensity; --> inward = onboarding/internalizing / <-- outward = direction of physical expression when the onboarded stress builds up. Most of which happens in Zone 1, and fore parts of Zones 6 & 2.
Psychological Pace Index (PPI): Tuskons' PPI, (assesses the duration of stress accumulation by comparing the rate of interpretation with the physical motion or pace. In short, PPI indicates how long, relative to each gait (walk, trot, canter, gallop) Tuskon can comfortably filter & accommodate environmental stresses before requiring a mental reset from the saddle to maintain efficiency. (*see detail on service description on this website)
- Walk: Max duration threshold is approximately 120 seconds. Every two to three minutes, gently interrupt his focus with a soft nudge or reminder.
- Trot: PPI drops to 30-45 seconds.
- Canter: PPI drops to approximately 20 seconds.
*One of our primary goals is going to be to increase these numbers incrementally.
Tuskon is prone to a strong sense of 'herd isolation,' which intensifies with increased environmental stresses. This translates to Tuskon typically ‘outsourcing’ to help him manage his environment and will by nature seek a peer that is one rung above himself on the totem of psychological herd structure. This ongoing effort adds to his internalization and emotional heaviness, often expressed as up-and-down pressure. Sensory disruptions occur when he goes into defensive mode ("What's happening?"). When this happens, he needs a gentle nudge of reassurance and redirection toward a new task. Adjusting his physical pace and track may also be necessary.
Transitions: Tuskon functions better when given time between mental and physical pace transitions. Quick mental adjustments go unprocessed and create delays in response times, leading to "sticky transitions." This causes him to float off task, with his mind in one place and body in another. Re-pointing him to a target and adjusting your seat in the saddle can help dial him back into your intentions.
Distance Target Focus (DTF) Test: When asked to walk directly toward an animated target (me), Tuskon's forward interpretations were clouded due to the high concentration of emotional energy in Zone 1 (forward aspect). *Key here is not to over-intensify your emotions in the saddle, as Tuskon is likely to absorb and amplify any emotional intensity.
Analysis Conclusions:
Based on in-person findings and film study, Tuskon currently ranks as an upper-level 1, nearly Level 2 horse in the compatibility score (*Human Compatibility Score summary included below).
Level 1: High Influence Needed / Dependent Relationship Style
~Description: The rider must exert significant and consistent emotional influence on the horse's actions and behaviors. The horse relies heavily on the rider's guidance for direction, pace, and overall responsiveness. High demands for bridging help the horse’s outsourcing tendencies, as the horse is emotionally dependent on external guidance to navigate environmental stresses.
Indicators:
- Frequent, attentive, strong, and purposeful intent: Always maintain your focus-to-task.
- Continuous monitoring and adjustments by the rider: Offer subtle and timely interventions into Tuskons' disposition to help mitigate internal stress accumulation.
-High level of emotional communication engagement: Help “Bridge” Tuskon's tendency to internalize stresses that “assault” sensory zones 3, 4, and 5 by being attentively aware of these areas for him.
Tuskon possesses physical talent, emotional strength, and ample energy, but he can often get in his own way. The primary goal is to build the Cushion (see below for summary) and extend his duration of focus, allowing for longer time-in-motion with natural fluency. Tuskon also needs to accommodate physical and sensory lead changes, as well as pace adjustments, with more efficiency to realize his talent. The best step forward to achieve this is to begin altering / adjusting pace—both physical and emotional—when he is moving freely and fluently, feeling harmony between himself, the rider, and the environment. These moments are ideal for making faint modifications to his physical pace and allowing environmental changes to impact his vulnerable sensory zones. The key is to subtly "trick" or throw a "curveball" at his psyche to soften his reactions and make them more athletic and manageable.
With this base information, strategic incorporation of these recommendations into your regular training routines is advised.
Continuation:
I would love to continue being part of this process. If you opt for additional psychological and sensory monitoring and coaching, we will initially work on expanding the mental cushion at a base level and building Tuskon up from there. He will lead the way, but we can make the path.
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Human Compatibility Score
This scoring system numerically assesses the degree of influence a rider needs to exert through purpose and intent when interacting with a horse. The scale ranges from 1 to 4, with 1 indicating the highest need for human influence and 4 indicating the lowest. The score provides a clear understanding of what the horse asks of their human counterparts to improve compatibility between horse and rider. It highlights the level of communication and responsiveness required for optimal performance, helping to understand the relationship style the horse needs for harmony and contentment.
Cushion
The mentally perceived space where a horse "thinks" they are relative to any targeted obstacle or object. This cushion functions as a mental shock absorber, with its degree of elasticity determining the horse’s ability to handle situational chaos and uncommon stresses without losing athletic efficiency or physical fluency. The cushion's span affects mental fatigue and influences the sustainability of the horse’s physical talent. It represents the perceived distance between the horse and objects, measured in time. The rate and efficiency of psychosensory processing determines the mental space the horse perceives, regardless of actual distance or physical pace. Self-awareness, depth perception, and adaptation to situational chaos are all influenced by the cushion's span, impacting overall performance aptitude and herd structure. The amount of stress a horse can handle depends on the cushion's elasticity. A smaller cushion means less elasticity, leading to greater cumulative emotional stress and higher risk of mental fatigue. Conversely, a larger cushion indicates more elasticity, reducing stress accumulation and minimizing the risk of mental fatigue.
Top 5 Takeaways
-Maintain Focus: Tuskon needs frequent, attentive, strong, and purposeful intent from the rider to help him stay on task.
- Subtle Interventions: Continuous monitoring and timely adjustments by the rider can mitigate Tuskon's internal stress accumulation.
-Emotional Bridging: High levels of emotional communication and engagement are crucial to help Tuskon manage stresses in sensory zones 3, 4, and 5.
-Build the Cushion: Expanding Tuskon mental cushion will enhance his ability to handle situational chaos and stress without losing fluency.
-Strategic Adjustments: Adjust physical and emotional pace during moments of harmony to improve Tuskon responses and overall performance.
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Thank you for being here! ~Kerry
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