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 lightShe discusses the concept of "meaningless interactions" with horses and why all interactions should have purposeThe 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 timeStrategies for making handling interactions more meaningful and beneficialThe importance of supporting a resilient nervous system in horsesThe significance of balance, straightness, and proper biomechanics in lunging and daily handlingShe observes common issues in leading and bridling that create tension and crookednessTamara 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*Chapters00:00 Introduction to the Experience01:53 Optimizing Horse Interactions03:14 Enhancing Horse Well-being04:07 Meaningful Interactions with Horses05:50 Understanding Horse Communication08:13 Creating Positive Experiences10:00 The Importance of Deposits and Withdrawals11:35 Building a Resilient Nervous System13:00 Pressure and Aids in Training14:52 Balancing Performance and Relaxation16:32 Lunging Techniques and Their Impact17:16 Leading and Bridling Considerations18:02 Conclusion and Future Insights

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