A Structured Approach to Horse and Rider Communication
Horse and Rider Awareness®
We all seek a meaningful relationship with our horses. One built on trust, communication, and mutual awareness. But developing that relationship involves more than learning techniques. It begins with understanding how our horses respond to what we do, and how even small changes in our position, timing, and communication can make a difference.
Developed through more than four decades of teaching horses, riders, and riding instructors, Randi Thompson’s Horse and Rider Awareness® programs introduce practical exercises that help participants recognize what is happening between horse and rider. These techniques create opportunities to improve balance, communication, confidence, and understanding, whether working from the ground or in the saddle.
The goal is simple: Help riders become more aware of what they are communicating and better understand what their horses are telling them.
Rider Awareness
Rider Awareness begins with understanding how our position, balance, and communication influence the horse beneath us. Small changes in the way we sit, breathe, and use our bodies can make remarkable differences in how our horses respond.
For more than four decades, Randi Thompson has coached professional riding instructors and developed practical teaching techniques that have been tested with thousands of horses and riders. These exercises help riders recognize what they are doing, understand how their horses respond, and discover ways to create clearer communication.
Rider Awareness techniques include:
The Amazing Barrel Horse: Discover how to feel and maintain the correct balanced riding position before getting on a horse.
The Magic 3 Riding Positions: Explore how simple changes in your position affect your balance and communication.
The Magic of Finding the Perfect Upper Body Position and Balance: Discover how small adjustments can change the way you ride.
Communication Through the Reins: Learn to recognize when your horse is saying Yes, No, or Maybe.
Finding Your Seat Position: Develop greater awareness of your seat bones, thighs, calves, and the way your body influences the horse.
The Magic Square™: Explore practical exercises that improve communication, accuracy, and confidence.
These techniques give riders of all levels practical tools they can use to develop better balance, clearer communication, and a more connected partnership with their horses.
Horse Awareness
Understanding how horses think, respond, and learn can change the way we communicate with them. Horse Awareness® introduces practical techniques that help riders and horse professionals recognize what their horses are telling them, both from the ground and in the saddle.
Through simple, proven exercises, Randi Thompson teaches participants how to recognize a horse’s responses, develop clearer communication, and build confidence and trust. These techniques can be used with horses and riders of different disciplines and experience levels.
Horse Awareness techniques include:
Understanding How Horses Respond: Recognize how horses react to our position, movements, and communication.
Getting Your Horse in Front of Your Aids: Discover how to encourage a horse to stay attentive, responsive, and engaged.
Communication Through the Reins: Learn to recognize when your horse is responding with Yes, No, or Maybe.
The Magic Square™: Use practical exercises to develop clearer communication, accuracy, and responsiveness.
Building Confidence and Trust: Explore ways to help horses become more comfortable with new experiences and expectations.
Connecting Groundwork and Riding: Discover how techniques introduced on the ground can improve communication in the saddle.
Horse Awareness helps participants recognize the small changes that can make a significant difference in their horses’ responses. As communication becomes clearer, horses and riders can develop greater confidence, understanding, and consistency in their work together.