Ibalansi Horse Center-pty ltd.

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Ibalansi Horse Center-pty ltd.

IBALANSI MEANS BALANCE IN ZULU. Balance is the key concept for a successful communication between horse and human. Lara Snyman studied Horse Psychology.

We establish mental, emotional and physical balance through our unique techniques at liberty.

30/08/2025

Ask yourself- which pill would you choose?

Do you want your horse to do anything you wish for? All the tricks, win any show, be the best hacking horse etc?

Or would you prefer to talk with your horse? To have a two way communication line? To listen, to accept, to understand and to explain?

I have met countless clients with their horses over the years. Most of them see themselves as absolute horse lovers and people that would do anything for their horses.
But when it comes down to the hard truth- they choose to be blind, sell the horse quickly, or go trainer hopping until someone says what they want to hear and not what they need to hear for the good of the horse.

It all boils down to people excepting their horses to offer them some kind of pleasure. The competition horse that is shipped all over the country , as much as the happy hack that is expected to carry you for miles and miles in a cheap unfitted saddle and barefoot on a low cost diet.
Where does this expectation come from? Because you spend a ton of money on having your horse? Is that why they need to perform?
Do they need to make you look good and likeable? Do you need to feel in power over someone else?
Is your 30 minute ride really so enjoyable if you would look your horse in the eye while you’re having fun?

I used to think that body language is the language of the horse, easily learned through various methods and used to be the lead horse.

However i have learned that true communication is so much more!!! The wisdom of our animals in enormous and unmatched. Once you tune in, you will realise what you are missing out on if you choose the pill on the left hand side..

29/08/2025

Fear arises when there’s misunderstanding and miscommunication. Riders become scared and use harsher tools to try and control their horses which in turn makes the misunderstood horse even more scared. A vicious cycle that can end in drama or the sale of the horse. The solution is simple- listen to your horses. Get help to understand the messages and work through it at eye level. The result is an empowered horse with an empowered human at their side.

26/08/2025

I used to say :”it’s maybe pain”; but in the last few years I’ve learned that It’s always pain!!!

Horses are so willing and endure most of the humans crazy requests, but once the acute pain/ memory of pain or anticipation of pain becomes too much- they have to show us in one way or another. Therefore it’s never just behavioural.

It’s not dominance.
It’s not a habit.

It was pain (pain memory), it is pain (acute pain in the situation or chronic pain) or the anticipation of pain (sometimes trained anticipation- spurs, unfitting saddle, rider too heavy or unbalanced, sore teeth and harsh riders hands etc).

Horses that experience pain very easily develop ulcers- so even when the acute pain is gone, you will have ulcers which are painful and one ends up in a vicious cycle of pain, pain memory and the anticipation of more pain.

Fearful horses are fearful for a reason- there was a pain associated at some point.

It all boils down to pain.

Take your horses behaviours seriously, find the root of the problem, treat the root of the problem and the secondary problem (ulcers), then build a new relationship based on trust and communication.

17/08/2025

Due to us always having 4-5 clients horses here for training, and kids lessons every afternoon, we never get time for our own horses 🐴
Sundays are reserved for our animals though, so we had some playtime in the camps this morning.
Thula still remembers his piaffe, however due to lack of fitness and strength, he’s not holding himself that well currently.
Lori has learned the half pass, which I hope to do in a trot soon. This helps her to balance, mobilise the pelvis and shoulders while lifting in the chest- all in preparation for a passage one day. She started the Spanish walk a few months ago, which has now progressed into the Spanish trot- classically also called the ‘stretched passage’.
Once the stretched passage is well balanced and developed enough lift moment, we will regress the front legs back to a normal passage.
This is how we had taught river a few years ago and it works so well and playfully.

14/08/2025

A few years ago I went to visit the large open air horse festival called equitana in Germany, as I had done several times before.
I love the fact that there’s a new tendency to Liberty work and less force. Less force?
Unfortunately I didn’t see less force, I only saw less physical force. Everything else stays the same: different techniques to condition your horse to follow you…
I couldn’t find any deep relationship or connection work based on two way communication.
No energy work, no wisdom from the horses.
Everything is one way: horse must perform (but now at Liberty).
The end result is shut down horses or very tense looking horses that just have to conform and perform.
I don’t want that, I’m not satisfied and happy with that no longer.
I am in a constant re and Co creation of peace, bliss and dance. Glimpses of how beautiful the universe functions and two way communication. What can the horses teach us? So so so so so much more than our superficial thinking allows!!! Open yourself to listen and indulge into true peace, beauty and excitement of how wonderful our life alongside horses can be…

11/08/2025

Anyone ever ask their horse what they want to do with you?
If you don’t , then you’re enslaving them.
Luckily , horses do have such amazing natures that they always give it their best. But sometimes they physically cannot do what you want them for. Get a motorcycle!
I have beautiful horses of my own, all well schooled under saddle but yet, I only ride the ones that want to be ridden and enjoy it. The others get loved and pampered in the exact same way, and there’s no doubt for their existence ever.

07/08/2025

I love riding horses, but I love horses more, so I only enjoy riding if the horse does too. Anything else would be taking advantage of such amazing creatures.

04/08/2025

What kind of person do you want to be? Perfect or real?
It’s just like fake plants 🌱 versus real plants: fake plants always look perfect, there’s no brown leaves. But fake plants cannot grow and change! Real plants might go through phases of looking like they’re dying because they lack water or nutrients. But this allows them to adapt to difficult times as they always protect their roots. Once the right sunlight, water and nutrients are available those plants will grow and glow. There’s no stopping them!

02/08/2025

The link between balance and relaxation :
Why is it so commonly accepted that the horse is supposed to be able to balance a rider and move all supple and beautifully before it can even balance itself out?
If your horse pulls on the reins, falls on the forehand, goes hollow, stiff, short strided etc- it’s because the horse can’t balance itself and even less -you!
unfortunately most riders don’t sit very neatly either.. if you lean forward, sit in a chair seat, bounce, or don’t have independent hands- how on earth are you expecting the horse to fix it for you? Remember that it’s extremely scary for a flight animal to be off balance and feel like it’s falling over..
unless there’s balance, there won’t be relaxation. !!!!
And sometimes it’s a long steady road to build the strength for correct balance in the horse.
Stay on the ground, build your own core muscles through yoga or Pilates, and help your horse find balance through various exercises in hand and at Liberty which is the true and honest self carriage.

31/07/2025

Why don't I start my sessions with new horses by doing something along the lines of a Parelli 'friendly game' (touching all over)?
Do you go up to a stranger and start your relationship by undergoing their private bubble without permission and touch them in sensitive areas?
exactly...
It takes trust to go into each others personal zones. And it takes respect to defend your boundaries.
I like to start new relationships by watching and listening. Find out who this horse is and what it has to say.
Start the relationship at an energetic level, then at different aura boundaries until you reach the sacred physical personal zone...

27/07/2025

I will never understand how humans just feel entitled to jump on any ‘rideable’ horse’s backs. To me it’s such an honour to be allowed in their sacred space, an honour to have the opportunity to co create powerful movements and be carried. I wait to feel invited and until we both have trust into each other. I make sure that the horses feel appreciated for everything they try for us and I apologise to them if they had a moment of being overwhelmed.

Address

Gordonsbaai
6670

Telephone

+27730700083

Website

https://www.ibalansi.com/

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Our Vision & Mission

IBALANSI MEANS BALANCE IN ISIZULU. Balance is the key concept for a successful communication between horses and humans.

We aim to teach a full understanding of your horses psychology, phisyology and emotions. Only by mastering the communication at eye-level, you will be truly ready to ask the horse for permission to jump onto its back. We align psychological, physical, emotional and spiritual balance within the horse, the owner and their relationship. Horse riding is a fine form of art. Our goal is to teach this art-form. We believe in soft hands, voice commands and controlling the horse with body position and energy, rather than reins and legs. Riding should be a dialouge between horse and rider. Both horse and rider has to truly trust each other. The horse needs to know that no pain will be inflicted, and the rider has to trust the horse with his life.

“Horses do speak, but only to those that know how to listen.”