Dewood Equestrian Services and Float Hire

15/10/2025

I have these guys doing a heap of maintenance on the farm at the moment as needed!

23/09/2025

27/08/2025

🔬 𝗦𝗧𝗨𝗗𝗜𝗘𝗦 𝗦𝗔𝗬: 𝗨𝗞 𝗘𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗦𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗛𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗼𝘂𝗿

A growing body of research shows that 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗨𝗞 𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮 𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 —despite decades of progress in equine science and behavior studies.
Yet, terms like “naughty,” “stubborn,” and “defiant” are still commonly used to describe horses showing 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝘀.

Let’s unpack why that’s a problem. 👇

🧠𝗛𝗢𝗥𝗦𝗘 𝗕𝗥𝗔𝗜𝗡𝗦 ≠ 𝗛𝗨𝗠𝗔𝗡 𝗕𝗥𝗔𝗜𝗡𝗦
Horses have 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗲𝘀 compared to humans. This part of the brain is responsible for 𝗲𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘀. Horses simply 𝙙𝙤 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙥𝙖𝙘𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙙𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙗𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙤𝙧 “𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙖𝙡” 𝙗𝙚𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙤𝙪𝙧.

Instead, equine cognition is built on:

•𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 (classical and operant conditioning)
•𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝘆-𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗼𝘂𝗿 (especially negative reinforcement and avoidance learning, as well as positive reinforcement)
•𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝘀 (primarily fight, flight, or freeze)

💥 What many riders perceive as “naughty” behaviour is often:

•A 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙚 from unclear or conflicting signals
•A 𝙛𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙚 triggered by fear or insecurity
•A 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 to pressure, pain, or discomfort
•A 𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙤𝙛 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙧 𝙝𝙖𝙗𝙞𝙩𝙪𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙤𝙧 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙯𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣
•𝙋𝙖𝙞𝙣-𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙚𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙤𝙪𝙧 or remembered pain often missed or misinterpreted

📚 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘄𝘀 that labeling horses with anthropomorphic terms (like “naughty” or “cheeky”) leads to training methods that are less effective and more likely to cause distress or learned helplessness.

✅ A more ethical, evidence-based approach requires:

•Understanding the horse as a 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗹
•Recognizing their limited ability to process 𝗮𝗯𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀
•Using 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿, 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝗹𝗼𝘄-𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀
•Applying 𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲-𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀, not tradition or punishment

💬 It’s time we stop blaming the horse and start questioning the human interpretation. Science offers us the tools - 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲?

Study link in the comments 🤓
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Scootboot
Equine Products UK
Arena Saddles
Equine Light Therapy LTD

27/08/2025

15/08/2025

01/08/2025

🌟 On-Property Lease Opportunity 🌟

“Huey” is available for an on-property lease at my property in Traveston. He’s a wonderful, reliable pony with a solid education, including walk pirouettes, shoulder-in, travers, and previous pony club experience. Perfect for a confident young rider or small adult seeking regular riding without ownership commitments.

Lease fee: $200/month (covering feed and farrier). Great facilities available on-site.

Huey hasn’t been ridden by my kids for at least three months, so he’s fully available to enjoy and benefit from consistent attention.

Please message me if you’re interested or have any questions!

01/08/2025

👑 Of course the king had to christen the new arena first — it’s only right!
It’s not his birthday, but Happy Horse’s Birthday to all the majestic legends out there 💝
Here’s to many more hoofprints in this fresh dirt 💞

🥂 cheers to the arena being officially open 💕

24/07/2025

✨ Arena Dreams Coming to Life ✨

The first half of the arena is officially DONE — and I couldn’t be happier. Eventually, I’ll get my fancy indoor setup… but for now, this is a dream come true and an amazing addition to Dewood Equestrian.

Freshly fenced, surfaced, and already changing the way we work with the horses. It’s safe, solid, and such a win for this little farm that’s slowly becoming everything I imagined.

Can’t wait to see the memories made here 🐎💫

12/07/2025

Caretaker Wanted – Traveston QLD (Horse & Cattle Friendly)

We’re looking for someone dependable and down-to-earth to help out on our 50-acre property in Traveston. Whether you’re travelling with your van or looking for a quiet base, we’ve got a peaceful paddock with a view, power, water, and space for a horse or a few cattle.

This isn’t just a place to crash — it’s a property with heart. We’re building something here. Slowly, intentionally, and with care. If you’re someone who finds peace in the rhythm of land, animals, and honest work, this might just feel like home.

What’s Involved:
• Feeding horses a few times a week
• Slashing and general maintenance
• Helping with odd jobs as needed
• Optional: caretaking while we’re away ($30/day for animal/property care)

What You Get:
• A quiet, beautiful spot to live — power and water included
• Paddock space for your horse or cattle
• Stay is free in exchange for help, or $220/week if you prefer to do your own thing
• A chance to be part of something meaningful, not just passing through

Would suit a solo traveller, couple, or someone ready for a reset — who values peace, purpose, and land that feels lived in.

Interested?
Text or call Brigitte on 0402039925, or email [email protected] with a bit about who you are and what you’re looking for.