Animado Equine

06/08/2025

Good to see the FEI taking a clear stand on horse welfare.

In an outcome marking one of the most significant sanctions issued by the FEI Tribunal, a 15-year suspension has today been imposed against Dressage athlete Cesar Parra (USA) (FEI ID: 10000031), for actions violating the principles of horse welfare. Parra has also been fined CHF 15,000 and ordered t...

27/07/2025

27/07/2025

Nearly 12 years ago Blue was bringing me joy out eventing.
Today he is still bringing me joy, but the challenge is different. (Video in comments - I hope 🤷‍♀️)
These few moments are at the end of our ride and he thought I’d asked enough, but I wanted the pics to prove it. 🤭
This is the first time I’ve asked him to go from passagy trot to piaffe and back to passage/trot. He says get stuffed a couple of times but I was wrapt that he offered the passage after the piaffe.
Not bad for an old man of 19.
And Sophie and I were again sharing a horsey weekend, this time we were at an Eventing clinic, riding two of Blue’s sons.
We both still feel privileged to be able to share our love for horses in this way. 🥰
We have so much to be grateful for. 💕

26/06/2025

Even if you haven’t seen the latest video, you’ve heard about it.
I’ve been shocked by the support offered in this latest incidence. It has only confirmed my suspicion that our equestrian community has a long way to go to catch up with a modern understanding of how horses learn and how to ethically train them. 🤦‍♀️
This article has a straight forward breakdown of the situation.

Another day, another high-level dressage rider being suspended for training abuses. On June 19, the FEI announced that it had imposed a provisional suspension against Australian Olympic dressage rider Heath Ryan for horse abuse. The FEI, in conjunction with Equestrian Australia, is opening an invest...

17/06/2025

So impressed with the balance in this horse. Simply beautiful.

21/05/2025

What did you do today?
I scared myself silly, and it was fun. 🤪😎😂

21/04/2025

I think I kept the wrong horse... 🤦‍♀️ Sophie on Ally, and me on Nikki...
At the lovely, revamped Bacchus Marsh PC grounds. Thanks Jen Mainland

17/04/2025

This morning was xc training. This is getting to be more and more fun. Clearly neither brother wants to risk getting a scratch. 😂😉💕

28/03/2025

Too hot to ride earlier, and I would have missed this… 💕

23/12/2024

Have horses changed that much since I was a kid?
A few decades back, when I went to pony club, only the oldest and best riders in the club rode big horses (over 15hh 😆), a few station bred stock horses, or Arabs from the local breeder, but mostly 'OTT'. We just called them retired racehorses, or thoroughbreds in those days. 🤷
If a younger rider turned up on a big horse/thoroughbred, there were questions asked about the suitability of the horse and rider combination.
Tonight I saw there is a class at Barastoc for racehorses with child riders! (See the pic below...)
Do I sound bitter and twisted? Well, call me cynical, but I think the racing industry has a much slicker handle on SLO than the FEI and the Olympic disciplines.
However I truly find it offensive that the racing industry markets their wastage to children. Check out where they advertise and the events and classes they sponsor - Pony Club Australia for one. And if an enthusiastic potential young buyer goes to the RV web page to learn more about the 'OTT Program', one of the headings on that page is 'wagering'... 🤔
Racing Vic also market to and sponsor HRCAV events, who cater to mainly lower level riders who rarely have the expertise to cope with the retraining required for horses that have had a very limited education. Lots of exposure, sure, but not not education. (And the soundness issues are a whole other story!)
We don't call ex-racehorses 'wastage' any more; now they are 'OTT' and you can pay thousands for horses that were only valued at meat prices before the invention of the 'Off The Track Program'.
Sure, there are examples of great ex-racehorses that have gone on to amazing careers, even to Olympic level, and the breed has a well deserved reputation for being multi-talented. There are many other breeds that are better for regular infusions of TB blood into their bloodlines, including most varieties of warmbloods.
But the TB also has a reputation for behavioural euthanasia and serious, career ending, soundness issues.
I still can't get over Barastoc having a class for child riders on ex-racehorses! 😬

30/11/2024

Right up there with my love of riding and training horses, is my love for training dogs, or any animal for that matter!
This post could be equally about dressage, or working equitation, or any other horse discipline. We need to remember that our enjoyment must not be at the cost of the animal's good health and freedom to express their natural behaviours.
We know good dressage is good for the body of a horse. We need to make sure their mind is enjoying it as well!
Please follow the link if it does not automatically come up. 😉
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DtZLUjG4a/

Send a message to learn more

29/11/2024

ESI are always a good resource.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/15GnjPSd99/?mibextid=WC7FNe

Desensitisation techniques will not work if the basic reason for the horse's neophobia or other behaviour issue is to do with deficits in basic needs.

While many behaviour problems can be alleviated by desensitising the horse to the stimulus he finds offensive , it is very important to recognise that in many cases, horses express fearful behaviours to certain stimuli as symptoms of deeper problems in their mental security.

It is important to consider that a predisposition for fearful behaviour can be innate or it may be acquired through past fearful experiences of escape and avoidance learning.

The biggest considerations for the horse's mental security undoubtedly lies in satisfying their fundamental needs for socialisation, movement, agency and foraging, as well avoiding the potential for pain or confusion that can arise from the delivery of the cues and aids by the rider.

Poor socialisation in horses can lead to several behavioural problems that affect both their welfare and handling safety. When horses lack adequate social experiences, particularly during their developmental years, they often develop maladaptive behaviors.

Adapted from Modern Horse Training Volume 2 by Andrew N McLean
This exciting new publication is now available for purchase at our webshop - www.esi-education.com