GROW Horsemanship

GROW Horsemanship I'm Brie Simpson, behaviour consultant, R+ trainer, and the founder of GROW Horsemanship, formerly PATH Equestrian. Please feel free to reach out ❤️

Welfare-focused equine education, discussion, and community

Endorsed Trainer with the WBA

• Behaviour consulting
• R+ lessons (in person and online)

Track-system boarding at Balancing Whispers (Caledon, Ontario) 🇨🇦 PATH was where this work began, but GROW reflects how my understanding and approach have evolved over the years. GROW stands for Guided by Research, Observation & Welfare, the three

pillars that shape everything I do:

Research: keeps the work grounded in evidence and curiosity. Observation: helps us truly see the horse in front of us and respond to them as an individual. Welfare: is the foundation, making sure every choice supports the horse’s physical, emotional, and social needs. I manage Balancing Whispers, one of Canada’s largest track-system facilities, which is home to a healthy mixed herd where horses live in a manner that supports their physical, social, and emotional needs. Designed in collaboration with owner Martine Sudan, who has created a haven for welfare-focused owners and a model for progressive horse management. I’ve hosted clinics and mentorships focused on the equine pain ethogram, consent-based procedures, and welfare-based care, supporting owners, professionals, and students in applying science to real-world horse management. I’ve also mentored students from diverse academic and professional backgrounds, including veterinary and graduate students, as well as co-op placements and horse owners seeking hands-on experience in welfare-based training and management. I’m an Endorsed Trainer with the World Bitless Association, a recognition that holds deep meaning for me because it reflects years of learning, reflection, and dedication to welfare-led, evidence-based horsemanship. Very few trainers hold this recognition, and I feel deeply honoured to be part of that community. GROW Horsemanship is about creating a welfare-focused community, a place where questions are welcome, science meets empathy, and education is meant to empower, not judge.

The reverse round pen can be most simply explained as the R+ version of traditional lunging.Instead of the horse moving ...
06/07/2026

The reverse round pen can be most simply explained as the R+ version of traditional lunging.

Instead of the horse moving forward to avoid pressure from a whip or line, forward movement is taught without driving. The trainer reinforces offered movement and builds duration and rhythm gradually through R+ shaping, rather than maintaining motion through pressure.

In this setup, the trainer works from inside a barrier while the horse moves around the outside. This creates protected contact, which can make it easier and safer to reinforce movement, especially when teaching faster gaits or working with horses who may struggle with traditional lunging.

The RRP makes it easier to see what the horse understands and how they are experiencing the session. Because the horse is not being actively driven, it becomes clearer whether the horse was previously responding to a verbal cue or simply to pressure. Loss of rhythm, disengagement, or choosing to leave provides immediate information about cue clarity, motivation, or physical comfort.

For some horses, particularly those with a history of stressful or punitive (more or you get punished) lunging experiences, this setup can help separate forward movement from past associations with pressure. It does not erase learning history, but it can provide a cleaner starting point for rebuilding movement with positive reinforcement.

I also find it useful for observing movement. Because the horse travels around the pen itself rather than being held on a line, balance, asymmetries, or reluctance can be easier to notice.

The RRP is also highly adaptable and does not require a permanent or elaborate setup. It can be created using cones, poles, tape, fencing, or existing structures, depending on the space available. The setup you see here is made with pylons and pylon extenders purchased from a construction supply company.

The goal is not a perfect circle. It is simply a way of setting up space to work on lunging in a different way.

The reverse round pen provides a different framework for lunging while working toward familiar goals. The end results may look very similar, but how they are taught is where things differ.

SUNSCREEN TIPS:A few things that have made sunscreen season easier around here. • I made this simple sunscreen applicato...
06/06/2026

SUNSCREEN TIPS:

A few things that have made sunscreen season easier around here.

• I made this simple sunscreen applicator using a foundation sponge and a small container. It’s inexpensive (dollerama!), easy to clean, and way less messy than trying to apply sunscreen directly from the bottle.

• I’ve become a big fan of sunscreen sticks. They’re small enough to fit in a pocket, easy to carry around the farm, and make reapplication throughout the day much more realistic.

• Practice sunscreen behaviours with your horse’s face before sunscreen season starts. It’s much easier to work on handling when you aren’t on a deadline.

• If something isn’t working, change something. Try a different applicator, a different sunscreen, or a different approach. I find many horse hate the smell and texture of the traditional sunscreen that’s where sticks and the makeup sponge come in!

• You shouldn’t be fighting with your horse over required care and handling. We can do a lot with JUST management, and a lot more with good training.

• When in doubt and desperate sometimes just putting food in a bucket and applying while they’re distracted also works.

One of the biggest things I’ve learned with husbandry training is that sometimes the answer isn’t asking more from the horse.

I like to ask:

How can I make this easier for both of us?

Note: Please check with your veterinarian before applying any sunscreen product to your horse. The sunscreen stick shown is simply the product I’ve chosen to use and what has worked well for us.

One thing I find fascinating about discussions around R+ horse training is how often the goalposts seem to move.Someone ...
06/06/2026

One thing I find fascinating about discussions around R+ horse training is how often the goalposts seem to move.

Someone shares a horse voluntarily participating in saddling.

“Okay, but can they do it outside their safe space?”

Someone shares a horse on a trail ride.

“Okay, but can they handle a real emergency? Can you show me what happens when they bolt? Are you gonna show if you can go faster than a walk? Can they do that on the side of the road?”

Ultimately it always comes down to:

“Okay, but I’ve never seen any GOOD examples of it done right”

At some point, it becomes worth asking:

What level of evidence would ACTUALLY be enough?

Because there are countless trainers and owners openly sharing horses participating in veterinary care, farrier work, trail riding, competitions, transport, husbandry procedures, liberty work, and everyday handling using R+.

When I first started out, those examples were harder to find.

Today there are SO many people doing indeed me work with so many different horses, disciplines, gaols and training styles.

Yet a common response remains the same.

What I find particularly interesting is that this standard is rarely applied equally.

One example I hear ALL the time is:

“Well, that’s just a gypsy vanner. They’re easy.”

First, anyone who has actually owned or trained a gypsy knows that is a hilarious statement.

Second, nobody watches a high level dressage rider, barrel racer, eventer, or jumper and asks:

“Can you show me the exact same thing on a different horse?”

Questions and skepticism are important. Every single training approach should be questioned and examined.

But there is a difference between asking questions and creating a standard or “proof” that can never actually be met.

Because if every example is met with a new requirement, a new exception, or a new challenge, the conversation is no longer be about evidence.

It may be about maintaining disbelief regardless of the evidence presented.

06/05/2026

One thing I've noticed about discussions around R+ never about real "proof".

People "challenge" and once that's answered, a new one appears.

Then another.
Then another.

At some point, the conversation stops being about whether examples exist and starts being about whether someone is willing to accept them.

That's what a moving goalpost looks like.

To be clear, I think ALL potential welfare concerns should be investigated. BUT I find it fascinating how quickly hypoth...
06/03/2026

To be clear, I think ALL potential welfare concerns should be investigated.

BUT I find it fascinating how quickly hypothetical welfare concerns are raised when discussing bitless or bridleless equipment.

Every piece of equipment SHOULD be scrutinized.

Every tool should be questioned.

Every potential welfare implication deserves investigation.

But that SAME level of scrutiny should apply consistently.

Because what I often see is people who are raising concerns about what bitless or bridleless equipment MIGHT do while remaining strangely quiet about welfare concerns that have ALREADY been documented in the literature surrounding traditional equipment.

Hypothetical concerns are important.

Documented concerns matter just as much, if not more.

If we are truly approaching these conversations from a “welfare perspective”, our willingness to question should not depend on whether a piece of equipment is familiar, traditional, or widely accepted.

Welfare discussions become far more meaningful when we apply the same standards to everything.

Not just the things that challenge our assumptions.

And there is absolutely a double standard happening right now in this conversation.

And when HYPOTHETICAL concerns generate more discussion than documented ones, I think it is fair to ask whether welfare is actually driving this conversation at all..

06/03/2026

I find it interesting how often conversations about bridleless or bitless riding generate such strong emotional reactions.

Nobody is being forced to ride without a bridle.

Nobody is being forced to change their equipment.

Yet the mere existence of these options often creates surprisingly intense discussions.

I think that is worth reflecting on regardless of where you stand.

Because regardless of your opinions on equipment, watching a horse and rider perform at this level with so little physical equipment involved is incredibly impressive.

The amount of training, communication, preparation, and trust required to achieve something like this is EXTRAORDINARY.

You do not have to want to do it yourself.
You do not even have to “agree” with it.

But I think we can acknowledge the skill involved without feeling threatened by its existence.

And perhaps that feeling of threat is worth examining.

Because I do not think the discomfort comes from the equipment itself.

I think it comes from what it represents.

Not a bridle.

Not a bit.

But the possibility that there may be more than one way to achieve success.

Because once people see something is possible, it becomes much harder to argue that it isn’t.

Zoe putting 110% effort into eating this blade of grass.Too cute not to share.That’s it. That’s the post for today ❤️
06/02/2026

Zoe putting 110% effort into eating this blade of grass.

Too cute not to share.

That’s it. That’s the post for today ❤️

I think we’ve reached a point where too many conversations have become about being right.And I don’t think that’s servin...
06/01/2026

I think we’ve reached a point where too many conversations have become about being right.

And I don’t think that’s serving anyone especially not horses.

The goal should not be to WIN.
The goal should not be to prove someone else wrong.

The goal should be to learn what is correct.

Healthy disagreement is one of the most important parts of growth. It can challenge our assumptions, expose gaps within our understanding, pushes us to ask questions as we learn.

Sometimes it strengthens our position.
And other times it changes of mind.

I’m not sure why we treat either outcome as a loss.

What is concerning me is how quickly many discussions become so PERSONAL.

Instead of addressing the information being presented, people begin attacking the character, intelligence, credentials, or motives of the person presenting it.

But none of those things actually address the argument or even the topic.

Personal attacks, insults and mockery are NOT evidence OR constructive.

If a position is strong, it should be able to stand on the strength of the argument itself.

The moment a conversation moves away from the topic and toward attacking the human, meaningful discussion becomes increasingly difficult.

Being challenged is not the same thing as being attacked.
Being questioned is not the same thing as being disrespected.

And changing your mind is NOT a sign of weakness. It’s a sign that you are willing to follow evidence wherever it leads.

I don’t ever need people to blindly agree with me. In fact, I think disagreement is essential.

Scientific process depends on disagreement and challenging ideas.

What matters is whether we are willing to engage with ideas without devaluing the people holding them.

Because at the end of the day, it should never be about WHO is right.

It should be about WHAT is right.

Before we get into this post, I want to acknowledge something.The last time I talked about grazing muzzles, I received a...
05/31/2026

Before we get into this post, I want to acknowledge something.

The last time I talked about grazing muzzles, I received a lot of strong reactions from people who understandably had concerns about the tool.

I understand why people have concerns.

But I would invite people to read this post with curiosity and consider the welfare science, health outcomes, and management realities that influence these decisions.

You do not have to agree with me, and respectful discussion is always welcome.

For many horse owners, grazing muzzles are not a convenience. They are a way to balance a horse’s need for turnout, movement, socialization, and grazing with very real metabolic and laminitis risks.

My goal here is not to convince everyone to use grazing muzzles. It is to discuss when and why they may be an appropriate welfare tool.

This post is simply an invitation to look at a commonly criticized tool through a welfare lens and have a thoughtful conversation about where it fits within modern horse care.

—————

Grazing muzzles are not abuse. They are a management tool within modern horse care.

I see a lot of strong reactions when people see horses wearing grazing muzzles. Words like cruel or abusive get used quickly. So let’s slow this conversation down and talk about welfare, biology, and outcomes rather than first impressions.

Grazing muzzles are used to manage grass intake in a way that protects the horse’s health.

While movement and management matter, a large proportion of laminitis cases today are endocrinopathic, driven primarily by metabolic and dietary factors. Grass non structural carbohydrate levels fluctuate with season, temperature, sunlight, and plant stress. Horses are highly efficient grazers, and under certain pasture conditions can consume large amounts of sugar very quickly.

This is where grazing muzzles come in.

A grazing muzzle allows a horse to remain turned out while moderating intake. The horse can still walk, socialize, lie down, explore, and engage in grazing behaviour. What changes is not whether the horse gets to live like a horse, but the rate and amount of sugar consumed.

They are not punishment. They are not meant to be a shortcut. They are a management tool used to prevent predictable harm.

Welfare is not defined by unlimited access to calories.

Welfare is defined by outcomes and whether a horse is living a species appropriate lifestyle.

Laminitis is not mild. It is one of the most painful and life altering conditions a horse can experience.

Using a grazing muzzle thoughtfully, alongside appropriate forage management, movement, training, and regular welfare checks, is far kinder than allowing preventable damage or managing horses through isolation and prolonged feed restriction for the sake of appearance.

This is also why track systems are such a valuable option. Track systems change the environment rather than relying on equipment by encouraging movement, social contact, and more natural foraging patterns while limiting prolonged access to high sugar pasture. When designed and managed well, they can significantly reduce laminitis risk and, in many cases, remove the need for grazing muzzles entirely.

That said, no management tool is neutral if it’s used poorly.

Grazing muzzles must be:

• Correctly fitted
• Checked daily
• Given regular breaks (this is a MUST)
• Introduced thoughtfully
• Monitored for rubs or pressure points
• Managed with attention to dental wear and comfort, including the use of appropriate inserts when needed

Poor fit, lack of supervision, or relying on a muzzle without addressing overall management is not good welfare. The same is true for any piece of equipment or system.

Welfare is not about optics.

It is about protecting the horse.

Don’t judge a grazing muzzle by how it looks.

Judge it by the outcome for the horse.

Horses evolved to eat almost continuously. This is not a training philosophy, a trend, or a management preference. It is...
05/30/2026

Horses evolved to eat almost continuously. This is not a training philosophy, a trend, or a management preference. It is how their digestive system evolved to function.

A horse’s stomach produces acid constantly, whether food is present or not. When forage is removed for long periods, that acid has nothing to buffer it. Over time, this increases the risk of gastric irritation, ulcers, and digestive discomfort.

Forage is also regulation. The act of chewing, swallowing, and slow intake supports calm behaviour and nervous system stability. When horses are left without fibre, we often see pacing, fence walking, irritability, wood chewing, or food obsession. Those are not training issues. They are welfare signals.

“My horse needs restricted sugar and calories.”
Absolutely. Here’s how we do that without compromising welfare.

Restricting grass does not mean restricting forage. Horses who need sugar control still require continuous access to fibre. Slow feeder nets, hay pillows, and grazing bags allow intake to be managed while preserving natural foraging behaviour.

Muzzles serve a similar purpose on grass. They allow horses to stay moving, social, and engaged in natural foraging behaviour while protecting metabolic health. Used correctly, they are a management tool, not a punishment.

Regulation comes from a species-appropriate lifestyle. Deprivation does not create regulation.

What is not species appropriate is prolonged periods with nothing to eat. No hay. No grass. No fibre.

Good horse care is about meeting biological needs while managing risk. Continuous access to forage, even when intake must be slowed or restricted, is one of the most basic welfare standards we have.

Address

Mountainview Road
Caledon East, ON
L7K2G2

Website

https://madbarn.ca/shop/?ref=3345, https://www.gg-equine.com/?ref=PATHEquestrian, https:/

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