Awakened Equestrian, Hustopece (2026)

13/01/2026

I have some exciting news. 😍 I’ve successfully completed my certification and am now an official Mindfulness Now Teacher. 🥳
This program was recommended to me by Margrit Coates, who has completed it as well, and I’m incredibly grateful to her for that. I originally thought I would just broaden my horizons a little, but the way the training was delivered and the depth of the program absolutely blew me away! 🤩

You’ll definitely be hearing a lot more from me about mindfulness. I’ve received—and continue to receive—so much inspiration through Mindfulness Now that I simply have to share it! Well… you know me. 😁

It’s no secret that I usually don’t follow specific methods, because they tend to feel too limiting. Mindfulness Now is an honorable exception. Its depth, strong scientific foundation, effectiveness proven by numerous studies, gentleness, non-invasiveness, sensitivity, positive impact on everyday life, supportive community, lifelong learning, and the possibility to adapt the program to individual needs—this all completely won me over. ❤️

I’m overjoyed to be part of the mindfulness community, and I’m excited to see how much good this program—and the inspiration drawn from it—will bring into the world. ☀

K.

09/01/2026

THE WORLD NEEDS STRONG WOMEN! But differently.

Until recently, I thought the greatest form of heroism was handling everything. Carrying it all, pushing through exhaustion by sheer force. Not complaining and simply clenching my teeth a little harder. Proving to everyone (and especially to myself) that even the impossible can be done. Keeping my emotions inside, crying only in secret, and releasing my frustration only when no one could see.

I wanted to be a strong woman who proved her worth.

The result of decades of effort was hitting a wall. Of course, the realization didn’t come overnight. It came together like a puzzle. I was guided there by my horses, my children, my dog (in chronological order 🙂), and by people around me who pushed me into corners and taught me how to set boundaries.

Performance was my purpose, my value, my “love language.”

The puzzle finally came together at the exact moment when I had exhausted all my sources of energy. There was nothing left to draw from. Only far beyond the edge of exhaustion did it fully sink in.

That I am a woman, and my true strength lies somewhere else than in how much I can carry and hold together.

That it is completely okay to say NO—I can’t anymore; NO—I can’t handle this (or I don’t want to); NO—this is already too much for me.

That the greatest feminine strength lies in sensitivity, gentleness, and the ability to hold the vulnerability these qualities bring.

That it is absolutely valid to express anger, sadness, or frustration. That there is no need to be ashamed of tears, let alone apologize for them.

That setting boundaries is not selfishness or a lack of consideration for others—it is a basic necessity of life.

And that it doesn’t have to be understood by anyone else.

It’s enough that it makes sense to me.

WOMEN, the world needs us.
It needs us to be strong in our gentleness. To perceive and to feel. To express what we feel.

And if you need support, we are here for you.

K.
photo: .dohn

04/01/2026

🌧️❄️ How Do Horses Choose Warmth When They Can Decide for Themselves?
Horse owners often intervene in natural thermoregulation – through blanketing, clipping, or stabling horses. This study, however, asked a different question: what would horses choose themselves if given the option? 🐎🤍

Researchers observed the behaviour of 22 adult horses that could freely choose between being outside, a non-heated shelter, or a heated shelter. Horse behaviour was recorded every minute for one hour, while weather conditions were carefully documented 🌬️🌧️.

The results were very interesting. In dry freezing conditions below 0 °C, horses spent up to 88 % of their time outdoors, while in mild but rainy and windy weather, they spent only 52 % outside. Shivering was observed exclusively in wet and rainy conditions, not in dry frost. The study also showed differences between horse types – cold-blooded horses stayed outside significantly more often than warm-blooded horses.

💚 From a welfare perspective, it is essential to note that horses actively seek protection mainly from moisture and wind, not automatically from cold – the ability to choose and access shelter is key to their well-being. Dry conditions, wind protection, and choice are often more important than temperature itself 🐴🌿❄️.

Source: Jørgensen, G. H. M., et al. (2015). Preference for shelter and additional heat in horses exposed to Nordic winter conditions.
Photo: Pixabay

02/01/2026

How Blanketing Affects Horses’ Coats 🐴📊

A new study examined how wearing blankets during winter affects the length and diameter of horses’ coats 🧥❄️. Sixteen adult horses were divided into two groups: one wore blankets, the other did not. Monthly hair samples were taken from the neck and hindquarters throughout the winter.

The results showed:
➡️Hair was longest in all horses in January and February, and shortest in October and March.
➡️Horses wearing blankets had shorter neck hair than non-blanketed horses in January (43 vs. 58 mm) and February (35 vs. 47 mm).
➡️Hair on the hindquarters was not significantly affected by blanketing.
➡️Overall, the pattern of hair growth throughout winter was similar for both blanketed and non-blanketed horses.

The study confirms that blanketing can slightly affect neck hair length, but the overall winter coat growth follows the same pattern in all horses.

Source: DeBoer, M., et al. (2023). Changes in Hair Coat Length and Diameter in Blanketed and Nonblanketed Adult Horses in the Winter. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science.
Photo: Canva

01/01/2026

I'm looking toward 2026 and see one big question mark. So many opportunities, thousands of open doors, and gauntlets thrown down, waiting for me to pick them up. And yet I’m still hesitating on the threshold, almost reluctant to step forward.

Will I be able to bring the ideas in my head into reality? Will I choose correctly? Where should I direct my energy first? Who will I disappoint, and whom will I please? Will I find balance?

The past years have taught me that even though the energy of the universe is inexhaustible, my own energy is not. There was a time when it felt different—I ran on brutal overdraft for decades. But I’ve reached the end; no one will lend me any more. I’m given a daily allowance. Not a bit extra. I have to weigh and choose carefully how I use my energy.

So I don’t waste it on unnecessary things. I don’t explain, convince, or force. I only do what makes sense to me. Because that is enough.

I still need a few deep exhales and inhales before I dare to jump into the new year. It’s going to be quite a ride.

I need time, because I’ll be stepping into it even more as myself than before. Even if many won’t understand. That’s okay.

It’s enough if it makes sense to me.

Happy New Year, dear friends. May we live it in good health and learn what we need to learn. 🍀
K.

21/12/2025

With the arrival of winter, we often reduce the activity of our horses, but one thing remains crucial – sufficient water 🐴💦. Horses naturally drink less when the water is cold, which can lead to dehydration and an increased risk of colic. Studies show that water temperature significantly affects intake – horses drink the most when the water is between 7–18 °C.

During winter months, water can quickly turn to ice, so it’s important to check water troughs at least twice a day and remove any ice 🧊. Heated or insulated water troughs can help horses maintain adequate water intake while reducing the energy lost to warming fluids in the body.

Proper hydration keeps fiber in the digestive system hydrated and easily digestible, reducing the risk of impaction and supporting digestion. Remember, water needs increase for horses in training, pregnant mares, or growing foals. 💧🐎

Conclusion: Checking and maintaining warm water in winter is a simple way to support your horse’s health and comfort, and prevent serious health complications. 🌨️💛

Source: Feedmark (2025) Feeding the field-kept horse in Winter.
Photo: Canva

19/12/2025

The three of us. ❤️
One horse who’s a little too small, one Bohemian Shepherd (chodsky pes) who’s a little too black, and me, who’s a little too much in general. 🙂
I'm so grateful that we can be together, and that despite our imperfections, we are a perfect team. ❤️
K.
photo .dohnalova_photo

16/12/2025

Want a Happier Horse? Let Them Play! 🎾💚

Science has great news for horse owners — play isn’t just fun, it’s an effective way to help horses cope with stress.

Researchers from the University of the Witwatersrand explored whether playful behavior could help horses better handle sudden stress and improve their decision-making skills.

The study included horses from two very different environments — riding school horses under intensive management and pasture-kept horses living more freely.
Each horse was first exposed to a short but intense sound stressor, then given the chance to play with a large ball. Afterwards, the horses took part in a decision-making maze test, where they had to choose the path leading to a food reward.

📊 The results were clear:
– After the stress exposure, horses showed more signs of irritation and made more mistakes.
– After just a short play session, their stress levels dropped significantly, and their decision-making improved — even beyond their pre-stress performance!
Play quite literally brought their emotions and behavior back into balance.

🎯 The takeaway:
Give your horse the chance to play — whether with a ball, cone, or other enrichment toy. Just a few minutes of play a day can make a real difference to their mental state, focus, and overall well-being.

Source: Howard, J. A., et al. (2025). Hold your horses: The effect of play behaviour in horses (Equus caballus) under imposed stress. Applied Animal Behaviour Science.
📸 Photo: Canva

11/12/2025

A few years ago, I realized that something about me was a bit… unusual. A friend of mine, a dog breeder, was complaining that she’d been waiting for her bitch to give birth for several nights already and that she was completely exhausted and sleep-deprived. Suddenly I blurted out: “I’ll help her deliver, let me try something.”
Even I was surprised by the idea, but once it was out there…
I sat quietly for a moment, imagined helping the dog relax — and a few hours later the puppies were born.
A coincidence. A total coincidence, I told myself with a smile.

A year later, the same situation repeated itself.
“Do you want to try again? It worked so nicely last time,” my friend insisted.
So I tried again. And soon she was sending me photos of the dog giving birth.
That gave me a bit of a chill, but I decided it must have been an even bigger coincidence.

But then, a few months later, another friend’s mare was overdue. Everyone was getting nervous, and the mare still refused to foal. It kept bothering me, so I offered to try tuning in from a distance to see if anything could be done.
I focused on the mare — and immediately understood what was going on.

It was shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Everyone was tense and uncertain about what would happen next. The mare was being cared for by a groom — a Ukrainian man who, of course, was deeply worried about his family back home.
The mare sensed the stress and tension and was afraid to bring her foal into an environment that felt like potential danger.
I explained the situation to her and helped her relax.
A few hours later, my friend sent me a photo of the newborn foal.

That was the moment I realized that there had simply been too many coincidences.
But before energy work convinced me that it was here for me — and I was here for it — it still took quite a bit of effort. :)

K.
photo .dohnalova_photo

30/11/2025

WE ASK SO MUCH OF THEM…
To accept our touch whenever we need it,
to carry us on their backs whenever we feel like it,
to heal our souls when we’re hurting,
to be our friends when we feel alone,
to obey when we’re desperate to feel in control,
to love us when we don’t even love ourselves,
to always be there waiting until we finally have time for them,
to work for us because we rely on them,
to be content in conditions nature never designed them for,
to stand still even when every fibre of their being wants to run,
to fulfil our wishes while we ignore theirs.

Horses were not born with a duty to serve humans.
That’s something we decided.

Let’s recognise everything they do for us—and the high price they pay for it.
Let’s be grateful, treat them with respect.
Let’s be there for them just as they are there for us. 💜

K.

📷 .dohn

29/11/2025

WHEN IN THE RED, DON’T EXPLAIN, DON’T ARGUE, AND DON’T TRAIN🚦
A common situation. I was shopping, and at the checkout a 2–3-year-old boy had a full-on meltdown. It happens. His mum, with all the good intentions of gentle, respectful parenting, was trying to convince him to calm down. I support this style of parenting and applaud the effort, but if this mum understood the polyvagal theory, she would know she was wasting her time.
The little boy was screaming, rolling on the floor, grabbing things he wasn’t supposed to, and was completely gone. His mum was trying to explain that this isn’t acceptable, talking to him, trying to verbally put the situation back in order—without success.
Why? Because the boy was simply “in the red.”

Red on the polyvagal traffic light means the nervous system has shut down. It’s in total panic or freeze mode—completely irrational. In the red, we don’t understand words. Rational arguments don’t help, logic doesn’t work. The only way out is to change the colour. At least to orange, ideally back to green.
Practically, this means calming. Offering a sense of safety. Not explaining—just comforting. Providing reassurance, support, anything that helps the child—in this case, but at other times it could be a partner, a horse, a dog, anyone with a developed nervous system—start to perceive us again.

When our partner (not important how many legs they may have) is in the red, they’re not perceiving. They don’t understand—and they can’t. They are in a state of total system overload. That’s why there’s no point in explaining, arguing, fighting, or continuing with training. None of it matters in that moment.

Our natural impulse often pushes us into counterpressure. To overpower the child, force the panicking horse through it, out-argue our partner. But once we understand how the nervous system and the polyvagal traffic light work, we save ourselves a lot of stress and a lot of apologising afterwards.

First, we calm down. It doesn’t matter whether we get our way in that moment. The time for reasonable discussion and setting boundaries is ideally when we’re in the green (a state of calm and safety), or at most in the orange (fight/flight activation).
Any discussion held in the red is a loss for both sides.

So keep that in mind. 🙂
K.

📷.michaela.cernikova

19/11/2025

Deeper Voice, Higher Chance: Mares Prefer the “Bass Singers”

They say a deep voice is attractive — and according to a new study from the University of Rennes (France), the same goes for horses!

🎧 Researchers recorded the whinnies of 15 breeding stallions of different ages and observed how mares reacted to their calls. When the recordings were played, mares spent more time near the speakers that broadcast deeper voices — even when higher-pitched calls were played from the opposite side.

Interestingly, the deeper voices were also linked to higher fertility — and even greater embryo survival rates after breeding.

📊 In other words:
Deeper whinny = calmer temperament + higher fertility
Mares can tell — and they prefer such males.
The authors jokingly called it the “Barry White effect” — because it seems that, just like in humans, a deep voice can make quite an impression.

Source: Lemasson, A., et al. (2015). Mares Prefer the Voices of Highly Fertile Stallions. PLOS ONE.
📸 Photo: Canva

Awakened Equestrian

13/01/2026

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02/01/2026

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