Foundation Equine Training

11/03/2026

09/03/2026

The 13 Second Rule - Learn It

When a horse startles, their orienting reflex kicks in - they shoot up to 18hh, lock onto the source, and you swear you can feel their heart pounding through your saddle. Then comes the investigatory reflex - ears, eyes, nostrils all screaming: “WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?!”

Here’s the important risk management bit: horses are actually brilliant at working out if something’s a real threat. What usually screws it up is us. Riders grab, yank, panic, and - congratulations - you’ve just turned a startle into a full-blown rodeo or bolting freak out. That is because your response made the startled horse feel 10000% more threatened.

Dr Andrew McLean showed that if we stay calm, a horse’s heart rate can start lowering in about 13 seconds. That’s it. Thirteen measly seconds. So breathe and start counting, wait for the ear flick or head shift, and only then step in.

Because your calm buys recovery. Your panic buys chaos.

This is Collectable Advice 31/365 – Save it or Share it (no copying and pasting).

IMAGE📸: Incredible image captured by the amazing Lynn Jenkin.

23/11/2025

💙 DAY 1 - The Half-Halt Blueprint is officially LIVE! I can’t quite believe I’m typing this…

For years I’ve watched riders struggle with the half-halt ... nodding politely in lessons, trying their hardest, but never quite feeling confident that they truly understood it.

I’ve seen: the confusion, the vague explanations, the “just do a bloody half-halt” shouted across an arena, the guessing, the embarrassment, the horses who rush, lean, collapse, or fall onto the forehand.
..and the riders who quietly feel like they “should know this by now”...

But the truth is: most riders were never actually taught the half-halt clearly.
Not in a way that makes sense biomechanically.
Not in a way that matches how horses learn.
Not in a way you can teach your horse consistently.

So after decades of riding, training, travelling, and teaching thousands of horses and riders…and after months of filming, writing, refining, and wrestling with technology…

I’m incredibly proud to finally share:

💙🐴 THE HALF-HALT BLUEPRINT — my complete online course on teaching, understanding, and riding the half-halt.

This week is Launch Week, so you’ll see me sharing a little more than usual — each day I’ll drop a small insight, myth-bust, or lesson that will help you understand the half-halt in a whole new way.

If you’ve ever felt unsure, confused, or embarrassed about the half-halt…
If your horse is on the forehand or struggling with balance…
If you want riding to feel easier, lighter, safer, and more connected…

👉 You can explore the course here:
https://go.hartstoneequestrian.com/half-halt-blueprint

Thank you for being here.
I can’t wait to share everything I’ve been working on. 💙