Academic Art of Riding - Bettina Biolik

12/10/2025

Just uploaded a new video to my Classroom - an uncut riding session with Minor last month.

I try to talk as honestly as I can about the riding in process with Minor, which has been anything but straightforward. Due to that, I have actually heard from many people who had the same issues. And I was glad to be able to provide some tips.

Also, the progress is really slow, because of my lack of time in the last two years. I look forward to winter when I stay home for a bit and then maybe we'll make a bit more headway :) (Off to Australia in two days!)

Right now, we practice steering 😆Makes you feel kind of humble 😅

12/10/2025

This explains why the simple balance exercises I do at the start of the horse’s groundwork education have such a big effect.
The forehand is such a fascinating construction, don’t you think?

The Interplay Between the Thoracic Sling and the Fascial Sleeve of the Forelimb

The horse’s forehand is a marvel of suspension and flow — a dynamic system that relies on the thoracic sling and the fascial sleeve of the forelimb working together as one continuous, responsive unit. The efficiency, elasticity, and comfort of the horse’s entire front end depend on how these two systems share load, tension, and sensory feedback.

🩻 The Thoracic Sling: The Horse’s “Living Suspension System”

Unlike humans, horses do not have a bony joint connecting their forelimbs to the trunk. Instead, the thoracic sling — a network of muscles and fascia — suspends the ribcage between the shoulder blades. Key players include:
• Serratus ventralis cervicis and thoracis
• Pectoralis profundus and subclavius
• Trapezius and rhomboideus
• Latissimus dorsi
• Related myofascia

These structures stabilize and lift the trunk during movement, absorb impact, and allow for fine adjustments in balance and posture. A supple, strong sling lets the horse “float” the ribcage between the shoulders rather than brace against the ground.

🩹 The Fascial Sleeve of the Forelimb: A Continuum of Force and Flow

Each forelimb is encased in a fascial sleeve — a continuous, multilayered sheath of connective tissue that envelops every muscle, tendon, ligament, and neurovascular pathway from the scapula to the hoof.

Rather than separating structures, fascia integrates them, distributing tension and transmitting force both vertically (hoof to trunk) and laterally (across the chest and back). The fascial sleeve is both a stabilizer and a sensory network, richly innervated with mechanoreceptors that inform the central nervous system about position, pressure, and movement.

🔄 A Two-Way Relationship

The thoracic sling and the fascial sleeve of the forelimb form a mutually dependent system.

When one is tight, weak, or imbalanced, the other compensates — often at a cost.

1. Force Transmission

Each stride begins with ground contact. The impact and rebound forces from the limb travel up through the fascial sleeve, into the shoulder girdle, and directly into the thoracic sling.
If the fascial sleeve is supple and well-hydrated, the sling can absorb and redistribute force smoothly.
If restricted — for instance, by myofascial adhesions or muscular guarding — the load transmits as sharp, jarring impact into the sling, leading to fatigue and microstrain.

2. Postural Support

The sling lifts and stabilizes the thorax between the shoulders. But that lift depends on the integrity of the fascial tension in the forelimb.
If the limb fascia loses tone or the deep pectorals shorten, the ribcage can “drop” between the shoulders, leading to a downhill posture, shortened stride, and overload of the forehand.

3. Neuromuscular Coordination

Fascia houses thousands of sensory receptors that communicate constantly with the nervous system.
The thoracic sling relies on this feedback to coordinate timing and symmetry of movement.
When fascial tension becomes uneven — say, due to unilateral limb restriction — proprioceptive input becomes distorted, and the horse may appear crooked, heavy on one rein, or unable to maintain even rhythm.

4. Reciprocal Influence
• A tight thoracic sling can compress the fascial pathways through the shoulder and upper limb, restricting glide and muscle contraction below.
• Conversely, a restricted fascial sleeve can inhibit normal scapular rotation and ribcage lift, forcing the sling muscles to overwork.

💆‍♀️ Myofascial Release and Massage: Restoring the Dialogue

Manual therapies that target both regions — not just the limb or the trunk in isolation — are key to restoring the horse’s natural balance.

Effective bodywork can:
• Release adhesions within the fascial sleeve to restore elastic recoil.
• Improve scapular glide and thoracic lift.
• Normalize sensory input through mechanoreceptors, refining coordination.
• Encourage symmetrical movement and postural awareness through gentle, integrated mobilization.

When the thoracic sling and limb fascia move as one continuous system, the horse’s stride lengthens, the topline softens, and forehand heaviness diminishes.

🧘‍♀️ Training and Conditioning Support

Beyond manual therapy, proper conditioning maintains this balance:
• Hill work and gentle pole exercises enhance thoracic sling engagement.
• Lateral work improves scapular mobility and fascial elasticity.
• Regular checks of saddle fit and rider symmetry prevent recurring restriction.

🐎 The Takeaway

The thoracic sling doesn’t work in isolation — it’s an extension of the fascial sleeve of the forelimb, and together they form the foundation of forehand function.
Healthy fascia enables the sling to lift, absorb, and respond.
A supple, responsive sling protects the fascia from overload.

When they operate in harmony, the horse moves with effortless balance — powerful yet soft, grounded yet elevated — the way nature intended.

11/10/2025

“When we mistake these behaviours for signs of understanding, we stop looking for what caused them. We might unintentionally celebrate the moment a horse finally found relief instead of asking why they needed relief in the first place.”

It’s common to see a horse lick, chew, or yawn in a training session and hear that it means they’ve “processed” what just happened. The belief comes from a real observation: these behaviours often appear when a horse shifts from a heightened state back toward calm.

The link here is the nervous system. Licking, chewing, and yawning are behaviours connected to the parasympathetic nervous system. Sometimes they appear after the sympathetic nervous system has been activated and then deactivated, as the body returns to recovery and calm. Other times they show up when the horse is already relaxed, as part of maintaining parasympathetic activity. In both cases these behaviours are not proof of learning. They are indicators of state.

When horses are in a calmer, parasympathetic state, learning and memory formation are more likely. That is the connection people noticed. The behaviour is not the learning. The behaviour is a window into the horse’s physiology that supports learning.

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A common scenario in traditional training might look like this:

1. Pressure is applied.

2. The horse tries different options to find relief.

3. The horse finds the behaviour that makes the pressure stop.

4. The moment pressure stops, the horse experiences relief.

5. As the sympathetic response deactivates, parasympathetic activity re-engages and the body returns toward calm.

This is often the moment we see licking, chewing, yawning, or blowing out.

What is really happening in that moment is a combination of two things:

1. “If I do this, the pressure stops.”

2. “Thank goodness the pressure finally stopped.”

Quick summary: In this example, the horse licks and chews at the same time it discovers the behaviour that turns pressure off, so it is easy to misread that as understanding the lesson. The licking and chewing is not about the content of the lesson. It reflects the horse’s learning state. It tells us the nervous system is down-regulating after arousal and that what preceded the release was aversive or stressful enough to require regulation.

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Licking, chewing, and yawning don’t only appear after stress. They can also show up when a horse is already relaxed, quietly resting, dozing, or digesting. In those moments the behaviours are part of maintaining parasympathetic activity, not recovering from stress.

And this is why I always pause and ask: what came before the lick, chew, blow out, shake, or yawn? Was there a stressor the horse is coming down from, or are they already calm and connected? Because that context tells you whether you’re seeing regulation or maintenance, and that difference changes everything about how you interpret what’s happening.

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Why does this matter?

It might seem like splitting hairs. After all, if the horse looks calmer and shows licking and chewing, isn’t that what counts? But the nuance matters because how we interpret behaviour shapes how we train.

When we mistake these behaviours for signs of understanding, we stop looking for what caused them. We might unintentionally celebrate the moment a horse finally found relief instead of asking why they needed relief in the first place.

If we reward ourselves for creating just enough stress to trigger a lick and chew, we risk normalizing a cycle of tension and release. Over time this can make stress an expected part of learning, something the horse must endure to find comfort.

But learning doesn’t require distress. A horse in a regulated, safe, parasympathetic state is not only capable of learning, they’re primed for it. When we see licking and chewing for what it really is, a reflection of the nervous system, we can shift our focus toward the conditions that keep the horse regulated from the start.

When we start viewing behaviour through the lens of physiology, our priorities shift. Because when calm becomes the baseline, learning becomes effortless.

10/10/2025

Amy has such a talent to put things into words. I see this happening to some good friends right now and it's hard to watch. But I also know I can't do anything because I'll just be labeled as stuck in old paradigms. There are no quick fixes and there are no secrets when it comes to horse training. Nobody kept anything from you.

Personally, before I commit to a course or program, I spend some time on that program's social media and read the comment section. How are people treated? Is there a lot of owner shaming? Is everyone else wrong? Are all the other "sheep" or "unknowing", have you been "lied to"? Is their talk in absolutes (never, always), and do they just feed you enough information to make you curious, and then suggest to buy their programs? Is there an aggressive tone against people who have a different opinion?

The Seduction of Clarity

For many horse owners, few things are more powerful than the desire to help your horse. When your partner is lame, anxious, or “just not right,” that ache to understand and fix what’s wrong can consume you. It’s an emotional vulnerability — and it’s precisely what some “top” figures in the equine industry have learned to exploit.

They don’t sell education, they sell certainty. This is why they often can become very successful - even with little riding education and experience of their own going unnoticed.

The horse world can feel confusing and divided. Every clinician seems to have their own “method,” every social media expert their own jargon. People who care deeply about their horses — often those who feel overlooked or dismissed by mainstream trainers or professionals — are drawn to anyone who speaks with confidence.

Manipulative figures understand this psychology. They speak in absolutes:
“Traditional methods have failed you, but this is the missing link.”

For someone feeling lost, those words land like a lifeline. The message is intoxicating: You haven’t been wrong; you’ve just been excluded from the truth.

How Manipulative Tactics Work

These figures use a familiar playbook:

Overpromising: They frame soundness, confidence, or connection as guaranteed outcomes of their system — things that can be “restored” or “reprogrammed.” All you have to do is follow the system.

Pseudo-science & mystique: They use technical or spiritual language without ever offering transparent evidence. The vagueness creates the illusion of depth.

Authority branding: They position themselves as a hybrid of healer, scientist, and visionary. Their titles and certifications, often self-invented, lend the aura of legitimacy.

Manufactured exclusivity: They create tiers — certifications, “inner circles.” Each level promises the next revelation. The follower is kept forever almost there.

Isolation from outside influence: Mainstream professionals — vets, farriers, other trainers — are subtly (or overtly) undermined. If you question the method, you “don’t get it.” If your horse doesn’t improve, it’s because you did it wrong.

Emotional bonding: These figures often project empathy and spirituality. They tell heartfelt stories of redemption and struggle, positioning themselves as both savior and fellow sufferer. It builds trust — but also dependency.

The people most often pulled into these systems are not naïve. They’re conscientious, introspective horse owners — usually women — who are trying to bridge the gap between traditional horsemanship and a more ethical approach. Many have been dismissed or patronized by professionals, leaving them hungry for belonging and validation.

That loneliness becomes fertile ground for manipulation. When someone finally tells you that your compassion and intuition are right, it’s deeply affirming.

The tragedy is that these manipulative programs rarely deliver lasting results. Horses remain sore, unbalanced, or confused, while owners are told they must invest in yet another level of training, another course, or more expensive offering.

Meanwhile, genuine experts — veterinarians, physical therapists, and experienced, educated trainers — are painted as closed-minded or “stuck in old paradigms.” The industry fractures further, and the people who wanted to help their horses most are left questioning their instincts and bank accounts.

The antidote isn’t cynicism — it’s critical thinking paired with compassion. Horse owners deserve to feel empowered, not ashamed. You can protect yourself from manipulative tactics by asking a few simple questions:

Where is the independent evidence?

What happens if this doesn’t work?

Are the claims specific and measurable, or vague and mystical?

Do they encourage you to consult other professionals, or to rely only on them?

Does the message make you feel afraid, guilty, or inadequate without their guidance?

A good education gives you the tools to think for yourself.

Helping your horse should not mean surrendering your judgment. Real horsemanship — the kind rooted in empathy and awareness — thrives on humility and questioning. It acknowledges that no one person, no single system, has all the answers.

The true path to soundness, both physical and moral, lies not in secret methods but in curiosity, collaboration, and the courage to remain uncertain.

Photo by Caitlin Hatch

08/10/2025

Complete horse high today 🤗🐴

I had great training sessions with each of my horses today. It was a beautiful autumn day, not to hot and not too cold (12 C), sunny and just a lazy breeze. This is a bit of a longer read ;)

In the ridden session with Weto, I practiced side movements on a square as a warm up and stayed on the square for the work phase as well. Maybe some of you are interested in how I structure my training, so let me describe this session.

I started on the ground with some halt work (bending, shifting the center of mass), then some easy groundwork in walk (shoulder-in, quarter-in, half-pass) then in preparation for my ridden session some quarter-in on a square. This took maybe 5min.

After mounting, I first worked a few minutes at standstill, until I had the feeling we were connected well and Weto was very through on the aids (bending at standstill, school halt). We did a few long sides of shoulder-in on each hand, with a forward walk in between on the short sides.

Then we started to work on the square, first in walk. Quarter-in on the straight lines and quarter-in turns in the corners (quarter pirouettes). Both hands. This is a very collecting exercise when done correctly.

Once I had a soft feeling in walk, I did the same in trot, which is already more tricky. The horse has to keep the quarter-in all the time, and make quarter pirouettes in each corner. I tried to correct the bend through changes in my seat and not fixing it with the hand.

Both in walk and trot, I allowed breaks at standstill (not just walking on a loose rein and falling apart!). Sometimes I also used the standstill when Weto lost focus.

Then something very cool happened: without me asking for it, Weto started the exercise in canter. If you know Weto, you know what a big thing this is for him! It was a very collected, uphill canter, still on the square, and with quarter canter pirouettes in the corners! I stopped and gave him a big piece of carrot after he did one square in canter, and he immediately went again. That was to the left. I also tried to the right, which was a bit more tricky (his canter to the right has a lot more go and it can be hard to regulate without him falling out of the canter), and even here he managed to keep the quarter-in a little and did two turns in canter (larger than a pirouette, but I was very happy with it!).

I wanted to repeat once more on each side, and when going left lead, Weto followed my seat so beautifully when changing from a quarter-in to shoulder-in in walk, just by repositioning my inside seat bone, that I stopped and ended the session there. It was such an amazing feeling that I wanted to anchor that, both for him and myself.

I also had a ridden session with Minor, and that was very different but also great. For the very first time, it really felt like “riding”. Until now, there was a lot of “ooopsie” and “ähm, hello?”, and practicing little bits, if you know what I mean. But it’s coming together now! We can now park relaxed and get on (which was a huge issue), start walking (which was a huge issue), stop, turn (sometimes better, sometimes still a bit wonky), and most of the time, I can decide where we go (which was a huge issue).

For the first time today, I rode a little longer than my usual few minutes, and for the first time I worked consciously on a circle. I got nice moments of a little bend, and I could even start influencing the shoulders (moving the shoulder in and out with the indirect rein). It worked better to the left and was a bit stiff to the right, but I was very happy nevertheless! We’ve still got a long way to go with this, but it felt like a big progress. I got off after maybe 18min and still did some work in hand in trot.

I also had a great session with Nazir. Just basic groundwork, but he felt very soft today and was able to work in a nice flow. I took care to listen to his signals of what is too much for him and what’s acceptable. How can I tell that something is difficult or painful (Nazir has quite a few issues)? I observe his breathing, his nostrils, his eyes and ears, and his posture. Quarter-in to the left is very hard or even uncomfortable for him because of his damaged right stifle. He starts breathing more audibly and his nose and mouth become tense, his eyes worried. When I do less angle, the signs get less or disappear. That’s how I work together with him on what’s acceptable for him.

Of course I could say that my horses all had a good day. But I guess it was rather me being able to listen and being present. Last weekend my husband and I went to a meditation course and enjoyed three days full of meditation, lectures and meeting old friends. The best thing you can do for your horsemanship is to keep developing yourself.

07/10/2025

A good school halt has many different ingredients, or in other words, you need quite a few tools in your tool box. One of them, and one of the most important ones, is a good full halt.

For me, there is a difference between a stop and a halt. A stop is just stopping the movement - going from walk, trot or canter to a stop. That's what we teach in the beginning of the horse's education.

A halt (full halt) is a stop with a good balance. Meaning good weight distribution on all four feet. The horse should not break only with the front legs but also with the hind legs, so that the hind legs help to decelerate the body mass. Or "stopping more from behind", with awareness of the hind legs and a little bending in the haunches (keeping the joints soft). So that was about the front/ back balance. We also need a good right/ left balance, and I like to have just a tat more weight on the inside hind, so the horse keeps the hip forward when going into the school halt.

Compare the two pictures. In the first picture, Minor shows a halt. He is stationary and yet actively keeping a good posture. He's ready for movement. Anything seems possible.

In the second picture, we just have a stop. The weigh is shifted more to the outside legs and more to the front. When starting to move, it will not be very balanced.

Maybe you notice the difference in my whip position. In the first picture, I ask for an active stop from behind, with the whip pointing to the croup. In the second picture I'm asking for a stop and bend around the whip (whip low and at the girth).

📷 Magda Senderowska .senderowska

03/10/2025

02/10/2025

✨ COURSES 2026 ✨
My planning for next year is almost complete and I still have 1-2 weekends available in the spring.
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Briefly about me: The academic art of riding and teaching are my great passions. I have been a member of the Knighthood of the Academic Art of Riding since 2018 and a licensed Bent Branderup Trainer since 2019. In my courses, I emphasize respectful communication, gradual training development and gentle aids. Riders of all levels are welcome, as are horses of all breeds.
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The courses include theory and private lessons. I like to be spontaneous with the theory and see what the group is currently working on. In private lessons you will be met where you and your pony are at the moment.
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I travel a lot internationally, which means that thinking outside the box is part of my everyday life and I come into contact with a wide variety of training methods.

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Let my enthusiasm for the Academic Art of Riding infect you a little ;)
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If you are interested, just write to [email protected].