Fellow Animal Empowerment

Fellow Animal Empowerment Activism and education rooted in science and empathy to cultivate healthy connections for a totally liberated world. ✨️🐴

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06/11/2026

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06/11/2026

I changed one thing, and it changed everything...

Wonder is an ex-show and trail horse - local open shows and close by trails only, but was supposedly well trained and a great ride. When we met and eventually I took him home, I was excited to take him out for trail hikes and wished for trail rides as well.

The horse described to me was not the horse in front of me.

At the first barn he was boarded at, he would panic away from the pasture full of his companions. He was brisk in his pace, nostrils flared, and head in the clouds - we never made it far before he would pick up his pace and circle me, desperate to book it back to the barn and bask in the safety of his herd.

Back then, I pushed him through much more than I would now. We never went far from the barn, but certainly went farther than he'd have chosen without the confines of his bridle or halter and my strength on the other end of the lead.

I started listening to Wonder. Truly. I stopped gripping onto his every thought and opinion, as if he were using them against me because it was never personal.

Deeply and without judgment, I began to open my heart and mind to his expressions. I stopped leaning into the inherent power dynamic, the one where I get to micromanage every moment as the "leader."

I changed one thing, I let go.

I let go of the agendas, plans, shoulds, and musts. I allowed him to be as he is, and for myself to do the same.

I let go of dreams that were only mine, never his.

I let go of the expectations of others, they don't matter. The conenction between us more powerful than the pressure of others.

I let go of perfection, chasing goal posts that are always moving.

I let go of the control, power, and authority I forced upon him, instead encouraging him to make choices for himself, to be boldly himself.

I changed one thing, and it changed everything.

Pain goes unnoticed or mislabeled. Often. I love when Guardians choose to seek support for their Horse when they're disp...
06/09/2026

Pain goes unnoticed or mislabeled. Often.

I love when Guardians choose to seek support for their Horse when they're displaying unusual and out of character behaviors - especially in a space which encourages us to toughen up, get big, and make them Do The Thing.

And... we can't rule out pain.

That doesn't mean we shouldn't try. Please do include your vet and other care professionals, do any and all testings you feel necessary, but also recognize that pain doesn't always show up in medical testings.

Pain is complex.

Pain is biopsychosocial.

To anyone not using R+/clicker training based approaches to their horsemanship - please do me ONE favor... When learning...
06/06/2026

To anyone not using R+/clicker training based approaches to their horsemanship - please do me ONE favor... When learning from traditional or natural horsemanship trainers, watch their bodies over their mouths.

In a video, mute the music and the chatter - what body language signals do you pick up from the Horse? And the Human? What's the dynamic?

I've done this, a lot; especially in my traditional and transitioning to R+ days. When dropping the pretty music and flowery lingo, a different story is often told.

1. Tap their shoulder to get them moving translates to... Use intimidation tactics and/or physical force by striking or threatening the Horse to achieve the behavior *you* desire.

2. The lead/boss/head/etc Mare (or sometimes stallion/gelding, and also... any species tbh) translates to... The Horse displays conflict behaviors with her herd that I don't understand and I refuse to see her differently.

3. Dominant translates to... A misunderstanding or poorly placed label for undesired behaviors and social conflict - much like the last, often interchangeable.

4. The whip is an extension of the arm... Friend, it's a whip - it's purpose is it's name. A weapon.

Honorable mention: Connection/Communication - not inherently bad, and in fact is necessary in relationships, but in many horsemanship spaces it's not used in this manner, instead referring to compliance or coercion rather than true connection.

This topic will be resurfacing as a mini series - there are SO many!

A few days ago The British Bridleless Competition took place - many of you have likely seen things about it floating aro...
06/05/2026

A few days ago The British Bridleless Competition took place - many of you have likely seen things about it floating around; some critiques, some celebrations.

Additionally, a few months ago I chuckled to myself when his recent leaser asked if we would be walking him tack-less.

Now here we are. I've taken my sweet boy Wonder on a couple road-walks recently, just his fly mask, my treat pouch, and us against the world. And this is after a bit of time "off."

For me, this brought up a paradox.

"If you give an inch, they'll take a mile" is believed to be true among many equestrians, - believing that if the Horse is given choice and freedom, they'll no longer participate in the activities their Guardian enjoys. Maybe they'll refuse and become stoic or maybe they'll explode and become loud and dangerous, we fear the unknown and loss of control.

And also...

"If they didn't want to, they wouldn't," a statement I've seen shared most often to dismiss harsh handling under-saddle, and especially in competition. They are large, powerful, strong animals, I can understand where this thought process comes from - but they are also emotional, sentient beings with their own personal experiences and history. While a Horse could hypothetically opt out by throwing the rider, fleeing when their Guardian attempts to catch them, or otherwise overpowering them in protest, many won't.

It's a paradox.

Horses don't wish to cause conflict or stir up trouble, they are largely peace-keepers and harmony-seekers. If they didn't want to, they often would because you told them they had to with a threat behind it.

If they didn't want to, they wouldn't... but only if you allow them to truly say "no."

And if you give an inch, they'll likely collaborate with you, happy to finally be heard.

Together you can create something far more beautiful than the coerced connection and trust often shared between Horse and Human.

So close but so far! I've enjoyed putting this little care/behavior crash course together and hope to see you all there....
06/03/2026

So close but so far! I've enjoyed putting this little care/behavior crash course together and hope to see you all there. 🫶

Clicker training is such a blast and over the years I've loved helping facilitate so much joy between both equine and human through training - to watch equine ears prick forward and a twinkle in their eyes and to watch their person realize just how incredible their hooved friend is, to smile wide as they enjoy their company.

I've wanted to find ways to connect to more people who want this same connection and then came along Grounding Roots! 🌿

This is an introductory course so it won't cover all the nitty gritty details of training and care, but will get you started on the right hoof and open the doors for future programs.

Plus access to EmpoweR+ment! 🦄

Here you can connect with other clicker folks, access exclusive Fellow Animal Empowerment content, and discover more of the path you're paving with your equine.

June 28th : Week One - Care
July 5th: Week Two - Teach
July 12th: Final Week - Click

Until August 12th Video Review submissions are open to GR students.

Sometimes the hardest part of starting R+ is simply not knowing what to use as reinforcers and as a clicker trainer, one...
05/20/2026

Sometimes the hardest part of starting R+ is simply not knowing what to use as reinforcers and as a clicker trainer, one of my favorite sayings is... "It depends."

Remember... Clicker Training is Not a Method!
While all animals can learn through R+, it is not a method and therefore the training process is truly unique to you and your equine. Preferences and needs will vary greatly, so be sure to be malleable, open, and willing to adapt to your individual horse.

Here's what I typically do for my personal equines:

Wonder - 1:1:1 ratio of SmartCarb, TC Senior, and TC Diamond Forage 🎀
He is very much an energy conserver and also quite clicker-savvy. While he could easily work on most things with plain teff pellets, he's also prone to choke and a bit thin right now. If working on exercise and fitness, sometimes I will increase the TC Senior ratio.

Peter - 1:1 Teff Pellets and TC Diamond Forage 🌿
He LOVES food, I'm talking nickering and struggling to focus level love for food. For him, having a chopped forage allows him to chew longer, regulate better emotionally, and is lower value to him. We work almost exclusively with low-value foods with the exception of harder tasks like care, separation from companions, or situations where he becomes a bit fearful.

Nemo - Honestly... Whatever's in the pouch I grabbed. 🤡
This dude is such fun to work with, he doesn't seem to express any anxiety over food and is just thrilled to engage. We generally use SmartCarb or teff pellets, in smaller handfuls than my full sized horses, but he usually stays below his threshold and different foods don't alter his behaviors or emotions much. Now that doesn't mean he doesn't HAVE preferences, he does! Initially, when he was still a rehome-client (oops!) he would only engage in training for grain, he was so fearful of me. Teff is enough now that we have trust. 🫶

I would LOVE to help you and your equine explore reinforcement options and co-create training sessions that empower both of you! My upcoming course opens June 28th and/or I can meet virtually for support.😉

Pigs are known to be one of the most intelligent (based on anthropocentric perspectives and labels at least) species, ye...
05/19/2026

Pigs are known to be one of the most intelligent (based on anthropocentric perspectives and labels at least) species, yet one of the most common arguments against veganism remains "but bacon."

Their bodies aren't ours to take, use, or consume.

Their inner and outer worlds are rich, full of personal and shared experiences, companionship with other pigs, intrinsic motivation, problem-solving, and forms of empathy like emotional contagion - they are complex, sentient, individual beings with emotions, thoughts and lives of their own.

Pigs deserve to live happy, healthy, full lives. 🐖

I started working on this course nearly (if not) 2 years ago. 🫠I had left my equine-assisted therapy job after disappoin...
05/16/2026

I started working on this course nearly (if not) 2 years ago. 🫠

I had left my equine-assisted therapy job after disappointment over the care, handling, and training of the equines and the ways the clients were taught to engage with them. I was both so inspired to create, yet so burnt out from the emotional toll of my advocacy.

I recorded it a number of times but never held onto any of my efforts, none of the takes felt right - I stutter and fumble over my words at times, I worry about looking "like a horse trainer" whatever that means, I was seeking perfection.

That's just not who I am. It's not who any of us are - so now I'm doing it. Week one is already recorded and the workbook is underway, let's learn together!

Comment "Roots" for more information. 🫶

Tag a friend who needs to hear this or comment which one resonated most for you 💞
05/10/2026

Tag a friend who needs to hear this or comment which one resonated most for you 💞

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