Fellow Animal Empowerment

01/18/2025

When I first started this page it was just a space for me to share and document my journey as an adult jumping back into riding after years away. I was excited to be reconnected with horses and find a community that shared the same love and passion that I do for these marvelous beings. My page, cmp.equestrian eventually evolved into what it is today; still a place for me to share and document my journey with my horses, but also a space to inspire, challenge, and encourage others- my business and passion.

I'm grateful to every moment I've shared with you all and the community we share through Facebook and Instagram. Through these platforms I've been lucky to connect with many like-minded individuals, from dog trainers to saddle-fitters and therapists to marketing wizards. I've learned and grown so much and owe so many thanks to all of you! I may have found my way to R+ eventually, but the community here lead me to it sooner. Thank you for guiding me toward honoring my softness, seeing it's value.

Softness was never a weakness, it's been my superpower all along.

I am saddened to say goodbye, but Fellow Animal Empowerment will be moving onto spaces that feel safer and where we don't have to wrestle with Zuckerberg just to have our content pop up on your feed. Naturally as a nonbinary & pansexual individual, I am deeply disappointed in recent Meta's decisions, and this is largely why I'm choosing to step away from social media- that said, I deeply value the ability to connect, to share, and to collaborate. Our pages will remain up and open so that we're discoverable still, but they will largely be inactive. Maybe some day we'll be back, but for now we're choosing to step into spaces that honor and welcome others, not spaces that discriminatory and dismissive of mistreatment of other people as well as misinformation (no fact check in a world that deeply undervalues science? ew).

To keep up with Corbyn and the critters, you can check out our blog or sign up for our newsletter. (Also have a bluesky, kinda not into it but maybe it'll grow on me.)

Thanks for all the laughs over goofy horses, for the self-reflection as a trainer, but also an individual, the shared sorrow over lost horses, and excitement over teaching a new skill. 💗🦄

01/18/2025

SCARED HORSES ARE PRETTY HORSES

My friend Katie and I share a love of horses, good discussions, and, as you'll come to learn, photo opportunities.

A while back, my old cattle dog, Fiver, needed to wear a 'cone of shame' after having surgery. Not thinking too much about it, I let Fiver out to come up to the arena with me. Fiver wandered off while I caught my mare Viveza. As you may have guessed by the picture with this post, Fiver wandered back into view just as I was bringing Viveza into the arena.

Viveza, to the best of my knowledge, had never previously seen a dog wearing a bucket collar, and she viewed this new beast as a potential threat. Her sympathetic nervous system, the 'flight or fight' response, was triggered, preparing her body to escape what her brain had just determined to be a potentially dangerous situation:

• adrenaline was released, increasing blood flow and nutrients to her muscles so that she could flee or fight as needed
• her pupils dilated to allow more light to enter her eye, so she could better see the threat
• her heart rate and breathing increased, better allowing for the delivery of energy and oxygen to her body during this encounter
• the unpleasant emotion of fear was triggered, causing her only to be concerned with getting away safely

While we couldn't see the physiological changes occurring inside Viveza's body, we could see changes in her body language. Her muscles became taught, she stood squarely, her neck arched, her head elevated, and her gaze fixed on the dog.

I managed the situation (I had accidentally created) as best as I could, getting Fiver in a building to minimize the chances Viveza suffered either a physical or behavioural injury.

After the metaphoric dust had settled, Katie and I looked at the picture she had snapped right as Viveza saw Fiver. One of us said something we have discussed previously, 'scared horses are pretty horses'. This wasn't meant to minimize the fear Viveza felt, nor do we think frightened horses are prettier than calm horses. Rather, we have talked previously at length about images shared on social media where the person sharing feels the image shows a 'pretty' horse--but all we can see are the signs of stress or fear.

Images of stressed or frightened 'pretty' horses aren't a new, social media phenomenon. Wander around a city, and you’ll see a statue of a long-dead general on a stressed horse. Visit a museum, and view centuries-old artistic depictions of frightened horses. For hundreds of years, people have been desensitized to images of stressed or frightened horses. It's totally normal, and accepted, for stressed horses to be seen as pretty.

When we learn more about horse behaviour and begin to train our eye to recognize signs of fear or stress, such images begin to lose their pretty status. And that's OK.

01/17/2025

A quick reminder: It’s not anyone’s responsibility to soften the blow when confronting tough truths about horse care. Sharing information on welfare issues, like no turn out or using tools like draw reins, isn’t cruel it’s necessary. If you feel personally attacked by these discussions, pause and ask yourself why, instead of blaming the messenger.

Often, these reactions are rooted in guilt. When uncomfortable truths challenge our practices, especially with young horses, it’s easier to get defensive than to face the need for change. But ignoring these issues only harms the horses, particularly as young ones are more vulnerable to poor management practices.

Defensiveness won’t help your horse young or adult. We need to embrace these tough conversations, learn from them, and improve how we care for all horses. Let’s stop silencing welfare discussions and start growing for the betterment of our horses.

01/17/2025

Moving is stressful for horses whether it's to a new guardian, a new barn, a trainer, or a rescue. They are taken away from companions, their home, comfort and safety; when moving they may also experience a change in routines or be handled by new or different people in ways they're not familiar with. While we should value and respect the relationships shared between horses and the comfort they find in familiarity, sometimes moving isn't an option- in these cases, we must work to reduce fear and stress, provide comfort and support, and be a gentle guide and proactive caretaker for them.

To learn more, check out my new blog post! 💗🐴

https://fellowanimal.com/blog/f/preparing-a-horse-to-move

12/21/2024

12/21/2024

12/20/2024

Wonder had a session recently (from the drafts so this was actually a couple months ago now) where he simply *couldn't* focus on our training. He was taking food from my hand but no longer responding to cues or the clicker. It was nice to get a "no" from my horse.

Read that again.

It was NICE to get a "no" from my horse.

He's not being bad, naughty, or sassy- he just wasn't in the right headspace to learn in that moment. We were utilizing a new space that he's not yet very familiar or comfortable with and he had been separated from his pasture mates for a bit. Even easy things were too hard.

He was head high, holding tension in much of his body, scanning the environment and he was flowing in and out of connection with me and our training. So we stopped.

There's nothing wrong with allowing your horse to have a say- to end a session, to communicate, to express themselves, and sometimes that goes against our own desires- you need to be okay with that! Your relationship with your horse is a partnership. 🥰

12/12/2024

"Your horse is spoiled. 🙄"

What makes you think that? Is it...

That they're allowed to decide when to come in the barn? Given several feeding stations?
Allowed choice in handling and training?

Because they share space and touch with me? And have a fairly stable social group Because they have a carefully crafted diet?

Or is it the track system? Enrichment activities? Lack of use of aversives and punishment?

Horses are great at thermoregulation, I trust that they'll take shelter should they become too cold. We have an open barn for a reason- horses are happiest and healthiest outside with ample space to stretch their legs. 🐎

They are also foragers designed to take bits and pieces of plants while traveling long distances. Feeding in multiple stations through different options (some loose, some netted or in enrichment toys) is one of the easiest ways to imitate grazing behaviors! AND it helps manage resource guarding since there's always more hay. 🌾

Choice is a primary reinforcer- at least, many scientists are leaning toward that belief and I have to agree. Choice is empowering and I want to give my horses their voice back- too often we silence them. That doesn't mean my horses need to be wrangled to have anything done to them, just that we make an effort to reduce stress, make it a positive experience, and build in ways to take breaks. 💗

Sharing close proximity or touching people is often seen as "rude" and an act of "disrespect" or "dominance," I talk about our use of language and debunk dominance theory in other posts so I won't ramble about it here but horses are highly social herd animals- proximity can often be a sign that they feel safe with you! Horses use their mouths like hands and that's how they explore the world. 🤯

While I have fosters and clients who aren't permanent residents at FAE, Wonder & Pharoah are 5 year long "herdmates." The relationships horses have with one another are important to them and I want to respect and honor that. They're the best of friends and deserve eachothers company. 🫂

Diet impacts so much! Forage is important, and an abundance of it, BUT more is often needed in order to provide a complete and balanced diet. Notspons, but we're currently switching over to Pro Balance (Stride 101) as our concentrate, other good options include K.I.S Trace, California Trace+, and Vermint Blend Pro. Consult with your vet and a nutrition pro to figure out what's best for your horse. 🥕

It may not be for every horse and some may take time to adapt if they've always lived in a large open pasture, but track systems can be a great way to increase your horse's movement and make their lives a little more interesting- obstacles, varied footing, and enrichment items can easily be added! 🏞

Enrichment helps pick up where domestic living slacks. Horses are meant to travel miles and miles per day, exposed to an ever-changing environment. We can't provide that but we *can* offer activities that allow them to engage in normal horse behaviors and work those 5 senses. 👀

Punishment isn't necessary and efficacy isn't enough for me. It works- if it didn't, it wouldn't be used as commonly as it is, but the potential fallout isn't worth it to me. I want expressive animals who feel safe and comfortable with me. Their emotions are just as important as mine. 💞

So no, my horses aren't "spoiled". They're enriched. 💁

12/10/2024

Subjective language is frequently used in our day to day social lives and internal monologues- its natural and normal to experience and interpret the world emotionally and with your own unique perspective. However, this way of thinking can sometimes be harmful in our horsemanship!

It can lead to mislabeled or misinterpreted displays of fear, anxiety, stress, or pain.

It can lead to the creation of stereotypes; think of chestnut mares, naughty ponies, and viscous stallions.

It can lead to people believing they are wholly responsible for their animals emotional responses and reactivity.

Like us, animals simply do what works- it's up to us to listen and be understanding.

When discussing behavior, training, and management of animals, I make a great effort to do so constructively and through an objective lens. Not only does it allow me to think more clearly about the causes and functions of my learner's behaviors, but it also allows me to model compassion and empathy, as well as to educate my human clients!

Subjective language and thinking isn't a crime, and can even be useful if done thoughtfully. In my objective example I describe a horse who we may interpret as feeling calm or relaxed.

They have a fairly balanced posture across all four hooves, their neck and head are neutral, and they have soft facial muscles. Calling this horse "calm," would likely get the point across to most equine enthusiasts, but what "calm" looks like may vary widely from one person to the next; just calling a horse "calm" misses important details!

When in doubt, unpack it- get descriptive!

Ps. Steph K Equestrian has a great mini couse about Constructive Behaviorism that I highly recommend. 🤗

12/09/2024

12/05/2024

Enrichment for animals isn't just giving food puzzles... It's tapping into all 5 senses, changing the environment, stimulating their minds and bodies, and making sure all their needs are met. Providing enrichment will benefit all areas of your horse's life and your relationship with them. 🥰

Your horse deserves to life their BEST life, here's some ways you can give them that:

Food 🥕🌾

Use hay pillows, slow feed nets, hay balls, trickle feeders, and other puzzle feeders, ice blocks with fruit/veggies/grass, muffin tin with treats under tennis balls, apple or peppermint dunking, hidden food in stall or turnout, scattering feed and/or porta-grazers to increase forage time.

Sensory 👅👂

Lik-its and mineral blocks (watch sugar and iron!), jingly can or bell toys, bags with cans, bottles, and scented items, ice-blocks, rub rope out of baling twine, doormats or old brush brooms, bubbles, mirrors, chimes, music, balls, barrels, scents on fences or stall walls, substrate piles.

Environmental ⛄️🌳

Manipulate their living space. Build a snowman, fill a kiddie pool, add stones, pebbles, gravel, sand, herb gardens, large balls, sandboxes, different elevations, visual barriers.

Cognitive 🧠🎨

For mental stimulation use puzzle feeders, musical instruments, painting, and R+ training sessions, keep their brains active! For novel experiences use unusual foods, novel items and unusual scents.

Social 🫂🐴

Change stalls or paddocks, expose to other animals if possible, bring people out to expose them to different types of people, and/or use mirrors. Horses housed solitary will need even more social enrichment.

Risk Management ☢️⛔️

Not too much additional food (especially with history of choke), check safety and strength of hanging enrichment items regularly, observe interactions with any new items, watch for loops that could risk entanglement of hooves or heads, choking hazards, stress signs, and think of any and all possible risks!

What enrichment activity is your favorite to watch your horse explore? Comment below! 🫶Enrichment for animals isn't just giving food puzzles... It's tapping into all 5 senses, changing the environment, stimulating their minds and bodies, and making sure all their needs are met. Providing enrichment will benefit all areas of your horse's life and your relationship with them. 🥰

Your horse deserves to life their BEST life, here's some ways you can give them that:

Food 🥕🌾

Use hay pillows, slow feed nets, hay balls, trickle feeders, and other puzzle feeders, ice blocks with fruit/veggies/grass, muffin tin with treats under tennis balls, apple or peppermint dunking, hidden food in stall or turnout, scattering feed and/or porta-grazers to increase forage time.

Sensory 👅👂

Lik-its and mineral blocks (watch sugar and iron!), jingly can or bell toys, bags with cans, bottles, and scented items, ice-blocks, rub rope out of baling twine, doormats or old brush brooms, bubbles, mirrors, chimes, music, balls, barrels, scents on fences or stall walls, substrate piles.

Environmental ⛄️🌳

Manipulate their living space. Build a snowman, fill a kiddie pool, add stones, pebbles, gravel, sand, herb gardens, large balls, sandboxes, different elevations, visual barriers.

Cognitive 🧠🎨

For mental stimulation use puzzle feeders, musical instruments, painting, and R+ training sessions, keep their brains active! For novel experiences use unusual foods, novel items and unusual scents.

Social 🐴🤝

Change stalls or paddocks, expose to other animals if possible, bring people out to expose them to different types of people, and/or use mirrors. Horses housed solitary will need even more social enrichment.

Risk Management ☢️⛔️

Not too much additional food (especially with history of choke), check safety and strength of hanging enrichment items regularly, observe interactions with any new items, watch for loops that could risk entanglement of hooves or heads, choking hazards, stress signs, and think of any and all possible risks! Enrichment could be a stressor if too challenging; watch for signs of stress and adjust accordingly. Allow them to choose the intensity and duration of novel stimulation.

Benefits 🙌💕

Mental stimulation, decrease stress, reduce stereotypic behaviors (cribbing, weaving, wall kicking, pawing, pacing, wood chewing, head bobbing), increase natural behaviors, physical stimulation, wound healing, decreasing vet needs, cognitive functioning, ability to adapt and cope in "the real world".

What enrichment activity is your favorite to watch your horse explore? Comment below! 🌸

12/04/2024

This international Cookie Day, we're using cookie jars as an analogy. 🍪

Think of each learned behavior as a cookie jar. Each time you reinforce a behavior, you're adding to the jar.

The more full the jar, the more likely the animal is to offer the behavior. If a jar goes untouched and nothing is added to it, it's behavior withers away- being offered less or with less enthusiasm. This is your learner's reinforcement history.

Fill the jars that are the most important to you and your horse! 🥰

12/04/2024

I can't speak for every positive reinforcement enthusiast, but most of us LOVE using targets to teach new behaviors, move animals in a management setting, as well as providing a "safety net" behavior to fall back if they get nervous or a default when they feel confused or frustrated. Targeting has many functions!

Tips & Tricks:

Break it down- simply looking in the direction of the target will be the first step for some horses, others might touch it immediately, and some may even find it's presence aversive and need further thin-slicing.

Don't encourage chasing- I've made this mistake! Initially the goal behavior *is* touching the target, but eventually you may want to ask them to follow the target; be sure to break this down a TON, don't leave your horse behind, move *together.*

Start in PC- Protected contact can remove the need to rely on punishment or the desire to prompt and "help" your horse figure out what the behavior is, as well as to manage "bad manners" when first starting R+.

Looking for individualized guidance? FAE offers virtual solutions as well as in-person services to help you and your horse on your training journey. 💗🐴

Here's a simple training plan for touching a target:

12/03/2024

On the topic of dominance theory, here's a bit on hierarchy systems and social structures of equines! 🐎

As a brief:

Horses have complex relationships, unique to each individual. There is no LEADER, instead horses move and travel to meet their needs and movement is often initiated by adults in need of resources.

It's COMMON but not NORMAL to observe conflict regularly.

Intergroup conflict poses a serious safety risk and is naturally avoided- should conflict occur regularly, adjustments may need to be made to your horse-keeping and care practices.

Lastly, remember YOU my dear friend, are a human, not a horse. You know this, I know this, and even your horse knows this. We don't have to act like a "boss mare" to have good relationships with our equines, you can just be YOU! 🦄💗

11/28/2024

Moments of bliss. 💗