The Soulful Horse

05/05/2025

The Grace of Adaptation: What Horses Teach Us About Meeting Each Other Where We Are

Horses are some of the most adaptable creatures on earth. Yes, it’s ideal when we ride with balance, fitness, and awareness of how our bodies affect theirs. After all, horses are walking physics experiments—carrying our weight, responding to our shifts, absorbing our asymmetries. The forces at play are immense.

But here’s the thing: horses can adapt. And many do—beautifully and generously.

Harley, my lesson horse, reminds me of this every week. He carries a student with cerebral palsy who has limited control over her legs. He carries a student who is visually impaired. He does it with grace—often adjusting himself for the rider in ways we might not even notice unless we’re paying attention. He doesn’t just respond to cues; he reads the whole picture: the rider’s balance, their needs, and his own ability to stay sound and safe.

As riders and trainers, we respond in kind. We don’t push harder when things don’t go as expected. We pause. We reflect. We check in with ourselves, the horse, and the situation around us. Sometimes the “mistake” isn’t a mistake at all—it’s a horse making a decision to protect the rider or himself. There is a quiet, shared intelligence in this work when we’re willing to listen.

I’m not an officially certified adaptive riding instructor, and yet here we are—these riders are riding. They’re building skills, joy, and connection with a horse who meets them exactly where they are.

I also live with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. My own body often needs modification. Still, I ride. I train. I teach.

What matters most is not that we fit some narrow idea of what a “rider” looks like—it’s that we approach our horses with kindness, honesty, and a willingness to listen. We seek out horses who can support the kind of rider we are, not just the one we wish we could be.

Riding isn’t the only way to be in partnership with horses, either. There are so many paths to connection—on the ground, at liberty, in quiet companionship. Your equine journey is still valid, even if it looks different than someone else’s.

We can’t ask horses to carry both our weight and our self-judgment. Be kind to yourself. You’re still worthy of this. Your horse might be capable of more than you realize.

Photo by Roy Stansell

04/26/2025

A great post by my colleague Jen Palmer

Poisoned Cues

A poisoned cue is defined as when the horse has a cue that they previously knew that every time it is applied they act out, instead of doing the cued behavior. The horse knows what you want them to do but they get angry instead of doing the cued behavior. This can look like ear pinning, biting at you, kicking out, wringing their tail, bucking, rearing, etc. This is usually caused by a specific kind of conflict.

Let’s talk about what causes this conflict. When we ask the horse to perform something, then when they perform it, they are punished for doing it. They will then start to build frustration and anxiety around the cue.

This is usually not something that we realize we are doing, and it is certainly not something we do on purpose. We need to be aware of it so that if we see a change we can know why. Here are some examples of how a cue may become poisoned. If we ask a horse to go forward and when they go you get scared and pull on their mouth, or you lose your balance and hit their back, you will eventually poison the forward cue. This conflict often starts as the horse being hesitant to respond to the cue but eventually turns into the horse acting out when the cue is applied. To avoid this it is best to make sure that you are truly ready for whatever you are asking your horse to do. However mistakes will happen so if they do, the earlier you catch this the easier it will be to fix. Once it progresses past the hesitation phase you may need to come up with a new cue and retrain the behavior, at this point I would suggest you get help.

You could also have a horse who learns to get into the trailer but then finds the divider closing, or the trailer driving off, to be punishing. Just like before usually this will start with hesitancy to get into the trailer but eventually it can turn into outright refusal to get in the trailer with a lot of acting out. Any kind of poised cue will be easiest to deal with before it progresses. For this reason if you see hesitancy I suggest going back to something easier like just getting in and out, to build your trust account and see if you can break the next step into smaller pieces.

Hopefully this will help you stop your horse from getting too conflicted. Let me know if you have any questions.

Photo credit Roy Stansell

04/20/2025

Behavior & Environment: A Story Worth Sharing

I’ve been thinking a lot about how much the environment shapes a horse’s behavior—especially when that behavior looks dangerous or untrainable. I want to share a recent case that really brought this home.

This isn’t about blame, or saying one facility is better than another. It’s about recognizing that different horses have different needs, and sometimes, the most progress happens not through more training, but through giving a horse the kind of space where they can finally settle.

If you’ve ever felt stuck with a horse who seemed “too much,” I hope this offers another lens to look through.

This horse’s story is a powerful reminder that what we sometimes label as “bad behavior” is often just a horse doing their best in a situation that doesn't feel safe to them.

Let me start by saying this: this isn’t about fault or failure. Every boarding facility has its own culture, rhythm, and management practices, and horses, like people, respond differently to different environments. In this case, the barn he was in just wasn’t the right fit for his particular sensitivities. That doesn’t make it a bad place. It just didn’t meet his needs.

Over the summer, he was doing fairly well: 24/7 turnout, handled only by me and his owner, and worked in calmer settings like a quiet outdoor arena. He showed some anxious tendencies—chewing his shelter, getting amped in his space but he was manageable.

As the season changed, so did his routine, more time in the barn, a busier daily rhythm, and more transitions. For a horse as sensitive as him, those changes seemed to tip the scale.

Rearing. Bolting. Biting. He went from anxious to unsafe, and riding him became a high stakes gamble. He couldn’t cope with changes in his surroundings. Even the sound of another horse walking into the arena would set off a full blown panic.

Some of these behaviors were coping mechanisms—survival strategies learned in prior environments. And while I have a strong toolbox for working with anxious horses, even the best training won’t stick if the horse is living in a heightened state of stress. You can’t reach a brain that’s stuck in survival mode.

Thankfully, his owner was willing to try something different. She moved him to the quieter, slower-paced facility where I do most of my training. From the moment he arrived, there was a visible shift. He seemed to settle quickly, no rearing, no biting, just a quieter energy, like he was finally able to take a breath.

It’s been just over two weeks, and I’m riding him again. He’s still quirky, still has his moments—but his walls are down enough for learning to happen. We’re also treating him for ulcers (he scoped positive), which likely added to the anxiety. But with his environment supporting his nervous system instead of overwhelming it, I can finally reach him.

He hasn’t chewed anything. He hasn’t had a meltdown. He’s still him—just more of him, and less of the panic.

And here’s something I want to be clear about, too: I genuinely believe that with time and the right support, he could eventually feel safe at the previous barn. But the reality was, there were simply too many compounding stressors happening at once to make that kind of progress possible in that environment. He needed a reset somewhere quieter, so we could untangle the threads one at a time.

The photo on the left is from December at the old barn—late night, quiet surroundings, and still too dysregulated to ride. The second photo is from yesterday. Just two weeks into the new space. Not perfect, but present. And that changes everything.

The takeaway?

Some horses need different spaces to thrive. And that’s not a failure—it’s information. It doesn’t mean one barn is “better” than another. It just means we have to be willing to adjust based on the individual in front of us.

There’s no magic in training. But there is wisdom in taking your time, being observant, and creating an environment where learning can happen. If a horse is struggling, ask yourself: Is this truly a training issue—or is their environment setting them up to fail?

And if you’re not sure, reach out. Sometimes, a small shift in context makes all the difference.

03/17/2025

This was a fantastic clinic! Thanks Juliette Cimetiere!

02/03/2025

Ever struggle with a horse dragging you to grass? My colleague made a great video on grazing manners, while still building the trust account with your horse. Check it out!

This is a video to give you Ideas on how to establish grazing manners with your horse. For more ontent like this follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Ol...

01/30/2025

Trust accounts

At the risk of oversimplifying training, there are really only two ways in which we can get our horses to work for us: trust and fear. Many horses operate in a system of fear, and I will talk more about that in later posts. In this post, I want to talk about the science behind trust.

Steve Martin of NEI and Dr. Susan Friedman of USU have both written about this as it pertains to parrots and people. They are both positive reinforcement trainers, but I think that we can put what they talk about into the context of horses, and it makes sense. I will attach some of their articles to the end of this in case you are interested.

You have probably experienced in your life that trust is not as simple as you either trust someone or you don’t. Trust can be conditional and contextual. In my experience, horses experience trust in a very similar way. Every interaction they have with you, they are evaluating whether it will work out in their favor or not.

When we look at the sum of our interactions with our animals, we want their experience with us to be overwhelmingly positive. This means that they feel good at the end of our interactions. To this end, it is helpful to look at our interactions with them as a bank account. Every interaction that they feel good about makes a deposit into the account, and every interaction they have that feels bad withdraws from our account. When our account goes into the negative is when we start to see horses that don’t want anything to do with people. These horses may express this by fighting, fleeing, freezing, or fawning.

Let’s talk about things that add to our trust account. Positive reinforcement, when done well, is of course the best way to add to our trust account. For those of you who don’t know how to do that well, or aren’t ready to make that jump, let’s talk about other things that I have noticed add to our accounts.

Spending non-demanding time with your horse is one of the easiest ways to add to your trust account. This could look like hand grazing your horse, brushing them while they are eating, or hanging out in the pasture with them. Anything where you do not have expectations of what they are supposed to be doing that they also enjoy doing can help.

Choice and control are things that horses find reinforcing. This does not mean literally; you do not have to open all of the gates and set your horse free to allow them choices and autonomy. This can look like listening when your horse says that they are worried and offering them the option to leave instead of forcing them to confront their fears. It can look like not punishing them for making mistakes. When teaching a new behavior, offering them the freedom to explore different answers instead of micromanaging them or forcing them to comply is key.

Having clear and consistent expectations of them also helps. That does not mean you need to expect perfection, but you should expect the same things every time. That way, the horse knows how to avoid pressure.

Keeping your expectations realistic so that you do not need to escalate to a lot of pressure in order to teach behaviors is another way to protect the trust account.

Now, let’s talk about withdrawals. It is important to understand that as a survival mechanism, all animals seem to have a negative bias. This means that we will put more weight on negative experiences than positive experiences. There is not a set number, but most studies say that it takes between 3 and 7 positive experiences to outweigh a negative experience. So we should be aware when we are making withdrawals.

One of the best arguments for positive reinforcement is that every time we use punishment (positive or negative), we damage our trust account. The same applies to every time we use an aversive. You may have heard the argument before that horses use negative reinforcement on each other all the time; it is their “language.” While this does probably make them resilient to negative reinforcement, and perhaps it is not as damaging to our trust account as some other things, it is not that simple. For one thing, horses are social animals, and as such, social engagement is necessary to their survival, making it very reinforcing for them. As I mentioned earlier, spending non-demanding time with horses can add to your trust account. Well, horses may use negative reinforcement and positive punishment with each other, they also spend the rest of their time with their herd mates, spending non-demanding time together and socially engaging. We do not usually get to spend that much non-demanding time with our horses, so we do not have the opportunity to offset those withdrawals.

In my experience, the largest withdrawals with horses happen when we use a lot of force, take away the horse’s autonomy, confuse and frustrate our horses, use a lot of pressure, or put them into situations that are scary and for which they are ill prepared.

The last thing I feel like we should talk about is that trust accounts also occur with objects and places. So things like your trailer, the arena, their stall, new places, and your behavior when you are with them in new places all matter.

As always, reach out if you have any questions.

References:

https://www.behaviorworks.org/files/articles/The%20Power%20of%20Trust.pdf

https://www.behaviorworks.org/files/articles/Back%20in%20the%20Black%20BT.pdf

https://issuu.com/worldparrottrust/docs/ps-19-1-feb-07-parrot-trust-sm

Photo credit Jessica Farren Photography.

12/18/2024

This video is a glimpse into what I strive for every day—a deep connection with horses built on trust, patience, and an appreciation for the journey. It’s the kind of connection I love sharing with students who value the process.

Filmed and beautifully brought to life by Roy Stansell

09/29/2024

Horses very rarely escalate behavior without giving clear signals first, though many people may miss these subtle cues. In herd dynamics, horses use body language to communicate with their herd mates. They might shift their weight, pin their ears, or flick their tail as early warnings, but these signals can often be overlooked by humans who aren't attuned to them. To a horse, this behavior is like a fireworks display of information, yet most people never see the sparks. It’s crucial to understand that horses rely heavily on non-verbal communication to maintain harmony within the group, doing everything they can to avoid unnecessary conflict. Any extra energy expended is energy lost—energy they need for survival.

When people say their horse acted "out of nowhere," it’s often because they were unaware of the horse’s escalating signals. A horse may give subtle signs such as looking away, raising its head, licking and chewing, or staring into the distance. All of these can indicate discomfort, stress, or anxiety. When these behaviors are misinterpreted or ignored, the horse may feel it has no option but to escalate to more obvious responses like rearing, bolting, kicking, or biting.

Recognizing and interpreting these early signs is essential for effective training and safe interactions. Building this awareness can prevent miscommunication and escalation, creating a better relationship between horse and handler. While sudden behaviors can sometimes be linked to pain or health issues, understanding normal herd behavior is key to avoiding preventable conflicts.

One of the best ways to learn horse behavior is by spending time observing horses in a herd dynamic. Watch how they communicate with one another, how often they avoid conflict, and how they can deescalate situations naturally.

The photo I’m sharing is a great example of a horse going over threshold, escalating into the air. Horses ran behind the barn, and that was enough to trigger her, in addition to the pressure of the lunge line. When I say pressure, I don’t mean pulling on the horse—the act of a horse being on a line and us asking for specific behaviors is a form of pressure on the animal. There are some things I should have done differently to avoid this behavior.

We can’t always control what happens in the environment for our horses, but we can control how we react in a training session and anticipate how the horse might respond.

Photo credit: Roy Stansell

09/26/2024

Operant Conditioning

If we are going to train animals I personally think that it is very important to understand how they learn.

Way back in the 1930's a man named B.F. Skinner started experimenting on animals, primarily rats and pigeons, to discover how learning happens. He summarized much of his research into what we now call operant conditioning.

Of course our understanding of learning has grown since then but these basic principles still hold true and are a really good place to start when you are learning about training.

According to operant conditioning behavior is changed through consequences that occur directly following a performed behavior. There are four ways that this can occur; positive reinforcement, positive punishment, negative reinforcement, and negative punishment.

These are all scientific terms, so positive and negative are not subjective moral standards, but rather additive or subtractive, with positive meaning something is being added to the situation, and negative meaning something is being removed from the situation.

Reinforcement means that the likelihood of a behavior being repeated is increasing. Punishment means the likelihood of a behavior being repeated is decreasing.

Clicker training is the cleanest example of positive reinforcement. It is positive because a food reward is being added following a behavior being performed to increase the likelihood of the behavior being performed again

An example of positive punishment would be smacking your horse after they try to run you over. It is positive because pain is being added following the behavior of running you over in order to decrease the likelihood of the behavior happening again.

Negative reinforcement, is often referred to as pressure and release. Where an uncomfortable or painful stimulus is added before the desired behavior and then removed once the behavior is performed. It is negative because the uncomfortable or painful stimulus is being removed following the behavior which increases the likelihood the behavior will be performed again

Finally an example of negative punishment would be withholding food from a food aggressive horse until they stop displaying aggressive behaviors. It is negative because food is being removed after the agressive behavior is displayed decreasing the likelihood of the aggressive behaviors happening in the future.

I will be going more in depth into these topics in following weeks but for now as a thought experiment, try to see if you can notice which method you are using when you work with your horse.

Photo credit Elizabeth Poore-Jennings

09/22/2024

As an educator and advocate in the equine industry, I’m incredibly grateful to see a positive shift toward better horse welfare. But there's another issue we need to address—one that affects people just as deeply. Too often,I hear instructors or professionals say they don’t care about people, prioritizing horses over the humans who care for them. Let’s be clear: without compassionate, well-supported people, horses suffer too.

I'm incredibly fortunate that over the last five years I have found my people where we have built a community together, we can all be authentically ourselves, bringing our diverse backgrounds and experiences to the table. This collective effort highlights the importance of both human and equine welfare. We support each other and share the common goal of creating a positive, compassionate environment for everyone involved—students, educators, and horses alike. Through this, we’ve created a space where kindness and growth are at our core.

Here are a few key things educators and professionals can do to help students and colleagues, fostering a positive and respectful environment:

Prioritize Communication: Open, respectful, and clear communication goes a long way.

Let students know they are valued.

Take time to explain things, not give orders.

Learn how to communicate with your students by understanding their unique learning styles. Some may benefit from visual demonstrations, while others may need verbal explanations or hands-on guidance.

Tailor your approach to best support their growth, creating a space where they feel comfortable asking questions and expressing concerns.

Effective communication is key to building trust and fostering a positive learning environment.

Set Boundaries: A positive learning environment should include healthy boundaries. Overworking students, or pushing them to physical or emotional limits, is not productive or kind.

Practice Empathy: Understand that students are learning, and learning takes time. Being harsh or belittling only creates fear and stifles growth.

Lead by Example: Students are more likely to become compassionate horse people if they see their instructors practicing kindness—not just toward the horses, but toward people too.

Self-Care and Support: Encourage rest and support mental health—not just for the students, but for yourself as well. Burnout in the equine industry is real, and acknowledging the importance of self-care can change the game.

The culture in the equine world is changing, but we have a long way to go. By prioritizing the wellbeing of both horses and humans, we can create a healthier, more compassionate industry for everyone involved. Let’s take care of our people so they can take care of the horses.

I want to hear from you! What helps you in your learning journey?

09/17/2024

One of the most important skills a horse can learn is to be excellent with their feet, especially for the farrier!

I've been working on teaching Pyra to target the hoof stand, placing her foot and keeping it there until asked to release. This helps build confidence and patience, making farrier visits safer and less stressful for everyone. Consistency is key!

03/26/2024

Heading to Norway tomorrow for some professional development with, Equidemia - Celina Skogan! I'll be gone until May 5th. Looking forward to all the learning opportunities and sharing what I learned when I return!