05/06/2026
WHEN HORSES EXPERIENCE TRAUMA IN POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT OR ‘CONSENT-BASED’ TRAINING PROGRAMS…
This is something I haven’t talked about yet, because it’s a sensitive subject.
A big part of my program involves rehabbing not just horses who’ve experienced trauma or flunked out of traditional programs, but those who’ve experienced trauma or flunked out of positive reinforcement or ‘consent-based’ training programs, as well.
Sometimes I share about these horses. Most times I don’t. Clients trust me to be kind when helping them and their horses, and also discreet.
As a former ‘purist’ positive reinforcement and consent-based trainer, I’m adamant about encouraging discussion about the limitations of these programs.
People often assume I criticize positive reinforcement only from my own experience with it, but my perspective is actual based on several dozen case studies from over the past 10 years…
Horses who’ve come in from all over the US, after becoming dangerous in the programs of not just owners or inexperienced positive reinforcement trainers, but big name trainers.
I can tell you, from both in-person and virtual training with clients from all over this world, this issue is EPIDEMIC, and NOT talked about.
Many positive reinforcement or consent-based trainers are selling or flunking horses out of their programs, or they or their clients end up outsourcing them to other trainers.
The biggest issue?
Bolting.
And this isn’t just limited to clicker training programs, but ‘horse-centric’ or ‘force-free’ or similarly labeled programs that aim to keep training ‘under threshold’ and ‘pressure-free.’
I don’t get attacked by those communities anymore, precisely because many of them know I know what’s going on behind the scenes. They know the horses they’ve failed come to me.
I still use positive reinforcement a ton in my program. I have friends who are wonderful clicker trainers who I respect immensely.
But as much as I love positive reinforcement, I love the horses more.
And I have a duty to them…
To set them up for success.
This is my plea…
PLEASE stop thinking tactile cues built via positive reinforcement are a substitute for real-world mental and emotional pressure.
They are not.
Please don’t gamble with this.
It’s not a matter of if, but when.
You get away with it until you don’t.
Horses are getting traumatized when they don’t understand how to navigate mental and physical pressure outside a very controlled setting.
This is NOT ok.
People are getting hurt. Horses are getting hurt.
Horses are having preventable traumatic one-time events that stay with them for life.
This is not just naive. This is NEGLIGENCE.
So PLEASE…
Practice steering and stopping and emergency stops with pressure, especially before you ride in the open.
Please practice canter in a controlled setting before you ride in the open.
Please don’t assume that just because a horse will follow a trail or another horse, you can actually physically steer them if you need to, unless you’ve practiced it as a skillset.
Please don’t assume that because you’ve developed a relationship in a controlled setting or are aiming to stay under threshold, that nothing can go wrong.
If you’re a trainer, please stop blaming the horses who flunk out of your programs, and please stop blaming those who handle them afterwards for ‘pushing them over threshold.’
Please prepare the horses you’re responsible for.
And especially…
Please stop taking the easy ones for granted.
Those are the ones who always end up the most underprepared, and the most traumatized or ‘problematic’ as a result.
BELOW:
Me and the amazing Ms Coco practicing our shoulder-in on the trail.
A great opportunity for us to practice our ‘emergency co-regulation’ for not IF, but WHEN we need it on our trail rides.
Another fabulous-minded Fell! ❤️
DISCLAIMER:
Communicating about these things can be tricky.
I just want people to understand, I still use positive reinforcement, I still recommend positive reinforcement.
Positive reinforcement doesn’t cause problems, necessarily, programs that force positive reinforcement as the only tool cause problems, specifically in this context of horses not being able to steer or stop.
Don’t be afraid to use positive reinforcement, but please keep you and your horses safe, and please feel like you have permission to use the right tool for the job in order to do so.
