Heartfelt Horsemanship

08/06/2026

'If a horse is too scared, it not willing to be with you she we go to put the halter on
Do we have any business being on their back?
If they have to be held in place for youbto climb on, do we have any business being on their back?
That is where ' spooky and unpredictable' comes in.
Those are all things you can predict.
If a horse is scared of a human and running away,
You're not safe on their back'

This is an excerpt from the podcast below.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/3d1plByUNy7g89XA8Zr7PM?si=xz-c9XpeRF6yZJAimgyQSA&t=41

No Ordinary Horse · Episode

31/05/2026

Begging forgiveness

I got angry at my horse a few days ago.

It felt like he was out to ruin my day,
Even though I know there is no such thing as a naughty horse,
I assigned that label to him

I pulled harder at the reins when he wasn't responsive,
My legs became too loud
I shouted at him, and called him names.

Luckily, there was no bit at the end of the reins,
There were no spurs on my feet,
And no whip in my hands.

When I got my senses back
I knew I just hadn't put in enough time with him
I had expected too much from him

He wasnt planning on ruining my day, but I am pretty sure I ruined his.

So..

I begged forgiveness, and I got it

We don't always meet our horses with the best version of ourselves
If someone had filmed this and shared
The video, I wouldn't have been canceled

In fact, most in the industry would see it as
'Soft'
But I knew it wasn't what my horse deserved
And his eyes told me he didn't recognize
THIS rider as a partner.

I begged forgiveness and I got it
On his next ride I paid extra attention to staying connected
To myself, and to him

Acknowledging our mistakes is far more productive than fooling ourselves that we are perfect.

26/05/2026

Why do you choose to ride without a bit?

This is a question for those that choose to never use bits.

I have been having a hard time answering this. Not because I don't know my reasons, but because I have a hard time expressing those reasons in a way that doesn't make people feel judged.

Yes, this matters to me.

I know we are supposed to speak our truth, but ride a fast horse. The trouble is you run the risk of alienating people hungry for change, by answering this in a way that triggers guilt and cognitive dissonance.

Help me out here.. Please

24/05/2026

This is your friendly reminder that horses that live in a herd have LOWER incidences of serious injury.

One of the most common justifications for keeping horses in isolated paddocks is that it is to prevent injury.

It turns out horses in herd paddocks have lower risk of serious injury.

As sn industry we need to question current accepted practices.

Minor kicks and bites are not a valid justification for the welfare issues raised by keeping horses on their own.

21/05/2026

... Because videos don't get as much reach on my page.

I have assessed Martini and decided he is ready to start his riding development.

He turns 4 in August. He has had a saddle on twice over a two year period, and now we are going to work toward mounting, short rides at a walk, and in six months, short periods of trotting.

I am opening 5 spots for people who have horses they would like to start with empathy.

This is a 6 month commitment, and applicants will be selected based on goals and philosophy.

I start the weekly session on June 1st, and no participants can be added late.

If you are interested, drop a comment below.
.or email [email protected]

16/05/2026

There is this series of reels on an equestrian influencers page, which start with her punishing a yearling very firmly.

Her reason for needing to punish the foal was presented in the next reel.
It was footage of him as a young foal with his Mother, and she offers an answer as to why she corrected him so harshly.
' because his mother never corrected him'
The video does show him being very rambunctious as a foal with his Mom calmly moving away from his wild behavior.

I feel humans assume they know better than horses im their care too often.

To blame the Mother for the foal not understanding training is a weak excuse. I know that when foals are kept with ONLY their mother, and not a support herd, they are more difficult to start their training, but well planned, step by step training removes the need for punishment before they know the answers.

I picked a photo of Martini for this post, because he is the latest of the foals we have raised without ever needing to smack.
We put communication in place kindly, and he is an absolute pleasure to be around.

His Mother is the sweetest little mare that never ' corrects' him.

Once every couple months some medieval breeder or other shares a post claiming ' Smack your foals'. As if it is an absolute requirement or you will end up with dangerous animals.

Kind, clear communication removes the need for punishment, and real corrections are stress and violence free.

09/05/2026

I had an interesting revelation recently.

My online video coaching students have been progressing faster than students I had taught 'in-person' in the past.

My move to more online coaching was given a mighty shove by poor health, but it has ended up being a growth point for my teaching ability.

When I started asking why, which is what I do, I think too much and ask why a lot, I found an uncomfortable answer.

My hero complex CAN'T kick in online. In person I used to obsessively step in to save people struggling with a horse. That isn't an option online. I need to find ways to help the human be better equipped with addressing challenges, not just help the horse.

This has resulted in online students making great progress with what they get done with their horses.

I still have a few, close-range, in-person students, and I have found that I am bringing this skill to the in-person lessons too.

I try my best not to steal peoples opportunity to grow.

I have a few online coaching spots available. If you would like to learn with me, drop a comment or email [email protected]

06/05/2026

I had one question, from the reel on handling the little donkeys feet, come up enough that I though I would answer it here.

The question:
' you keep your energy very soft, making yourself small. How do you make sure the horse/donkey/mule/ cow doesn't get into your space or kick or bite you?'

Answer:
I don't really think about ' making myself small', but I am conscious of not being threatening

It's being conscious of how you are being perceived by a prey animal, and adjusting to that perception.

In terms of how I protect myself from attack, that is not a consideration in how I approach. If I see and animal about to get defensive I back off before it escalates.

Remember a prey animal isn't out to get us, they're out to defend themselves FROM us.

You don't need to have ' an assertive posture' to stay safe, you need a non-threatening posture to stay safe.

05/05/2026

I don't think horsemanship is complicated.
It takes more awareness than many people are willing to make an effort for, and more thoughtfulness than is seen as recreational, but it's not that complicated.

Even the ideas behind what motivates horses. We have big words for it, but if we just give thought to how our partners perceive things, things go a whole lot smoother.

I have a great video coaching student, in the UK, who comes up with some great one liners, that inspire deep conversation.

The other day she said ' I really do feel he ( the horse) looks after me... Most of the time'.

This triggered a conversation about when he doesn't.

He doesn't look after her, when he feels he needs to be looking after himself. In her case it was scary stuff out in the wide world, but if is often the scary monster in he saddle.

If a horse has a history of having to protect themselves against humans, they are less inclined to look after their humans when they ride.

If you inflcit pain to make a horse do things via the bit, the whip, the spur, why would your horse have any interest in looking out for you?

At the same time, if they are focused on the scary beast who harms them if they don't do exactly as told, any new scary monsters get a whole lot scarier.

This is how we end up with the idea that horses are ' spooky and unpredictable' when they are far from either when they aren't captive to a bald psychotic ape... Ahem.. Not all humans, I know..

These aren't complicated ideas, and it doesn't take cult-like devotion to a particular method to change this..

If you think I am a bunny-hugging, pony-petting lunatic.. You could very likely ignore everything else I say.. And just make sure your horse doesn't see you as the most dangerous boogey man on the planet, and you will end up on a safer animal that makes an effort to care for you in tricky situations.

If a horse feels safe with you, they will do their best to take care of you.

Its just how they are wired. To care for those that care for them. The big word for that is gregarious.

No, it doesn't mean they think we are horses, they are smarter than that. They are smart enough to figure out we aren't a danger and keep them safe is scary situations. The rest is instinct to care for those who care for them.

30/04/2026

Love the horse more than you love the sport?

We have all heard this a thousand times, and seen it plastered across social media platforms, but I do think it falls into the category of ' lies we tell ourselves to sleep better at night'.

No judgement on any of the below, I just feel starting from an honest understanding of what we value helps the horse more than telling ourselves warm and fuzzy stories.

If you have ever sold a horse, so you can get one with more 'potential' in your chosen sport..
You love the sport more than your horse.

If you don't agree with the ethics of a piece of tack, but use it because the rules of your chosen sport make it mandatory...
You love the sport more than you love your horse.
If your horse isn't quite ready for a show you have prepared for and paid entries for, so you enter anyway..
You love the sport more than the horse

If your horse has pain and you choose to inject to get them through a show or a show season..
You love the sport more than you love your horse.

This list could go on for ages, but it's less about the specifics, and more about whether we actually consider the horse above our show ring goals. Above any goals.

If not, we need to admit that we love the sport more.

I know there are still people that feel a horse has to earn it's keep. I disagree (their existence isn't dependent on our use of them) but it's not for me to try change their minds.

I do think it would be helpful if they were at least honest about it.