Kate Johnstone Equestrian Coaching

Set this off when you’re next doing horse jobs - totally love this and exactly why I have done a MSc in Equitation Science

What would make a five-star eventer say that being named an Olympic alternate was the lowest point of his career?

That's where our latest conversation begins.

Matt Brown and Cecily Clark are a husband-and-wife team from Pennsylvania - he's a five-star eventer, she rides FEI dressage. Last December they wrote an open letter to the equestrian world, and thousands responded. Not with outrage. With recognition.

When Meta and I sat down with them, what unfolded was a conversation between four people with very different vantage points on the horse world - a five-star eventer, an FEI dressage rider, an equine vet and an equine welfare scientist - realising they've all been asking the same questions.

Questions like: why does chasing the top so often mean leaving your values at the gate? How much of what we do is shaped by never really being taught how horses experience the world? And what would the sport look like if we measured success differently?

Matt and Cecily don't claim to have the answers. They talk openly about their own mistakes, about coaching that prioritised results over the relationship, and about what it took to find their way back to why they started.

"I live for eventing," Matt told us. "But I live for the horses more."

🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts - link in comments.

What does success look like for you and your horse? We'd love to hear :)

Another great PCA post

You ask your horse to move forward, but they plant their feet.

You ask for canter, and they rush, pigroot or pin their ears.

You ask them to stand quietly, but they paw, call out, fidget or pull back.

It can be easy in those moments to say the horse is being naughty, lazy or stubborn. But unwanted behaviour is information. Labelling a horse as naughty, lazy or stubborn can stop us from understanding the cause.

The Pony Club Australia Horse Welfare Policy is clear that using terms like naughty, lazy or stubborn to describe unwanted behaviour demonstrates a lack of understanding.

That does not mean people are trying to do the wrong thing. These words are common in horse communities, and many of us have heard them used for years. But they can lead us down the wrong path.

When we call a horse stubborn, we may stop asking whether the horse is confused, worried, uncomfortable, in pain, tired, overwhelmed, or responding to unclear aids.

The Policy reminds us that horses need clear and consistent aids, and consistent expectations for their behaviour. When aids are unclear, or expectations change from one day to the next, the horse’s world can become confusing and worrying.

Good horsemanship means looking deeper. Before we label the horse, we need to ask:

❓ What is the horse trying to tell us?

❓ What part might our timing, pressure, training, handling or environment be playing?

❓ How can we make the right behaviour easier for the horse to understand?

Understanding the cause helps us support the horse, improve safety, and build better partnerships.

It’s been a long but interesting and successful day - it was a surprise to win best postgraduate poster and a very smart horse rug 🤩

Does your horse really like being patted?

Reward training is a really important tool in your toolkit.

It works by giving your horse something he wants immediately after he does the right thing.

For example, if your horse comes to the gate and you give him a handful of pellets, you’re using reward training.

Because you’ve rewarded the behaviour, he’s more likely to do it again.

🛑 But here’s the catch…

For reward training to work, the reward actually has to matter to your horse. Not all horses like the same things.

Try this quick experiment 👇

Grab a friend or family member:
1️⃣ Give them a big, loud pat on the back
2️⃣ Then gently rub their back

Ask them which one made them feel more relaxed. Most people will choose the gentle rub. Horses are no different.

Now try it with your horse 🐴

You’re going to find the exact spot your horse enjoys.

What you’ll need:
• your horse
• a helper to hold him safely

Step 1
Start at the base of the neck, near the wither. Use your fingertips to gently rub for at least two minutes.

Step 2
Watch closely for signs your horse is enjoying it:
• a soft or sleepy eye
• slow blinking
• head lowering
• a relaxed, droopy lower lip

Step 3
If you don’t see those signs, move to another area (like the middle of the neck) and try again. Some horses prefer gentle scratching rather than rubbing.

Take your time, you’re not in a hurry. Eventually, you’ll find a spot your horse really enjoys.

🤷‍♀️ Why this matters

That “favourite spot” becomes a powerful reward you can use during training. And it’s often more effective than patting.

Because horses don’t pat each other in the paddock. They groom each other along the neck.

That’s why most horses prefer:
✔️ stroking
✔️ light scratching
✖️ firm patting

When should you use reward training? Any time your horse does something you’d like him to do again. That’s how you build understanding, confidence and willingness.

great small change that makes the difference here. love this

This is worth remembering and factoring into your training programme.....

This was a really interesting trip . So good when industry supports young students in their progression and education .

🐎 Out & About with UCAB 🐎

Our Equine Science and Management students
enjoyed a fantastic industry visit to Future Sport Horse gaining real‑world insight into stud management, breeding, and producing horses for grading and competition.

From seeing top‑class horses up close to learning
about nutrition, breeding technology, and marketing, this visit brought classroom learning to life and gave students valuable industry perspective.

A huge thank you to Future Sport Horses for such an inspiring experience.

PCA have great ideas -this one is great for adults too.

🐴 A simple horsemanship exercise for parents, carers and coaches...

You don’t need a formal lesson for this. You don’t even need a saddle.

Next time you’re with a child and their pony - whether that’s at home, before a ride, after a lesson or during a rally - pause for a moment and ask:

“Where do you think your pony likes to be scratched?”

Hold the pony safely and let the child spend a few quiet minutes gently rubbing and scratching along the neck. Encourage them to really watch the pony’s reaction.

When they find the right spot, you’ll often see it straight away:

♥️ The eyes soften or half close

♥️ The bottom lip droops

♥️ The neck stretches forward

♥️ The whole expression relaxes

Some horses will try to scratch back with their teeth. It usually means they’re enjoying it, but it’s important not to allow it, as it can easily turn into nipping.

Most horses enjoy being scratched just below the wither. They might also like behind the ears, along the neck or on the chest. Let the child explore gently and pay attention to the feedback they’re getting.

For coaches, this can be a lovely way to start a rally. It settles everyone, helps young riders tune in, and reminds them that good riding starts on the ground.

For parents and carers, it’s a simple shift in focus. Instead of “What are we practising today?” the question becomes, “How is my pony feeling?”

Those small, quiet moments matter. They build observation, empathy and feel - the foundations of real horsemanship.

🥕 This activity is adapted from the Pony Club Australia D Certificate Manual