Sustainable Horse Training

It's a sad reality that not only are most riders completely unaware of what's actually happening at the other end of the reins, they've also never been shown that it's possible, and I would argue kinder AND more effective to train alternative stopping cues. Check the comments to learn more!

You can’t see what’s happening at the other end of the reins from your hands.

Now imagine knowing your horse will stop because they understand the cue, not because they’re worried about what happens if they don’t.

At our horse group training event we’ll be looking at how to create a clear hierarchy of stop cues that your horse genuinely understands.

Voice
Seat
Reins

Each cue taught separately.

Each cue clearly understood.

Each cue combined into a communication system that works whether you’re:

✔ Hacking
✔ At a clinic
✔ Competing
✔ Riding in open spaces

Confidence doesn’t come from stronger equipment.

Confidence comes from better training.

Join us, it’s free, and discover why so many riders are questioning whether bits are really necessary or even ethical.

🎟 Free event June 17th
💻 Zoom or in person
📹 Recording and PDFs sent to all attendees

Get your free place through the link in the comments.

Together we can build a different future for horses based on welfare science, learning theory and positive reinforcement.

This is an excellent question!!
Want to know more?
Details in post

Why is CALM not something we teach horses?

Most riders spend years trying to control:

⚠️ Spooking
⚠️ Rushing
⚠️ Tension
⚠️ Napping
⚠️ Overreactions

But what if the answer isn’t more control?

What if it’s teaching calm?

One of the most powerful skills a horse can learn is to pause.

A pause is a reset button.

A moment to think instead of react.

A chance for fear to become curiosity.

At our next Positive & Bit Free Horse Group meeting, we’ll explore how teaching horses to pause, and teaching ourselves to pause with them, can create emotionally regulated horses that think before they react.

This is the foundation of bit-free riding.

And if you want it…

Even bridle-free riding.

When horses understand how to pause, everything changes.

✔ More confidence
✔ Better decisions
✔ Less tension
✔ Greater connection
✔ Safer riding

🎟 FREE to attend
📅 17th June
💻 Join by Zoom or in person
📹 Recording and PDFs sent to all attendees afterwards

Together we will build a different future for horses based on welfare science, learning theory and positive reinforcement.

Come with us.

Get your free place via the link in the comments.

Here's a spicy one for you this evening - because i havent made a career limiting post in a hot minute(!)

How complicit are you in your own (or your horse's) suffering?

I appreciate we all have horses for a reason, and I appreciate their care and management is a complicated thing.

When I work with people, sometimes I have to say things they dont want to hear:

"Your horse shouldnt be ridden right now" - because theyre in pain, their posture is too compromised, they barely have enough muscle to support themselves yet alone a rider, their saddle doesnt fit.

"You shouldnt be jumping your horse" see above reasons why.

"You shouldnt be cantering right now" because it will definitely strengthen the compensatory pattern.

Compromise can be made when making the argument between streamlining the process - not riding will get quicker postural changes, but if you want to ride and ultimately the horse isnt in overt pain/discomfort, then that should be fine.

But I really dont compromise when your horse is in pain. Nor should you.

There are SO many people who are wonderful when they hear this -

"I just want my horse to be happy" - literal music to my ears

But there are many people who want their horse to be happy - stating as much - but when it comes to taking the above guidance, they push back.

It's not the answer that they want to hear.

Yet they've been chasing an issue with their horse for months or years and you've given them a solution... its just not a solution where they get to do what they've always done...

And I wonder about the graveyard of professionals behind me, who have given them appropriate advice that again was not heard because it wasnt the answer that they wanted to hear.

I understand that professionals dont always get it right. I also understand that there are many professionals that get it really really quite wrong -

I just find it to be very profound that when you point out the behavioural indicators of pain, the lameness and the biomechanical dysfunction, you can still be totally ignored -

Especially when your friend in the stable next door (with no formal training in anything equine related) says their horse does the same thing, so therefore your horse must be fine!

-

For the entirety of May, you can get 50% off lifetime access for The Modern Centaurian Academy using the code MAY50 at checkout:

https://www.yasminstuartequinephysio.com/modern-centaurian-academy

📸 Olivia Rose Photography