Helping a Shutdown Horse https://youtu.be/q4JtqERqNbs Sometimes the most important rides are the quiet ones. There’s no drama, no fireworks – just a calm horse learning that having a rider can feel safe. And in the world of first rides, uneventful is often the biggest breakthrough of all. In this session, I focused on making theContinueContinue reading “Sally & Freya – Session 7.2”
Author Archives: EquiKinder
Settling the Debate: Should You Train Your Horse with Food Rewards or Pressure & Release?
R⁺ vs. R⁻: Which is better for training horses?
It’s one of the most heated debates in horsemanship today.
In this post, I unpack why this debate often misses the bigger picture, how each method can backfire (or shine), and why your horse’s perception matters more than your loyalty to one method. If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re “doing it right,” or if you’re tired of this debate, this piece will help you reframe the conversation – for the benefit of the horse, not our egos.
Sally & Freya – Session 7.1
Helping a Shutdown Horse https://youtu.be/I_t5KH9c1VY Riding starts long before you’re in the saddle – it begins with the trust and confidence you build in preparation. This session is about laying that foundation. I focus on helping Sally feel safe, connected, and truly ready for me to get on. You’ll see how groundwork reveals her tensionContinueContinue reading “Sally & Freya – Session 7.1”
When Curiosity Gets Cancelled: Reflections on Social Media, Horsemanship, and Missed Opportunities
When a clinic I hoped to attend was cancelled after debate over bitless riding and “true collection,” it left me thinking. Was this really about collection – or just about how we define it? And what do we lose when social media outrage replaces real dialogue?
Sally & Freya – Session 6
Helping a Shutdown Horse https://youtu.be/wHFCuQ_da74 The first ride is never just about getting on. It’s the culmination of every groundwork step, every boundary clarified, and every moment of trust built along the way. In this episode, we reach that milestone with Sally, showing how patience and thoughtful preparation create a safer, calmer, and more connectedContinueContinue reading “Sally & Freya – Session 6”
Elke & Lola – Session 3.2
Restarting a Sensitive OTTB Mare https://youtu.be/7-kBK63ow5Y Sometimes the biggest breakthroughs don’t come from the horse at all. They come when the human learns where to stand, how to ask, and how to hold a clear boundary. This session focuses on coaching the owner through the basics of groundwork with feel. By revisiting familiar exercises likeContinueContinue reading “Elke & Lola – Session 3.2”
Elke & Lola – Session 3.1
Restarting a Sensitive OTTB Mare https://youtu.be/e0zNrw4WatQ Sometimes the most powerful breakthroughs in horse training aren’t dramatic. They’re found in the quiet moment when a horse chooses connection over resistance. In this real-time session, I revisit foundational groundwork with a mare who tends to push into pressure and is reactive when unsure. You’ll see how clearContinueContinue reading “Elke & Lola – Session 3.1”
Sally & Freya – Session 5.2
Helping a Shutdown Horse https://youtu.be/wnSLeDvajEA This session is rider coaching in real time. I’m guiding Freya to read the horse and to notice her own body in space. We treat pressure and release as a shared language: a dance of ask, answer, and pause. Feel is how we listen; timing and clarity are how weContinueContinue reading “Sally & Freya – Session 5.2”
Why Are Off-the-Track Thoroughbreds Crooked? Understanding OTTB Asymmetry and How to Fix It
Discover why off-the-track Thoroughbreds (OTTBs) are crooked, how to assess their asymmetry, and 5 proven exercises to restore balance.
Sally & Freya – Session 5.1
Helping a Shutdown Horse https://youtu.be/x3W9y00D6Qg This session captures a quiet but powerful shift in Sally’s emotional state. In earlier work, she tended to freeze or dissociate under pressure – giving the “right” answer without truly feeling it. Today, we see the beginning of something new: subtle engagement, thoughtful tries, and real-time communication through movement. It’sContinueContinue reading “Sally & Freya – Session 5.1”
