When you replace pressure with presence, boundaries become language, not force.
Learn how clear, calm leadership helps your horse feel safe, focused, and willing – the EquiKinder way. 💜
Author Archives: EquiKinder
The Power of the Try: How Small Wins Build Big Trust
Recognising your horse’s try builds trust and confidence. When you reward curiosity instead of perfection, trust grows naturally. Learn how EquiKinder’s gentle, feel-based approach helps horses build confidence through softness, timing, and understanding. 💜
Freya & Sally (Brumby mare)
★★★★★ “Before working with Lisa, my horse Sally would shut down as her way of coping. She struggled when things got too much or she didn’t know what was being asked of her and would just switch off completely. As a new horse owner, I often felt unsure and worried I wasn’t doing the rightContinueContinue reading “Freya & Sally (Brumby mare)”
Evie & Dodge (6yo Paint gelding)
★★★★★ “Lisa was incredibly kind, professional, and knowledgeable from the very start. My horse has always struggled with farrier visits, especially when it came to picking up his back hooves. By the third session with Lisa, he was calm and cooperative enough for the farrier to trim all four hooves—something I honestly didn’t think we’dContinueContinue reading “Evie & Dodge (6yo Paint gelding)”
Elke & Lola – Session 4.2
Restarting a Sensitive OTTB Mare https://youtu.be/XRZSR8fk1h0 Every time a horse gets curious, every time a human pauses instead of pushing. That’s where the real connection begins. This episode is about slowing down enough to notice those tiny moments that change everything. In this episode, we explore how slowing the work down can create deeper awarenessContinueContinue reading “Elke & Lola – Session 4.2”
Elke & Lola – Session 4.1
Restarting a Sensitive OTTB Mare https://youtu.be/sSvuEqKYHcE Sometimes the most meaningful breakthrough isn’t big or dramatic. It’s the quiet, almost invisible moment when a horse decides to stay with you instead of fleeing. In this session, I witnessed that shift: a choice for calm over fear. This real-time groundwork session takes you inside the messy, thoughtfulContinueContinue reading “Elke & Lola – Session 4.1”
Sally & Freya – Session 7.2
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”
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?
