Category: Young Horse Training

We take so many behaviours our horses give us for granted! Take standing still whilst tied up for one… How many of you give these behaviours much thought, if any at all!? Its just something we do – right? Pop a headcollar on, bring them in from the field, tie them outside their stable on […]

The Half Pass The Half Pass is when the horse moves diagonally forwards with a small amount of flexion towards the direction they’re travelling. The forehand can be very slightly ahead of the hindquarters. The purpose of this exercise in classical training is to develop the strength of the horses’ outside hind leg. Conventional Classical […]

Weather can have an adverse effect on our horses, especially when we are training with potentially threatening stimuli. Windy weather causes them to be generally more hypervigilent and therefore ultimately more anxious and reactive as a result of their vision and hearing being less less reliable for detecting potential threats/predators. I often class adverse weather […]

Weather can have an adverse effect on our horses, especially when we are training with potentially threatening stimuli. Windy weather causes them to be generally more hypervigilent and therefore ultimately more anxious and reactive as a result of their vision and hearing being less less reliable for detecting potential threats/predators. I often class adverse weather […]

I place HUGE emphasis and focus on touch acceptance within my programme both inside The Academy as well as in my one to one coaching. Here’s why… Many horses don’t actually enjoy being touched or scratched by humans due to unpleasant or even painful classical associations which have been paired with human touch due to […]

I think one of the most wonderful outcomes of training with appetitives and positive reinforcement is the sense of empowerment it gives the learner. As Dr Susan Friedman explains – control over our environment is a primary reinforcer, and giving the animal control (as we do when using +R) develops their self confidence beyond all imagination – […]

Horses are prey animals, their flight instinct hardwired in them. To flee is their first line of defence to ensure survival against potential threats and predators. However, they do need to lie down flat to gain their required REM (dream) sleep, which obviously puts them at great risk during these times, since it significantly lowers […]

  So you’ve read some articles and blogs on the Internet about Clicker Training and it really is sounding like the most incredible way to teach your horse what you’d like him to do! You decide to buy yourself a clicker and a bum bag, fill your pouch with grass nuts and head out to the barn to give […]

So many horse owners struggle as a result of their horses suffering with, often severe, separation distress. Not only is it very distressing for the horse, it can often result in them performing very dangerous behaviour, never mind the fact that it renders any communication virtually impossible without needing to use force and escalating aversives when they are experiencing such […]

Inside the Academy of Positive Horsemanship, you can learn a clear, science-based positive training approach for both you and your horse. Ultimately, this results in mutual understanding and relationships based on trust. That trust and communication that you will both develop together allows the creation of a supple, balanced, willing and very responsive riding partner. […]