We’ve all seen it: your horse is turned out in the pasture, tail flagged high, cantering across the field like they’re auditioning for the next Black Beauty movie. Their movement is big, expressive, and seemingly effortless. They buck, they leap, they gallop — and you think, “They look amazing!”

Then you bring them into the arena, saddle up, and suddenly… it’s a different story.
They feel resistant to moving forward.
They stumble or trip in certain spots.
They break gait, hollow their back, or struggle to maintain canter in one direction.

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There are days in this work that are pure joy.

The first sound of hoofbeats on grass after months of slow, careful rehab.
The soft sigh of a horse relaxing under gentle hands as tension melts away.
The moment an eye, once dulled by pain or hardship, regains that sparkle that tells you, I feel safe here.

These are the days that fill your chest with lightness and make every early morning and late night worth it.

And then there are the other days.

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When most people think of a lame horse, they picture the obvious: a head bob, a shortened stride, or a clear reluctance to bear weight on one leg.
But the truth is, by the time a horse is that visibly lame, the problem has often been developing for weeks — or even months (unless its an abscess)

Horses are prey animals. In the wild, showing weakness could be a death sentence. Even in the safety of a barn, that instinct to hide discomfort runs deep. It’s not just stoicism — it’s survival. And for us as caregivers, that means subtle lameness can go unnoticed until it has progressed into something far more serious.

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For most of my horse life, riding was the goal.
If I wasn’t in the saddle, I felt like I wasn’t really doing anything with my horses.

Then Immy came into my life.

She was a bright, gentle mare with a big heart—but due to her physical issues, riding wasn’t an option for her. I knew that our relationship would have to be built entirely on groundwork, connection, and shared time.

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When I talk about giving horses more consent and choice in their training and care, some people picture a horse running wild in a field, doing whatever they want, while the human stands by helplessly.

Others imagine a total lack of boundaries, zero structure, and no plan for what happens if an emergency occurs.

That’s not what consent-based horsemanship is. At all.

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Horsemanship Isn’t About Winning or Losing

I often hear people say, “I can’t let the horse win.”

Usually, it’s said when a horse resists, hesitates, or says “no” to something we’ve asked. The fear is that if we don’t push through, we’re somehow losing control—or teaching the horse they can “get away with” something.

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Somewhere along the way, the idea of “leadership” got tangled up with “being the boss.”

In the human world, we’ve seen it in workplaces, politics, and even family dynamics—the belief that to lead, you have to control, out-muscle, or dominate others.

The same belief crept into horsemanship. For years, “being a good leader” around horses was often equated with “show them who’s boss” or “make them respect you.” But dominance and leadership are not the same thing—and confusing the two can damage trust and connection.

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It’s OK to be bad at something

It's normal to be bad at something when it's new

Somewhere along the way, many of us picked up the idea that if we can’t do something well right away, we’re failing or that thing isn't right for us.

But here’s the truth: whether you’re learning a new skill yourself—or helping a horse learn something unfamiliar—being a beginner is supposed to feel awkward. You’re not doing it wrong. You’re just… new.

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When most people think about consent, they think about human-to-human interactions.

I've even heard people argue that animals are incapable of giving consent. (This is just WILD to me)

But here’s the thing—horses can, and should, have a voice in their own care.

In physical therapy and bodywork, we’re often asking a horse to experience sensations that may be new, intense, or even uncomfortable.

We might need to handle sensitive areas, encourage unfamiliar stretches, or guide them through challenging therapeutic exercises. If we ignore their signals and push through no matter what, we risk creating tension, anxiety, or defensive behaviors—none of which support healing.

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Positive reinforcement training is an incredibly valuable tool in the world of animal behavior, veterinary care, and equine rehabilitation. While historically associated with the training of marine mammals, dogs, and zoo animals, it is now gaining robust traction in equine practice.

Understanding the theoretical underpinnings of positive reinforcement and its practical applications in veterinary and therapeutic settings requires a look at the science of learning and behavior.

This article explores the history and science of positive reinforcement training, its integration into equine contexts, and how it can be applied to improve outcomes in veterinary procedures, cooperative care, and physical therapy and rehabilitation for horses.

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