Horses don’t come into this world understanding our rules.
They don’t instinctively know they shouldn’t mug your pockets for treats, crowd the gate, pull on the lead rope, or swing their hindquarters toward us.
Instead, they learn what’s safe, what’s rewarding, and what to avoid based on how we handle them.
Read MoreWe live in a world that thrives on instant gratification.
Coffee in two minutes. Groceries in an hour. Deliveries overnight.
Without even realizing it, we sometimes bring that same expectation to our horses — expecting results to match our schedules rather than the horse’s biology.
When a horse gets injured, sore, or develops a movement problem, it’s natural to hope there’s a single adjustment, treatment, or exercise that will “fix” it. One bodywork session, one trim, one dental float — and we imagine they’ll be back to 100% by next week.
Read MoreWe’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.
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.
Read MoreWhen 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.
Read MoreFor 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.
Read MoreWhen 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.
Read MoreHorsemanship 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.
Read MoreSomewhere 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.
Read MoreIt’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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