Purely Positive Training

06/06/2025

"The advantage of the walk is that it is the slowest gait and all four legs are evenly spaced in time." Andrew McLean

Modern Horse Training: Equitation Science Principles & Practice, Volume 2 is available for purchase the ESI website.

04/06/2025

03/06/2025

“Kindness is a language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.”

This timeless quote resonates deeply with Dr. Andrew McLean’s groundbreaking approach to animal training. As an award-winning equine scientist, trainer, and speaker, Andrew has dedicated his life to proving that kindness and understanding are at the heart of effective communication with animals.

In this inspiring episode of Horse Chats, Andrew shares his journey from pioneering equine behaviour research to applying his innovative methods with elephants in Nepal. Discover the power of learning theory in animal training, insights from decades of coaching and riding at the highest level, and how science and compassion come together to create lasting change.

Listen now to learn how kindness isn’t just a philosophy—it’s a powerful training tool.
https://horsechats.com/andrewmclean/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0dkqn8KHYTySXQHtZTcvqb?si=mCL9xU1iTwmleUgd9BR8JA

Youtube: https://youtu.be/NxuJBWMeDQM?si=XkJOH1t4mtjWbQWh

07/05/2025

𝗧𝗿𝗼𝘁 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗲𝘀

To negotiate trot poles sucessfully requires increased momentum, flexion of all the limb joints, power and spring.

Trot poles encourage your horse to push equally from behind, and are an excellent exercise for developing an equal stride length and for improving symmetry, straightness and coordination.

𝗦𝗲𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝟭.𝟮 - 𝟭.𝟳𝗺 𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁

07/05/2025

A recent publication in the Journal of Equine Rehabilitation details the validation of the Equine Quality of Movement Score (EQoMS), a new outcome measure designed to bring greater consistency and transparency to the clinical assessment of equine movement quality

Unlike traditional visual assessments, which are often subjective and inconsistent, the EQoMS aims to provide a more reliable and transparent way to evaluate aspects such as gait, symmetry, biomechanics, motor control, and behavioural indicators of discomfort or willingness.

The tool was created to help equine industry professionals monitor changes over time, detect subtle movement dysfunctions, and support evidence-based decision-making in equine care.

But how reliable is it?

Six expert assessors-three specialist equine veterinarians and three equine physiotherapists-scored video footage of 20 horses performing a battery of 30 in-hand movement tests using the EQoMS.

The study found excellent intra-rater agreement, meaning individual assessors were highly consistent in their scoring across two rounds separated by two weeks.

When it came to ranking horses by movement quality, there was moderate-to-strong consensus among assessors - though they often disagreed on the absolute scores assigned to each horse.

Notably, specialist veterinarians tended to give higher scores and focus more on lameness, while physiotherapists gave lower scores and commented more on pain, balance, and muscle activity.

Assessors’ free-text comments also revealed a tendency toward negative observations, with different features emphasised depending on gait, movement figure, and surface.

A.G. Bowen, G. Tabor, R. Labens, M. Douglas, H. Randle,
The Equine Quality of Movement Score: How reliable is it?,
Journal of Equine Rehabilitation, Volume 3, 2025

03/05/2025

03/05/2025

The Nuchal Ligament - one of the most important structures in the horse's body

It's a strong, elastic, rope-like ligament that is made from fibrous material with a relatively poor blood supply. It runs from the poll to the top of the spinous processes at the withers.

The nuchal ligament has several major functions, including:
🔹 Helping to support the weight of the head and neck, holding it in position
🔹 Acting as an energy saving device for reducing the amount of muscular effort needed to support the head and neck
🔹 Allowing the head and neck to be raised & lowered
🔹 Restraining and stabilising the movement of the spinous processes at the highest point of the withers
🔹 Maintaining the correct alignment of the cervical vetebrae

The nuchal ligament has 2 parts
1. The funicular part - 2 parallel cords that run along the nuchal crest from the occipital bone to the top of the spinous processes at the withers.
2. The lamellar part - made up of finger-like projections that run from the funicular cord to the tops of the cervical neck vertebrae below it.

The nuchal ligament continues as the supraspinous ligament, linking the tops of each vertebral spinous process from the withers to the end of the sacrum.

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02/05/2025

01/05/2025

Welfare Wednesday: How Grazing Setups Affect Pony Behaviour and Wellbeing 🌱

A recent study published in the Equine Veterinary Journal explored how two common grazing systems—strip grazing and track systems—influence the behaviour and welfare of ponies.

As many owners look for ways to manage weight and prevent obesity, grazing restriction is often recommended. But what does this mean for horse behaviour and mental wellbeing?

📋 What the study found:

▪️Ponies on track systems moved more each day and showed fewer signs of social conflict (like chasing or threats).

▪️Ponies on strip grazing moved less and showed more conflict behaviours, possibly due to the layout or competition for resources.

▪️This was despite both systems offering the same amount of accessible grass.

⚠️ The study lasted just four weeks, so we don’t know the long-term effects—but the findings suggest that how we set up grazing spaces can influence both physical activity and social harmony.

Read the full study here:
https://beva.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/evj.14411

29/04/2025

Historically my horse training ability hasn't been too dissimilar to my cooking skills... Mostly passable but when things start to go south - I'd just throw a whole heap of s**t at the wall and hope something sticks 😳

Sometimes I'd reach for clicker training, other times it was flags and yanky leads... it was the horsey equivalent of adding salt or a s**t tonne of chilli to try and rescue a meal 🤷‍♀️

I didn't understand the process... I just knew that it had occasionally worked in the past.

Studying Equitation Science over the last few years has really helped me not just to solve problems.. but also to understand why they arise in the first place.

I'm currently completing my final assignment and as you can see from this screenshot - I'm still light years from having it all worked out....

However, I have really relished working through the course.

Lord knows I've dabbled in a LOT of approaches and I love this one because it boils down to a lot more than one person's system or trying to mimic their feel or instinct.

It's a nerdy, evidence based method that uses learning theory and behavioral science to improve training outcomes in a very, very methodical manner

The next intake is closing in a few days - so if you're keen, go stalk the Equitation Science International - ESI page.

*Wearily I must add, this is not an incentivised post... I've received no discounts, no under the table cashies.. and SADLY not even a few extra marks added to my recent assignments 🙄😆

I've shared this because I think Equitation Science is wonderful step in the right direction for horse welfare 🙏

https://www.facebook.com/equitationscienceinternational

29/04/2025