Essential Equilibrium

10/12/2024

You don't have to be good to start, but you have to start to be good 🙏🏻

24/11/2024

Absolutely love heading to the Thirza clinics. With the lectures and lessons the brain gets fried but it doesn't disappoint!

Each clinic I walk away with a deeper more in-depth understanding of basics, concepts and techniques.

Looking forward to the 2025 clinic 😀

11/11/2024

Looking forward to my nerd out session with friends this week 😍
If you get the chance I highly recommend going 👌

COMING SOON!
2-DAY MASTERCLASS CLINIC – NOV 13-14TH at KILMORE –

THIRZA HENDRIKS RETURNS TO VICTORIA!

We have a couple of Participant (Horse and Rider) spots available and spectator spots are available.
Dates: 13-14th Nov
Venue: South Serenity Arabians, Kilmore (Kilmore Equestrian Centre)
Schedule: Theory lectures on all three days followed by lessons.
Please contact me if you have any queries.
WHATSAPP: +61 424 630 245
[email protected]
Thirza has an incredible repertoire of skills and knowledge, coming from a background of Politics, Showjumping, Carriage driving, dressage, Equine anatomy, Equine science, Equine neuroscience, Ethology and more.
Thirza is a coach, who utilises her ever-expanding wealth of knowledge to help her clients optimize their connection, and training with their horses.
The masterclass clinics showcase this, and within them, Thirza provides practical sessions in:
Assessment (biomechanical / selecting form to function)
Mobilisation techniques
Brainwork for horses - Breathwork for horses - Groundwork - Work in Hand - Lunging -
Riding - Long Reigning – Cross over training
If a student brings a NEW horse to the course, the first session will always be a FULL assessment regarding load-capacity and trainability of the horse, followed by two practical training sessions.
If you participate with a returning horse, you will receive 3 private training sessions, of which
the first session will also consist of a quick review assessment and introduction of the horse to
any new spectators and then continue into practical training straight away
Check out the event link below to:
Buy Tickets
Download Full brochure
Download Terms and conditions

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21/10/2024

Another fantastic talk brought to us by Emma and shae 🙏🏻 well worth the watch

This is "Jerry Schmidt Natural Balance Dentist - Intro Chat" by Emma Loftus on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

25/09/2024

23/09/2024

Another weekend away learning well spent !!! Louie and I had a great weekend with wonderful friends and people 💕

19/09/2024

LINKS BETWEEN BEHAVIOUR, DISCIPLINE AND GUT HEALTH HAVE BEEN FOUND IN SPORT HORSES

Scientists have been researching the links between gut bacteria and mental health in humans for many years now. Studies have shown that people with depression have consistently low levels of some gut microbes. This has led to new treatments for mental health disorders based on probiotics that boost the levels of “good” bacteria in the intestines.

Equine scientists have looked at the link between gut health and the behaviour, management and discipline of horses. They have found that behaviours indicated in poor welfare – such as stereotypies and aggression – are linked to the composition of their gut bacteria.

The researchers took blood and faecal samples from 185 sport horses that had similar management conditions. They assessed 41 factors – ranging from the horse’s age, s*x, diet, behaviour, bedding, housing and ridden discipline to their physiological status including parasite levels and faecal pH.

46% of the horses were trained for dressage, 25% were showjumpers and 25% eventers. 30% of the horses were used for Gala and Cadre Noir displays.

The findings identified that equitation factors (ie. the horse’s ridden discipline or speciality) were associated with differences in gut microbiota, indicating a relationship between gut health and the levels of physical and mental stressors the horse was subject to.

Behaviours related to mental distress, including hypervigilance and oral stereotypies, were also related to the composition of the faecal microbiota in the horses.

The researchers commented, “In our study, the prevalence of stress was believed to be higher in horses that were trained for dressage and jumping, as most of them were elite athletes that travelled to international competitions, trained many hours per day, five days a week, for several weeks without taking time off from intense training."

I find it extremely concerning that the behaviour assessment showed that ‘the expression of both oral and locomotion-related stereotypies was observed in 17% of the individuals, whilst 99% of the individuals were experiencing unresponsiveness to the environment (the so-called withdrawn posture) at least once within the eight-month period. Hypervigilance was observed in 75% of our individuals, whereas aggressiveness was observed in 43% of our horses.’ These are serious welfare issues! Why on earth are these horses being managed in such a way that they are performing so many stress-related behaviours? Are the caretakers of these horses not seeing these problems? It’s so worrying that basic behavioural science is still not reaching – or influencing – the competition world.

I hope this study will spark an interest in improving welfare for horses via their management and training. However I fear it may lead to supplement companies producing a wider range of probiotics as a solution to equine stress...

This is a fascinating study and well worth reading in full. You can read it here: Priming for welfare: gut microbiota is associated with equitation conditions and behavior in horse athletes’. Mach, N., Ruet, A., Clark, A. et al. Sci Rep 10, 8311 (2020).

19/09/2024

🥽 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗢𝗳𝗳 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘂𝗴𝗮𝗿 & 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗚𝗼𝗴𝗴𝗹𝗲𝘀

💡 A topic that has been playing on my mind a little too much lately is feeding the laminitic or metabolic horse and how scarily contradictory it can become. In recent years, there has been a real shift of the spotlight towards sugar and starch and how they influence the laminitic or metabolic equine, and rightly so. What has become a little frustrating and confusing for some people simply trying to do the right thing by their horse, is the tunnel vision marketing focus on how low in sugar and starch certain feeds or supplements are, without any consideration or education offered to the other nutritional aspects that may influence how well a laminitic or metabolic horse responds. If you are thinking something along the lines of "is sugar and starch not the only thing to consider?!" then I encourage you to keep reading.

🌽 Sugar and Starch.

Yes, sugar and starch and grain-free compositions are absolutely a vital aspect of feeding and managing the laminitic or metabolic equine. Feeds that are tested at less than 10% combined sugar and starch are considered 'safe' for this category of horse. Even if featured in low concentrations, any cereal grain or grain by-product is worth avoiding for laminitic or metabolic horses as ingredient sensitivity despite low overall sugar and starch percentages can still be enough to tip some highly sensitive horses into a symptomatic state.

🤔 Okay so we've talked about sugar and starch.. so what else is there to consider?

🫘 Protein.

Not much is known about why protein can be a trigger for some laminitic or metabolic horses, but it absolutely can be. This is why I don't recommend lucerne or lupins as 'safe' for actively laminitic horses because despite being less than 10% combined sugar and starch, the protein seems to be an issue for some horses to digest and utilise without consequence. Sadly, there are countless times where I have been involved with an actively laminitic horse who is being fed a < 10% sugar and starch "complete" feed but is still symptomatic and not improving. The reason is almost always because of the high protein concentration OR inflammatory ingredients that are hidden amongst the ingredient list. If the protein % is higher than around 15% and the ingredient profile lists anything other than beet pulp, soy hulls, or lupin hulls, I can say with certainty that I would not recommend this feed to an actively laminitic or symptomatic horse.

⚖️ Digestible Energy.

Implementing "complete" feeds for laminitic or metabolic horses almost always means that the recommended daily feed rate ranges from 500g-3kg per day. If the horse is underweight, these calories wouldn't be an issue, however many laminitic and metabolic horses suffer from obesity and feeding anything more than a token meal for supplements would be incredibly counterproductive regardless of the sugar and starch concentration. Even when they are fed at the recommended daily feed rate, more "complete" feeds than not do not have fantastic nutrient profiles and it's not hard to imagine how easy it would be to onset deficiencies if we begin feeding less than the recommended daily feed rate to control calorie intake.

💠 Trace Element Profile.

A lot of "complete" feeds and supplements list an everything-but-the-kitchen-sink nutrient analysis which to the uneducated eye may sound great. In reality, when we are targeting hoof and metabolic health, these profiles often do not come close to stacking up when compared against the therapeutic servings that are necessary to support better hoof growth, coat colour, metabolism, muscle recovery etc. "Complete" feeds are rarely complete, I'm sorry.

🐎 I am really passionate about offering practical, current, and science-supported information resources such as this one. Sadly, a lot of feed companies have taken advantage of the sugar and starch hype in recent years and we all seem to have forgotten about the other dietary components that support our horses' health. Remember, there is no industry regulation stopping me from handing you a bag of corn and telling you it's laminitis-friendly, so just because it says it's laminitis-safe, complete, calming, low in starch etc., does not mean that it actually is. And lastly, horses do not need to be overweight to develop laminitis or metabolic issues, so don't assume that your ribby Thoroughbred or lean Welshy is safe by default!

28/08/2024

Intention is more important than giving aids.

On occasion I've had people mention that some of the aids I use are very similar to each other and ask how the horse knows the difference.

The answer is simple. Your intention is much more profound then your aids.

The secret is to be "mindful" not have your "mind full".
When working with animals, or even people, I feel it's important to be in that moment, not in the past or the present.

The more we are able to train our minds to be in the present the less we experience emotions of worry, anxiety, stress etc. Leaving more space for possibility and energy exchange. I know myself before I teach a clinic I was always get nervous, sometimes to the point where I cant sleep much the night before a clinic. I think its just a little self doubt kicking in- however as soon as the first lesson begins my mind is only in that moment, in that lesson, and all my worries dissapear.

Our horses dont speak our language, however they are very intune with the energy of other horses and another being. Ive written previously about our horses being a mirror of ourselves. If I go into the paddock an anxious mess, the energy feild around me is full of those same icky anxious vibes. As soon as my own energy feild overlaps with the energy feild of my horse they feel what I'm feeling.

Friends of mine who use to run a lot of psychic development and animal communication classes had a sign at their gate that said, "leave your s**t at the gate". Meaning, clear your mind of everything you did yesterday or have to do tomorrow and leave space for new experiences.

Our intuition becomes much stronger as we are better able to regulate our own nervous system and become truly present in the moment.
Dr Joe Dispenza has proven that meditation can and does alter brain wave frequencies- You can train your brain to "slow down" and be more present. If you practice this regularly not only does your intuition improve, your intention becomes more clear and you attract more of what you want into your life. People who practice mindfulness experience better health and more joy.

When working with horses, intention means having a clear image in your mind of what you are aiming to achieve together.
It's something that I've been using alot with Nova as we nagivate this journey together.
Before i touch her anywhere; say for instance I am going to place my hand on her neck. I first picture myself touching her on the neck.

By picturing what you are about to do, you have already emptied your brain of thoughts of yesterday and tomorrow, bringing yourself back to the present moment. In simply doing this your body sheds itself of the anxiety which causes tension, meaning your energy and your body language will be clear and more precise.

Animals are much better at subtle communication then us. Once we can learn to become more mindful, our intention and energy align. We can then develop a "feel". A feel is like a knowing. A knowing of:

*the best time to ask
*the best thing to do in that moment
*when its almost becoming too much for the horse
*when its ok to ask for more
*when the horse needs time to process.

The best horse trainer is not the person who can recite the textbook or get something done the fastest.
The best trainer is the one who can best understand and communicate subtly to the horse.

18/08/2024

12/08/2024

What is the optimal number of improved or correct repetitions for efficient learning?

New neural pathways cannot sustain repeated stimulation due to the massive oxygen and glucose demands of brain tissue and their lack of maturation. Thus, training presents a dilemma: while more repetitions can consolidate learning, excessive repetitions may lead to a decline in learning and welfare.

However, it is known that in naïve animals, learning can begin to manifest after a few repetitions (Skinner, 1938). This suggests that trainers should terminate practice after eliciting three to five consecutive correct, improved, or corrected responses.

Although it is an age-old maxim in horse training to always "end on a good note," it is likely more efficient to conclude with a short series of correct or improved responses.

- A passage from Equitation Science, 2nd Edition. Andrew McLean, Paul McGreevy, Janne Whinther Christensen & Uta König von Borstel.

06/08/2024

I sure have the 2 halves of my personality in my boys 😍
I love this and also believe horses come to us for a reason 🙏🏻 it's never by accident, always lessons to learn, even if it takes time to see

🪞Your horse is your mirror🪞

I believe our horses are with us for a reason, be it to help us learn, to help us heal, or for us to help them in some way.

Some are with us for a long time, some only passing through. Very rarely do they come to us by accident, even if we are simply a half way house on their way to where they need to be.

Our horses are a mirror of ourselves in more ways than one.
Their physical, emotional and mental state can also paint a picture of who we are as their carers and partners.

Have you ever had anyone tell you that you have a "type" when it comes to the horses you own?

~Maybe you have a paddock full of assertive mares and you yourself always say what you are thinking aloud.

~Maybe all of your horses have high anxiety and you struggle with confidence.

~Maybe you have a paddock full of rescues and a very kind heart. You know what it's like to have experienced much heart ache in your life.

~Or maybe each of your horses are very different but all have aspects of their personalities, that are a reflection of who you are?

At the moment I seem to be going through a period of having horses who require bucket loads of processing time, patience and alot of thinking outside of the box.
This is true also in my everyday life. Shining a light on my need to allow life to be what it is and to be content within the journey and not always focused on the end goal.

Ive always been of the mindset that if I just work really hard at something and never give up I will achieve what I want. This is true in many ways, however I'm learning that it is just as important to find patience in letting things be.
Also, to be open to all the ways in which something can happen. Meaning instead of being focused on a "goal" looking a certain way, being open to all the ways in which achieving a "goal" can look like.

Next time you spend time with your horse, take notice of his/ her behaviours, good or bad and ask yourself, why?
Is this behaviour in some way a mirror of yourself, your own personality?
Is there an opportunity for learning?
Is the horse mirroring to you something within yourself that needs healing?
Or maybe its your duty to help your horse in some way.

Once we begin to change and grow as people. The animals, people and situations around us also begins to change. Along with our perceptions of our own reality.

Australian Brumby Challenge
Inside Out Equine Health
The Horsemen Collective
Wilmont Equestrian