A Page for Equine Awareness

28/06/2025

💡 Rethinking "Straightness" in Horse Training

For generations, we’ve been taught that a “straight” horse is a well-trained horse balanced, responsive, and supple. But what if we’ve misunderstood what our horses actually need?

New insights remind us that asymmetry is natural, not a flaw. Just like humans are left or right handed, horses have their own motor and sensory preferences. Trying to force them into symmetry, to erase their “crookedness,” might actually create stress, tension, and psychological imbalance.

Instead of fighting their nature, what if we trained with it?

📌 Here’s what the research shows

🔹 Body asymmetry is innate and doesn’t prevent high performance

🔹 Motor laterality increases under a rider’s weight, often to the horse’s preferred side

🔹 Without balanced training, this can lead to long-term issues

🔹 Sensory laterality, like always observing with the left eye, may be a sign of stress or poor welfare

🔹 Forcing straightness may be counterproductive, increasing emotional tension and reducing cooperation

Just as with human athletes, sport horses need to use both sides of their bodies, even if those sides aren’t symmetrical

⚖️ But balance isn’t just left versus right, it’s also longitudinal, between the forehand and hindquarters

💡 And here’s the key: if the horse’s hindquarters aren’t strong enough, attempts to “correct” with the reins may backfire, causing the horse to escape laterally or resist altogether

💪 That’s why:

✅ Strengthening both sides equally

✅ Building up the hindquarters

✅ Using thoughtful, progressive training, not forced postures or premature collection, are all essential to achieving true balance

🚩 Perhaps most importantly, increasing laterality can be a welfare indicator, signalling the need for better housing, handling, or training

📚 In light of recent research, the traditional goal of straightening the horse should be reconsidered

🔸 While body asymmetry is innate, it does not prevent a horse from performing at a high level

🔸 Many methods aimed at achieving straightness, such as using extra equipment or forcing training on the weaker side, can cause stress, tension, and even make the horse uncooperative

🔸 In the worst cases, this can lead to loss of sensitivity and learned helplessness

🌍 In wild horses, motor laterality is balanced

🏠 In domestic horses, factors like age, breed, training, and carrying a rider tend to cause preferences, often to the left

👁️ Horses usually use their left sensory organs first to observe new or potentially threatening situations

⚠️ A strong left bias can signal increased emotionality or stress

📉 Long-term issues in welfare, housing, or training may cause shifts in motor and sensory laterality, linked to pessimistic mentalities

🌱 It’s time to rethink training methods focused solely on straightening and instead prioritize balance over straightness

🏋️‍♂️ If a horse is truly balanced, moving its hindquarters under its center of gravity, it will naturally be straight

🔄 But a horse that is simply “straight” is not necessarily balanced

🧬 Morphological asymmetry and laterality will always exist, but with correct training and muscle development, these can be minimized

💚 Ultimately, for a horse to be relaxed, responsive, and happy, training should focus on both longitudinal and lateral balance, while embracing and accepting the horse’s natural laterality

Let’s shift from forcing perfection to building partnership, for the well-being of every horse

18/06/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1ZDdAyn5mt/

Equitation Science, Ethical Reinforcement, and the Future of Horse Sports with Dr. Andrew McLean Equitation Science International - ESI

In the latest episode of The Horsemanship Breakthroughs Podcast, I’m joined by Dr. Andrew McLean who is a renowned equine academic, author, coach, presenter, and founder of the Australian Equine Behaviour Centre.
We explore key topics such as ethical use of reinforcement, welfare in horse sports, and the future of horse training and management. We also touch on Andrew’s fascinating work with elephants.

Dr. McLean’s career includes winning the Eureka Prize for Science, coaching at elite levels, and riding competitively at high levels in eventing, dressage, and show jumping. He continues to shape the next generation through his contributions to Pony Club Australia's syllabus, and offers a Diploma in Equitation Science for all ages and levels.

🎧Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube. Links for all can be found at:
https://www.amaliadempsey.com/horsemanship-breakthroughs

18/06/2025

💡 Did you know your horse’s movement is controlled by something called a Central Pattern Generator (CPG) in the spine? It’s a fascinating part of your horse’s nervous system, a cluster of nerves inside the spine that plays a huge role in how your horse moves. There are actually two of them, one near the front of the body and one near the back.

What’s really interesting is that the CPG at the front controls the one at the back. That means your horse’s movement is led by the front end, not the hind end like we were often taught. 🐎

This pattern goes way back in evolution. When animals first began moving on land, they used their front limbs to pull themselves forward. We still see this today in newborn animals. For example, baby rats use their front legs to pull themselves around, and baby marsupials use their front limbs to climb into the pouch. That same basic pattern is still wired into your horse’s body.

So why does this matter for us as riders and trainers?

The CPG organizes all of your horse’s gaits walk, trot, canter, and gallop, by using diagonal leg pairs. That means the left front works with the right hind, and the right front works with the left hind. If you notice a problem in a hind leg, it’s often the diagonal front leg that’s actually causing it. That one insight can completely shift the way you approach training, balance, and problem-solving.

And there’s more... Each diagonal pair tends to respond differently to our aids. One may respond better to rein aids, and the other to leg aids. Once you understand how this works, it makes your training feel so much clearer and more effective.

16/06/2025

When horses are denied regular contact with other horses, they can experience increased stress, which may manifest as restlessness, stereotypic behaviours (such as weaving or cribbing), and even health issues like digestive or musculoskeletal problems.

Social isolation has also been linked to heightened anxiety, learning difficulties, and a greater risk of injury, as horses deprived of companionship are more likely to become despondent or withdrawn.
Humans can offer comfort and support to horses during periods of social isolation, but cannot fully substitute for the social bonds horses form with other horses.

A recent (2025) study by Janczarek and colleagues examined this issue by measuring heart rate, heart rate variability, and behavioural responses in 12 horses during brief isolation periods.

The researchers found that even with attentive human support, horses still show physiological and behavioural signs of stress when isolated from other horses. Mares, in particular, remained stressed regardless of the type of human interaction.

Janczarek, I., Gazda, I., Barłowska, J., Kurnik, J., & Łuszczyński, J. (2025). Social Isolation of Horses vs. Support Provided by a Human. Animals

When horses are denied regular contact with other horses, they can experience increased stress, which may manifest as restlessness, stereotypic behaviours (such as weaving or cribbing), and even health issues like digestive or musculoskeletal problems.

Social isolation has also been linked to heightened anxiety, learning difficulties, and a greater risk of injury, as horses deprived of companionship are more likely to become despondent or withdrawn.

Humans can offer comfort and support to horses during periods of social isolation, but cannot fully substitute for the social bonds horses form with other horses.

A recent (2025) study by Janczarek and colleagues examined this issue by measuring heart rate, heart rate variability, and behavioural responses in 12 horses during brief isolation periods.

The researchers found that even with attentive human support, horses still show physiological and behavioural signs of stress when isolated from other horses. Mares, in particular, remained stressed regardless of the type of human interaction.

Janczarek, I., Gazda, I., Barłowska, J., Kurnik, J., & Łuszczyński, J. (2025). Social Isolation of Horses vs. Support Provided by a Human. Animals

15/06/2025

🌿 Have we worked together recently? I’d really appreciate your feedback! 🌿

If you’ve had coaching or training with me and found it helpful, I’d be so grateful if you could take a minute to leave a review on my page. Sharing your experience helps others understand what equitation science-based training is all about—and how it can truly benefit both horse and rider.

💬 You can leave a review here: https://www.facebook.com/equineawareness1/reviews

Thanks so much for your support—it means a lot to me, and it helps keep the welfare-focused, evidence-based approach growing strong. 🐴💛

15/06/2025

Andrew McLean and a team of experts tell us what we need to know about training: “You need to know how to train effectively. Use learning theory appropriately. DOES YOUR TRAINING DEMONSTRATE the appropriate use of the key concepts of learning theory – Habituation, Sensitisation, Operant conditioning, Shaping and Classical Conditioning?”
Hubertus Schmidt and Wansuela Suerte demonstrate: https://www.horsemagazine.com/thm/2022/01/the-ten-commandments/

25/05/2025

Wither scratching benefits in Equitation Science

1. Positive Reinforcement Alternative
Can serve as a non-food reward during training.

Effective especially for horses that are over-motivated by food or have dietary restrictions.

🧪 Scientific support: Studies show that horses respond favourably to tactile rewards like withers scratching, sometimes preferring it over food under certain conditions.

2. Enhances Horse-Human Bond
Mimics social grooming, promoting trust and affiliative behaviour.

Helps horses perceive humans more positively, improving cooperation.

3. Reduces Stress and Anxiety
Associated with a drop-in heart rate and relaxed posture.

Helps horses relax in new or challenging environments (e.g., veterinary visits, trailer loading).

🧪 Feh & de Mazières (1993): Grooming at the withers led to a measurable decrease in heart rate, signalling calmness.

4. Ethical Training Practice
Aligns with equitation science principles: using methods grounded in horse behaviour, cognition, and welfare.

Encourages low-stress, reward-based training, avoiding coercion or punishment.

5. Improved Learning and Retention
Calm horses learn better. By incorporating withers scratching, trainers can help maintain emotional stability, which supports better learning outcomes.

Featured: Katrina Bolmat with Starry

23/05/2025

Disconnecting our feet from the horses' feet aka PARK

"The horse learns to associate the visual stimulus of the handler walking with the persistence of his own go response. This is a maintenance aid, analogous to the effect of the rider’s seat in maintaining the go aid under-saddle. Here we are trying to detrain the tendency of the horse to move forward when we do. Instead, we want him to learn to go only from the lead aid, but then to maintain walking by associating with the handler’s steps. We don’t want him to initiate walking by cues from our movement because there are countless times when we want to move without the horse moving. For example, going around the horse to do up his girth. Removing this confusion can have astounding effects on inducing relaxation. So, try to keep in mind that the first signal the horse should sense is the lead-rein pressure and not your forward movement. Changing an established habit can be difficult, but the benefits for the horse in making his world predictable are huge."

( reference: Academic Horse Training - Andrew & Manuela McLean )

Featured is Katrina Bolmat with Starry Night, Macedon Ranges, VIC
Thanks, Katrina, for the lovely demonstration

27/04/2025

Fun in the sun on the sunny side ☀️ of great dividing range. Featured is a client horse Angel with her owner Katrina Bolmat. Angel ('Holland's Bend Frangelica ), is a 3 year old filly by Fransiskus out of Furstin Grand, bred by Jane & Peter Bartram.

As we have systematically moved along by establishing the basic responses for Stop, Go, Turn and Yield in hand, we have now progressed into under saddle training. This is Angel's 5th ride.


- Step Back -

"The step-back deepens the stop response and provides a fast and effective technique to produce lightness of rein aids. The step back also goes through the shaping scale of basic attempt (a step), obedience (a stride), rhythm (multiple strides), and so on. At rhythm level the step-back converts to a rein-back. Note in the above table that the rider’s legs are not involved in training the step-back response for a single step or stride, but they can function later as an effective ‘keep going’ signal for multiple strides (from rhythm onwards). The rider’s legs maintain contact only; they do not apply pressure at any stage. Only train step-back when the horse is sufficiently relaxed: if the horse is tense, he may rear when the step
back aid is applied."

ASSESSMENT – During immobility, when you increase pressure on the reins, does the horse:
Step backwards at all?
Raise his head?
Go back crookedly?
Run backwards?

( Resource: Academic Horse Training - Andrew and Manuela McLean )

25/04/2025

- A friendly reminder to all about Cancellations, Rescheduling & Weather policies -

While I try to be accommodating with my cancellation policies due to the unpredictable nature of horses, I do require 24-hour notice for cancellations (and reschedules), otherwise, a full lesson fee will be payable. However, if you cannot attend yourself, you may arrange another person to attend on your behalf, either with your horse or another horse. Alternatively, if you wish, I may work with your horse either in hand or under saddle, depending on each client and the circumstance.

All lesson appointments run as per normal during wet weather as long it's safe to do so. In extreme weather such as during storms, heavy rain that makes driving to destination unsafe etc. lessons that run outdoors/indoors will be cancelled.

Happy riding & see you soon 🍂

07/03/2025

Happy snaps with some of the riders & horses @ Macedon Ranges 🐎🐎🐎

If you have found me helpful, please do share a review as it helps people to understand more about the benefits evidence-based practices and what I may be able to offer them 🙏

See you soon

06/02/2025

BASIC RESPONSES

The four basic responses of go, stop, turn and yield underpin all we do with horses, even to the highest level. They become refined and sometimes described in more technical terms, but they still break down to these four fundamental responses.

Take 'higher movements' in dressage as an example. Each higher movement consists of two or more of the four basic responses in a specific sequence.

For example, the components of a Pirouette are:

1. The steps are shortened and collected (stop response)
2. The horse flexes and bends in direction of travel
3. The forelegs turn in the direction of the pirouette (turn response)
4. The hindlegs yield (to a smaller extent) in the direction of the pirouette (yield response).

Therefore, once the basic responses are properly trained, the horse is generally able to perform at least a single step of a movement.
Following this, the movements themselves require gradual shaping so they progress from a step to a stride and so forth.

It follows that when movements fail, trainers should go back to repair faults that will be evident in the basic responses.

( Reference: Equitation Science International - ESI )
Illustration: Janneke Koekhaven