Outback Equines

07/07/2025

The more we listen, the louder the lessons become.

☆ Horses teach us that true connection comes in the quietest moments
☆ Silence holds the key to deeper understanding and trust
☆ The more we slow down, the more we hear—not just from our horses, but from within

At the Online Horse Fair, you’ll meet horsemen and women who understand the power of listening and invite you to explore it for yourself.

🎟️ Come discover the wisdom in the quiet moments → https://www.becauseofthehorse.net/free-ticket

03/07/2025

🧡 We are proud to be partnering with Outback Instincts to deliver vital youth programs in horsemanship and mounted archery that are making a real difference in our region.

The statistics are alarming — it now costs over $1.1 million per year to keep just one child in detention, and yet 75% of those young people reoffend within a year.

Programs like Tools, Trust, Transformation cost a fraction of that — and offer a future.

They give young people purpose, practical skills, trusted mentors, and something too many of them have never had: a sense of belonging.

💡 These programs don't just benefit the individual — they strengthen families, communities, and the rural workforce.

👉 Please LIKE the Outback Instincts page, SHARE their latest post, and help us advocate for the funding and recognition these programs deserve.

Let’s keep kids out of jail, off the streets, and on the land — learning, growing, and contributing to their communities.

01/07/2025

26/06/2025

🐴🔥 Proud Program Provider for Outback Instincts 🔥🐎

At Outback Equines, we’re proud to be delivering the horsemanship and horse archery components of the flagship programs run by Outback Instincts — a dynamic not-for-profit supporting at-risk and disadvantaged youth across the Darling Downs and regional QLD.

These programs are so much more than riding - they’re about confidence, connection, leadership, and life skills. Whether it’s groundwork, bridleless riding, liberty, or learning the art of horse archery, young people in the program are gaining real-world skills, emotional insight, and a sense of belonging through connection with horses.

We’re stoked to partner with Outback Instincts in creating pathways that truly make a difference. 🧡 Their holistic, farm-based approach brings together community partners to deliver cattle handling, land care, therapy dog visits, and more - all grounded in purpose, practical learning, and rural values.

This isn’t just another youth program - it’s a movement. And we’re honoured to bring our horses, knowledge, and heart into the ring.

📣 Want to support, join, or collaborate?
Visit 👉 www.outbackinstincts.org.au

Outback Instincts Ltd

25/06/2025

Can humans really act like herd leaders? And should we try to train horses the way they interact with each other?

Some popular training methods are based on the idea that horses need to “respect” their handlers — often using force, with the excuse that “horses bite and kick each other.”

But this week’s Welfare Wednesday explores what science actually tells us about horse behaviour, and why these dominance-based ideas don’t hold up.

Read the full article via the link in the comments.

24/06/2025

Did you know that we offer a short completely theory based course "How Horses Learn" for riders, coaches, and trainers of all levels and disciplines?

The course provides a thorough introduction to how horses learn, equine ethology, and biomechanics, and is designed to teach the fundamentals of successful horse training. It features interactive elements, animations, and knowledge checks throughout.

Enrolment is quick and easy, and you can begin at any time after payment is processed.

https://esi-education.com/courses/how-horses-learn/

20/06/2025

Happening tomorrow! Our Liberty, Relational & Positive Reinforcement Horsemanship Clinic is almost here — and we can't wait to welcome you.

Join us at our farm here in Gombungee for a day of calm connection, liberty work, and meaningful learning. See you there! 🐴✨

19/06/2025

“Feel is knowing what to do, timing is knowing when to do it” ~ Elsa Sinclair Elsa Sinclair

In the latest episode of The Horsemanship Breakthroughs Podcast, I am joined by Elsa Sinclair- the creator of Taming Wild & Freedom Based Training.

Elsa comes from a family of horse trainers and has had a meandering journey through many different styles of horsemanship until she stumbled on a question that needed exploration: What if horses were given a choice? Would they let us ride them? Without force or tools to control and without bribes to lure them?

I found Elsa to be warm, grounded, positive, and peaceful and I think her journey is very inspiring for anyone who has put deep thought into their horsemanship and how their horse feels.

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

18/06/2025

A horse’s affective state—also understood as their underlying emotional outlook—shapes how they form attachments, learns, and copes with challenges.

Positive affective states promote optimism and curiosity, encouraging horses to try new solutions and engage with their environment.

Negative affective states can lead to pessimism and withdrawal, where a horse may stop seeking solutions to stress or discomfort.

To nurture positive affective states, it’s essential to meet a horse’s core needs:

- Access to high-fibre forage for at least 13 hours daily (no breaks longer than 4 hours)

- Regular exercise

- Social interaction with other horses

- Opportunities for recumbent (lying down) sleep

- Behavioural enrichment

Supporting these needs not only promotes emotional well-being and healthy attachments, but also enhances learning, welfare, and resilience in horses.

17/06/2025

“Horses teach us how to know the yang, but keep to the yin”.

~ Linda Kohanov, author of: The Tao of Equus, Riding Between the Worlds, The Way of the Horse, The Power of the Herd, and The Five Roles of the Master Herder.

Image ©Goran Backman, licensed via Shutterstock. (No re-use/downloading/saving of this image is permitted.)

15/06/2025

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

13/06/2025

Most stable designs allow horses to see each other when standing, but when lying down, other horses are out of view.

This can reduce the horse’s desire to lay down, which leads to a lack REM sleep. It follows, then, that horses who don’t sleep well because they cannot see their mates will be slower to form the habitual responses that trainers desire.

These needs surely speak to the importance of enabling the social needs of horses for optimal management and optimal learning.

This is an excerpt from 'Modern Horse Training: Equitation Science Principles & Practice, Volume 2', a practical blueprint for horse training grounded in the latest equitation science.

Building on the theory outlined in Volume 1, our latest publication translates academic understanding into effective, horse-friendly methods that prioritise welfare and clear communication.

Grab your copy from our website (international shipping available).