Horse Sense with Janine Clarke

24/01/2025

Sharing the full video of Bo (AKA King Kong) showcasing some beautiful liberty work in the sunshine! 🌞 This horse is not only visually stunning but also incredibly interesting and challenging to work with. His intelligence, strong will, and definite “why should I?” attitude make him one of the most fascinating horses I’ve ever worked with. I’m convinced he must’ve been a physics professor in a past life! 🧠🐴

22/12/2024

🔥 Horse Preparation for Bushfires 🔥

Our hearts go out to everyone affected by the fires across the country. With this week, particularly Boxing Day, predicted to be hazardous, I wanted to share important tips for preparing your beloved horses during bushfire season.

Having lived in a high-risk area (Toolangi) and experienced multiple fire seasons, including Black Saturday, I’ve learned firsthand the importance of preparation.

Key Tips for Horse Safety:

🌟 Plan Ahead

* If your area is high-risk and your property isn’t well-prepared for fire survival, consider moving your horses a day before the danger period.
* Roads can be shut off during fires, and loading horses under stress increases risks for both you and them.

🌟 If Keeping Horses on the Property

1. Provide Space to Move:

* Open all internal paddocks so they can move freely. Horses instinctively run through the fire front to safety on the other side.

2. Reduce Fuel Risks:

* Ensure grass is very low, or keep them in surfaced areas like arenas.
* Flames can be double the height of the fuel, and burnt hooves are a risk if they run through fire.

3. Remove Flammable Items:

* Take off rugs, halters, and fly masks, as these can ignite.
* Plait manes and tails to reduce the risk of them catching fire (leave the forelock down to assist with flies).

4. Keep Them Contained:

* Do not open external gates.
* Loose horses on roads during fires are at significant risk of being hit by cars due to poor visibility.

5. Identification:

* Write your mobile number on their hooves with a marker so they can be identified if needed.

6. Provide Water:

* Ensure plenty of water is available for them.

Stay Safe

I truly hope you won’t need these guidelines, but it’s always better to be prepared. Stay safe, and let’s protect our horses and ourselves during this concerning period.

Feel free to share this post—it could help someone in need. 🐴💛

Janine & The Horse Sense Team

Send a message to learn more

18/12/2024

🎄 Wishing You Peace, Joy, and Horsey Happiness This Christmas! 🎄

As the year wraps up, we want to thank you for your incredible support and the privilege of being part of your journey with your horse.

🎯 Important Dates to Remember:

Last Day of 2024: I’ll be working up until and including 24th December 2024.
First Day Back in 2025: Lessons will resume on 3rd January 2025.
Next Clinic: 18th January 2025 – Save the date and book in!

📢 What’s New for 2025?

✨ More Clinics & Workshops – At least one per month to deepen your knowledge and enhance your learning experience in a supportive, like-minded community.
✨ Roll out of the Float Road Show - be sure to inquire about this to be part of it!! It's going to be amazing.
✨ Next Clinic Date – Mark your calendars for 18th January 2025 and book in if you haven't already! Fence-sitters welcome :)
✨ Price Update and New Cancellation Policy – To help keep things running smoothly for everyone, cancellations with less than 24 hours’ notice will incur a small fee.
✨ And more surprises in store.

✨ Here’s to a Safe & Happy Holiday Season!

May your New Year be filled with horsey dreams coming true. I can’t wait to help you achieve your goals and take your partnership with your horse to new heights in 2025.

Warm regards,

Janine & The Horse Sense Team

PS If you didn’t receive our email with full details, feel free to send us your email address, and we’ll ensure you’re kept in the loop! 🌟

09/12/2024

🌟Float Loading Roadshow 🌟

🚛🐴 Ready to Hit the Road with Your Horse?

Are you stuck at home, unable to pursue your dreams with your horse because float loading feels like an impossible challenge? You’re making great progress at home, but the moment it’s time to go somewhere, everything grinds to a halt. Sound familiar?

This workshop is for you!

We’re seeking expressions of interest for this practical and transformative workshop to be held early in the new year. Simply message us to express your interest, and we’ll send you a form to gather details about your float loading challenges, horse profile, location, and preferred days/times. Fence sitters are welcome to reach out too—don’t miss this chance to get unstuck!

What to Expect:

Book a spot for you and your horse, and we’ll schedule a stop at your location as part of our roadshow. Each stop will be tailored to address specific challenges and individual needs, covering:

* The psychology behind float loading and how to approach it effectively.

* Practical strategies to ensure your horse is mentally and emotionally ready to load.

* Solutions to create stress-free and safe loading and travel experiences.

Janine, an experienced equine behaviour and human development coach, has spent over 20 years helping hundreds of horse owners overcome their float loading challenges. Inspired by her early struggles with her Arab, Yeman—a brave but terrified traveller and scrambler—Janine gained invaluable insight into the fears and complexities horses face when it comes to float loading. Pictured below is Yeman being loaded willingly and calmly by Janine’s son (Dec) at age 5, a testament to her transformative methods. With her expertise, Janine will guide you toward creating lasting change and achieving freedom for both you and your horse.

Let’s make float loading a smooth, stress-free experience so you can get back on the road to achieving your equestrian goals!

📩 Message us now to express your interest and take the first step towards stress-free travel with your horse!

08/12/2024

Celebrating a Superstar Student!

I want to give a big shout-out to one of my superstar students, Yvette, and her incredible mum, Sarah Windsor! I first met them at a Pony Club rally where I was teaching, and they were facing significant challenges with their Standardbred OTT, Dude.

The issues they were dealing with were frustrating, dangerous, and included (but weren’t limited to) float refusal, biting, kicking during saddling and rugging, losing focus and reacting to other horses, rearing, and becoming emotionally unhinged at rallies to the point where Yvette couldn’t ride. Despite ruling out pain and illness, they felt stuck and unsure of how to move forward.

It became clear to me very quickly that Dude was displaying dominant behaviors and testing their leadership, but much of it stemmed from a deep-seated anxiety. This combination had created some dangerous patterns that were feeding into a cycle of frustration and fear, affecting everyone’s confidence.

Over time, I worked closely with Yvette, Sarah (an amazing Pony Club mum who even took lessons while Yvette was in a plaster cast!), and Dude. Together, we built trust, improved communication, and addressed the root causes of the behaviors. The transformation has been incredible!

A couple of weeks ago, Yvette had a fantastic Pony Club rally, and this morning, Sarah shared some even better news: at their Christmas rally yesterday, Yvette and Dude shone brightly! They successfully participated in jumping, a dress-up competition, and even walked away with the Horsemanship Award!

I couldn’t be prouder of this team. Their hard work, resilience, and big hearts have paid off in the most wonderful way. Congratulations, Yvette, Sarah, and Dude—you are an inspiration to everyone! 🎉🐴

Keep up the amazing work! ❤️

01/12/2024

Building Confidence and Courage with Obstacles Clinic – Recap

What an incredible day of fun and learning we had at yesterday's Building Confidence and Courage with Obstacles clinic!

All the students were outstanding in stepping out of their comfort zones, navigating both the planned and unplanned obstacles with courage and determination. Through these challenges, they developed the skills to stay calm and access the solution-oriented side of their minds, helping their equine partners become confident and courageous prey animals.

Key Takeaways:

• Confidence vs. Desensitization: Understanding how building confidence creates a great horse, while desensitization, when overused, can undermine their trust, willingness and cause them to shut down. Sensitivity in a horse is a strength when harnessed well.

• The Horse as a Mirror: Exploring how our horses reflect our emotions and energy—and how this concept can empower us.

• Unconventional Approaches: Learning to do the opposite of what feels natural (and is often taught) to achieve remarkable results—a relaxed and willing equine partner.

• Mindfulness & Psychology: Using a mindful and psychological approach for both horse and rider.

• Imagination & Fun: Embracing creativity to make experiences and developing your partnership enjoyable and purposeful for both you and your horse.

• Magnetism to Obstacles: Discovering how to create a positive draw to an object (jumps, noodle washes, floats, etc.) rather than resistance.

Congratulations to everyone Sandra Cornell, Angelina Van der Horstt, Emma Tew, Lainie Sadler Martino, Wendles King, Michelle Fletcher —you were a pleasure to teach! 😊

That wraps up clinics for this year but stay tuned for more exciting opportunities in the new year. Our first clinic is tentatively scheduled for 18/01/2025—I’d love to hear your topic requests! 🐴💜

24/11/2024

I love getting updates like these from my students 🥰👏💜🐴

11/11/2024

Just sharing some snapshots from our recent 3 Cs clinic on the 2nd! I’m thrilled to share that the clinic exceeded both my expectations and those of the participants, which was truly rewarding. The new content I’ve been developing over the past few years resonated well, with the delivery proving to be a great success.

The level of engagement, participation, and feedback from all attendees was outstanding. Everyone enjoyed the blend of theory, simulations on feel and communication, and the practical application. Horsemanship is such a broad and enriching study that extends beyond the arena—it’s a philosophy for life. Who better than our horses to teach us to be better leaders, communicators, and connectors? By building confidence and empowerment within ourselves, we naturally pass this along to our equine partners.

I’m incredibly excited by the reception of this clinic and am already looking forward to sharing more new topics. Keep an eye out for future clinic dates and come experience this unique opportunity for growth, learning, and connection—for both you and your horse!

07/10/2024

🌟The 3 C’s Clinic: Communication, Connection, and Confidence🌟

Ready to take your horsemanship to the next level? Whether you're just starting out or are an experienced rider, this clinic will unlock the secret to an amazing partnership with your horse, no matter what your riding pursuits are!

🎯 Tailored Just for You: This isn’t a cookie-cutter clinic! We’ll tailor each session to meet your specific needs, experience, and goals—ensuring a safe, progressive experience for everyone. Groundwork or saddle time will be personalized to your journey.

💬 Communication: Discover how to speak your horse’s language—building trust, respect, and willingness. Effective communication is the game-changer that will help you reach your goals. Learn to listen (read your horse) and be heard (ask or respond) by your horse. Communication is the foundation for a successful relationship.

🔗 Connection: Create a deep mental and emotional bond. Teach your horse to focus on you - not distractions, fears or their environment. You’ll develop a "bubble of safety" where you become the trusted leader, and your horse is more in tune with you.

💪 Confidence: Confidence is vital, both for you and your horse. Often, it’s the missing piece in a partnership that unlocks real progress. In this clinic, you’ll learn to engage with true certainty, and recognise when to step back. Together, you and your horse will develop the confidence to handle any situation with ease.

📍 Where: Mt Evelyn Pony Club Grounds
📅 When: 2nd November 2024 | 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
💸 Cost: $180 Early Bird (pay by 21st October) | $210 Regular

About Janine
With over 20 years of experience, Janine has trained hundreds of horses and students, constantly expanding her expertise in equine and human psychology, behaviour, learning and development. She holds a Diploma in Training and Assessment and Cert III Equine Studies, and has studied under top horsemen, completing numerous specialised Horse Development and instructor courses.
Janine’s methods are kind, intuitive, holistic and transformative. Known for her empathetic and encouraging approach, she has a gift for bringing out the best in every horse-human partnership empowering them to achieve more than they thought possible. Her mission? To assist riders and their horses to experience the magic of true connection.

✨ Don’t miss out—spaces are limited!
Book now and take the next step toward building the partnership you’ve always dreamed of.

25/09/2024

An Inspiring Float Loading Journey with Jess and River...

A few months ago, I was contacted by Jess, a lovely lady who was struggling with float loading her OTT (Off The Track thoroughbred) named River. Jess had heard about me through Yarra Valley Horse Riders, where several of my students had recommended my training services.
When I first met River, I could tell he was a big, beautiful soul, but he had a lot going on beneath the surface. He was tense, reactive, and defensive—pushing and dragging Jess around, rearing, striking, biting at times and ready to explode at any moment. His behaviour wasn’t just about the float; he was wired and unsettled, reacting to everything around him, including other horses in the paddock.
Jess was doing an incredible job keeping him from completely losing control, but it was clear she was feeling uncertain. Her calm exterior masked the understandable anxiety she felt about applying pressure on River. She was torn. Jess wanted a gentle, harmonious relationship with River, but she also wanted them both to feel confident, safe, and relaxed.
She had been receiving mixed advice—some said, "Just make him get on," or "Don’t let him get away with it." But forcing River wasn’t in line with Jess’s gentle nature, and she wasn’t seeing the results she hoped for. I reassured her that while she had done a great job keeping things from boiling over, it was time to turn the heat down and address the underlying issues.
Rather than just focusing on the float, I wanted to get to the root cause of River’s behaviour—his emotions and past traumas. This would take time. We couldn’t just take the lid off and expect him to regulate himself. He needed to learn self-regulation, build confidence, and trust again. And as we worked through this, Jess grew as well. Her emotional fitness, knowledge, and skills increased, which helped strengthen her connection with River.
We focused on the ingredients required for successful float loading: courage, confidence, respect, willingness, understanding, relaxation, and connection. We even incorporated some sound healing, which made a huge difference. After several training sessions, River approached the float calmly and practically walked on his own—even with distractions like windy weather and other horses running around and being fed. Not only did River become relaxed, willing, and calm when getting on and off the float, but he also now carries that calmness into many other situations. By focusing on the horse and not just the task, we achieved a lasting transformation.
Check out the video to see a snapshot of the journey. While I wasn’t able to capture all the chaos from the beginning, it gives you a glimpse of the incredible transformation of two amazing souls with big, beautiful hearts.

09/09/2024

A big milestone reached today 🎊 having the first ride on Bo AKA King Kong 😜💪
An owner who'd been told, this breed does nothing, fine for a beginner, nervous and inexperienced rider by the breeder!! Third student with this story. She ended up buying this beautiful, big and very strong young horse that was way too much for her. If you've heard how elephants are trained as babies to not break chains (learned helplessness) this horse had learned the opposite, just how strong he is and if he didn't want to do something, he would out power the human. One of the most dangerous horses I've worked with, and I've had my share! Not his fault at all!! It never is, they are a product of their environment.
The breed is lovely, their unbothered and confident nature makes them very chilled out. However, the more chilled, the less willing and sometimes dominant they can be. Mixed with incredible intelligence, this can be quite the challenge.
It has taken quite some time to motivate this beauty to be soft and willing, so today was a monumental moment with grins all around 🤗😊🎊🎉👏

27/08/2024

Hats off to all the committed students today braving it in the gale force winds 💨🍃👏👏
Awesome work demonstrating how connection and strong partnership can overcome the natural flight response from a prey animal in strong winds 🙏💜✨🐴