PATH Equestrian

09/11/2025

I really appreciate this post because it highlights something I’ve said before: we cannot compare bad R+ to good R-. Misapplied positive reinforcement isn’t evidence that the method doesn’t work, it’s a reminder that timing, clarity, and skill matter in any form of training.

As Shawna points out, horses aren’t plotting to be ‘naughty’ or ‘stubborn.’ They’re responding to clarity, fear, pain, or confusion. When R+ is applied well, it gives us the tools to establish clear boundaries, build trust, and create willing behaviour without relying on corrections.

The struggle many people see with R+ horses often comes from inexperience, reinforcing at the wrong time, chaining in unwanted behaviours, or raising criteria too quickly. That isn’t unique to R+; poor application happens with R- and P+ too.

09/09/2025

The danger isn’t in truth being hidden. It’s in truth being ignored.

Science is clear: the behaviours we so often see in the show ring, tail swishing, mouth gaping, head tossing, bolting, are not disobedience. They are reliable signs of pain, fear, or conflict. A recent peer-reviewed study confirmed this, adding to YEARS of research showing that these so-called “conflict behaviours” are in fact MAJOR welfare red flags within the show rings.

The news has focused on how UNPRECEDENTED this case was: the longest suspension in equestrian sport history. And while that matters, we can’t ignore the bigger picture. The videos are horrible to watch, but many of us have seen similar training practices first-hand. This wasn’t rare it reflects methods that have been normalized for decades.

And perhaps the most telling detail:

This was a post the trainer himself chose to share.

Let that sink in..

If this is what someone feels is acceptable to show the public, imagine what goes on behind closed doors.

What worries me most is how many people defended it, insisting it was not abuse at all. That kind of cognitive dissonance only exists because these practices are woven into the fabric of the sport.

This is the REAL takeaway: abuse has been so normalized that a top rider not only used these methods, but believed they were safe enough to showcase. We also have a top judge sworn in about this not being abuse.

Horses aren’t at risk because the truth is hidden.
They’re at risk because the truth is IGNORED.

09/08/2025

“The whipping was not excessive in my opinion.”

That’s the sworn testimony of a top U.S. dressage judge in the FEI Tribunal case against César Parra.

Most people know Parra was suspended for 15 years, the longest and most severe ban in equestrian sport history, after videos showed him striking horses with a whip until they bolted, bucked, and showed clear signs of pain.

But what many may not know is that a Senior Judge, the highest level of national dressage judge in the U.S., trusted by USEF and expected to model the very values of the sport, told the Tribunal:

“She saw no abuse”.

What did the footage show? According to the Tribunal, it was one of several clips where Parra repeatedly struck horses with a whip, and the horses responded with clear signs of distress: ears pinned back, mouths open, bolting, bucking, tails clamped or swishing. Research confirms that these behaviors are reliable indicators of stress and compromised welfare.

And in one case, Parra himself admitted he struck a horse on the head and neck with the hard end of a whip “to leave less marks,” explaining that the horse was being prepared for sale.

Thankfully the Tribunal disagreed with the judge’s testimony. They rejected it and ruled that the videos clearly showed excessive whip use and horses in distress.

This begs the question: if judges at the very top cannot, or will not, recognize abuse, how can we trust the standards being used in competition?

Welfare must come before ribbons, before scores, before prestige. If judges can’t name abuse when it’s right in front of them, how can horses ever be truly safe in this sport?

Thank you Dressage Hub Official for pointing this out.

https://inside.fei.org/system/files/2025.08.06_FINAL%20DECISION%20C24-0029%20PARRA%20v.%20FEI%20%282024_HA01%29_0.pdf

09/07/2025

Why do we call it “bit less” or “shoe less”?

This is more food for thought and conversaton peice than an educational post.

Ever notice how so much of our language for horse care is framed around the absence of metal?
We say bitless, shoeless, barefoot, unshod, always describing what is missing rather than what is.

🔎 A bit of linguistics: Edward Battistella, in Markedness: The Evaluative Superstructure of Language (1996), explains that language often sets up a “default,” what is considered normal or neutral, and then creates a “marked” form to describe anything outside of that. Marked forms often carry subtle value judgments too. They can sound like “less than” or “lacking.”

For centuries, the “normal” horse was assumed to be ridden with a bit and shod with metal shoes. Those became the cultural baseline, which is why words like bitless and shoeless exist. They only make sense in contrast to that assumed default.

Even today, despite advances in welfare science and the changing role of horses, the old linguistic framing keeps reinforcing that metal is the “standard” and everything else is an exception.

The true baseline of a horse does not contain metal or anything. It is hooves wearing and shaping as they travel, and a mouth designed for forage. A horse’s true baseline is their natural state, unaltered. Anything added, whether bits, bitless bridles, saddles, shoes, or blankets, is an addition, not the baseline.

Some might say we could use the terms “bit free”and “shoe free” instead. I will admit, I am a big fan of bit free because it describes the tack more clearly in a non-negative way. But it still carries the same issues. Both less and free keep the bit or shoe as the reference point. Less frames it as lacking. Free frames it as better. Either way, the horse is being described in relation to bits and shoes. Additionally, using free as the framing would also likely cause friction with anyone who continues to use those tools.

Anything that keeps us describing horses as bitted or shod, bitless or shoeless, reinforces those as the norm. In a future where metal is no longer the default, this kind of terminology would not make sense at all.

The questions become:

❓Have you ever felt like the words bitless and shoeless unintentionally portray those options as less than bitted and shod?

❓Is a bitted horse with shoes still the default in our culture? And if so, will that always be the case?

❓Would creating new, positive terminology actually shift culture, or would it just confuse things further?

❓How do we create language that includes both traditional practices and newer approaches without framing one as less or connecting them?

I find this conversation so interesting because it does not need to be an argument over bit versus bitless or barefoot versus shod. It can simply be a discussion about the words we use. Right now, linguistically, we are saying that a horse’s baseline is with metal, when that is not the horse’s natural state. That fascinates me, because it shows how our words shape, what they are shaped by, and the assumptions we carry about horses.

Our words do not just describe horses, they shape how we see them.

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Inspired by a conversation with Jo Field — thank you for sparking this reflection.t

09/07/2025

Making change is rarely instant. Often, it’s about planting a seed. We may not see it sprout right away, but with the right conditions, it usually grows.

I think about this a lot, both with horses and with people. Horses learn best in environments that feel safe, clear, and consistent. And people are no different. When we create conditions of patience, compassion, and curiosity, learning can take root. When we pile on pressure, intensity, or judgment, growth gets stunted.

Over the last few years I’ve noticed some shifts within many communities. For the most part, these spaces are vibrant and generous, with people constantly sharing free knowledge, creative ideas, and new perspectives. I’ve learned so much from that generosity. But at times, a small number of loud voices take over. Their gatekeeping and rigid thinking can overshadow the compassion this work is built on, making the soil feel harder for growth.

Many people have reached out saying they’ve felt overwhelmed or judged by peers, pages and groups. That breaks my heart, because hostility makes people shut down. Instead of planting seeds, the soil hardens and growth struggles to take root.

On the other side, I’ve also been personally bullied and attacked by trainers who choose to train differently, and I know how defensive that can make us feel. There are loud and unkind voices on both ends of the spectrum, and I think rigid black and white thinking is at the root of most of these issues.

For me, TRUE advocacy means drawing a clear line against abuse while still meeting people wherever they are on their journey. Most people really are trying to do the best by their horses. They might not always have the tools, the knowledge, or the confidence yet, but the intention is almost always there.

Our job isn’t to demand an instant transformation. It is to plant seeds of curiosity, to water them with support, and to give them enough sunlight and patience to grow into something stronger.

Horses don’t benefit from walls, gatekeeping, or extremes. They benefit when we plant seeds in good soil and allow growth to happen in its own time. Advocacy doesn’t have to be about demanding change overnight. It can be about planting seeds, tending them with patience, and watching them grow into stronger roots for horses’ future.

09/06/2025

You may have noticed a theme with my posts lately… all leading up to this day 🌍

World Bitless Horse Day TODAY September 6, 2025
🎥 Theme: Mouths in Motion

The World Bitless Association (WBA) is an international nonprofit dedicated to horse welfare and rider choice. They campaign for fairer competition rules, educate about bitless options, and support riders worldwide who choose to ride bit-free.

This year, they’re celebrating with a global photo and video contest; and there are some incredible prizes including bitless bridles and cordeos.

Winners will be announced on September 30, 2025.

✨ Contest details:

• Post your entry in the World Bitless Horse Day Facebook group on September 6th

• Up to 3 photos + 1 video (2 min) per horse

• Entries should highlight calmness, lightness, and relaxed mouths in motion

• No bits, whips, or spurs

Why it matters: For me, this day isn’t about saying one way is better than another. It’s about celebrating bitless riding, showcasing what’s possible, and making sure bitless has a fair and recognised place in our equestrian world.

👉 Enter here: World Bitless Horse Day - September 6th 2025.

09/05/2025

Grieving is never easy, and each time we deal with it, it has its own pace and process. Horses feel loss just as deeply, whether it’s through death or when a companion leaves the herd.

Science is beginning to catch up with what many of us have observed: horses show grief-like distress responses when they lose a companion. Studies have documented changes like calling, pacing, reduced appetite, and even physical signs of stress after a herd mate is gone. Separation can sometimes be even harder than death, because the lack of closure leaves the horse waiting, searching, and unsettled.

Supporting horses through grief means offering patience, consistency, and gentle companionship: not rushing them, but meeting them where they are.

Do Horses Grieve? 💔

The answer is: absolutely, yes.

Horses form deep and lasting bonds with their herd mates—whether it’s a lifelong pasture companion, a stable buddy, or even a goat, dog, or human they share space with. When that friend leaves—whether by moving to a new home or through death—the horse left behind often feels the absence in very real ways.

When a horse is moved away, grief can be especially confusing. Unlike death, where the herd can often see and understand that their friend is gone, a move leaves an open question: the friend is simply missing. Horses may spend days or even weeks calling, pacing fence lines, or searching, as if hoping the companion will return. The lack of closure can make the adjustment longer and more stressful.

Grief in horses may look like:
- Calling or pacing for their missing friend
- Loss of appetite or lowered energy
- Withdrawal or seeming “shut down”
- Sometimes even physical signs of stress, like weight loss

Just as with people, grief looks different for every horse. Some may recover quickly, while others take a long time to adjust. Support, routine, gentle companionship, and patience all help a horse navigate this tender time.

When we recognize that horses grieve, we can better support them—offering kindness instead of expecting them to “just get over it.”

Because in the end, grief is not a problem to fix, but connection with nowhere to go. And horses, like us, feel that connection deeply. ❤️

09/04/2025

🌟 Bitless victories worth celebrating 🌟

What an incredible time to be part of the bitless movement. Every year, more doors open, more riders are welcomed, and more rules are changed. This is about choice, welfare, and progress.

Research keeps showing us why this matters.
Oral injuries from bits are widespread in competition horses, with over half of eventers and more than 80% of trotters showing lesions (Uldahl & Clayton 2019; Tuomola et al. 2019). Studies confirm that gaping and head movement are horses’ attempts to relieve bit pressure (Eisersiö et al. 2023). Welfare scientists such as Mellor and Beausoleil have shown how bridles compromise breathing, cause pain responses, and undermine the positive welfare states horses deserve (Mellor 2016, 2017, 2020; Mellor et al. 2020). Even regulatory experts are now calling for integrity and reform in sport (Uldahl & Mellor 2025).

🇩🇰 Denmark: Since January 2025, bitless bridles and soft hackamores are welcome at lower national levels, nosebands are optional at all levels, and the double bridle is no longer compulsory.

🇳🇱 Netherlands: From April 1, 2025, riders can compete bitless up to ZZ-Zwaar at national level. This expands the previous ceiling and shows steady mainstream acceptance.

🇫🇷 France: From September 1, 2025, the national rulebook adds “monte sans mors.” Bitless is authorized in defined Amateur/Pro preparatory and Club/Pony classes with rope halter, sidepull, or bitless bridle. Hackamores are not permitted. Pro Elite Grand Prix is marked authorized in the tables, and for the Grand National circuit it applies from January 1, 2026. A clear signal that bitless is a recognized, respected option on major national stages.

These aren’t just small changes and a win for every community member who has worked, advocated, and believed in a gentler way forward.

Here’s to celebrating how far we have come, and the even brighter future ahead! 🥳

09/02/2025

Bitless Riding Options: What Science Says

Research has shown that bits can cause a range of oral injuries, including lesions, bruising, bone damage, and long-term tissue trauma. Scientific studies consistently demonstrate that these risks are higher and more severe with bitted designs than with bitless options.

That said, not all bitless equipment is created equal. Some designs distribute pressure more broadly and, when fitted correctly, pose very low risk such as well-fitted sidepulls, smooth rope halters, or flat halters. Others concentrate pressure or magnify rein forces such as cross-unders or mechanical hackamores, which increases welfare concerns if not fitted or used carefully. Neck ropes and liberty create minimal mechanical pressure, with the main considerations being training reliability and context.

This chart gives a side-by-side look at some of the most common bitless designs. It shows how each works and what research says about their potential welfare impacts. The goal is not to promote one type bitless bridle over another, but to provide clear, science-based information so riders can make informed choices.

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✨ Key takeaways from the research include:

• Bosals:

Rooted in vaquero tradition. Limited peer-reviewed research exists, but the rigid, non-padded nosepiece can create focal pressure. Classified by welfare groups as a higher risk if misused.

• Cross-unders:

Apply pressure to nose, poll, and jaw. Studies report altered movement compared to a snaffle and multi-point pressure distribution, raising welfare concerns.

• Halters (Flat):

Spread pressure broadly and are generally low risk when fitted correctly, though less precise than purpose-made bridles.

• Halters (Rope):

Knotted rope halters concentrate pressure on facial nerves and require caution. Smooth rope halters without knots distribute pressure more evenly and are considered a safer option.

• Liberty (No equipment):

Relies entirely on conditioned responses with no mechanical pressure applied. No risk of tissue harm, but reliability depends on training and context.

• Mechanical hackamores:

Leverage magnifies rein pressure dramatically and can exceed forces of severe bits if misused. This design creates high pressure and significant injury risk if applied strongly.

• Neck ropes:

Pose minimal mechanical risk since they do not act on sensitive tissues. The main consideration is training reliability, as they offer little backup control in high-pressure situations.

• Scawbrig:

Less researched, but applies pressure only to the nose and jaw with a simpler action than cross-unders.

• Sidepulls:

Research shows no loss of performance when compared with a snaffle during foundation training. Poor fit or lack of padding can risk nasal bone or nerve injury, but with correct fit and padding, sidepulls are considered a very safe option.

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Conclusion:

Not all bitless bridles are created equally. Some such as well-fitted sidepulls, padded flat halters, and smooth rope designs are supported by research as safer choices, while others such as cross-unders and mechanical hackamores raise clear welfare concerns.

Bitless options pose a SIGNIFICANTLY lower risk of severe harm compared to many common bitted designs. The evidence is consistent. Properly fitted bitless designs eliminate many of the documented welfare risks of bits, offering horses a safer and more welfare-friendly option.

These findings reflect what recent science shows us about bit versus bitless designs. This is not about opinion or tradition, but about applying the best current evidence to support horse welfare. The goal is not to ban bits outright, but to recognize that the research clearly supports bitless as a safer option and, in terms of performance, an equivalent alternative, and to challenge existing competition rules so horses and riders can access those options fairly.

08/31/2025

I choose to ride bitless.

Every horse is an individual. Some go beautifully in bitless bridles, others feel more at ease in different equipment. Horses often even move differently depending on what they wear. The point isn’t “bit vs bitless”, it’s that competition rules should allow the tack that best supports the horse in front of us.

What we know:

• Bits pose inherent risks. Bit-induced oral trauma, lesions, and stress behaviors have been documented even in elite competition horses ridden by skilled professionals. The issue isn’t “bad hands”; the bit itself places pressure on one of the horse’s most sensitive areas, and that can cause damage.

• Bitless designs reduce risks, Removing the bit reduces oral pressure, but rein pressure will shift to the nose, poll, or jaw, vulnerable areas if equipment is poorly fitted or misused.

• Nuance matters. Different types of bitless bridles (sidepulls, bosals, cross-unders, hackamores) vary greatly, and not all are suitable for every horse.

• Nosebands matter too. Over-tightened nosebands can mask pain, impede natural behaviours, and harm both physical and emotional welfare.

Why rules must evolve:

Currently, bitless riders, particularly in disciplines like dressage, are forced to use bits even if their horse is clearly more comfortable without one. That’s outdated and unfair, and it does not reflect modern welfare science.

Supporting the World Bitless Association means standing for choice, fairness, and horse welfare. If a bitless bridle is what helps your horse feel comfortable and confident, that partnership shouldn’t be penalized by outdated rules.

References in comments

08/30/2025

🌿 Hard Days vs Bad Days 🌿

Sometimes I sit down and ask myself: “Was today a hard day, or a BAD day?”

That simple question helps remind me how fortunate I am.

A hard day is manageable. It stretches us, challenges us, and often means growth. Hard days do suck, and we may end them feeling tired, stressed, and frustrated, but hard days are always manageable. When I take a pause and realize that I’m experiencing a hard day vs a BAD day, as much as it isn’t the kind of day I’d choose, I am briefly grateful it’s not a BAD one.

A BAD day is different. A BAD day is just a BAD day. It is when life punches down, when things feel unfair or unbearable, and there is not much meaning to be found in it.

BAD days happen, not often, but when they do they are often life-changing. These are days where I refuse to force myself to search for meaning and lessons where there are none.

Naming that difference matters. Realizing that while we may regularly have hard or difficult days, the actual BAD days are few and far in-between. By doing this, we leave space to feel the true impact of a BAD day, because very few days in our lives deserve that weight.

Even the worst day does not erase what came before. The growth, the memories, the trust built along the way, those still mattered. They always will.

08/27/2025

Peekaboo is taking the ‘track’ in track system a little too literally 😅