Leslie's Force Free Horsemanship

01/12/2025

Exposure is just one factor that plays a role in creating a calm horse. But it sure is a big one!

It’s important though ‘how’ the horse is exposed to unfamiliar things.
Allow them to experience these new situations in a safe environment, with their buddies as support, and somewhere where they can explore it at their own pace, and remove themselves from it if necessary.

01/09/2025

A open letter those within the R+/horse-centered/LIMA/force-free/kind/ethical/compassionate equine community:

We can disagree without there being hard feelings.

We can disagree without it being personal.

We can disagree while remaining respectful and kind to one another.

We can disagree while valuing what the other person is bringing to the table.

It’s important as a community that we are able to talk about things, bring ideas to the table, share our thoughts, and have disagreement without causing widespread dissension.

We can hold another professional in high regard and treat them with respect, while strongly disagreeing with them on certain points. I know there are many professionals that I speak highly of, that I also disagree with in certain areas.

Not only is this critical for the survival and furthering of ethically minded training (as well as other professions within the equestrian community), it’s important for representing the very thing we are such advocates for!

Kindness, compassion, consideration, empathy….

For people too.

I don’t say all of this to imply we should never disagree. It’s important to disagree. We will never move forward if we never disagree, if we never exercise reconsidering positions on things, if we never are put into the uncomfortable position of change.

Disagreeing is important. Being disagreed with is important.

But as we know, being confronted with conflicting ideas or information to your beliefs and what you have been practicing is uncomfortable. And all too often we redirect this discomfort at the person making us feel uncomfortable with their opinions and information.

All I ask is that we pause before we react.

-> You don’t have to agree with everything you read or hear or see, but for the sake of the health and future of our community, please treat others with kindness and respect.

-> And when someone disagrees with you? It doesn’t mean they don’t like you or respect you. It’s okay for people to disagree with you. You are still a valuable, important member of this community that we want to hear more from! ❤️

12/15/2024

I believe part of the reason why self-regulation is so often not addressed in horses is because most people don’t know how to address it. Additionally, it is difficult for trainers to teach it, because It’s something that takes patience, intuition and feel.
Even though trainers can help owners with by providing insights, by offering different approaches and pointing out the right moments, the reality is many people simply prefer to be given a simple solution. “Do this, and you’ll get a horse that will self-regulate” and the reality is, that’s just not how it works.

Now teaching the horse self regulation isn’t complicated, but it requires consistency over longer periods. You cannot expect the results in a couple sessions of “training”.
Instead, what’s required is good welfare, a healthy environment, the 3 F’s fulfilled, trust from the horse in people, trust from the handler in the horse, the patience to allow the horse to process things, empathetic training, and the willingness to wait for the results to show.

This is especially true for older horses. A horse that had the chance to develop this skill from a young age will have learned this quite a lot easier than one that has lived for a while in a constant dis-regulated state.
But then again, this is partially because we tend to have less expectations from a younger horse than an older horse. Even though a older horse that has never learned to regulate themselves, would be emotionally not as matured as a younger horse that has learned to regulate themselves.

Coming full circle, this leads back to people’s expectations for their horses and how training should look like.
It is why so many horses struggle with self regulation, and why so many equestrians don’t know how to manage it.

The solution? Changing the mindset of the equestrian world.
You can have a responsive, willing, confident and happy horse, with ethical training methods, and it doesn’t even require hours and hours of training.
BUT, you need to change how you view horses and their behaviours.

12/13/2024

Setting boundaries is one of the hardest things to learn when you’re starting to practice progressive horsemanship.
Having had the privilege of exploring my horsemanship in a safe space, I very distinctly remember the first time I went away from home with my horses and having been given unsolicited advice (which actually resulted in someone physically grabbing my arm and preventing me from giving my horse her food reinforcement after I politely declined their advice). To be able to stand true to yourself and your horses wellbeing in a moment of confrontation is incredibly difficult. Being prepared on what to say or do in such a moment will make this situation easier on yourself.
Lockie has some excellent examples in this post!
I especially love “No” 😉 remember that “no” is a full sentence!

Calling all caring horse people! You need some key phrases, in your back pocket. Key phrases, you have practiced and prepared, to help you navigate being a horse person in the world.
Specifically, to help you navigate being a horse person in the world who does not force, manipulate, over-pressure, scare, enrage or harm their horses and call that training.

Pop these phrases in your back pocket, and deploy them next time someone comes inappropriately into your space, having no idea that they are not entitled to being in your space, and they do so with judgement, or to patronise you.

You know the people who unsolicited come over to you, in person or online and say things along the lines of;

"Did you know that X means Y and you're supposed to do Z?... (insert something you're very aware of, and already taking action on here)"

"You're doing something dangerous (Insert you doing something quiet, peaceful and patient with a horse that you have carefully studied and prepared)"

"When are you going to ride that horse? (Insert you developing a horse patiently, as afforded by scientific evidence of skeletal development)"

"You are too soft with that horse (Insert you teaching your horse skills that are bounded and structured so that you never need brutalism to make your point)"

You see, almost everyday, I also get people coming inappropriately in my space. Always have. Most of the time, they have no awareness that they have come into my space in a way I dislike. Because nobody has told them. Or my boundaries are ones they have not met before. But it is still my right to communicate that to them, and reclaim my time, energy and space. People do not need ill-intentions, to engage in poor behaviour towards you. And if they do it to you, they are probably doing it to horses too.

When I was at boarding barns, it was constant. And now I am online, it is constant. I think I am succeeding in building a reputation where folks know that I am not a public figure running for political office that they are entitled to engage with and ask me to change (for them), and that I am a business owner and a human being that sets a standard for how people are in my space, in my energy, the same way horses have certain ways they like to be approached. So, it happens all the time. And I have a few phrase I deploy to protect my energy, my time and my space, have used them for years.

No guarantee the person you say these to is going to like you for saying them. Often, if they are not aware of their transgression, and are made aware, they will say that they have good intentions, good meanings, as a "Get Out of Boundaries Free Card". But again, good intentions are not good behaviours. The two are not always happening at the same time. So, these phrases are best used if you have consolidated your fawn response and you're no longer afraid of displeasing people that cannot be pleased, or who are shocked to discover that there are specific ways you want to be talked to, and ways you don't. And they are not allowed to behave anyway they want to you. Unless you entitled them to be all over you.

Here are some phrases to save into your back pocket, so that you can navigate being a caring horse person, in a brutal and entitled world, without losing your mind.

"Thank you for your concern. I do not share the same concern."
"I understand that your intention is good by doing X, but that message/thing you said is inappropriate for me. Thank you for giving me space."
"Thanks for taking an interest. At this time I am satisfied with what I am doing, and how I am doing it. Thank you for leaving me in peace with my horse."
"No, thank you."
"No."
"Hey, can we talk about this later, I am busy with my horse right now. Want to have coffee/lunch/dinner and talk about this calmly?"
"Can you please in the future wait for me to ask you for advise before making a comment?"
"Thank you. I am already aware of/know that."
"Thank you for caring about my safety. That's important to me too. I just have different ways to stay safe."
"I see how you can see that. I don't see it that way. But I don't judge you for seeing my situation differently."
"Thank you, but I have my teachers in place, I am not seeking unsolicited advise at this time even if it is well intentioned."
"Please do not speak to me like that, or engage with me like this."
"Thank you for respecting my space, my peace and leaving that to me. I will do the same for you."
"I know that you care/are interested/want to help/want to engage with me, but the way you are doing that right now, is inappropriate for me. That's a boundary for me, and thank you for respecting that."
"I don't need anybody else to like or agree with what I am doing, but I do kindly request that you respect my right to be different to you, and leave me in peace."
"Leave me alone please."

And if these clear boundary setting phrases don't work. DEFCON-5 is to simply say, with your shoulders back, chin up, and with calm eye contact, or clear written english...

"Please mind your own business."

12/08/2024

It seems like the theme this last week has been the topic of emotional self-regulation with horses.

I’ve had several conversations this week with clients and colleagues about horses and their ability or, more so, the lack of ability to self-regulate. It’s a widespread issue I come across. I feel that often, a lot of effort is placed into teaching horses compliance or to perform certain tasks/behaviours, but not enough effort is placed on emotional welfare, mental fortitude and teaching horses how to emotionally regulate themselves in the world we place them into.

Ask yourself: how many anxious horses do you know? How many spooky horses? How many that don’t do well in new situations? How many that can’t settle down once they’ve been riled up? How many feel like a ticking time bomb or appear to have big mood swings?

These are all problems with emotional self-regulation!

Horses that can self-regulate will be able to work through moments of anxiety. They come back to a calm state after a spook in a short time, won’t spook at every little thing in the shadows, and will handle new situations without, as we’d say, “losing their marbles.”

Now, keep in mind that there is a difference between a horse that can self-regulate and one that is simply shut down. The goal isn’t to have a horse that never reacts to anything, or that doesn’t show any worry or fear! If I have a horse that doesn’t show any response to being in a stressful situation, then I’d be seriously worried!
Instead, we’re looking for a horse that can, even if a situation is worrisome or even scary, think through that situation, place trust in their handler, and come back from that situation into a calm state.

Unfortunately, so many horses aren’t ever allowed to learn how to do so, and they end up overwhelmed in the situations humans place them into.

It’s our responsibility as their trainers, owners and guardians to set them up for success in our world!

12/08/2024

Isabell Werth on how success in the show ring “changes” horses.

Apparently, a horse going from calmly tolerating horses passing them or walking near them to pinning their ears flat back any time another horse comes close is evidence of “arrogance” and a sense of the horse knowing how talented they are…

Instead of, you know, a sign that the horse has learned through experience that competitions are stressful, other horses may be a potential threat and is now displaying signs of more discomfort than they previously showed.

This level of anthropomorphism is delusional and harmful to the horse.

Horses do not have the capacity to be “arrogant.”

They don’t know they’re winners.

They don’t even know how competition is structured, what constitutes a win and what the purpose of their travel around the world to compete even is.

Wendy, the horse, is simply displaying signs of behavioural change that speaks more for an increase of stress than it does for anything else.

I am so sick and tired of elite riders trying to rebrand communication of stress, pain discomfort etc as signs of an exceptional and successful horse.

The reason why so many competition horses behave in this way is because of the shared similarities in trauma… not because they win.

12/07/2024

What a fantastic article! Objective, and really brings home the problem between science and welfare of the equestrian sport

Ethics prevent scientists from researching whip use, but jockeys can carry it out in the name of sport and entertainment. When there’s doubt, why do it at all?

12/07/2024

Maybe an imaginary pipe dream Amy, but one I sure share!

Some pondering on teaching riders, and the difference between a lesson program and a riding school -

I think one of the biggest issues with current riding instruction is we teach people how to control the horse before we teach them to FEEL and RIDE the horse. These are very different skill sets leading to very different outcomes.

Generally, a beginner horse is one who is safe enough to be ridden by a beginner. And often, they are stiff, likely halfway lame, and dull. So if you put these two together- a newbie rider, and a stiff and tolerant horse, people learn to over aid, squeeze, pull, and “make” horses do things. It’s pretty hard to learn subtle feelings and find the horses body underneath you when you have to kick to make them go and pull to make them turn.

Add to that normalizing the feeling of stiffness and half-lameness to riders, and they will really struggle to learn what a horse SHOULD feel like.

In clinics, I am often faced with the dilemma of teaching a rider and horse pair who have 99 problems but a seat ain’t one : I have to decide the most urgent problem- out of control horse brought to safety, or teaching a seat. If we had real riding SCHOOLS, riders could be taught a seat BEFORE learning how to control the out of control horse, and later, the seat would be one of those tools to help guide the horse with much more ease and significantly much less pulling, kicking, and bending horses heads up their butts to stop out of control forward motion.

What would a riding school look like?

It would have straight, supple well-trained horses for students of all levels to ride on

It would prioritize FEEL and the seat, giving students lessons in finding their seat until they could manage solo - then teach them AIDS.

It would not cater to the students wants or desires but instead stick to an understood progression of developing skill.

This reduces wear and tear on lesson horses dramatically, with no pulling and kicking on tolerant saints of lesson horses, while an instructor guides the horse to move well on the lunge for the student to memorize this feel. Of course, instructors would be riding them to maintain their fitness and responsiveness to aids, but these horses would not be repeatedly degraded for the sake of teaching beginners.

What’s the downside ? Who has a string of supple, straight horses for students to ride?
And who can afford to open this school?
And who has a list of clients begging to learn the hard way and get no immediate gratification who will stick to learning long enough to produce skill?

This may be an imaginary pipe dream anymore

12/07/2024

George went out for his first ever Trail Ride! He’s been trained Force-Free and with Positive Reinforcement from the ground up, and today was one of the bigger tests of his training.

Things we experienced for the first time today:
•Riding outside of the arena
•Branches swiping George’s belly & sides while being ridden
•Branches swiping the top of my/the riders head while being ridden (the sound scared him the first couple times)
•Trotting with a rider
•Walking up hill with a rider
•Walking downhill with a rider
•Riding with other horses

George did absolutely fantastic! He was understandably very tired afterwards. And it’ll be very interesting to see how he uses his start button (his “yes”/Ready cue”) the next time we prepare to ride!
However, he was calm, he was very responsive to his voice cues, and he responded even better to his rein signals than expected.
All around, a huge success!

12/05/2024

HELPING HORSE OWNERS IDENTIFY PAIN IN HORSES

Musculoskeletal disease (having to do with muscles, bones, tendons, ligaments, joints, and cartilage) is a common cause of chronic pain in horses. Unfortunately, owners frequently struggle to perceive this pain in their horses, leaving it untreated.

Pain is an unpleasant experience, one from which horses are not exempt. Pain can also cause horses to behave in ways people don’t like. Thankfully, recognising pain is a learnable skill, and a new validated pain scale hopes to help with that. The musculoskeletal pain scale (MPS) was tested on 154 horses, and it was demonstrated that both horse owners and veterinarians were better able to identify musculoskeletal pain in horses when using the new pain scale.

While pain scales pose a promising way to hone the observation skills of both horse owners and veterinarians, most pain scales have not yet been tested extensively in clinical settings. As in human medicine, feasibility and reliability are critical factors in determining if a pain scale can be helpful in real-world settings. Some scales require more time than may be available to use in critical situations, while others require prior training by staff to achieve repeatable results.

However, given pain's negative impact on horse well-being, it's always better to err on the side of caution and try and determine if pain is present, rather than brushing it off and blaming the horse for misbehaviour.

You can read the full paper, Development, refinement, and validation of an equine musculoskeletal pain scale, here: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pain-research/articles/10.3389/fpain.2023.1292299/full

12/03/2024

Recently I read a post that resonated with me which was talking about ‘passive exposure’, basically exposing horses to all sorts of things without actively training/desensitizing them on those things.
Then yesterday I found this photo from last year with Luna (the Blue Roan Paint C**t some of you may remember still)
And I think it is the perfect showcase of why our horses are so great with, well, everything!

Because the horses are exposed to so much, simply by being in their forest paddocks, where they can move as much as they need to, they can let their natural curiosity take over and they have their herd mates for support and guidance.
They have to walk over logs, have branches touch their flanks & bellies, they see & smell cougars, bears, deers, squirrels jumping trees, birds flying up, tractors driving around them, trucks, heavy machinery, kids running & yelling, dogs, goats, pigs and so much more.

I’d never think of trying to desensitize my horses to a chainsaw, but they sure are exposed to it on a daily basis.

12/02/2024

Yes yes!!!👏🏻👏🏻
Teach students how to ride at the horses level right from the get go!
I don’t want to teach my lesson students “pull left, pull right” to turn. I do want them to learn how to use their seat, how to signal turns without needing to resort to pressure, how to use their legs cues to communicate to the horses whole body etc. right from the beginning. Not only to avoid having to unlearn certain habits down the line, but also for the horses wellbeing, they deserve to be treated with respect especially for allowing us to help teach newcomers to the equestrian sport.

If a horse has earned the right to work off signal, I really struggle putting them back in situations where they’re expected to put up with being pulled on.

That’s why I always try to bring junior riders up to the horse’s level, rather than have the horse come down to theirs.

Getting kids riding on a drape and one-handed, instead of turning them loose two-handed in something they can ‘safely’ pull on, is my preference for keeping the horse’s dignity and balance, and a kid’s respect of that, intact.

For those of us who learned to ride from ranch horses, it was called staying out of the horse’s way so they could do their job.

Not everyone’s going to understand that.

Some people think anything too easy must be pain compliance.

Easy can be the dignity of giving the horse the chance to be right.

When we pull, we never do.

11/29/2024

Especially with a draft, it’s so nice to just have them lift their feet for you. It’s hard enough work to just hold that foot up, so I appreciate not having to extra work bringing the foot up to me.

11/28/2024

I wish horses would yelp like dogs do

11/26/2024

Who was it that said positive reinforcement and Force-Free trained horses can’t handle pressure/stressors? 🤭

11/11/2024