Awakened Equestrian, Hustopece (2025)

24/06/2025

Where Do Racehorses Go? – BBC Documentary Tackles an Uncomfortable Truth

Horse racing has deep roots in British and Irish culture, standing as one of the most lucrative sports in the region. With billions of pounds circulating through the industry each year, it's surprising how little attention is paid to what becomes of the horses once their racing days are over. A recent BBC Panorama investigation confronts this overlooked issue—and its findings are disturbing.

According to the documentary, over 4,000 ex-racehorses have been slaughtered in abattoirs across Britain and Ireland since 2019.

Undercover journalists captured footage inside a UK slaughterhouse, revealing troubling scenes: injured and former racing horses being transported long distances before being put down. In some cases, the animals were not even euthanized using humane methods.

Shockingly, among those sent for slaughter were horses that once competed on elite racetracks. This starkly illustrates that even fame and success on the turf offer no protection from a grim fate.

Experts in the equestrian world have long raised concerns about what they term “wastage”—a consequence of breeding racehorses in large numbers. While a fortunate few transition to new lives in show jumping or recreational riding, many vanish into the shadows of an industry often praised for its care and commitment to horse welfare.

The documentary poses a difficult but necessary question: How can a sport generating such vast wealth permit the very animals that built its success to end up discarded, even processed for meat?

Source: BBC. (2021, July 19). The Dark Side of Horse Racing.
Photo: Visit del mar village

18/06/2025

2/2 SO EVERY TIME HE SAYS NO, YOU JUST DROP EVERYTHING AND GIVE IN?
Seriously!? Are you out of your mind!? A horse has to obey—always! Why else do we have them? To graze in the paddock all day? So if he says no, I just let him stand there? What if he says no every time I come to him? So now I’m supposed to teach him to resist me? He’ll never want to do anything again. Hysterical girls treating horses like dolls.

So much fear around a horse’s NO.
Can someone please show me the divine decree that states horses were created so people could entertain themselves by riding their backs? That they’re here for us and our ideas. To serve us, to obey us, to submit. A certified copy will do, thanks.

I don’t understand why it’s considered standard that a horse is not allowed to say no.
As long as they agree and comply—we’re fine. But the moment they disagree? Punishment. Fine-tuned training strategies. New gear and tricks. NO simply isn’t an acceptable answer.

In the horse world we know, a horse’s NO means: The rider failed. The rider is weak, inexperienced, has no respect.

Trainers compete to offer courses in “communication” with horses— but the goal is always the same: To teach the horse that resistance will not be tolerated.

This is where we’ve ended up, proud rulers of the earth—polishing strategies to erase the last living thing inside horses: Their own opinion.

Why can’t a horse say NO to work? Why can’t he show fear or insecurity? Why can’t he express pain or discomfort?

Because then our illusion of control collapses like a house of cards. The horse’s NO is rejection. Rejection of our ego. Rejection of our effort ("I pay for you, and you say no?!"), of our affection ("I love you, and you won’t come to me?!"), of our certainty ("If even you don’t listen—then who will?!").

Yes, there are situations in human management where a horse must obey. Respect our space, cooperate for safety, load into a trailer, stand for the farrier, accept treatment. Some even carry riders to help their owners make a living. In those cases, yes—the room for a horse’s opinion is limited. But with good upbringing and proper care, it can still be bearable for the horse.

Much more often though, we find ourselves in situations where the horse can be safely allowed to express himself. To speak. To say NO—even if it hurts our ego. To refuse a saddle or a bridle. To refuse work.

Because when we recover from the shock of “the horse isn’t doing what I want,”
we finally have space to ask why. And change that.

A horse’s NO isn’t manipulation or a tactic. It’s pure information about how he feels.
If we’re able to listen, we’ll discover what needs to change and improve. What hurts, what feels wrong, why he doesn’t want to be with us.

We’ll change the training. We’ll change ourselves. For the better.

A horse’s NO isn’t a defeat—it’s an invitation. It might mean we ride less for a while,
but it opens a whole new universe—one where horses are heard. One where we experience true cooperation with a horse who wants to,
not one who simply has no choice.

Yes, I’m aware this strategy isn’t compatible with modern equestrian industry.
Here’s a secret— neither are horses.
And neither am I.

K.

📸 .kom

17/06/2025

1/2 YOU'RE OVERTHINKING IT.
They’re just horses. They’re not made of sugar. Look how they kick each other in the paddock. They stand around and eat all day—they can handle a bit of pressure.
This is how it’s always been done. This is what that horseman teaches—it’s natural horsemanship, he’s got tons of followers. It works for people. They win competitions like this. Their horse looks worse than yours and still competes. He’ll get used to it. You just can’t let him win.

I try to have compassion for people who think this way. I don’t agree—but I understand. I didn’t see it once either. I didn’t get it. It worked for me too—and really well.

The horse resists? You push harder. If you’re skilled, no one watching even notices you used force. And the best part? You don’t notice either. You think you were being gentle. Because you didn’t hit. You didn’t kick. You don’t wear spurs or side reins.
Not even a bit. And still—it can be too much.

Too much for whom?
Not for the spectators. Not for the judges. Not for your followers. Not even for you.
But for the horse? A thousand times over the line.

What happened to us? Why do we behave this way—and why don’t we see it?
Just look at our lives. Look at your shoes. Do your shoes have the shape of a foot—or has your foot shaped itself to the shoe? You’ve been crammed into tight shoes your whole life, destroying your feet. And you buy them yourself. Something so basic—what literally carries us through life—and we’re already failing there. Thank you for the lesson, my beloved barefoot shoes.

We can’t feel ourselves. We live in bubbles of illusion and fear, blindly navigating around our traumas. Stay in control. Hold on. Don’t let go. When it hurts—add pressure. As long as the body keeps going.

We can’t handle ourselves— so we compensate by controlling others. And horses?
They’re the perfect target. Every time they give in or obey, it feeds our ego:
Someone finally listens to me. Finally takes me seriously.

But at what cost?

It’s time to wake up. To face this. To shatter the paradigms modern horsemanship is built on— especially the one that says:
If a horse expresses an opinion, it means the rider is incompetent.

K.

12/06/2025

In the previous article, we learned that horses can detect the sound of electric cars earlier than riders do. But what does this mean for the safety of all of us?
The study supported by BHS Scotland not only confirmed horses' ability to detect quiet EVs, but also emphasized the importance of mutual respect on the roads 🛣️. Safety isn’t only the riders’ responsibility – drivers also play a crucial role.

Whether you're driving a quiet electric vehicle, a petrol car, or even a tractor – everyone should follow the # DeadSlow rule 🐢:
🔹 Slow down to 10 mph
🔹 Pass horses with at least one car’s width of space
🔹 Be patient and calm

💡 During a presentation of the results at Eglington Country Park, Alan Hiscox from BHS said:

“As the number of EVs on UK roads increases, it's important to ease riders' concerns that their horses can't hear these quiet cars – in fact, it’s quite the opposite. This research will help improve understanding and communication between riders and drivers.”

📊 Professor James Njuguna from Robert Gordon University added that the number of incidents involving horses and EVs is rising, and this research is a significant step toward mutual understanding and safety for all road users – riders, drivers, and horses alike 🧠🐴🚘.

And Neil Swanson from EVA Scotland concluded:
“This research is vital for everyone – horse owners and drivers alike. It helps us understand how to stay alert and avoid accidents on the roads. And more than that – it reminds us that other vulnerable groups (cyclists, pedestrians, animals) also need our respect and caution.”

⚠️ The study reminds us that even small changes in road behavior can save lives – of horses, riders, or even ourselves.
Source: The British Horse Society. (2019). New report reveals horses’ sensitivity levels to electric vehicles.
Photo: Brake.org

11/06/2025

Horses Hear What We Don’t – Silent Electric Cars and Road Safety

With the growing number of electric vehicles (EVs) on our roads, new questions are emerging about the safety of riders and horses 🐎. The British Horse Society, in collaboration with Robert Gordon University and the Electric Vehicle Association Scotland 🧠🔬, has introduced a new study examining how horses react to the sounds of electric cars.

The goal of the research was to determine whether, and how, horses perceive approaching electric vehicles, which are significantly quieter than traditional cars 🧏‍♀️. The research team tested the reactions of three riding horses to different vehicles (three electric cars and one petrol car) at various speeds – 10, 20, and 30 mph 🛻. The vehicles approached from behind while the horses stood near the road. The car sounds were recorded with microphones, and the horses' behavior was monitored on video 🎥.

And what did the study reveal? 💥
Horses detected the presence of electric vehicles before their riders did. Thanks to their sensitive hearing, they could perceive even the faintest sounds of electric cars before seeing the vehicle 🚘👂. This result was consistent across multiple trials with different horses and vehicles – indicating a reliable phenomenon.

While it’s positive that horses can "hear" electric cars, this doesn’t necessarily mean the situation is less dangerous. Quietness can also be deceptive – if a horse reacts unexpectedly, there's a risk of collision or a fall 🐎⚠️. This reinforces the importance of following the # DeadSlow campaign’s recommendations 🚸 – slow down to 10 mph and pass horses with a gap of at least one car’s width 🚙⬅️➡️🐴.

In the next post, we’ll talk more about why this research is important not only for riders but for all road users 🚗🧑‍🌾🛴.

Source: The British Horse Society. (2019). New report reveals horses’ sensitivity levels to electric vehicles.
Photo: Horse and Hound

10/06/2025

RELAXATION, COMMUNICATION, AND ENERGY WORK function in a completely opposite way from what we’ve been programmed to believe. From early childhood, we are taught to do more, try harder, push, hold on, and endure. But in these subtle realms, we must simply let go. 🪶

They cannot be forced, achieved through effort, or mastered by taking a million courses.
When we are ready and we soften into them, they offer themselves, open up, embrace us—and we are left in awe of what we’re capable of, of all that our body and soul can perceive. And at the same time, we’re baffled by HOW MUCH we had been missing.

Looking back, I deeply regret all that I unknowingly did to horses. I regret many of my former beliefs, and I don’t excuse myself by saying I was still far gentler and more considerate than what was common.

I don’t blame myself—just as we can’t be angry at someone blind for not seeing. Nor do I judge those who haven’t yet awakened.

There is only one way I can make amends for my mistakes:
To live fully in alignment with what I now know and feel.

🌟 Never cross the boundary formed by the delicate energetic line between tension and discomfort.
🌟 Never ask for even a sliver more than what feels good for the horse.
🌟 Never go against what the horse is asking of me.
🌟 Never repeat the same mistake twice.
🌟 Teach others so they, too, can feel and hear.

Because no book, no trainer, and no method in the world will teach you more about your horse’s needs than your horse.

K.
📸 photo by .dohn

09/06/2025

Artificial Intelligence for Equine Health – How Algorithms Spot Fatigue Before Injury Strikes

The research results showed that even very subtle changes in a horse’s movement can signal early fatigue. But raw motion sensor data alone isn’t enough.

That’s where artificial intelligence comes in. The scientists used advanced machine learning algorithms trained to recognize the differences between a tired and a fresh horse. From motion patterns, they built a classification model – a tool that can accurately determine whether a stride reflects fatigue or not.

So how does it actually work? Picture a training session where the horse wears discreet sensors. These continuously collect data and send it to a system that analyzes walking or trotting patterns in real time. If the model detects signs of fatigue – such as longer hoof-ground contact or reduced range of motion – the trainer can react immediately: lower the intensity, stop the session, or allow for a longer rest.

This technology holds huge potential. It allows us to:
➡prevent overloading and injury, which often occurs only after compensation movements appear,
➡optimize training – tailored to each horse’s current condition,
➡enhance comfort and welfare by avoiding "pushing past the limit."

It’s also completely non-invasive, safe, repeatable, and could become a routine part of daily equine care. This study marks an important shift – from subjective trainer judgment to objective, data-driven decisions.

Source: Hamed Darbandi, Carolien C.B.M. Munsters, Parmentier, J., & Havinga, P. (2023). Detecting fatigue of sport horses with biomechanical gait features using inertial sensors.
Photo: Dressage Today

08/06/2025

When the Body Says Enough – How Technology Helps Detect Fatigue in Horses

In the world of sport horses, fatigue plays a crucial role and is often the first step on the path to injury. Yet it remains a factor that’s difficult to measure in practice. Traditionally, fatigue is assessed using physiological parameters – such as blood lactate concentration. However, these methods require sample collection, a vet’s intervention, and are invasive and prone to external influences.

A research team set out to change this and take fatigue monitoring to a whole new level. In a recent study, they explored whether fatigue could be detected non-invasively – purely by analyzing movement changes in the horse’s body during training. The key was the use of inertial sensors – small devices attached to the horse’s body that capture biomechanical data in real time during movement.

The study included 60 sport horses undergoing both low- and high-intensity training. Their movement was recorded during walk and trot, both before and after exertion. Researchers then extracted various biomechanical features from each step, such as:
➡duration of stance phase (when the hoof is on the ground),
➡duration of swing phase (when the leg moves forward),
➡overall range of limb movement.

They analyzed how these markers changed with fatigue and identified which ones were most reliable for detecting it.

The results suggested that even subtle changes in movement could indicate that a horse is starting to become physically overworked. But the raw data is just the beginning — see the next post for what came next.

Source: Hamed Darbandi, Carolien C.B.M. Munsters, Parmentier, J., & Havinga, P. (2023). Detecting fatigue of sport horses with biomechanical gait features using inertial sensors.
Photo: Malgré Tout

02/06/2025

LET GO, RELEASE, UNWIND
The theme of this chapter of my life.
I look back and I can’t quite understand how I managed everything I did just a year ago—and with such intensity.
Now I see the cost.
And I know for sure: I don’t want to live like that anymore.

I’m rearranging my life on all levels.
Whatever isn’t in alignment with me has to go.
Even the smallest details—there’s no more space left for even the tiniest disharmony.
Sometimes, it’s enough that something no longer brings me as much joy as everything else does.

I’m learning to be braver and to let go, let go, let go.
It’s terrifying—and at the same time, such a relief.

My visions and plans are still big—in fact, bigger than ever before.
And the best part is: I’m not alone in them anymore.
An incredible is forming around me.

Because I want nothing less than a complete shift.
In how we see horses, how we train them, how we treat them—and how we treat ourselves.

I’ve longed to create something like this ever since I gained a bit of sense around horses.
I just didn’t know how.
Now I do.
Now I have the people.
Now it’s beginning to happen.

It’s time for change.
K.

📸 Photo by .dohn

29/05/2025

2/2 The Hidden Cost of the Individual Stall – What a Horse’s Immune System Tells Us

A study on the impact of individual stabling on horse welfare found blood changes after horses were moved from pasture into single stalls. These changes suggest that a horse’s body reacts to social isolation as an acute stressor. Additionally, within the first week, some horses showed signs of stereotypical behavior – such as restlessly shifting weight or chewing on stall walls. These behaviors may indicate long-term disturbance of mental well-being.

In contrast, dividing the original group into two smaller ones but keeping them on pasture caused no signs of stress – no behavioral, hormonal, or immune responses. This clearly shows that environment and the degree of social contact play a vital role in a horse’s life. The physical presence of other horses, opportunities for movement, and natural behaviors are not just comforts – they are essential to health.

Once again, this research confirms that group housing, or at least regular, extended turnout, is irreplaceable for horse welfare. If we want healthy, mentally balanced, and resilient horses, we must take their natural needs seriously – even if it requires more effort in management.

Source: Schmucker, S., Preisler, V., Marr, I., Krüger, K., & Stefanski, V. (2022). Single housing but not changes in group composition causes stress-related immunomodulations in horses.
Photo: Euro Dressage

28/05/2025

1/2 When a Stable Means Stress – How Living Conditions Affect a Horse’s Immune System

Modern stabling offers certain advantages – control over feeding, easier handling, better oversight of training. But what if this form of comfort comes at a hidden cost? A recent study provides evidence that moving a horse from pasture into an individual stall can significantly impact its health – not just its mental well-being, but the functioning of its immune system as well.

Researchers observed young sport horses initially kept in a group on pasture. They then divided them into two smaller groups without visual contact – but this change didn’t trigger significant hormonal or immune responses. The real shift came only when the horses were moved into individual boxes.

After just one day in solitary stabling, cortisol – the stress hormone – increased. Although cortisol levels returned to baseline within a week, changes in white blood cell counts (such as a drop in T lymphocytes and a rise in neutrophils) persisted much longer. The result is a disrupted immune balance, which may increase the horses’ vulnerability to illness.

To be continued in the next post.

Source: Schmucker, S., Preisler, V., Marr, I., Krüger, K., & Stefanski, V. (2022). Single housing but not changes in group composition causes stress-related immunomodulations in horses.
Photo: Horse and Hound

Awakened Equestrian

24/06/2025

18/06/2025

17/06/2025

12/06/2025

11/06/2025

10/06/2025

09/06/2025

08/06/2025

02/06/2025

29/05/2025

28/05/2025

Adresa

Internetová stránka

Upozornění

Kontaktujte Společnost

Odkazy

Sdílet

Kategorie