Straightforward Horsemanship

17/03/2025

Something to consider as we start getting those ponies fit after winter 🌦️🌱

12/03/2025

Many thanks to all for a wonderful day of collaboration and learning at the EAS Symposium - it was great to meet so many people who are passionate about supporting others through equine assisted work, and an absolute privilege to be asked to share some insights from the developing evidence base.

Special thanks also to all the organisers for their amazing work, and to sponsors Horse Sport Ireland and to Clonshire Equestrian Centre for hosting and supporting this fabulous event!

Kez Sullivan presenting at the Horse Sport Ireland sponsored EAS Symposium at Clonshire Equestrian Centre yesterday!

28/12/2024

✨ Rupert Isaacson Demo - North London, Tuesday 7th January ✨

Have you always wondered what were the secrets behind high school dressage training? How the piaffe, the passage, the pirouettes and tempis are actually produced? Have you always wanted a horse that was at its most supple, mentally and emotionally happy and flexible, its most muscled and wise?

Join Rupert Isaacson, founder of The Horse Boy method & internationally known as a trainer of the Old Masters dressage system of training horses from the ground – the in-hand work as it is known, as he unlocks the secrets and shows us the way to joy with our horses… and with our human selves.

In this 2hr demonstration, Rupert will be showing progressive dressage exercises for ultimate equine wellbeing, from supporting healthy movement patterns to the beginnings of collection.

5 - 7pm, Tuesday 7th January
Oaklands College Equestrian Centre, St Albans, AL4 0JA
£25 per person

For more information or to reserve your ticket, please contact Kez on 07951 751 527

26/11/2024

Many thanks to HETI - Horses in Education and Therapy International for supporting this research!

If you provide equine assisted services in England, and:

- Are keen to get involved with research
- Have provided EAS services to at least 20 individuals under the “Troubled Families” or “Supporting Families” programmes (or county equivalent) anytime from 2015 onwards and/or ongoing
(NB These are national policy programmes and in each county they may be named differently. You may need to contact your own local authority or commissioning organisations to confirm that your work was/is within these programmes)

This could be for you!

If you fit the criteria listed above, and are interested in your service being considered for this study, please complete this survey to express interest.

https://forms.office.com/r/KDHVaTyf3G

This does not commit you to participating – there will be many steps to take and discuss prior to any commitment on either side.

Many thanks in advance for your support.

Are you an EAS practitioner based in England? If so, you are invited to express an interest in your Equine Assisted Service being included in a potential multi-site EAS study with Professor Ann Hemingway (Bournemouth University) and Kezia Sullivan MSc.

The project welcomes participation from all equine-assisted service providers (whether they are HETI members or non-members) who meet the following criteria:
- Are keen to participate and actively engage
- Operate in England (not rest of UK, as the programme is specific to English policy)
- Have provided EAS services to at least 20 individuals under the “Troubled Families” or “Supporting Families” programmes (or county equivalent) anytime from 2015 onwards and / or ongoing
(NB This is a national policy program, and may be named differently in each county. You may need to contact your own local authority or commissioning organisations to confirm that your work was / is within these programmes)

The idea for this research project stems from the HETI(UK) Autumn forum and we are delighted to be able to support this project. For further details on the project, click the link:
https://hetifederation.org/research-opportunity-for-equine-assisted-service-providers-england/

If you would like to be involved, please complete the survey below by 31st December 2024. The survey takes approximately 5 minutes to fill out, and you can withdraw at any time. This does not commit you to participating – there will be many steps to take and discuss before any commitment is made on either side.
https://forms.office.com/r/KDHVaTyf3G

22/10/2024

It was lovely collaborating with everyone at the HETI - Horses in Education and Therapy International UK Forum - a huge thank you to TheHorseCourse for hosting a fantastic day, and to all involved for sharing so many great conversations and perspectives!

27/06/2024

27/06/2024

Many thanks to all for another wonderful learning & collaboration experience at HETI - Horses in Education and Therapy International Congress in Budapest last week!
Fantastic to see the field developing so fast, with such consideration for equine welfare.

17/06/2024

Many thanks to all for another beautiful weekend of learning with Nahshon Cook Horsemanship - a lovely study of shared sensitivity between humans and horses, and of small changes with big impacts.

And thanks to Amy of Heavenly Hooves Equine Podiatry and Ross of Rosca Horsemanship for organising!

10/06/2024

Wonderful to hear the range of perspectives across the UK Equine Assisted Services last week at the Equine Assisted & Facilitated Practitioners Network; many thanks to Claire Mission & the team for hosting!

06/06/2024

When I'm not hanging out with wonderful horses and humans, I'm involved with figuring out why horses and humans get along so well, and how that can help humans (and horses) to heal.

It was an absolute joy to be part of this conversation with Rupert Isaacson, founder of The Horse Boy method, and Professor Ann Hemingway - many thanks to Rupert for having us both. If you're interested, you can find our conversation at this link!

Most of us in the equine assisted field are familiar with encountering skepticism - the inevitable "aren't you just giving kids pony rides?" attitude that ca...

04/06/2024

Fantastic to see so much collaboration between equine assisted services at the One Equine Trust Partnerships creating Pathways to Practice workshop yesterday at CAFRE, Northern Ireland

27/05/2024

Good to hear some serious consideration towards the needs of rehomed racehorses at the HRI Equine Welfare Symposium, Ireland. By understanding their past training, we can offer a safer future.

20/05/2024

On Good Reins & Bad Reins

We hear it so often - I know I've said it:
"Oh yeah, that's his tricky rein"
"She tends to fall in on the right"
Etc.

But if they're having trouble on one rein, they're in that same body when you're bending the other way.

They're likely to be having difficulties on both reins; but we often only notice one of them.

And whatever they're doing - it's likely because they are Having Difficulties. They may not be strong / balanced / flexible that way (yet).

So we get to add the "Yet" there if we notice, and commit to helping them to move better.

Otherwise it's "just how they are" - because it's just how we are.
So it's worth investigating.

Does the same shoulder fall, whichever way you're going?
Or is it when they anticipate something?
Do both of your legs make sense to them when you ask something?
Are you straight yourself?

So much of horsemanship is asking the question & noticing the answer; what can you find out?

(And then - how can you help?)

19/05/2024

Such a helpful perspective; what is actually happening (& why), when we talk about common difficulties?

16/05/2024

Excited to be collaborating on a new project with Rupert Isaacson - the Art of Joy!

We'll be exploring:

🌱 What joy is, and environments to promote joy

🌻 How to nurture & share joy with others

🌿 How to reignite joy in times of stress

If you're interested, take a look!

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556269796165
https://www.instagram.com/artofjoyspace/
www.artofjoy.co.uk

20/03/2024

Throwback to Merlin Springing into Spring 🌱

Horses naturally mirror each other's paces, and helpfully, ours too!

I like to work with this natural tendency for starting and developing groundwork, as well as messing around at liberty 🙂

18/03/2024

Wonderful to meet with everyone at the HETI Spring Forum / SWP Meeting last week - many thanks to The Donkey Sanctuary for hosting!
It was great to hear the thoughtful discussions around equine welfare & best practice in equine assisted services (and of course to spend some time around this peaceful little soul ❤️)

18/03/2024

We've only gone on the 'gram!
(And we found the front camera!)

You can now find us over on Instagram too at straightforward_horsemanship , if you prefer your Straightforward Horsemanship underscored :)