ML Horsemanship

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ML Horsemanship

ML Horsemanship Building tailored plans to suit each horse's needs.

Covering areas of Sussex, Surrey & Kent, groundwork and behavioural specialist offering a range of services including: ground/ridden session, loading sessions, backing and retraining.

20/02/2025

Does your horse stand in a relaxed way when tied up or are they tense? Do they fidget or pull back?

There are lots of reasons horses may find it hard to relax when tied up. The two most common reasons are a lack of emotional regulation and engagement.

One way to help them is to use a neutral cue, replacing them to where you would like them to stand and settle, rewarding them lots with touch or treats when they are getting the right answer/ displaying a behaviour you would like.

If you would like help teaching your horse to settle tied up and in new spaces, get in touch for a chat or to book a session.

18/02/2025

Trigger stacking in horses refers to the buildup of multiple stressors that, individually, might not cause a significant reaction, but when combined, can overwhelm the horse and lead to a strong or even explosive response. It's similar to the concept of a "tipping point" where a horse's threshold for stress is gradually lowered as more triggers accumulate, such as noise, pressure, discomfort, or confusion.

For example, a horse may be calm while being saddled, but if it's also experiencing discomfort from an ill-fitting saddle, is anxious about a new environment, and then hears a loud noise, it might react suddenly or become anxious because the combined stressors "stack" on top of each other.

Want to learn how to stop your horse getting trigger stacked? Drop us a message to book a session.

15/02/2025

Does your horse stand at the mounting block or do you have to send time getting them in the right place to get on as quickly as possible?

Does someone have to hold your horse when you get on?

Does your horse walk off as soon as your foot is in the stirrup?

Do they then take 5 minutes to chill out before you can ask anything once you’re on?
What if I told you there was a way to make getting on your horse the most relaxing thing in the world? Your horse will see the block as a place of relaxation, so they begin to take a breath and activate the brain's non-reactive (parasympathetic) part, so they are focused and engaged with you instead of worrying about their surroundings and becoming trigger stacked.

This creates a huge drop in cortisol before you get on them!

If you would like to help your horse find relaxation before you’re even in the saddle, get in touch to have a chat or book a session.

13/02/2025

Like people, horses are aware when you are aware of them. That is what builds trust and confidence.

Horses communicate through body language, facial expressions, and even subtle changes in their behaviour. By paying attention to these signals, you can better understand their needs, emotions, and comfort levels. Ignoring these cues can lead to misunderstandings and behavioural issues.

For example, if your horse is constantly avoiding eye contact or tensing up, they might be feeling anxious or uncomfortable. If they stop moving forward or exhibit resistance, it could be a sign that they’re in pain or confused about what’s expected.

By listening to your horse’s body language and responding to their cues, you can create a more positive and effective partnership. When horses feel heard and understood, they are more likely to trust you and respond positively to training.

Want to learn how to notice the subtle signs and be more present with you horse, get in touch to book a session.

11/02/2025

Desensitising is the most commonly used word when it comes to getting horses used to things they may find scary. However, this is not what we want to do to our horses.
The definition of desensitising is: to make someone less likely to feel shock or distress in moments of cruelty or suffering through overexposure to those things.

In the case of horses, this is flooding. We expose them to something they are afraid of until they stop reacting to it. They ultimately shut down…. This is a survival response they display to reduce how traumatic an event is. It is also the same method that was used to break a horse’s spirit during the backing process through sacking. It is the same thing but with a different name.

I guarantee no one who owns a horse is doing this intentionally and it is such a common practice that it is seen as the “thing to do” to help our horses find relaxation and confidence with their surroundings.

What we actually want is a horse who is engaged with us and their surroundings. We want them to be unsure, that’s smart. That’s going to help them get themselves out of trouble when on abnormal ground or going around a cross country course. What we also want is for them to be unsure, engage with the problem and engage with us to help guide them through it. This is what builds confidence and relaxation in themselves and their person.

If you want to help teach your horse the right way to work through difficult situations, get in touch to book a session.

08/02/2025

How many times have you heard people laughing about how horses are pretty convinced everything in the world is going to eat them?

How many times have you stopped and wondered how stressful it must be to be constantly worrying about your surroundings?

There is so much we can do to teach our horses the tools to regulate their emotions and engage with their surroundings to become the most confident version of themselves. They can enjoy the world through social engagement, instead of sitting in the fight, flight or freeze response every time something is slightly out of place.

If you’d like to help your horse lead a more confident, worry-free life, drop us a message to book a session.

01/02/2025

On social media, liberty work comes across as a magical dance that only a select few people with certain horses can achieve. This can seem a little disheartening when you take your horse into the arena, and they spend most of the time wandering around seemingly disinterested in what you’re asking.

That’s not the end of the world! That simply means they need a little extra help building up engagement with you, as well as clearer communication.

There is no better feeling than taking your horse out and them wanting to engage with you. It feeds the little kid inside all of us that fell so head of heels for horses in the first place.

If you’d like to learn how to build clear communication, trust and engagement with your horse, get in touch to book a session!

28/01/2025

Horses are herd animals with strong social instincts. The same as us, they are social mammals and not Flight animals.

In the wild, they form bonds through non-verbal communication, touch, and shared experiences. By engaging socially with your horse, you tap into these natural instincts, fostering a deeper relationship.

Activities like grooming, groundwork, playing games and engaging with them throughout a ride shows your horse you see them, are aware of them and hear them. It shows them that you see them as part of your herd, not something just there to do a job.

Social engagement is critical because it creates a foundation of trust and reduces stress, making your horse more eager to work and play with you. A horse that feels safe and valued in your presence is more likely to learn and thrive. Social engagement also allows you to better understand your horse's unique personality and needs, enhancing your ability to care for and train them effectively. In short, it’s the key to building a meaningful, harmonious partnership.

Want to learn how to get your horse more engaged with you? Drop us a message to book a session.

25/01/2025

How well does your horse actually lead?

Do you find yourself regularly being dragged to the grass, being bumped into, dragged behind them as they get keen on their way to the field… or having to drag them along?

Do they get more agitated as you try to get them to walk nicely next to you or become immovable statues?

Do you find yourself looking around at potential “hazards” your horse might spot and freak out at?

Leading is one of those things that we are never actually taught to do correctly and safely. Nor do we take the time to correctly teach our horses. For a lot of us, as long as we can get them from A to B, they can lead and 70% of the time nothing bad ever happens, and the few times something does we can always find another excuse for why it happened.

Teaching your horse the tools to lead safely and correctly is one of those things that doesn’t take that long to teach and extends into so many other areas that will help make yours and you horse’s life that little bit easier and more relaxing.
If you want to learn how, check out our YouTube channel for a FREE video on leading, or get in touch for a chat and to book a session.

21/01/2025

Backing and hacking has always been seen as the nicest way to begin a horse’s ridden journey. However, this might not be the case.

Hacking is a wonderful way for our horses to see the world around them, but it does not prepare their body to be ridden. Although it allows them to explore moving forwards with weight on their back, you will find the majority of them are compensating in some way.

We start horses at a time when they are still growing and plates are fusing, this is the most important time for them to be using their body in a way that is healthy and going to help condition them for what we ask of them in a future. If they are compensating, they are placing excess stress on areas that are prone to weakness and building muscle in places that will not support these areas!

Lateral movement is one of the best ways to encourage healthy use of your horse’s body. It is not something reserved for older, more advanced horses and it is not something that is difficult on their body. It provides gentle, low impact conditioning, beginning on the ground and then being done under saddle.

By encouraging our horse to move their ribcage, they engage their core, the pelvis tilts underneath them, the back lifts, the thoracic sling is engaged to lift the shoulders and off the forehand and their head naturally drops into a healthy frame. This is how we get our horse working from the back forwards to build muscle and strength in a healthy way!
By using lateral flexion, it also naturally lowers cortisol and adrenaline. It also shows our horse that we are engaging with them and they can find relaxation with us, not with something else.

The school becomes a place of gentle conditioning for young horses, not hard work. Hacking can still be used to show them the world but we can use the same tool from the school out hacking to reduce how much they compensate and using the flexion to help them find relaxation with us, building a new generation of horses who are engaged with their rider, confident and comfortable in their body and can find relaxation anywhere you take them.

18/01/2025

Your horse isn't displaying unwanted behaviours out of spite or a desire to misbehave. Instead, these behaviours are often a result of discomfort, confusion, fear, or unmet needs. Horses communicate through their actions, and what we interpret as "bad behaviour" is usually their way of expressing something that’s bothering them.

Unlike humans, horses have an underdeveloped prefrontal cortex, so they do not have the same ability to think things through and rationalise the way we do. So, they can’t come out and go I fancy being super tense and getting my rider off today.

Horses are creatures of habit and learn from their experiences. If they associate certain actions with negative outcomes, they might act out to avoid those situations.

Similarly, if they are not given enough mental stimulation or proper training, they may resort to undesirable behaviours due to boredom or frustration. Recognising the underlying causes of these actions, and addressing them with patience and understanding, is key to improving your horse's behaviour.

Want to help your horse work through their behaviour so it stays away? Drop us a message to book a session.

15/01/2025

𝗥𝗲𝗵𝗮𝗯 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗯𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿!

Our horses are our world, we invest so much time, energy and money into keeping them in tip top condition…

Yet; so many people 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗽 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗵𝗮𝗯! But it can be the crucial element of your horse returning to soundness or not.
Vets are excellent at diagnosing and helping healing/ surgery etc, but often the process/ investment and energy stops here! And this is usually the missing piece…

There are many reasons for this, and people are not at fault; the 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗮 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘂𝗽…

In the human world, we know how important rehab is; you wouldn’t have hip surgery without physio input after! But we accept sub par rehab- lacking focus and consistency, often rushed, if completed at all. So often we see…
week 1 walk
week 2 10 mins trot
week 3 15 mins trot etc…
But how is this rehab? It’s not focusing on the actual issues and guiding the owner how to resolve these?!

Working alongside a lot of equine vets, they have a very tough job- being able to know what the issue is (quickly!), finding a magical treatment and then being able to prescribe rehab. We are here, to support vets and owners at the point the horse can have rehab. With a top class specialist service, our team of experts will guide the owner through the process of rehab.

Let’s all join the mission, to change the way rehab is approached and executed! In turn, improving recovery, reduce re-injury and improve the lives of horses.

https://www.awardequinephysio.co.uk/equinerehabilitation

14/01/2025

If a mindset or plan cannot cater for every individual, someone will always be left behind. If we force them to conform to those ideologies, we are neglecting them.

Everything we do has to be able to be tailored to suit each horse’s individual wants and needs, which may not be in line with what is considered “the right way”.

I know of plenty of horses who flourish in a conventional training plan, and I know of plenty who have needed something completely different. I know of horses who love being turned out all year in a large herd, and some who would rather stay in during the winter and prefer to be turned out alone. They are all unique and need to be treated as such.

One example is our young mare who had a shoulder injury as a youngster, and hates going out when the ground starts getting wet and muddy. She escaped from her stable last year and had the choice of wondering down to the grass 10 meters to her left or walk all the way up to the barn. She chose to walk up to the barn and stood in there for 2 hours until someone woke up and let her back into her stable.
It is our job as their people to advocate for their needs. It is up to us to listen and watch for markers that indicate that we need to change something or take a different approach.

If you would like a hand building a plan to suit both your needs and your horses needs, get in touch to book a session.

11/01/2025

Is your horse really happy with their saddle?

The signs of discomfort can be as subtle as lifting their head up when you go to place it on their back. Left unnoticed, this can escalate to undesirable behaviours such as biting, kicking or generally moving around a lot when being tacked up.

There are many reasons your horse may be reluctant to have their saddle on, some may be:

1. Poor saddle fit
2. Unsuitable girth shape
3. Overtightening on the girth
4. Muscular discomfort
5. An underlying condition like kissing spine or ulcers causing pain

Once a horse displays unwanted behaviour repetitively, it becomes a habit. As they don’t have a fully formed prefrontal cortex, they can’t reason things the same way we can, so these habits are a reaction founded by either engagement, flight, fight or freeze.

It is a little bit like someone throwing a ball to you, you will either catch it or put your hands up to stop it hitting you. The same quick reaction happens for the horse when we present them with something. Those things with a negative association have a negative reaction as it stimulates the fight, flight or freeze response, not engagement.
If you’ve had everything checked by your vet, saddler and physio and your horse is still reluctant to be saddled, they may need a helping hand building new, positive associations and habits. Get in touch to find out how

07/01/2025

A week off for your horse should not automatically result in them acting out. Horses, like people, need rest and recovery, and a short break can actually benefit their physical and mental well-being. However, when a horse does act out after time off, it’s often due to a few key factors, rather than simply the time off itself.

The most common reason is a lack of engagement with their person and a lack of emotional regulation. They rely on something other than themselves and their person for relaxation, so they go other threshold quickly and don’t have the tools to be able to bring themselves back down.

It is our job to provide them with the tools necessary to regulate their own emotions. This way, the energy built up from time off creates a horse who is just more enthusiastic about playing the game and getting the right answer, than a horse who is having a complete meltdown at the end of the rope.

Want to provide your horse with the tools to help them keep their cool instead of spontaneously combusting, get in touch to book a session.

04/01/2025

New 2025 pricing. Please drop us a message if you'd like to book a session in 😊

*discount session bundles are non-refundable and subject to pre-booking sessions in advance*

03/01/2025

Happy New Year 🥳

For a lot of us, 2024 was a year with a lot of ups and a lot of downs. At ML Horsemanship, we saw a whole lot of ups! We held our first clinic, released a book, set up a YouTube channel, and we met a whole load of new people and their horses.

Our aim this year is to continue building new connections, releasing some more accessible online content for those who have reached out from around the world, as well as those here in the UK, and continue to help horses and their owners build stronger connections, more engagement and clearer communication so that partnerships can flourish.

We are hoping to keep up to date with releasing content and showing everyone more of the day-to-day life, so please make sure you’re following us on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok if you’re not already.

19/12/2024

Less than a week being live and we are so excited to hear so many people getting so much from our first book!

If you haven't got your copy yet, head over to amazon. It's available on Kindle and paperback. If you have, let us know your thoughts. We'd love to head them 😁

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Give a little time to bounces!!!! They are hugely beneficial for your horse, encouraging correct rotation and engagement of the pelvis, rounding and opening the spine, engaging the core and lifting the shoulders. Using a minimum of 3 in a row, even at a low height, can help build the stabilising muscles in your horse's body. These are also a brilliant exercise for SI and Kissing Spine rehab work (mid to later stages) #horse #equestrianlife #horsemanship #horseclickertraining #horsegroundworktraining #equestrian #ethicalhorsemanship #horselife #dressage #equine #horsetrainer

Altivo being his usual legendary self having a play bridleless this week 😍 #horse #horseclickertraining #horsemanship #horselife #horsmanship #equestrianlife #equestrian #ethicalhorsemanship #paard #cheval #caballo

Spring will arrive soon!!! Now is the time to get your loading perfected!!! Create the best equestrian summer you can by working on things now, so the summer is free to enjoy without the stress!!! See how ML Horsemanshio can help!! Via message, phone or email #horseclickertraining #horse #horseloadingtraining #equestrianlife #horsmanship

Building trust, communication, and relaxation in the horses body.... lateral flexion and big releases fix most issues, forward motion fixes the rest. #horse #horsmanship #horsegroundworktraining #horseclickertraining

First clinic of the year done! Thank you everyone who came and for making it such a fun day. Enjoy a little highlight of our fantastic 5 year old demo pony being a legend 😍. Drop us a message if you'd like details on the next one #equestrian #dressage #pferd #paard #cheval #horseriding #britishdressage #eventing #horse #warmblood #dressagehorse #dressagerider #equine #horse #caballo #eventhorse #dressagetraining #naturalhorsemanship #horsemanship #britisheventing #equinesofinstagram #equinelife #equestrianlife #horserider #equineprofessional #equinesportsmassage #equinerehabilitation #westernhorse

Welcome to ML Horsemanship. We are very excited to be able to offer more 1 on 1 session this year, as well as run clinics to help you and your horse kick start the year! Please have a look at the page for more info or drop me a message with any questions 😊

Altivo having a bridleless play at the end of a schooling session 😁👍

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