Foundation Equine Training

23/11/2025

💙 DAY 1 - The Half-Halt Blueprint is officially LIVE! I can’t quite believe I’m typing this…

For years I’ve watched riders struggle with the half-halt ... nodding politely in lessons, trying their hardest, but never quite feeling confident that they truly understood it.

I’ve seen: the confusion, the vague explanations, the “just do a bloody half-halt” shouted across an arena, the guessing, the embarrassment, the horses who rush, lean, collapse, or fall onto the forehand.
..and the riders who quietly feel like they “should know this by now”...

But the truth is: most riders were never actually taught the half-halt clearly.
Not in a way that makes sense biomechanically.
Not in a way that matches how horses learn.
Not in a way you can teach your horse consistently.

So after decades of riding, training, travelling, and teaching thousands of horses and riders…and after months of filming, writing, refining, and wrestling with technology…

I’m incredibly proud to finally share:

💙🐴 THE HALF-HALT BLUEPRINT — my complete online course on teaching, understanding, and riding the half-halt.

This week is Launch Week, so you’ll see me sharing a little more than usual — each day I’ll drop a small insight, myth-bust, or lesson that will help you understand the half-halt in a whole new way.

If you’ve ever felt unsure, confused, or embarrassed about the half-halt…
If your horse is on the forehand or struggling with balance…
If you want riding to feel easier, lighter, safer, and more connected…

👉 You can explore the course here:
https://go.hartstoneequestrian.com/half-halt-blueprint

Thank you for being here.
I can’t wait to share everything I’ve been working on. 💙

13/11/2025

11/11/2025

08/11/2025

07/11/2025

05/11/2025

31/10/2025

💫 From Science to Soul – Day 4: Rupture and Repair

One of the most powerful concepts from Warwick Schiller’s clinic was something he called rupture and repair — the same rhythm that exists in every healthy relationship.

Most of us, as children, saw rupture modelled … but rarely repair.
Our parents argued in front of us, but fixed it later in private — or never at all.
So as adults, we’re often uneasy with conflict or activation; we think safety means “never letting anything go wrong.”

But real safety isn’t the absence of rupture — it’s the ability to repair it.

In horse training, that means I’m not trying to keep my horse calm at all times.
I’m allowing small activations — little waves of energy through the nervous system — and showing the horse that it can return to baseline again.
It’s not about avoiding stress; it’s about learning to move through it together.

When a horse can get slightly activated, then come back to me and find regulation, something shifts.
From a scientific standpoint, we can’t measure “trust” precisely — but it looks like trust, and it feels like trust.

Over time, each gentle rupture and repair strengthens the connection. The horse learns that I’m a ventral tether — a consistent, grounded presence who can help it navigate the world’s unpredictability.

And just like in human relationships, when repair is available, bigger challenges stop feeling so frightening.

Tomorrow: Day 5 – Clinginess and Flight – Two Sides of the Same Coin.

30/10/2025

28/10/2025

It’s important for all horse trainers and riders to learn how to identify the flight response.

For centuries, the world’s best trainers have emphasised the importance of rhythm and straightness — what we now call self-carriage. A horse that maintains his own rhythm and line shows confidence and relaxation. By contrast, a horse that accelerates suddenly or without being asked — whether under saddle or in hand — is likely showing a fear response.

A common example is the jumping horse that rushes towards a fence. This behaviour is often mistaken for enthusiasm or a “love of jumping”, but in reality, it’s a sign of anxiety. When early training is rushed or unclear, the horse learns to associate fences with fear. The obstacle becomes a trigger to run — both toward and away from it.

Physiologically, a horse showing a strong flight response on a cross-country course has a blood profile similar to one fleeing from predators. That’s why training for rhythm and self-maintenance of speed is essential for both welfare and rider safety. The jump should never cause acceleration; the horse must be trained to maintain a steady rhythm and tempo on his own.

In dressage — and across all disciplines — we should recognise tension as a sign of fear, not excitement or energy. The great classical masters understood this deeply:

▪️ Quickening legs signal the flight response.

▪️ A hollow back reflects tension and fear.

▪️ True impulsion comes only from calm, progressive training.

Understanding the difference between rhythm and rush protects both horse and rider — and ensures training remains fair, ethical, and safe.

25/10/2025

Does rider laterality affect position in the saddle? 🐎

A recent study explored how a rider’s natural preference for one side of the body — known as laterality — influences their riding position.

Twenty-five female riders were assessed for handedness, leg dominance, and leg length, then filmed riding their own horses at halt, walk, trot, and canter. The videos were analysed to see how their posture aligned with an ideal riding position.

Results showed clear links between laterality and symmetry:
👉 Left-handed riders tended to be more balanced overall.
👉 Right-handed and right-leg dominant riders leaned and twisted more to the right.
👉 Longer leg lengths were associated with tilting of the head, hips, and shoulders.
👉 Riders who rode more often maintained positions closer to the ideal.

The findings highlight that rider laterality influences posture and that training should be tailored to each rider’s unique asymmetries to support clearer communication between horse and rider.

https://brill.com/view/journals/cep/aop/article-10.1163-17552559-bja10060/article-10.1163-17552559-bja10060.xml