Heart Horse Training, LLC

01/10/2025

As stewards of the horse, I think we have to be very careful, open minded and non judgemental when we are trying to find things to support and justify our training or management methods. Or when we are trying to help others see that there might be a better way. And that can be hard for a lot of reasons.
Sometimes, we find a trainer or study that supports what we want to believe but, it doesn't always make it right or true. Studies are important and wonderful but, they can also have downfalls. Whether it's because they are done to fit a narrative, who is paying for the study, whether there are too many variables involved, whether the study size is too small, whether new information has since changed old studies, etc.
We have to be willing to admit that we might be wrong and are willing to change what we're doing when that happens, for the benefit of the horse. I have seen that progression first hand in my own training methods. My training methods are vastly different than they were 15 or 20 years ago. My horses and countless hours of research have shown me changes along the way. And many times, I thought I was really on the right track only to have it lead me to another path that led me to another and another.... It is constantly evolving.
My focus for the last several years has been behavior and biomechanics. I use the term biomechanics loosely to also include biotensgrity, fascial work, etc even thought they are all technically a little different. And there is now so much published science behind behavior that we know certain methods and ideas are clearly outdated and ineffective, even abusive in some cases. But there are still no black and white with some of it, behavior or biomechanics, which can make it difficult at times.
Let me give you an example with my Arabian gelding Maryak. He is turning 33 this year. I have had him for 21 years. I've been in horses for close to 40 years to put it in perspective. In 21 years, he's been there through a huge evolution in my own training and learning. And he came with his own set of issues when I got him that we had to work through. But he has truly always been a horse worth his weight in gold!
Whatever I asked, he always complied. And therein, looking back, was part of the struggle that I didn't recognize at the time. Compliance is very tricky. There are times we want and/or need compliance in life. Whether it's to treat a horse in an emergency or whether it's trying to get your 10 year old son out the door and off to school on time! Lol!
But we don't want compliance to the point that we shut down individuality or expression. Or send a horse over threshold.
A couple of years ago, Maryak had started doing an interesting behavior during his R+ sessions. When I would click, he would give this little wuffle (a low pitched, rumbling sounding nicker). At first I was puzzled. But, it also seemed adorable! And others thought it was adorable! We all thought, in our very human way because vocalization is a very human thing, that he was happy and it was because he loved R+ and loved the training! He certainly didn't appear to be showing any obvious stress signs. His head wasn't raised, he didn't swish or flick his tail, he wasn't licking, chewing (outside of eating his food) or yawning. And then, fairly soon after, he would seem disinterested in any more food, even high value rewards. I just chalked it up to his brain was full and he was done with training for the day. I know I've certainly felt that way when I'm learning new stuff!
Looking back, I'm just like "duh, Jennifer!" at what was actually going on. And I'm sure others will read this and think "duh!" But, at the time, I hadn't put the pieces together yet. Sometimes, the downside to training your horses by yourself all the time is that you don't see things as obviously as someone else might until much later.
So let's talk a little about vocalization and horses first. In years of watching my own herd, I have noticed that there is actually very little vocalization that goes on in horses that are emotionally, mentally, and physically healthy. (Emotionally, mentally and physically healthy are key....) There are numerous studies of wild horses that corroborate this finding. In a nutshell, horses tend to communicate primarily through energy and body language. It's instinctual for survival.
Humans tend to communicate primarily through vocal language. It's one of the big differences between the species. A human can be saying one thing and their body language is literally saying the exact opposite. That's why we have kinesicists. A kinesicist is someone who studies human body language and interprets body language cues to understand someone's emotions, intentions, and underlying messages. And those may be very different than the words that person may be speaking.
Horses don't do that. What you see is what you get. And sometimes what you don't see is what you get. But that's more often because the human is just not able to see something yet. You know that old saying, once you see it, you can't unsee it? You have to know it first in order to see it. And that's not something to hold against people. They don't know what they don't know. It's why we're constantly trying to educate ourselves. 20 years ago I didn't know half the stuff I know now!
So, even in play, most horses, again, if they are emotionally, mentally and physically healthy, make very little verbal communication.
As I write this, I'm watching three of my horses playing. They are biting, rearing and chasing each other and yet they are not making any vocalizations. In fact, the only time I usually hear my horses vocalize during play is if one of them takes it a little too far and pushes another one over their threshold. Because these three are pretty well adjusted, there is little to no pushing anyone over threshold. They are able to communicate how much or how little they want to play through their energy and their body language.
In general, the only time I usually ever hear vocalization in my herd is when one or more them are stressed and over their threshold. And stress isn't always 'bad'. It's just information. In an emotionally, mentally and physically healthy horse and herd (there's that trio again), they can experience nuanced levels of stress and down regulate themselves. But sometimes bad stress is unavoidable and they can't down regulate in their own. As in the case of Maryak losing his closest companion a few years ago. When I had to put my then 33 year old Arabian mare down, I was unprepared for how stressed Maryak would be over losing her. I knew there would be stress but it was far more than I realized. He has lost two more companions over the years and, each time, I have had the vet sedate him, in addition to other management, to make the transition easier.
So back to Maryak and his wuffle. What I since learned since those initial sessions is that, when he wuffles, he's actually getting close to or going over threshold. Going over threshold can actually be very soft and nuanced. His wuffle was low and fairly quiet. It's not always big, obvious reactions. So, for someone else watching, it could be hard to tell that Maryak was over threshold because, his body can look relaxed. His head is level with his withers, he's got a neutral spinal alignment, he's standing squarely on all four corners (legs), his tail is hanging loosely. For him, the change in his body posture, if I continued to push him, would come AFTER he was already over threshold. The wuffle is his indicator that, mentally, he has reached his threshold.
Part of that is because his 'normal' is a healthy posture. What if you have a horse that does not have a healthy posture? First, it's important to recognize what a healthy posture is. Does your horse have a neutral or negative spinal alignment, meaning is his spine (not the top of his back but his actual spine) more parallel to the ground or does it angle downward, toward the ground, from his pelvis to his withers? Are his four legs vertical, or perpendicular, under the four corners of his body or do they angle forward, backward, in or out? Is his pelvis in flexion or neutral? All of these things are important because it has an effect on the horse's baseline and their threshold. Much in the same way that humans that have chronic pain or discomfort get 'accustomed' to it, horses do too. But, it also means that we, and horses, can handle less stressors before we go over threshold if we live with chronic pain or discomfort and we can be more reactive when we do go over threshold.
I've also seen this in the case of geldings that drop their p***ses during training. There is some controversy going around right now about whether dropping in geldings during R+ training is a good thing or not. My experience has been that it is a sign that the horse is stressed and over threshold. So it's not something I want but, if it happens, it's good information for me that my horse is over threshold and allows me to adjust my training or my management practices. If it's coupled with a horse that has body dysfunction, and therefore some degree of chronic discomfort/pain, it can take even less for them to go over threshold. They can drop fairly early in a training session and stay that way for an extended period of time than a horse that has a healthier body posture. I have one gelding that, due to multiple surgeries to remove multiple melanomas and then being out of work for an extended period of time, ended up having a lot of body dysfunction. He had always had a naturally very healthy body posture. When we first started back in to work, it didn't take much for him to go over threshold and drop his p***s. He never did that before the surgeries. As his body started getting healthier again, he started dropping less and less. He's just one example. But, several geldings that I have seen that drop during training also have significant body dysfunction. Is there a correlation? I think so, but that's just my opinion and my experience. I haven't looked to see if there are any actual studies to back that up. Maybe I should do one?
There are far more and far varied nuances to body language in horses than any one person or any one study can know. I know some truly amazing horse people that are very gifted at reading equine body language and know a ton but, I don't know a single person that knows and understands every single aspect of equine body language 100% of the time. Partly because we're not horses and partly because what is not normal for horses has been normalized for so long that people think it's normal when it's not.
So where does this leave us? I thought I was on the right track when my horse gave me a certain behavior but, I have since learned that I was not. So that led me on to another path and another and another.........

01/01/2025

I'm so excited about 2025!! Lengthy post ahead about the coming year!.... Be sure to read all the way to the end! 😎🤓🐴❤️

First, I am looking forward to spending more time working with my own horses in 2025 and getting to focus more on my own education. I'm constantly doing things to further my education but, this year will be taking things to another level. 😉😁🐴

The 2025 event schedule is partly finished. I will be adding a few more dates and will announce them as soon as they are confirmed. But so far, this is what is on the schedule for 2025:

April 12-13- Tara Davis. Tara focuses on Classical Dressage and R+. Participants are $250 per private session. Horses are available for use. Auditors are $100 per day.
*There are only 2 spots left each day.

June 28-29- Rachael Draaisma. This clinic will feature Calming Signals 1 on Saturday and Calming Signals 2 on Sunday. Saturday is a prerequisite for Sunday unless you have attended a Calming Signals 1 workshop in the last year. This is a great workshop if you are new to Rachael's work or if you want a refresher as she is constantly adding new material. Cost is $200 per day.

August 9-10- Shawna Karrasch and Jessie Hillegas R+ workshop. This workshop is limited to 9 participants. Horses are provided. Cost is $795 for the weekend. The workshop format is an amazing experience for both those new to R+ and those with more experience!
*There are only 7 spots left.

September 26-29- Rachael Draaisma. This 5 day workshop will cover all 4 of Rachael's subject days plus the opportunity to work privately with Rachael on the last day!
Subject days are Calming Signals 1, Calming Signals 2, Scentwork for Horses, Addressing
Behavioral Issues, and private sessions with Rachael. Each day is a prerequisite for the next and is $200 per day. If you have attended one or more days in the past year, that will also fulfill the prerequisite.

I will get event pages up for each event shortly.

As always, lunch, snacks and horses are provided. Just bring yourself and your desire to learn and join our wonderful community of like minded horse lovers!

✨️✨️My other big announcement for 2025 is that I was accepted into the first ever offering of the Shawna Karrasch Equine R+ Trainer Certification program!! ✨️✨️

The SKE certification program is a year long commitment, beginning today, delving into all aspects of R+ and more! I am so incredibly honored to be among an amazing group of like minded people looking to advance R+ in the horse world! 🤗🐴❤️🎉

Continuing my Balance Through Movement Method (BTMM) journey is also a huge part of my education for 2025. I have been a part of Celeste Lazaris' Masterclass for the last 3 years. Then, when she started offering educational courses, I dove right in and have loved every minute of it!

From her Self Study Nerve Release Course to her Ridden Nerve Release Course (co-taught with Tara Davis) to her most recent Principles of Energy course and Katherine Lowry's Rider Pillars course, BTMM continues to be a constant part of everything I do! I look forward to diving in even more in 2025! 😉🤓

When my family and I moved to our farm five and a half years ago, my focus was to build my business and help horses as much as I could. In that time, I have accepted training horses, taught lessons, taught clinics (both here and away) and hosted clinics with teachers that I follow, admire and respect. All the while, continuing my own education.

One of the things that I have been most proud of and loved the most though is that Heart Horse Training has become an education destination for some of the most incredible leaders in the new age of horsemanship! I have honestly been blown away by the level of clinicians that I, a nobody in the big horse world just doing her own thing on a little farm in Kansas, have been blessed to bring to this little corner of the world!

I have truly loved every single instructor that has come here and loved getting the opportunity to know them and learn from them. And I have been absolutely blown away by the response from around the country that we have had to events! In the last two years alone, people from all over the country have flown or driven in to northeast Kansas to attend events here. We have literally had attendees from coast to coast! It's just incredible to me!

So, long post long, lol.... for 2025, I will continue to offer educational opportunities with some of the best in the industry and continue my own educational endeavors as well a focusing on my family. Private lessons and private clinics will be available but on a very limited basis.

I look forward to 2025 and I hope that you will join us here at Heart Horse Training! ✨️❤️🐴🎉✨️

12/19/2024

It's super exciting to see that positive reinforcement and understanding about behavioral science training techniques are becoming more widespread! But with more people starting to learn about the science, the more myths and misunderstandings are becoming prevalent. So let's clear some of these up!

Some people believe that operant conditioning (the learning quadrants) are tools we use to train horses, that we can choose whether or not, or how to use to train. The truth is, the quadrants are a description of how learning happened. So if learning happened, if a behavior increased or decreased in frequency, we know a quadrant happened. The quadrants describe how a behavior was learned/unlearned. So if we've worked with our horse and a behavior increased or decreased in frequency, we've used a quadrant to teach that (though it may not have been what we intended).

Classical Conditioning is always happening in the background of all of life. This means the horse is always making associations. So what you use in your training is being associated, paired, conditioned with YOU, which forms your relationship. If your relationship is built on aversives or appetitives WILL influence how your horse feels around you, because of classical conditioning.

Some people believe that operant conditioning is the only way learning can occur, but again it's just a description of how learning (in life) happened. There is also instincts they're born with - these can change with operant learning, but is more resistant to change than learned behaviors. Imprinting at birth, things that are conditioned fast within the first few days while the horse is sponging up new information, though this is mostly associations/classical conditioning. Which brings us to classical conditioning, which is the simple pairing/associations within life, not behavior focused. Finally there's social learning/imitation. Some species are highly attuned at mimicry and learn fast with this, horses are social creatures, but aren't the best at social learning. They seem to pick up the basics, like if something is safe or not, but aren't as attuned to copying complex behaviors as species like birds or primates.

Some people also believe trainers who use behavioral science tend to be cold, clinical, and unemotional. But most of us who have learned behavioral science, also take the time to study Ethology of our species and the neuroscience of emotions. So while we tend to love science giving us a guidebook, we mix that with our own instincts, relationships, and intuition. Ethology is the study of our species in nature, how they behave and function outside of our influence - which is vital if we hope to provide them healthy and appropriate management. Neuroscience of emotions gives us a great foundational understanding of how our horses feel and how to influence and support those emotions in a beneficial way for their wellbeing and for our relationship. Science based training is far from cold, it's a passionate love of our species and the desire to provide the best for them we can, through knowledge and understanding.

12/17/2024

This past weekend I hosted Shawna Karrasch Equine and Jessie Hillegas for another amazing R+ clinic! 😎❤️🐴

I'm a little late in getting around to an update because, well, life! 😂

We had an absolutely amazing group of people this year! We also did a different format than last year's clinic, which was beyond incredible!

I loved the workshop format so much that we're going to do it again next year!

It was a perfect mix of in depth discussions, Q&A, individual sessions for each participant as well as dividing up into groups to develop and implement training plans with each horse.

And the best news????

We are planning on doing it again next year!

Be sure to mark you calendars for August 9-10, 2025! You will not want to miss this!! 🎉🎉🎉

BUT..... next year will there will be very limited spots available! 😳

There will be a maximum of 9 participants for this clinic! That's right.... only 9 spots available‼️

And it will be an all inclusive weekend! Meaning that all you need to do is bring yourself to the clinic and we will take care of the rest! All meals, snacks, drinks, use of horses, etc will be provided. You are, of course, responsible for your own travel and lodging arrangements and expenses.

Payment to secure your spot will open Jan 1. Once it fills, I can put you on a waiting list in case an opening becomes available.

12/06/2024

Best post I've seen on blanketing and pretty much exactly how I manage my herd!

I have one that has never liked cold so, historically, if the temps dropped below 40°, he got his medium weight blanket on and layered from there dependent on the temps and wind chill.

I have another one that I don't blanket unless temp and wind chill get in the teens or cooler. She's just miserable at the point even though she is in excellent weight and has a good coat.

Horses will expend less energy to stay warm (=less feed to keep them warm) and spend more time walking around outside if they need a blanket to be comfortable.

All of my horses have, at minimum, two medium weight blankets. Some have medium and heavy weight blankets, if needed. And I prefer blankets with the higher neck and x cross chest fastening. They tend to put less pressure on the points of the shoulders.

Two things I see that are NOT helpful in cold weather, like we can get in Kansas, are turnout sheets and stable blankets on turned out horses. They will actually make horses COLDER! Stable blankets do not offer waterproof or windproof protection and turnout sheets, while they are waterproof and windproof, make horses colder by laying down the coat (taking away their natural insulation) without offering any fill to provide warmth.

So I know that I'm a "feed guy" but I am also a horse keeper and every winter I see a whole bunch of blanket wars some up in various groups so I thought I would add my opinion and observations to the mix.

This photo was taken yesterday as my three Quarter Horse mares stuffed themselves with free choice hay which, as you can see, they are not shy about wasting.

They are standing outside in a steady 30 mile per hour wind with snow blowing horizontally. This is their choice because 100 feet away they have access to their stalls which are bedded with a foot of straw, heated buckets and a pile of exactly the same hay.

These mares would much prefer to be outside than in. However, if they were not wearing blankets they would most likely be huddles in their stalls against the wind.

I point this out because while it is mostly true that horses will survive the cold weather as long as they have shelter and forage it is equally true that blanketing them can be very beneficial.

Every year I see newbies posting advice on blanketing and so many of the comments are from the "I've been around horses my whole life" crowd advising that "horses don't need no damn blankets!".

There are also many comments spewing myths that blanketing is dangerous and will "make a horse sick".

These ideas are, in my own humble opinion, nonsense.

To be sure over blanketing can be a real problem as it can cause some issues with heat stress. The only problem I ever had with blankets was a boarder of mine who had a OTTB and insisted that if she were cold the horse was too. I was constantly removing heavy second blankets because the animal was dripping in sweat while the temperature was 34 F.

Tossing a horse out in 25 F weather with only a thin sheet can be equally problematic.

In general if you use a sensible strategy of midweight fill blankets you really can't go too far wrong.

But why blanket at all? Wild horses don't wear blankets!

Unfortunately the people with this attitude never have the opportunity to see the frozen carcasses of the wild horses that NEEDED BLANKETS.

The ginormous fat ass on the left side of the two in front is my 22 year old AQH mare, Flair. When Flair was young she would be standing outside grazing while covered with ice from freezing rain and not wearing a blanket. She much prefers being a little on the chillier side.

I noticed that when she turned around 15 she would start hanging out in the shelter for much longer periods.

The fat ass on the right is my 32 year old AQH mare, Skippy the Wonder Horse. She is an older lady who prefers being comfortable.

Would these lovely matrons survive the winter without blankets? Almost surely!

So why do I blanket them?

The first reason is obviously to help them be more comfortable.

The next reason is that they will stay out of their stalls moving around which is great for both their physical and mental well being. As an added benefit for mois, less mucking to do.

The third reason is that they will consume less hay which is a great budget consideration. Why spend money on hay if I can prevent them from burning calories just to stay warm?

The final reason is that blanketed horses will drink more water which avoids things like winter impaction colic.

One horse that is not in this picture is my beautiful Raven. Ray was an OTTB mare, granddaughter of Secretariat that unfortunately, at the ripe old age (for an OTTB) of 28, succumbed to an old tendon injury this past August.

Blanketing for Raven was not optional. She was a typical thin skinned Thoroughbred.

She was 14 years old the first winter she came to me and she grew a luxurious, thick coat as beautiful as any sable cape ever worn. We had one night where the temperature was 40 F with a light drizzle of passing showers. When I went out for morning feed she wouldn't come up to the barn.

Fearing the worst I grabbed her halter and walked out to lead her in. She was shivering so violently that she could barely walk. From that moment on Raven was blanketed any time the temperature dropped below 50 F and she was always a plus one so if the Quarter Horses needed a blanket Raven had two.

In my travels as a "feed guy" I encountered so many owners who refused to blanket their horses while complaining that they were hard keepers. I was forced to stand there with their miserable, shivering horses in cross ties and restrain myself from beating them with a dressage whip.

This message is for the owners who have been shamed or misinformed out of blanketing your horses. Just do it if you believe that your horse will be better off.

If you go to the barn and your horse is huddled in the run in shed or shivering slightly or is a dripping muddy mess blanketing them will be a benefit.

I feel the same way about shoes. If a horse will benefit from them then put them on.

This is only my opinion, other opinions are welcome but I've cared for lots and lots of different horses over the years and I've never had one that didn't benefit from a blanket.

Cheers!

12/05/2024

Does your horse have a dip in front of its withers? It shouldn't be considered normal. It's not. It's a sign of other issues going on in your horse and your horse needing help.

How much a therapist evolves in their career is a reflection of what inspires them. Looking at this picture of my mare today, I would have immediately seen that dip in the neck and known we were going to have stifle issues and that the hind hoof angles were NPA. She's already overbuilt and overloading the front end and doesn't even have a job yet.
This is why I've dedicated my life's work to helping others. Bodywork alone isn't enough to correct posture and set a horse up for success. If it was... We wouldn't be having this conversation now.
It's a blend of bodywork & stretching, corrective exercise, and balanced hoof angles that set a horse up for a long healthy career.
It's my goal to get to the root cause of issues, not just maintain them.

I work with people through online assessments, in-person sessions, and educational courses. This mare is a big reason I get to help others. I'm thankful for the journey we're on.

If your horse has a dip in the neck that looks like this.... We need to talk.

Edited to add: A good therapist looks at the whole horse with each assessment. The dip in the neck is a big indicator that the horse is elevating in the front end which usually means there is weakness (or pain) in the hind end. When the head is elevated, the back will hollow out meaning you've lost core and glute engagement. A hollow back will cause excess concussion on the feet and legs which results in excess concussion on joints like the stifle. Incorrect tilt of the pelvis & NPA will worsen the tension.
The purpose of this post is to state that a dip in the neck is never normal and should be investigated before problems spiral into a lameness or a horse that is unwilling to work. There is no "one size fits all" answer, but a good therapist will team up with your vet to find the root cause.

11/30/2024

Facebook messenger is being difficult and not letting me access messages at all. I've tried uninstall it and reinstalling it and still not working. 🙄

If you need to contact me, please email me at [email protected].

11/22/2024

We are so excited to have Shawna Karrasch Equine back! There are only a few spots left. Contact me to get signed up!!

We have an R+Clinic coming up in Baldwin City, Kansas!!! We LOVE doing this location. I think there is room for one or two more so please PM Heart Horse Training, LLC for details.

11/20/2024

We're so excited to have Shawna and Jessie back!! There are still spots available so contact me soon to get signed up. You won't want to miss this opportunity! 🤗❤️🐴

11/20/2024

So true! The emotional component is just as important as the physical. 🤗❤️🐴

You get what you train.

And that is with respect to the muscle groups you target, the emotions you practice and the nervous system state you operate from.

If you practice sitting hunched at your desk like a shrimp, you will lay down muscle to support you there.

If you are always operating from an upregulated nervous system, your body will try to adjust its physiology so that this becomes the new homeostasis.

If you spend your life practicing negative thoughts, this will become your default setting.

This means that you will develop into wherever you spend the longest time - irrespective of what you *think* you are working on.

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"Tell me 3 things you love about your horse"

I was working with a lovely lady, who cares very deeply about her horse and was diligently helping him to feel better in his body. And yet every session started with all of the ways in which he still wasn't quite right, or was doing things she didn't want him to do.

Frustration was radiating from her body.

She looked at me, a little derailed by my question.

"Do you want me to tell you 3 things I love about your horse?"

She nodded

"I love the black tips on his ears. And the way the markings on his muzzle look like a love heart. And the way his black stockings make him look really classy"

And then she got excited and told me all the things she loved about him... as he stood there yawning, licking and chewing, releasing the tension in his neck.

And as her energy changed towards him, his energy changed towards her -

And in that session he moved like a totally different horse, flowing in a way that we had never seen before.

The exercises were the same, though the output was totally different.

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My initial training taught me about targetting the musculoskeletal system and that, if you repeat the exercise enough, with an appropriate amount of progressive loading, you develop the body.

And this isn't wrong at all.

But I subsequently learned that the emotional and nervous systems run the show.

We can do all the right moves, but if the nervous system and emotional association to the work aren't in alignment then you will be perpetually putting a stick in your bicycle spokes.

This provokes topics for discussion -

How do you show up to your horse? They can feel that energy and it has an effect on how safe they feel.

If your horse does not feel safe, the quality of their movement will be compromised. And let me tell you that their own personal safety is their opinion based upon their perceptions - not yours.

Though we do need to give them coping strategies to feel safe in a chaotic human world.

What does your horse perceive of the work? The exercise might be appropriate for their muscles but if the emotional association is poor, the output will be too.

Whilst the body may benefit, if their amygdala-hippocampus relay is perpetually assigning the work with negative emotions, its never going to feel nice to them.

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📸 before & after of stripping the tension out of this guy's neck by helping him to find safety in some very simple movement patterns combined with very gentle upper cervical mobilisations ❤️