Inside Track Training, LLC

11/29/2025

It’s a long read but a great read!

This is NOT anthropomorphism - it’s mammalian neuroscience. To be clear.

Most horse people have heard the term trigger stacking, but few truly understand what’s happening inside the horse’s body when it occurs. And fewer realise that humans experience the exact same nervous-system process.

This is not “treating horses like humans.” This is a biological truth.
Horses and humans share the same basic mammalian nervous system:

• sympathetic (fight/flight)
• parasympathetic (rest/digest)
• vagus nerve
• thresholds
• stress hormones
• startle responses

So comparing the experience is not only valid but it helps people understand, relate, and develop compassion.

So let us look at YOU the human reading this:

Think of a day like this:

• didn’t sleep well
• you’re running late
• the kids are shouting
• you stub your toe
• your phone keeps pinging
• someone snaps at you
• you’re worried about money
• the traffic is heavy
• you spill your coffee

You hold it together… until someone asks something tiny of you:

“Can you just... ?”

And suddenly you:

• snap
• cry
• shut down
• withdraw
• feel overwhelmed
• can’t cope
• overreact to something small

People think it was “the last thing.” But you know it wasn’t.
It was everything before it that pushed you past threshold.

This is trigger stacking.

And your reaction was NOT a meltdown, or disobedience, or manipulation. It was your nervous system saying:

“I cannot take one more demand.” and guess what friends? Horses are no different. Not because they are human like but because we share the same biological wiring. Isn't that just fascinating to comprehend?

Now, lets translate that from a horse's perspective...

A horse’s day might look like:

• didn’t sleep lying down
• herd tension
• flies irritating
• heat or humidity
• slight hoof discomfort
• a loud noise earlier
• a new horse on the farm
• a human arriving stressed
• pressure from the halter
• the saddle pinching
• uncertainty about what’s coming next

None of these alone may cause a big reaction. But inside the body, each one is adding sympathetic charge and slowly building on top of eachother stacking and stacking...

• small adrenaline spikes
• cortisol accumulation
• reduction in vagal tone
• increased muscle tension
• faster startle reflex
• sensory overload
• hypervigilance

Just like a human, the horse’s system is slowly filling the bucket.
Then the final moment happens when it all becomes too much:

• “Walk on.”
• “Just stand still.”
• “One more try.”
• someone closes a gate too loudly
• a bird takes off
• a leaf rustles
• your energy spikes

And the horse:

• spooks
• bolts
• balks
• bucks
• freezes
• shuts down
• refuses

People say, UGH “That came out of nowhere.” But it didn’t. It really did not. It came from every single moment that added to the stack.... Just like you.

This is NOT humanising horses. It is recognising shared mammalian reality.

When horses (and humans) experience multiple stressors, the same biological cascade happens:

• sympathetic activation rises
• cortisol stays elevated
• heart-rate variability decreases
• prefrontal cortex (thinking brain) goes offline
• limbic system (survival brain) takes over
• proprioception changes
• muscles brace
• breath shortens
• tolerance shrinks

This is why neither horse nor human can “think clearly” once the stack is high.

Neither is “naughty.”
Neither is “difficult.”
Neither is “dramatic.”

Both are overwhelmed. Let us please see it for what it is, in eachother and in horses.

And this is not anthropomorphising. Anthropomorphism is actually giving horses human thoughts, motives, or stories. This is different.

This is comparing shared physiology:

✓ We both have amygdalas
✓ We both have vagus nerves
✓ We both produce cortisol + adrenaline
✓ We both have startle reflexes
✓ We both have thresholds
✓ We both get overwhelmed
✓ We both shut down when we exceed capacity

This isn’t “treating horses like humans.” It’s understanding horses better by recognising what is universal to all mammals. You have lived through trigger stacking. You know what it feels like.

So when you see a horse “explode,” or “go blank,” or “overreact,” or “say no” - instead of judging, you understand.

You feel compassion. You soften. You respond differently.

This is why relating horse and human nervous systems is not anthropomorphism - it’s empathy rooted in biology.

How do we support our horses through trigger stacking?
Preventing the stack means supporting the nervous system:

Environmental

• herd stability
• forage
• movement
• predictable routine

Physical

• pain checks
• saddle fit
• hoof care
• vet care
• bodywork

Relational

• clear, consistent boundaries
• choice
• slowing down
• not pushing past threshold

Co-regulation

• you regulate first
• stable breath
• soft intention
• calm posture
• reading early signs

You are either lowering the stack… or unintentionally adding to it.

Horses don’t “react out of nowhere.” They react when their system can no longer cope, the same way you do.

When you realise this, everything shifts:

• behaviour becomes communication
• resistance becomes protection
• “naughty” becomes overwhelmed
• training becomes partnership
• pressure becomes patience
• correction becomes compassion

And the horse softens - not because they’re forced to… but because they finally feel safe. Just like you do when someone holds space for you, stays regulated when you can’t, listens without judgment, and meets you with gentleness instead of pressure.

We are not so different when it comes to how we feel things in our bodies. Meet the horse the way you would want to be met. ❤️

11/26/2025

New Horses Owners we were all there at one time yet often people judge rather than offer a helping hand
We all get things wrong, worry about not knowing, and often when we have been on a journey of learning we forget to give grace to those who are travelling the same path at a different time.

We often forget that there is always a whole new world that is opening to someone owning a horse for the first time, knowledge we take for granted is often new for someone else

I do not know about you but I can remember learning bandaging a tail for the first time and even struggling to wrap it up the correct way so the next time we used it, it unrolled correctly, I also learned at a time when we were still using needle and thread to put plaits in and elastic bands were frowned upon

And yes there are new things now but still having a basic knowledge of how to do things when all is calm is often knowledge that is remembered when an emergency hits, learning to apply a poultice to a foot is much easier when a horse is not in pain than trying to learn when a horse is reluctant to give you his foot due to a painful abscess

Learning the normal temperature, respiration and pulse of the horse is crucial as often you might have to check the temp if it is late at night and your vet may want to know as they cannot be there due to another emergency, but how many people may take temp without knowing to hold tight due to the action of a sphincter muscle or to place the probe slightly off centre as not to take the temp of faeces' rather than the body, or taking the pulse and knowing you can compress the artery against a bone to feel the beat and that will guide you as to where you can take it and a simple thing like do not place your thumb on the area or else you are feeling your own pulse and yes I know it may sound mudane to a more experienced person but we have all had to be corrected at some point

What brushes are used where and how, we all have raised our eyebrows at someone using a curry comb on the horses face yet who comes across and helps the new owner and show them their horse wincing at every stroke, we only know what we know and often new owners feel stupid or have worries about who do they ask but we all have been there at some point

Having the basic understanding of how tack fits is crucial for your horse's well-being, we often spend thousands on a saddle without considering how important girth and bridle fit is,

Having basic first aid knowledge for your horse is often the catalyst in how you react in an emergency or even to know whether it’s a vet call or can you handle it, I think there is not one horse owner that has seen their horse having choke and ringing the vet in a panic having a meltdown despite the vet reassuring you and only to find the horse is fine by the time the vet comes

Feed according to work, weight, age, etc

Behaviour and how to be safe in a situation where you once calm horse may be behaving out of character, complacency often leads to owner injury, so simple things like tying your horse up while applying a poultice may save you from getting knocked over if the horse moves, or having a competent handler who is aware of both you and your horses safety

Listen I am the most calm person you will meet if you and your horse needs help but as my vet will tell you I am an absolute neurotic mess when dealing with my own, apparently I thought I was talking to him normal but his version was probably a gibbering wreck on the end of the phone, so we all have those moments that is completely normal

The biggest issue is why people do not ask questions is because of fear of looking stupid or being judged but we were all there once and we are still there in the now, often when I do webinars I ask does anyone have a question and a wall of silence is reciprocated and I know people have questions because I always do but often hold back in case I get It wrong but no question is a stupid question and I love it when someone asks something and often if I don’t know it sends me on that learning curve

So, if you have a question ask it, go and do a first aid course so you learn in a calm environment to help you in a crisis moment remain calm and in control, know your horses normal and trust your gut and do not be dissuaded from what you feel

Learning the basics is not dumbing down its that first step into a whole new world

Learning should be just as enjoyable as achieving the goal, and those who are teaching must always remember they were once a student xx

And yes i wrote 7 bines Instead of 7 bones but just goes to show we all make mistakes 🤣

11/26/2025

As of midday 11/25/25

11/25/2025

11/23/2025

This is a bit long, but important to share ❤️ 15 Fascinating Facts About Horses’ Emotional Memory and Empathy

1. Horses hold one of the most powerful long-term memories among domestic animals — recalling people, voices, and events for decades.

2. They read human intent through facial expressions, distinguishing friend from threat long before a hand is raised.

3. A single act of kindness can echo for years — a horse may seek out the same person even after a long separation.

4. Trauma carves deep grooves — a horse may forever avoid a place, object, or person tied to fear.

5. They sense human emotion through voice tone, breath rhythm, and body tension — even from across a field.

6. They respond not just to fear, but to sadness, joy, or confusion — silently, instinctively.

7. Mirror neurons in their brains allow them to feel what others feel — true empathy in motion.

8. When tears fall nearby, a horse may approach softly, lower its head, and offer a gentle touch — comfort without words.

9. A wounded horse can form the deepest bonds with a patient human — shared pain becomes shared trust.

10. Horses are proven emotional therapists for PTSD, depression, and anxiety — healing hearts, not just bodies.

11. They grieve deeply — lingering by a lost companion or withdrawing in quiet mourning.

12. Once bonded, they memorize your personal rhythms — footsteps, breath, even the silence between.

13. Their memory isn’t just survival — it’s the foundation for profound connection with those who earn their trust.

14. With gentle consistency, fear can be rewritten into safety — even shattered trust can be rebuilt.

15. Horse empathy is biological fact, not folklore — their brains and hearts sync with human emotion in real time.

11/23/2025

WHY DID I STOP COMPETING?

I was recently talking to somebody about the good ‘ol days when I was serious about competing in dressage and jumping. We swapped tall stories about our adventures.

I mentioned the time I had a stomach bug and was throwing up badly just before the finals, yet I still managed to win the event. My friend told me about the time he competed with 2 broken fingers. I countered by detailing how I came first in a jump event despite having a broken arm. The person I was speaking to described the time he won a GP dressage test on a horse that had a heart attack halfway through the test, and he had to give mouth-to-mouth to revive it in order to finish the test. I said I can beat that with the time I won a 6-bar competition jumping 6ft 6inches, even though my horse was blind and only had 2 legs. “Oh yeah”, my friend retorted. “Well, my horse died the day before the European Championship freestyle event, and we still won!”

I realised I couldn’t beat that.

But this raises the question, “Why did I compete?”

In the beginning, I competed because it was fun and it made me part of a fraternity of people who also liked to compete. Over time, I used competition to give me direction and a purpose to the type of riding and training I wanted to do. This eventually evolved into using competition as a gauge of what sort of rider and trainer I was, and what sort of instruction I needed to seek.

But one day I stopped. It was all of a sudden. I got out of bed and was on my way to the stables when I had a revelation. In a flash, I decided competing in horse events was no longer for me.

What was this life-changing revelation?

It was the realisation that the enjoyment I got from competing depended on doing well. When I came home with ribbons, it was a good day. I would spoil my horse that night with extra treats. Be jovial to all my family and friends. But if I failed to earn ribbons and prizes, it was a horrible day that put me in a foul mood. I was cranky at myself. I was cranky with my horse, and I was cranky with anybody who tried to cheer me up.

Clearly, this was a big character flaw, and I needed to make some changes. So it began with forgetting about competing. When I did that, it opened up other avenues of working with horses. Over time, my focus slowly switched to the quality of my relationship with horses. Gradually, my priorities changed.

What I learned when I gave up worrying about success in the show ring is that every day that I spend with my horse is a good day. I don’t need to win ribbons for it to be a good day. I could come last in every event and have a fantastic day because I spent it with one of my best mates.

I could go on a trail ride and have my horse freak out at the sight of a kangaroo, and it could be a fantastic day because I helped my mate through something, and I learned from it.

I could be exhausted at the end of a clinic and just want to sleep for a week. But it could be a wonderful few days because I helped people with their horses. My life is better because I helped people and horses who needed some help.

I could return to competition disciplines now because I know I don’t need to win in order to have a good day. But competition no longer interests me, as it did when I was young, because I know every day that I am around my horses is a good day, no matter what we do. Going home with a ribbon is not going to change that. If you can say the same, I absolutely encourage you in your pursuit of having a good day with your horse in the show ring - win or lose.

11/23/2025

Amy Skinner has just been hitting it out of the park lately. This one hit hard.

Horses will meet you exactly where you are—whether you know where that is or not.

One of the hardest truths in horsemanship is that you cannot separate the rider from the human being riding. You can learn theory, techniques, and timing—but if you don’t know what drives you at a deeper level, your horse will feel that gap long before you do.

Most of us move through the world with old narratives still running without our awareness in the background. Maybe you were taught, directly or indirectly, that you were small, inconvenient, or unimportant. Maybe you learned to keep your head down, not make waves, not ask for much. Or maybe you learned to overcompensate: to become hyper independent, to feel important.

Those early experiences don’t stay in childhood; they become the lens you see yourself through, and the filter you misinterpret the world through.

And the horse—sensitive, perceptive, honest—becomes a mirror for every part of that story.

A horse refusing or resisting becomes “rejection.”
A moment of hesitation becomes “I’m not good enough.”
A correction feels like conflict, and conflict feels dangerous.
Or, the opposite—you search for conflict because you expect it, and it feels safer to control it than wait for it.

None of this comes from malice. It comes from the unexamined places inside us, mirrored in the world around us.

But a horse isn’t rejecting you. A horse isn’t judging your worth. A horse isn’t reenacting the dynamics of your childhood. They are responding to the energy you bring, the clarity you offer, and the steadiness—or lack of it—behind your choices.

When we don’t know what drives us, we keep repeating the same emotional choreography over and over, in the barn and everywhere else. We avoid setting boundaries because we fear being “too much.” We micromanage because we fear losing control. We rush because we fear being behind. We freeze because we fear doing something wrong.

The real work is not really about the horse. It’s about getting curious about ourselves. Identifying the motives that subconsciously steer our hands, our timing, our expectations, our reactions. Asking, Where did this pattern come from? Who taught me this? And is it actually true?

Because once you see your own story clearly, the horse stops being a mirror of your inadequacy and becomes a partner in your growth.

Horses don’t need us to be perfect. They just need us to be honest—especially with ourselves.

And when we learn to operate from clarity instead of old wounds, our work with them becomes lighter, cleaner, more present… and our whole life tends to follow.

11/23/2025

Dang! She beat me to it! This should look very familiar to most of my students! 😁

11/23/2025

"He feels unbalanced, like he's limping! We need to stop," my student says.

"The tempo is too slow, he needs a greater stride. As soon as he can get the right tempo he will be more balanced."

My student goes into a kind of fetal mode, half urging the horse forward, half hauling the horse back. "It isn't working, she says."

"You need to let the reins out so he can go forward," I say.

She starts to cry. And this is where I realize the problem -

It's not really a riding lesson. This is so often the case - and I think back to my 20's, where I didn't have a clue about these inner workings. The horse needs to go forward to be safe internally and physically, and yet this is the human's greatest fear - and somehow the two of them have come together, and the human is the only one who can bridge this gap.

So we pause the riding and we talk. Logic is not the answer, I remind myself - where are these feelings coming from? It all stems back to a childhood bolt.

"If it's hysterical, it's historical," I remember to myself, a quote I heard from a friend

So what is missing here, and how can we go forward? First understanding the root - we are not riding in the now, we are riding in that childhood bolt. So we ground - how does your horse feel, sound, smell, look? What do you see around you?

And then, we discuss what skills we need to go forward. What the horse needs, and what she needs.

I say, I understand your fear, I really do - but it is imperative that you guide your horse. He is scared too. But we can find a way that you can stay mentally with him - in hand, at the walk, for now, but you have to stay here with him. He needs you.

I'm not a therapist, but it turns out I'm not really a riding instructor either. And so often, we are not riding today's horse - which is why the training, the logic, the reasoning, the lessons are not helping us get where we want.

The root, somewhere deep down is buried. Our real task is to find a way to ride today's horse: to be present with today's horse and learn to honor them. They need us, desperately. And only we can bridge the gap.

And so a choice has to be made at a certain point - what will you do to honor today's horse?

11/22/2025

Unsafe or Uncomfortable?

With the rise in interest in boundaries and mental health, a lot of good things have happened. But some fallback from misunderstanding has taken place, and one of them is the complete fear and avoidance of discomfort - mistaking it for lack of safety.

One of the most important distinctions we can make in our personal growth is the difference between unsafe and uncomfortable.
Most people collapse the two, and the cost of that confusion is enormous.

Unsafe means your well-being is at risk. Your boundaries are being violated, your body or mind is in danger, or something about the situation requires real protection.

Uncomfortable, however, is very different. It’s the sensation of stretching beyond what’s familiar. It’s what happens when you try a new skill, confront a belief, tell the truth, hold a boundary, or sit with a feeling instead of escaping it. Discomfort is the friction of growth.

The trouble is, when discomfort feels foreign or intense, the nervous system can label it as “unsafe,” even when nothing is actually threatening you. And if we obey that false alarm, we start organizing our entire lives around avoiding discomfort.

That’s where long-term anxiety and neurosis begin.

When we avoid discomfort:
-We stop developing the skills we need to handle life.
-We reinforce the belief that we can’t handle hard things.
-We shrink our world to stay within the boundaries of what feels easy.
-Our fear grows louder because we never disconfirm it with experience.
-We become hyper-vigilant, sensitive to small internal cues, and dependent on certainty before we act.

Avoiding discomfort might feel like short-term relief, but it leads to long-term fragility. The ramifications are real.

Growth always asks something of us: courage, presence, effort, humility. None of those are “comfortable” qualities. But they’re what build a resilient nervous system.

If you can learn to pause in the moment and ask yourself:

“Am I unsafe… or just uncomfortable?”

You open the doorway to opportunity.

If it’s unsafe, protect yourself.

But if it’s merely uncomfortable, stay. Breathe. Let your mind and body learn that discomfort won’t break you.

Every time you choose discomfort on purpose, you expand your capacity. You train yourself to live with more freedom and less fear. You build a self that feels stable on the inside instead of one that must tightly control the outside world.

Discomfort is not the enemy: It’s the doorway to everything you want.

Photo by Caitlin Hatch

11/19/2025

I’ve been going back and readdressing this to many students lately. This is one of the very basic skills riders should be utilizing. Combine this with a steady tempo and you will feel your horse get more accessible to all of your aides and because they are able to balance and carry then their rideability improves drastically.