Equus Ananda Holistic Horse Training

04/10/2025

INAPPROPRIATE TOUCHING

I'm reading an amazing book called Amphibious Soul by Craig Foster, the Academy award winning documentary film maker of "My Octopus Teacher".

If you haven't read it, I highly recommend it, it is simply profound.

In the book he says "As a rule, I never touch an animal unless they touch me first".

In my work building relationship with horses, I do this too. Most times a horse will touch you with their nose/muzzle first, and matching that greeting (versus labelling the horse as a biter) is a game changer.

But there's a phenomenon I have noticed going on with people trying to build relationship with their horses that I have labelled "inappropriate touching", and it looks a bit like the photo below.

This picture was taken at a horse expo in Pennsylvania recently, where I worked with a demo horse who has a "biting issue". He would reaching out in a way that his owner was termed as nipping, whereas I interpreted as him saying hello, similar to reaching out to shake hands with someone.

When he reached out I would greet him with a flat hand that he is able to to nuzzle, lick or even scrape his teeth on. After doing this a while his snappy acting motions got less so, and he was no longer needing to say "hey, pay attention" , but was more "hey, how's it going". I was explaining to the audience that I was meeting him in the way that he was meeting me (with his muzzle) and that it's not an invitation to touch other parts (yet).

I then said that it's many people's default to reach up and rub a horse between the eyes, whether that's what they are offering or not, and that if you do, it's inappropriate touching and it gets in the way of connection. It doesn't meet their needs, and is all about yours.

With the horse in the picture, he'd been engaging me with his muzzle, and I said to the audience "watch what happens when I try to rub him between the eyes". As you can see in the photo, he has raised his head up and is clearly indicating "No, not there, on my muzzle".

We had a Connection And Attunement retreat here at the Journey On Ranch a week ago, and I used my wife Robyn to illustrate this point to the participants. I said "imagine I'm at a gathering and meeting Robyn for the first time". We walked up to each other in that way people do when they see someone new and they can tell an introduction is shaping up, Robyn reached out with her hand to say hello and instead of me reaching out to shake her hand, I gently reached up and lightly brushed a wisp of hair from her cheekbone and tucked it behind her ear.

The participants all gasped and the ick factor was high.

Even though it was caring, and gentle, it was inappropriate at that moment.

Now Im not saying you can't rub your horse on the forehead. I'm saying if your horse has a disregulated nervous system around humans because they don't feel seen (and safe), try to meet their needs first, before trying get get yours met.

I recently saw an instagram post from a University in the UK, and the professor was explaining that they were doing studies on horses to determine levels of stress. In the background a horse was standing with his head out over a Dutch door. While he was explaining their investigations on stress, a female student (or maybe another professor, I don't know which) walked up to the horse. The horse reached out with his muzzle to greet her.

She ignored this and reached up to rub the horse between the eyes.

He turned his head 90 degrees to the left to communicate that wasn't what he was offering.

Her hand followed him and kept rubbing.

he then turned his head 180 degrees to the right, saying "No, not like that".

Smiled, gave him another pet between the eyes, and walked of camera.

While the professor was saying that they are doing experiments determining the amounts of stress horses are under, someone in the background was actually creating stress, without either of them even knowing it.

Once you understand how sentient horses are, and how subtle their communication, you can't unsee it.

03/13/2025

𝐁𝐥𝐮𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐚 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝: 𝐀 𝐃𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐇𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐞

The world is waking up. Across industries, sports, and daily life, conversations about animal welfare are becoming impossible to ignore. In equestrian sport, the debate has reached a critical moment one that demands real action, not just words. Leading the charge for change is Blue Horse, one of the most influential names in Danish and international dressage. In a bold and unprecedented move, Blue Horse has announced a temporary withdrawal from dressage competitions, choosing horse welfare over ribbons and rankings.

This is more than a pause. It is a statement of principles, a refusal to participate in a system that has yet to fully define what ethical training and competition should look like. It is a message to the entire equestrian world: change is coming, and we must all take responsibility.

𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲: 𝗔 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆

For years, Blue Horse has been at the heart of international dressage. Founded in Denmark, it is not only a competition powerhouse but also a world-class breeding operation, home to some of the most sought-after dressage stallions in the industry. Blue Horse stallions have shaped the modern dressage landscape, producing top-tier horses that have competed at the highest levels of the sport.

Beyond breeding, Blue Horse is a leader in training, education, and the promotion of dressage as an art form and sport. Their riders, horses, and trainers have set benchmarks for quality, but their commitment has always extended beyond competitive success. Now, they are demonstrating leadership in a different, more profound way by prioritizing the well-being of horses over immediate competitive goals.

𝗔 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗰𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘆, 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀

Dressage has long been celebrated as the pinnacle of harmony between horse and rider. But in recent years, concerns over training methods, competition pressures, and overall horse welfare have sparked fierce debate. Are horses being pushed too hard? Are the judging standards encouraging training methods that prioritize results over the well-being of the horse? Is the balance between sport and ethics shifting in the wrong direction?

The Danish Riding Association (DRF) has recognized these concerns and launched a new initiative: Sammen om Hestewelfærd (“Together for Horse Welfare”). This strategy aims to set clearer guidelines for the ethical treatment of horses in sport, improve education, and rethink competition scoring to ensure that horse welfare remains the top priority.

Blue Horse’s decision to step back from competition aligns directly with this movement. Rather than continuing in an uncertain environment, they have chosen to pause, reflect, and push for clearer, stronger ethical standards.

𝐋𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐧𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝, 𝐀 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲

But this is not just about elite dressage. Every rider whether professional, amateur, or leisure must take a moment to reflect. It is easy to point at top-level competition and demand change, but what about at home?

• 𝘼𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙖 𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙯𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜-𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙢 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙩𝙝 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨?

• 𝘼𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙚 𝙥𝙪𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢 𝙩𝙤𝙤 𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙙, 𝙩𝙤𝙤 𝙛𝙖𝙨𝙩, 𝙞𝙣 𝙥𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙪𝙞𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙨𝙪𝙘𝙘𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙤𝙧 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙜𝙤𝙖𝙡𝙨?

• 𝘼𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙡𝙮 𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙙, 𝙗𝙤𝙩𝙝 𝙥𝙝𝙮𝙨𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮?

Blue Horse is leading by example, but change must come from every corner of the equestrian world. The responsibility does not lie solely with professionals; it is a mindset that must be adopted by every horse owner, trainer, and rider, regardless of discipline or level.

Despite stepping back from dressage competitions, Blue Horse’s daily operations continue. Their renowned stallion shows, including the highly anticipated event on March 29, will go ahead as scheduled. The breeding, training, and education programs remain in full operation.

But make no mistake this pause in competition is not a passive decision. Blue Horse is using this time to push for meaningful change, to be part of the conversations that will shape the future of dressage. And when they return to competition, it will be with the confidence that the sport is moving in the right direction.

The next three months will be a test not just for Blue Horse, but for the entire dressage world. Will the sport embrace change? Will governing bodies, riders, and organizations step up and take responsibility? And, most importantly, will these conversations lead to real, lasting improvements for the horses at the heart of it all?

Blue Horse has made its stance clear. Now, it is time for the rest of the equestrian community at every level to prove that horse welfare is not just a trend or a talking point, but the foundation upon which the future of the sport must be built.

Blue Hors we applaud you ❤️

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1A9SdkYjA4/?mibextid=wwXIfr

03/03/2025

Giving the reins after the exercise as a reward. They all need these breaks in the arena.

02/28/2025

“The amazing thing about horses is that they are happy giving as long as they don’t feel forced. If a person with a soft heart communicates a request and the horse understands, it is likely that he will make an effort to please the person. The horse is much more aware of whether a person has a soft heart or a hard heart”. ~ Martin Black

01/22/2025

https://youtube.com/shorts/n0aCb_LlG1U?si=tqtPQ-g07ija4Js5

11/13/2024

So glad I have had the chance to learn from Warwick Schiller.

Warwick Schiller made his name as an expert trainer. An enigmatic little horse completely changed his outlook.

11/03/2024

Another layer to the “blanket or not-to-blanket” debate. This is an excellent explanation regarding weight management in metabolic horses from Affluent Malnutrition

“Please don't over rug this winter ......

Thirty years ago most ponies were roughed off, turned out at grass to grow a coat and come in ‘ribby’ in the spring before putting the weight back on in a natural yo-yo dieting fashion.

To achieve this, the endocrine system will relay a whole series of messages about

food consumption and storage,

energy transmission,

suppression or increase of appetite,

depression of energy expenditure,

coat growth,

hair thickness and time to shed the excess hair.

Part of this system is circadian in nature (around a 24hour period) and relies largely upon light, but part of the system relies on seasonal temperatures and nutrient availability.

The problem with modern horses/ponies affected by metabolic syndrome is that the nutrients they receive are in excess of the nutrients they require and this is compounded by the fact that horses are no longer expected to,

travel long distances in search of food,

cope with extreme or variable temperatures,

grow thick winter coats and shed them at least 4 times throughout the four seasons of the year.

Winter coat growth, hair loss and shedding use a metabolic energy (AKT) pathway which involves both insulin and glucose, this entails the lowering of circulating levels of plasma insulin and use of an excess store of energy. Over rugging horses and native ponies or long periods in the stables during the winter/autumn/early summer months will deprive them of the ability to use up this excess glucose and fat storage.

The increased problem of a horse with equine metabolic syndrome is that the fat deposits of adipose tissue contain an independent endocrine signaling system with at least 4 hormones governing weight loss, energy output and weight control.

Most importantly; homeostasis of weight maintenance and appetite is governed by a balanced set of signals given out both by the adipose tissue and the gastrointestinal tract. In obese horses with large adipose deposits particularly in the neck shoulders and tail area there will be an increased volume of adipose hormones released which easily out balance the hormones released from the gut, compromising the vital homeostasis of appetite and weight control, further weight gain is the result.

As well as hormones of weight control and appetite, adipose tissue also releases a whole series of inflammatory chemicals which cause a pro inflammatory state, disrupt the normal circulation of the foot and together with circulating insulin play a major part in the onset of many disease states including laminitis.

Therefore the most important goal is to control adipose tissue gain. Reducing the cresty necks and fat pads will limit the abnormal and high volumes of signaling hormones that disrupt appetite, influence weight gain, disrupt circulation and gastrointestinal function, raise circulating insulin levels and that eventually result in an episode of laminitis.

There are understandably many problems for owners in the UK wanting to leave their horses out for the winter especially those living in very wet areas or on livery yards that do not want to ruin their limited grazing, this can be challenging and below are a few practical points to manage the diet and weigh gain of your horse not only through the winter but throughout the whole year.

Try not to rug too early, allow your horse to grow a good winter coat and be ‘roughed off’ or ‘let down’ for at least 8 weeks through the autumn/winter, this is vital for his metabolism, getting cold and wet causes the release of energy from fat stores. For some horses being turned out until Christmas is sufficient to use up the fat stored as adipose tissue, this avoids the worse months of January and February which can be even more cold and wet.”

10/15/2024

We did the knife edge on Lone Cone. We roped up because I still have chronic head pain and there is quite a bit of no fall zones. It is a really fun climb that challenged me just enough. Love to do more like it next year!