Alejandra Abella - Learning Through Animals

12/12/2025

❤️❤️❤️

12/12/2025

The elusive Valencian squirrel. Well maybe it's from all over Spain, I don't know, but it's definitely not as plentiful here as it was in the eastern United States. I also find it stunning, with its deep mahogany color, white belly, and pointy, hairy ears.

I love squirrels because they are so incredibly adaptive. Today I had some time to kill before an appointment in the nearest village, and a nearby park gifted me a sighting. Enjoy! ❤️🐿️

12/12/2025

This was a dream of mine when I was studying animal science in grad school, and I got to do it in California. I found the state to be so incredibly advanced in terms of schooling options, and understanding the different interests and ways in which kids learn. I got to teach several courses in animal behavior at the incredible One Spark Academy and River Oaks Academy . Those schools not only didn't think that my idea of teaching animal behavior was strange, they found it logical and immediately embraced it. And so did the kids. We learn so much about ourselves from studying animals, including the essential learning about compassion.

Imagine a classroom where children learn not just how the world works… but how to care for the living beings that share it with us. A classroom where kindness is treated as seriously as reading and writing. Where lessons aren’t just memorized — they’re felt.

Denmark has officially become the first country in the world to weave compassion for animals directly into the national school curriculum — a move that educators, psychologists, and animal-welfare leaders are calling one of the most forward-thinking reforms of this generation.

And here’s why this matters far beyond Denmark’s borders.

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Studies from European educational institutes show that children who grow up learning empathy toward animals develop:
✔️ Stronger emotional intelligence
✔️ Lower levels of aggression
✔️ Higher cooperation and problem-solving
✔️ Greater social responsibility and kindness toward peers

It turns out compassion is a skill — and like any skill, it grows when nurtured early.

So Denmark built it into the foundation of education itself.

🐾
The new curriculum includes hands-on lessons such as:
• Understanding animal emotions — recognizing stress, fear, comfort, and happiness in dogs, cats, farm animals, and wildlife
• Practical care — feeding, grooming, and basic safety around animals
• Ethical discussions — how humans impact animals through farming, industry, and everyday choices
• Visits to sanctuaries, farms, and shelters to meet rescue animals and learn their stories
• Classroom animals cared for by students as shared responsibility projects

Teachers are being trained in animal-welfare science, shelters are partnering with schools, and Denmark’s Ministry of Children and Education said the goal is simple:

“Raise a generation that does not see animals as objects, but as fellow beings deserving respect.”

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And it’s working.

In pilot programs, teachers reported that children who struggled socially often connected instantly with friendly classroom dogs. Kids who were shy suddenly spoke more. Kids who were anxious calmed down while brushing a gentle golden retriever. Some schools even saw a drop in behavioral issues after incorporating animal-centered lessons.

One program leader said,
“When a child learns to be gentle with a small creature, they learn to be gentle with themselves — and with others.”

That’s the kind of education that changes entire societies.

🇩🇰🐾 Because teaching children to love animals isn’t just about the animals.
It’s about shaping humans who lead with empathy, protect the vulnerable, and grow into adults who make this world softer for everyone.

12/12/2025

¡Viva España!

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1A1CqX5ZAc/

Spain has officially rewritten what it means to care for an animal — not just in homes, but in the eyes of the law. In a landmark decision celebrated by animal-welfare advocates around the world, Spain now recognizes animals as “sentient beings” and legal family members, not objects or property.

And for every dog who ever waited quietly at the door… for every cat rescued from the street… for every animal whose loyalty outlives human understanding… this is more than a legal shift.
It’s validation.
It’s dignity.
It’s justice.

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Here’s what this historic law actually means:

1. Animals are no longer treated like property in court.

Judges must now consider an animal’s well-being, not just ownership. This affects:
• divorce cases
• custody disputes
• inheritance issues
• cases of neglect or abandonment

A dog is no longer something to “divide.”
They are a living soul whose interests must be protected.

2. Abusers face stronger penalties.

Because animals are now legally recognized as sentient beings, cruelty carries heavier consequences — and authorities can intervene sooner when an animal is at risk.

3. Joint custody for pets is now possible.

Divorcing couples can share custody the same way they would with children — considering:
• who provides daily care
• who has the strongest emotional bond
• what environment is best for the animal’s mental and physical health

Spain joins countries like France, Portugal, Austria, and Germany, all of which have passed similar protections. The European Union has already recognized animals as sentient under the Treaty of Lisbon, but Spain’s law goes a step further by applying those rights directly in family courts and legal disputes.

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Look at the image: a family gathered close, eyes closed, hands wrapped around two gentle dogs. This is exactly what Spain’s lawmakers acknowledged — that animals are not accessories. They’re not background noise. They’re not replaceable.

They are family.
They comfort us.
They protect us.
They walk with us through grief, joy, illness, heartbreak, and rebirth.

And now… the law finally reflects that truth.

🐾
For so many women 45+ who have raised children beside dogs, who’ve held aging pets in their arms, who’ve rebuilt their lives with a loyal companion at their feet — this moment hits home.

Because it’s a recognition not just of animals’ rights, but of our relationship with them. It honors the invisible threads tying humans and animals together — the kind of bonds that shape families, heal wounds, and make life richer.

🐾❤️
Spain didn’t just pass a law.
It acknowledged love.
It acknowledged loyalty.
It acknowledged life — in all its forms.

And maybe this is the beginning of something bigger. A future where more countries recognize that animals aren’t property… they’re hearts on four legs.

09/12/2025

Fun times at the Buffalo Bill Cody Circus! I just said she wasn't ready for cantering, but I did have someone taping, and she wanted to see the show.

No worries, it was a one time ask on each lead, and she did canter two or three strides when I asked her the second time on each lead, and even without fireworks. At that point I think we were both laughing too hard, though, so there's no video of the successful part. Now back to trotting, and proper walk work, until she is actually ready for canter.

07/12/2025

Exactly what I'm working on now with the new mare. All she knew was how to move inside a box; tight, tense, held in. I want her moving out and relaxed and free-flowing before anything else, or everything we get will be tight and tense. Bonus: she's becoming less and less reactive to outside stimuli now that she's more relaxed inside.

We often talk about riding from leg to hand, from back to front, and riding to the contact.

However, this does not mean cramming your horse between strong leg and strong rein aids.

Kicking your horse forward while keeping the handbrake on tight will only result in a tense, tight horse, who will most likely drop behind the vertical and hollow his back as he tries to get away from the uncomfortable pressure you’re creating.

Instead, ride your horse forward until you feel him connect to the end of the reins. There should be a light but steady and even weight in your hands, and you should feel as though your horse is rhythmically taking you forward without leaning on the bit or resisting.

Keep your hands and arms soft, elastic, and think of your hands as pushing your horse towards the bit, and not pulling back.

Illustration created and copyrighted by HowToDressage.

07/12/2025

THIS!

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗱𝗼 𝗜 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝘀𝗼 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗳𝗹𝗮𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝗷𝘂𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀?

Because every “neat” moment you see in the ring - the clean flying change, the tidy rollback, the effortless distance - is built on a mountain of basics: rhythm, balance, straightness, clarity, repetition, and trust.

The real magic lives in the base of the pyramid - not the shiny bit at the top.

Advanced work only works when the foundations feel solid, repeatable, and understood by both horse and rider.
And that’s exactly what creates the horses who are genuinely 𝘧𝘶𝘯 to ride… the ones who jump easily, land balanced, turn like a dream, and both accelerate and wait when you ask.

So yes, I love riding the advanced stuff too.
But I love the basics more - 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦.

07/12/2025

Yep, mares for me, all the way. They don't suffer fools lightly, and that means you have to do your best to not be a fool when you're with them. That can only make you better every time!

Why Mares Are Better Than Geldings (and yes, this is absolutely my biased opinion) ❤️ 🐎

There’s a pattern in the horse world that mirrors the human one a bit too neatly.

People don’t like mares for the same reason they don’t like strong women.
They’re direct.
They know what they want.
They have boundaries that aren’t negotiable just because you asked 4 times.

Call a mare “moody” and half the time you’re just describing a horse who refuses to tolerate behaviour that doesn't serve her.

Watch a herd for long enough and you’ll notice it’s the mares who stitch the whole thing together. They manage space, negotiate tension, hold social order, and they do it with very little fuss.

Geldings are lovely. They can be the reliable, soft-hearted labradors of the equine world. I adore them.
But mares… mares operate on another level entirely.

You don’t get anything for free, and that seems to be what rattles people. To work with a mare, you have to be clear, respectful, and emotionally tidy.
She will not pretend for you.
She will not humour you.
She will not let you blag your way through a session while you’re thinking about your Tesco shopping list. ✨️

And that is exactly why they’re my favourite.

A mare makes you accountable.
She makes you present.
She makes you honest about who you are and how you show up.

People say mares teach patience.
I think they teach you how to communicate with someone who knows her own mind.

And when a mare with that kind of intelligence chooses you?

That is not luck.
That is a privilege.

07/12/2025

Great news!

Temple Grandin Equine Center Research The Temple Grandin Equine Center conducts research to advance science supporting equine-assisted services. Our research falls within four domains that offer something different, yet necessary, to the field. Beyond our research, we provide equine assisted service...

07/12/2025

Last night. Photo by Michael Robinson Chavez

07/12/2025

So important, and something I have always fought against: the damage caused by tight nosebands.

THE PRESSURE IS ON! ⚠️EXPOSING THE RISKS OF POOR BRIDLE FIT

We often think of a noseband as sitting on "hard" bone, but this 3D model offers a representation of what is can happen underneath the leather.

The clay strip represents the Levator labii superioris (a key muscle responsible for elevating the upper lip and flaring the nostrils), which runs directly over the sharp lateral edge of the nasal bone.

A recent 2025 study on noseband tightness highlights a physics phenomenon known as the "hammocking effect." When a strap is tightened around the nose, it doesn't distribute pressure evenly. Instead, it bridges over the flat or concave midline and concentrates force onto the "peaks" of the bony prominences.

As shown in the image, this muscle sits exactly at that peak. It becomes the cushion between the unyielding leather strap and the sharp drop-off of the nasal bone.

The study found that once a noseband is tightened beyond "1.4 fingers" of space, pressure does not rise gradually—it skyrockets exponentially.

At the lateral edges of the nasal bone (exactly where this muscle sits), the pressure reached 403 kPa at the tightest setting! To put that in perspective, this is significantly higher than the pressure required to cause nerve damage and tissue death in human tourniquet studies. Even at the midline (the flat part), pressure only reached 185 kPa, proving that the sides of the face take more than double the force.

This muscle isn't just padding; it is essential for the horse’s ability to use their muzzle. Sustained pressure at these levels can impair blood supply (ischemia), leading to the "hair loss" or white hairs often seen at this location.

While the noseband bridges over the nasal bone, it digs in here at the sides. This crushes the muscle against the maxilla's hard bony surface. Since the membrane covering this bone (the periosteum) is packed with pain receptors, and the sensitive Infraorbital Nerve sits just beneath this muscle, the pain potential here is massive.

In addition, if this muscle is compressed, the horse’s ability to twitch, chew, or manipulate their upper lip is mechanically restricted. Since the study used a cadaver, it noted that in a live horse, moving its jaw would likely result in even higher pressures.

The "Two-Finger Rule" ✌️ isn't just about the jaw; it's about protecting these delicate soft tissue structures from being crushed against the nasal bone ridges.

As the study concludes, to avoid these damaging pressure peaks, the traditional provision of two fingers’ space must be retained. The takeaway especially for bitless riders is to be mindful about how much pressure you are applying through rein tension.

Read the full post on our website
https://equinepartnership.ie/bitless/the-pressure-is-on-exposing-the-risks-of-poor-bridle-fit

05/12/2025

And why is it called a bank robber's knot?? Going to have to try this one.