Jumping Bean Mustangs LLC

12/30/2024

Why is my horse getting so frustrated?! Why do we see horses getting over aroused or stressy during R+ Training? The art half of training is about the flow, the right flow is important for anything you're training. Even with high energy, high arousal behaviors, we want the horse to comfortably return to baseline between repetitions and not push to overarousal or levels of frustration, with an appropriate timing, high rate of reinforcement, and steady increase of criteria.

Criteria: Ideally we will build a behavior slowly and steadily increasing the criteria for the behavior. So if we have a skill like sending to a target we'll slowly add distance, duration, and distraction, and maybe even speed, to this behavior in small steps towards the goal. Each repetition and reinforcement improves the behavior. But if we ask for too much increase of criteria, the horse's arousal level will increase higher and higher, ultimately beginning an extinction burst (with frustration included) and then ultimately extinguishing the behavior. Some people will intentionally utilize these extinction bursts to get large chunks of dramatic behavior - while this technique works, it incorporates frustration into the behavior and we often see mixed emotions and conflict signals from the horse. Take the time to build your behaviors well, don't try to lump your way to a messy goal.

Reinforcement: As the horse searches for the correct answer their arousal level goes up, once they know they did the right behavior (the click) their arousal level begins to come down. The food satiates the horse’s SEEKING emotion, bringing their arousal back down to baseline. If the food isn’t satiating, if it doesn’t match the difficulty level of the skill, their arousal level won’t return to baseline and the next repetition will add on to where we left off. Higher values of food will speed up the increase of their arousal level and push them well past threshold. While lower values will increase slower and not reach as high.

If you're seeing frustration, get appropriately low value food reinforcement, feed in large enough handfuls to be satiating for the horse, lower your criteria to where your horse is comfortable and build on it incrementally. Make sure your training has a nice smooth FLOW

12/19/2024

12/14/2024

Kota froze when I asked for a trot under saddle. Watch as we work through a stress response without escalating the situation!

12/12/2024

“How to teach your horse to trust you”
You cannot teach trust.
You cannot learn trust.
You can only give trust.

So how does trust actually look like?

A horse that got startled but immediately turns, secures and looks for reassurance in the handler with active communication

How does learned helplessness look like?

A horse that’s suppressing any bodily reaction, seems unbothered and uninterested in the surrounding or trying to increase the distance to the handler slowly but steadily.

The goal is not to shut a horse down - to make them NOT react. You can ask that a robot but not a living being.

The goal is to GIVE them trust - not to take their nature away.

However, it is possible to shut a horse down. And certain schools of horsemanship have made that their primary focus through psychological techniques.
But just because it works doesn’t make it ethical. It just offers a quick fix for a human made problem for which the horse must bow.

To teach trust you must give choice first.

Learn to see the difference - and ask yourself are you really okay with horses being horses?
Or are you afraid of their reactions, wanting them to shut down to make YOU feel safe?

So don’t talk about trust if you’re not understanding what that actually means - especially from the horses point of view.

Thank you for coming to my ted talk about how I can’t stand those flags on sticks wiggling around anymore.

12/07/2024

Isabell Werth on how success in the show ring “changes” horses.

Apparently, a horse going from calmly tolerating horses passing them or walking near them to pinning their ears flat back any time another horse comes close is evidence of “arrogance” and a sense of the horse knowing how talented they are…

Instead of, you know, a sign that the horse has learned through experience that competitions are stressful, other horses may be a potential threat and is now displaying signs of more discomfort than they previously showed.

This level of anthropomorphism is delusional and harmful to the horse.

Horses do not have the capacity to be “arrogant.”

They don’t know they’re winners.

They don’t even know how competition is structured, what constitutes a win and what the purpose of their travel around the world to compete even is.

Wendy, the horse, is simply displaying signs of behavioural change that speaks more for an increase of stress than it does for anything else.

I am so sick and tired of elite riders trying to rebrand communication of stress, pain discomfort etc as signs of an exceptional and successful horse.

The reason why so many competition horses behave in this way is because of the shared similarities in trauma… not because they win.

12/04/2024

Some thoughts on horses and respect:

12/01/2024

If you can’t ride a horse on a loose rein out of fear of them taking off or otherwise behaving dangerously, there is a big hole in training that needs addressing.

Horses should be relaxed enough to be ridden at all gaits on a long rein. Or, at minimum, walk and trot.

Riders shouldn’t rely on hanging off horses’ faces to control speed.

If more people prioritized this, a lot of harsh bits would become obsolete.

11/22/2024

Build a Strong, Trust-Based Relationship with Your Horse! 🐴

Looking for a deeper connection with your horse? Struggling with a difficult or "dangerous" horse behavior? I specialize in creating a foundation of trust through positive reinforcement and liberty work, helping both you and your horse communicate more effectively.

Whether you're a beginner or need assistance with challenging behavior, I can help you transform your horse’s mindset and behavior safely and effectively. I also provide assistance with veterinary and farrier handling through cooperative care training to ensure your horse is comfortable during necessary procedures.

✨ Serving Kitsap, Pierce, and Mason Counties in person (Can discuss remote options as well)
✨ Over 10 years of experience in horse training
✨ Master’s degree in Animal Welfare & Behavior
✨ Experienced in handling difficult and "dangerous" horses
✨ Offering behavior consultations to address any issues
✨ Cooperative care training to minimize stress during necessary handling
✨ Experienced in training dogs and decreasing reactivity, too!

Let me help you build a solid foundation of trust, bust common myths about horses, and improve both horse and dog welfare.

Contact me today to book a session and start your journey toward better communication and a stronger bond with your animals!

11/22/2024

🌿 The Welfare Implications of Bitted vs. Bitless Riding: What You Need to Know 🐴
In recent years, there’s been growing concern over the welfare of horses in training, particularly regarding the use of bits. While bitted riding is common, and sometimes required, across various disciplines, research suggests that it can have significant negative implications for a horse’s physical and mental well-being.

🚨 The Impact on Breathing and Anxiety
The use of bits can disrupt a horse's breathing, especially since they are obligate nasal breathers. When the lip seal is broken, or the tongue is displaced due to the bit, it can lead to breathlessness, causing anxiety and stress for the animal (Cook, 1999). As a result, the horse may experience difficulty breathing, which can create a vicious cycle of stress, impacting performance and welfare.

🧠 Mental Health Concerns
Breathlessness caused by bitted riding can trigger anxiety and stress, leading to behavioral changes and heightened reactivity (Luke, et al., 2023; Mellor, 2020; Cook & Kibler, 2018; Cook, 2003). The anxiety response can also lead to a higher risk of aggression and behavioral issues, making the horse more difficult to handle.

😞 Physical Discomfort and Injury
Bits are also associated with oral injuries such as lesions and ulcers (Tell et al., 2008; Tuomola, 2022). The effect of bits can even extend to the horse’s posture. Bitted horses have been shown to adopt a "hollow" posture more frequently than bitless horses, which can result in long-term musculoskeletal issues (Quick & Warren-Smith, 2009; Cottrial, et al., 2008).

🔄 What Does the Research Say?
Interestingly, studies show that bitless horses often perform as well, or better, than bitted horses, with fewer signs of distress during training (Quick & Warren-Smith, 2009; Mellor, 2020). Bitless riding has also been found to be just as safe, if not safer, than traditional bitted riding, with horses reportedly calmer, less aggressive, and more responsive (Luke et al., 2023).

🌱 The Case for Bitless Riding
Bitless options are gaining attention for promoting better welfare. Horses ridden without bits are often less anxious, less reactive to stimuli, and may even exhibit improved behavior during training. This suggests that bitless riding could provide a more humane and effective alternative that prioritizes both the horse’s physical and emotional well-being.

✅ In Conclusion
As we continue to evolve our understanding of horse welfare, it’s crucial to consider how our training methods, including the use of bits, affect our horses. Moving towards more compassionate alternatives like bitless riding could lead to better outcomes for horses in training, with less physical pain, anxiety, and distress.

Let’s keep the welfare of our equine partners in mind as we continue to explore more ethical and effective methods for training. 🐴💚



-Cook, W R. (2003). Bit-induced pain: A cause of fear, flight, fight und facial neuralgia in the horse. Pferdeheilkunde Equine Medicine, 19(1), 75–82. https://doi.org/10.21836/pem20030111
-Cook, W. R., & Kibler, M. (2018). Behavioural assessment of pain in 66 horses, with and without a bit. Equine Veterinary Education, 31(10), 551–560. https://doi.org/10.1111/eve.12916
-Cook, W. Robert. (1999). Pathophysiology of bit control in the horse. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, 19(3), 196–204. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0737-0806(99)80067-7
-Cottriall, S., Ritruechai, P., & Wakeling, J. M. (2008). The effects of training aids on the longissimus dorsi in the equine back. Comparative Exercise Physiology, 5(3–4), 111. https://doi.org/10.1017/s1478061509342346
-Luke, K. L., McAdie, T., Warren-Smith, A. K., & Smith, B. P. (2023). Bit use and its relevance for rider safety, rider satisfaction and horse welfare in Equestrian Sport. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 259, 105855. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2023.105855
-Mellor, D. J. (2020). Mouth pain in horses: Physiological foundations, behavioural indices, welfare implications, and a suggested solution. Animals, 10(4), 572. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10040572
-Quick, J. S., & Warren-Smith, A. K. (2009). Preliminary investigations of horses’ (Equus caballus) responses to different bridles during foundation training. Journal of Veterinary Behavior, 4(4), 169–176. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jveb.2008.12.001
-Tell, A., Egenvall, A., Lundström, T., & Wattle, O. (2008). The prevalence of oral ulceration in Swedish horses when ridden with bit and bridle and when Unridden. The Veterinary Journal, 178(3), 405–410. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2008.09.020
-Tuomola, K., Mäki-Kihniä, N., Valros, A., Mykkänen, A., & Kujala-Wirth, M. (2021). Bit-related lesions in event horses after a cross-country test. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 8. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2021.651160

06/02/2024

Now that I have finished my Master’s, I can officially share my project! I built a website that serves as a literature review aimed towards beginners in the horse world. Citing 154 sources, you can learn about horse behavior, welfare, and training! I plan on adding more sections as time permits such as training aids and more.

Enjoy and please share to your horse loving friends ❤️

The Goal of this Website This website was developed to provide a scientific literature review geared towards beginners in the horse world. The science behind behavior and welfare is important to know when caring for and training horses, but the research articles can get pretty tough to read,

05/04/2024

In total, this took about 20 minutes from introducing the saddle pad to walking around with the saddle pad on.

We did all of this at liberty with positive reinforcement. I used alfalfa pellets as the reinforcer and offered hay in a net separately. We worked in his paddock next to his buddies. He had the choice to engage in the training, eat, or hang with the other horses.

Learning only occurs when the learner is willingly engaged.

No ropes, clips, or whips were needed. Just some food, a pad, and a lil science-based training 🙂.

04/27/2024

Introducing the newest addition to the family, Kota 🥰 he’s a 3 year old BLM Mustang out of the Sand Wash Basin HMA in CO. He was gentled by Bri McDonnell and he’s such a sweet baby. I can’t wait to watch his growth and see him become a lesson horse for kiddos! He is going to be instrumental in teaching the upcoming generations on the importance of positive reinforcement and ethical handling. Welcome, Kota❤️