The Horsemanship Academy

04/12/2024

Science isn’t my strong suit, but I thought this was a good explanation sharing the difference between the horse brain and the human brain. By understanding, Horses behavior and nature, I feel we are given the strategies we need to help them feel safe and get out of their “reflex brain“

Understanding their body language and learning to communicate with them through body language and intention can greatly help.

Comparative neurobiology of horse and human.

Horses and humans are both mammals.
Our brains may not be the same size, but they are almost identical in their structure and function.

Why can our brains look so similar but our behaviours and sensitivity to the world look so different?

The area in the picture highlighted is the prefrontal cortex or the (PFC). Its job in humans, horses, dogs, dolphins, elephants, cats, mice, rats, all mammals, and even birds is to carry out "higher executive functions" such as:

🧠 problem solving
🧠 decision making
🧠 reasoning
🧠 risk assessment
🧠 forward planning
🧠 impulse control
🧠 intention

Obviously, these executive functions are more advanced in humans than in other species of mammals, but this part of the brain plays a pivotal role in higher levels of learning beyond primal behaviours and learning survival skills.

So why aren't we seeing these higher executive functioning skills and behaviours in horses as much as what we see them in dogs, dolphins, elephants and even birds?

Ultimately it comes down to safety!

The latest neuroscience research suggests that when the brain feels unsafe it causes the body to produce stress response hormones and these stress response hormones cause the PFC to go "offline".
This means that subcortical regions of the brain (deeper parts of the brain) such as the primal brain (AKA limbic system, survival brain, flight/fight brain) completely take over to increase the chances of survival.

Feeling unsafe causes the feeling of fear and it is fear that gets this party started.

So behaviours come from two areas:

1. The PFC, carrying out problem solving skills, reasoning, impulse control, forward planning etc. that may be interpreted as "obedience" and "partnership".

2. The primal brain, carrying out reactive survival behaviours. This brain does NOT carry out impulse control, forward planning, problem solving, etc. It just reacts to the world. This brain heavily relies on patterns and consistency. This brain will cause freeze/flight/fight behaviours such as shutting down, bolting, biting, rearing, bucking, kicking, barging, etc.

Which brain is the domesticated horse spending most of it's time in?
It's primal brain!

This is why we don't get to see their full intellectual and cognitive potential because most of the time, domesticated horses are perceiving their world in a fearful way to some degree.

We can help our horses with this!

Feeling fearful is the OPPOSITE to feeling calm.
If we want to help our horses access their PFC then we MUST do whatever it takes to help them feel calm.

☝️ ONLY when a brain feels calm can it slow down enough to develop TRUE confidence. Only when the brain feels confident will it access TRUE cognition (PFC).

☝️ We first need to understand that when we get "bad behaviour" from our horses, it's not intentional or naughty or rude. What you are seeing is either a horse that is just reacting to the fear they feel or they are carrying out their "coping mechanism" in response to their anticipation of feeling fear.

☝️ Try to remove expectations that your horse should "know better".
"Knowing better" implies that all behaviours are coming from the PFC and there should be some impulse control and reasoning. Unless your horse feels calm, they can't access the PFC to "know better".

THIS STARTS WITH YOU!!!

You need to be consciously aware if YOU feel calm first. If you feel calm, your horse will have a better chance at feeling calm. Expecting them to feel calm when you don't is unfair.

The best way to create calmness is to intentionally be SLOW!!!
SLOW EVERYTHING you do down.
SLOW your movement down.
SLOW your talking down.
SLOW your walking down.
SLOW your breathing down.
SLOW your horse down.
If you feel too slow, then you're going slow enough.

Calmness is slow, not fast.

This will help you and your horse to connect and feel safe together.
When the brain feels stressed, the stress response hormones cause the body to speed up.

Stress = speed

We can reverse engineer this process and create a calm mind through slow intentional movement and a relaxed posture.

The by-product of a calm brain is confidence and cognition (PFC access).

Happy brain training 🧠
Charlotte 😊

Photo: Credit: Adult horse (equine) brain, sagittal section. Michael Frank, Royal Veterinary College. Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)

11/10/2024

I love this!! And might be a new mantra surviving the aftermath of this storm

Work Hard! Stay soft!

The journey that we call horsemanship is not for the faint of heart, nor for those lacking in discipline, or perseverance. If you want to understand the many feels and nuances, that you must, in order to ride and interact with your horse successfully, then you have to be willing to work hard but still stay soft!

What might that mean? The working hard part pertains to the discipline you must possess to gain control of your body parts in all of their unique individuality so that you can both follow, and communicate, with your horse. The soft is just that. Becoming buoyant instead of rigid in all your joints while following and yet maintaining the ability to influence the horse beneath or around you.

Another skill set that must be mastered is the control of all emotions…other than peace, and empathy, for the horse.

My goal is to break this down. Cut it in half, if necessary, then cut it in half again. When you first…understand… and then apply, precise communication aids in your riding and interactions you will learn and your horse will begin to respond predictably. What is needed in order to communicate with the magical creatures we get to spend time with…?

It all starts with understanding these unmatched beings. What motivates them? Who are they? As their own unique set of personality traits, intelligence and energy levels are factored into the equation, a recipe, for each individual emerges.
I am not implying that discipline and boundaries are not necessary because they are. In ourselves.
The horses will follow suit.
Some personality types and energy levels are harder to communicate with at first.
Stallions need special handling at the beginning.
I have a long and varied background in the equine industry and consequently have worked with colts and stallions more than most folks get to. Some folks don’t like stallions but some of my best performance horses were stallions.
Stallions value good timing, fairness and consistency. They will hold you accountable if you don’t provide that. Along with relaxed control of your emotions. Repetition of fair handling leads us where we want to be.
I also have enjoyed many opportunities to work with “tricky” horses in my prime. They sure helped me get better about all of these skill sets I preach about to my students. Sure I made mistakes…we all do. But I learned from them and never blamed the horse.
Some horses challenged me, some ignored, some were too frightened or distracted at the beginning to listen. Bit by bit though, they all came along towards the best that they could be. That was always enough.
True talent in any discipline is rare but progress towards your goals is always possible.
Another thing. All horses do not suit all people. In my early years I did not possess the skill set or understanding to provide proper guidance to certain horses. While I learned a lot from these horses I cannot be sure they learned that much from me.
Mostly because I approached them from my place of comfort not theirs. I try not to do that anymore.
If this sort of language and approach is interesting to you maybe we should connect.

We will be embarking on a series of clinics at the rescue that cover all areas of conversational horsemanship. Comment if you have interest and we will be in touch.

07/10/2024

Something you don’t see on the farm everyday! I am thrilled to see them heading back to clear the destruction left behind by the storm!! Here’s to power returning and The Horsemanship Academy getting reopened for business!!!

As soon as we get power I will be rescheduling all that had to be cancelled… lessons, evaluations, and the Immersion.

Although I may take a day off and sleep, then reschedule!!🤣🤣🤣

06/10/2024

This used to be solid woods. Heading into the trail obstacle course. The landscape on the farm is rapidly changing. Trying to find the good in it all. More room for a covered arena one day?

03/10/2024

19/09/2024

I am a huge believer in life long learning. As a professional in the Equine industry for over 20 years, I try to continue to learn as often as possible. I had the great pleasure to spend five days with Luke Gingerich at his clinic and came away with so much insight and practical applications! If you are a professional or amateur, you can greatly benefit from spending time with Luke at one of his clinics. He is kind, patient, and can teach people at all levels and from all disciplines. He is not only a great teacher, but a fabulous performer and has an amazing connection with his horses. I highly recommend his clinics! 

10/09/2024

Let’s get our shine on!! Equifuse Bathing System is hands down the best!!

08/08/2024

I couldn’t agree more! That’s why I think every horse needs to learn how to be a good citizen on the ground and under saddle in order to have the tools to be a great partner, no matter what the discipline.

15/06/2024