Heart to Heart - Equine

15/06/2025

Finally made our way to this expansive arena!

The two mares visited the beach only a handful of times, and it's been a few years (life has been busy).

First visit to this beach went well. The mares were excited, but took it all in sensibly. We even met some wild horses, but that wasn't a bug deal either.

The float ride, however, is still very stressful for Ferry unfortunately, and she injures herself on the way back 😢

Getting her on the float is only a first step, helping her to be OK with the ride itself is the next goal.

10/06/2025

Are you feeling frustrated with your horse’s behaviour, but unsure what to do next?

You’ve tried listening to the advice around you, but it’s not really working — and to be honest, it doesn’t feel right in your heart.

You want to do more with your horse. You’ve got a vision of doing amazing things together, but right now it feels like a distant dream.

You don’t have to figure it out on your own. I’m here to help — in fact, it’s my passion to support you and your horse as you overcome challenges and build the partnership you’ve been dreaming of.

No quick fixes. No one-size-fits-all advice. Just real, tailored support that meets you exactly where you are. I’ll be with you every step of the way.

Introducing The Confident Horse Journey — a personalised 1:1 programme designed to give you the guidance and support you need to build both your own and your horse’s confidence, in a way that feels right for both of you.

So — are you ready to invest in a long-lasting, rewarding partnership with your horse?

Click here to learn more and book your FREE call with me.

https://mailchi.mp/15b7464e61e3/the-confident-horse-journey

Imagine heading out on a solo trail ride. Suddenly, your horse notices something unfamiliar in the distance, and you feel them tense beneath you. BUT instead of reacting with fear, their ears turn towards you — they’re waiting for your guidance. Your horse trusts you so deeply that, when in dou...

09/06/2025

"How do I correct my horse's behaviour?"

This question comes up so often, and the behaviours that need correcting are incredibly varied. But they all have one thing in common – they’re symptoms.

Some say that the only way horses can communicate with us is through their behaviour, but that’s not true. They communicate in much more subtle ways. If we ignore their signals – whether intentionally or simply because we don’t see them – the horse will escalate to unwanted behaviour. Not out of clever planning, but as a response to what’s happening.

So, how do you correct your horse’s behaviour?

The first step is to identify the cause. From there, you can build a plan that actually works.

29/05/2025

BUDDY SOUR HORSES – Why It Happens and How You Can Help Your Horse Succeed

I invite you to join a FREE webinar that will explain in depth the root cause behind buddy sour behaviour in horses, so you can transform it with clarity and confidence.

You love your horse and you are committed to their well-being on the physical, emotional, and mental levels.

You feel stuck with this unwanted, perhaps dangerous behaviour, but the advice you've received so far has been limited at best – or maybe even damaging to your relationship with your horse.

Correcting the buddy sour mindset can be enjoyable for both you and your horse. A long-term solution is one that enhances your relationship.

You may be thinking about sending your horse to a trainer, but guess what? When the horse comes back, it's up to you and them. YOU are the one your horse needs to trust, and you are the one who can transform this.

For more information, comment here, message me, or go to this link.

Help your horse transform in a way that feels good for both horse and human.

28/05/2025

Sometimes I just want to SCREAM at what I see, hear, or read.

To think that no matter what the problem is, you can just work your horse into submission because the horse is too tired to misbehave... remind me, what century are we in?

It’s not that there’s anything wrong with working your horse — sometimes harder than they would’ve chosen. That’s OK. But the work needs to have a purpose, and it’s not to exhaust the horse into submission.

Even if you didn’t care about your horse’s feelings (and I’m sure you do), it’s not even an effective method — because it fails to address (here comes my favourite phrase) the ROOT CAUSE of the behaviour.

If you don’t understand what’s causing the behaviour, you can’t truly fix it. Just because the horse is too tired to do anything dangerous doesn’t mean you’ve solved anything. In fact, you’ve probably created a lot more issues.

But how do we know the root cause?

Let’s start with acknowledging that now you’re asking the right question. That’s the first step to getting the right answer. The second step is to start listening to your horse.

I’m not suggesting this is simple or easy, and I’m not saying you have to figure it out all on your own. But at least you’re taking steps in the right direction — even if that means looking for a different kind of “professional” than the one who gave you unhelpful advice.

Tell me, have you ever been given that advice — to just work them harder? How did that work for you and your horse?

27/05/2025

JOIN THE NEW HORSE "OWNER" GROUP CHAT.

Let's create a community of horse lovers who are committed to the well-being of their horses and are supportive to each other.

23/05/2025

What’s Up with Ferry?

Ferry has a way of expressing herself that can sometimes make it hard to know what’s really going on. She can shut down when dealing with too much emotion — something I’ve learnt to recognise in her — and I’m glad to say it’s been a while since I’ve seen that in her.

And yet, she can still be very low energy, though some things do light her up (like trail rides). When she’s in energy-preserving mode, she often shows her resistance by simply refusing to move. When this behaviour persists, it makes you wonder whether she’s in pain, or just doesn’t want to work. She did have foot problems not so long ago, and I had to learn to listen to her signals. When she refused to move, it turned out she really was in pain. But now she’s fully sound, and her eyes show no signs of discomfort.

What I see now is a horse who hasn’t done much over the past year (due to the foot issues, now resolved). She’s the kind of horse that gains energy through work — so doing less has really reduced her spark. Asking her to work harder now is met with a fair bit of resistance.

So how do we move forward in a way that respects her, feels good for both of us, and also brings the result I’m after — a more energised, balanced, responsive, and happy horse?

Here’s the thing — the process that leads to this result will include moments when Ferry isn’t happy, when she’s out of balance, and when her energy or responsiveness is low. But those moments are all part of the journey.

There will be times when I push through her resistance, times when we release tension, times of high concentration, and times when I give her choice.

I know I’ve made the right choices when the next session feels a little better than the last. And if I’ve made the wrong ones, I’ll learn from them and adjust. It’s all been done before — and yet, it’s all new. This specific situation, with this horse, in this paddock, under these conditions — it’s a unique moment that’s never existed before. I don’t need to reinvent the wheel, but I do need to adjust to all the factors at play. We all have to do that every time.

I’ll keep you updated on her progress…

21/05/2025

If you're looking for support in your horsemanship journey, and you are committed to putting the horse's well-being first, join the new horse "owner" group chat.
It's free to join.
Sign up link in comments.

20/05/2025

Your horse is not stubborn!

When we assign human characteristics to horses, we minimise our own responsibility in the situation.

Whatever behaviour your horse is showing, there is an emotion behind it — and behind that emotion is an unmet need.

It’s our job to figure out what that need is. It’s our job to make the necessary changes.

If you have a horse that behaves in a “stubborn” way and you want to explore the root cause, I may be able to help you.

If this behaviour shows up when your horse is away from other horses, you’re likely dealing with a buddy sour horse.

You’re welcome to join my free webinar on this very topic — it’s happening in two weeks. Details are on the event page.

17/05/2025

Today at Horse-Mad Kids Club, the two horses started a little bit anxious, as their two friends were in a distant paddock. They were busy calling the other horses.

This was a great opportunity for the kids to learn how to help the horses feel safe by leading them with confidence.

During the session, the horses didn't neigh once. They were fully engaged with the kids, on the ground, and then in the saddle.

16/05/2025

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