Annie Dillon Horsemanship

15/06/2025

What happens to a horse who no longer serves the role we assigned them?

Recently, a video surfaced of yet another elite rider responding to a horse’s refusal with violent force. The justification? That the horse had become dangerous to ride, and this was his only chance at “being saved from the knackery." As if compliance through domination was a rescue.

I think we need to look more closely at what we define as value in a horse.

We’ve built a culture that equates usefulness with worth. That says: if the horse can’t be ridden, he doesn’t belong. That a horse’s right to live depends on his ability to tolerate being used.

But what if a horse becomes dangerous because he’s overwhelmed? Or hurting? Or simply trying to communicate the only way he knows how?

I’ve worked with horses who shut down so completely they barely breathed in your presence, who dissociated to survive. And I’ve also worked with horses who fled, bolted, spun, or fought with every ounce of their body. These aren’t opposites. Freeze, flight, and fight are all expressions of the same root: fear, confusion, and a lack of understanding or adequate preparation. It's not disobedience. It's survival.

When we stop demanding obedience and start listening instead, really listening, we begin to see just how much these horses have been trying to tell us. Most horses did try telling us politely until they learned they would be ignored, so instead did one of three things: fight back, run away, or freeze and comply.

Yes, it takes time. Yes, it asks more of us. But the relationships that emerge from that place, where the horse is not forced, but invited, are the ones that change you.

Because the real measure of a horse’s worth has nothing to do with what they can do for us, and everything to do with who they are, when they finally feel safe enough to show us. Their value was never in their usefulness. It was in their being, all along. ❤️‍🩹

13/06/2025

Arrest this horse! This is clearly an illegal level of cute! 😍🤩🫣🥰

19/04/2025

People love to talk about straightness.

But here’s the truth: a horse can only be straight on a curve if each limb is engaging along its own arc of travel.

This isn’t just about hoof placement, it’s about how the whole body organizes around balance and bend.

You can’t feel this in a podcast. You can’t diagram it into your horse’s body.

You have to practice it. Repeatedly. With feel, feedback, and fair expectations.

Theory gives us the language.

But practice is where the real conversation with your horse happens.

If you’re ready to understand this from the ground up, and apply it without turning into a biomechanics thesaurus, my Fundamentals of Balance course is for you!

35% off until April 20th
[Link in bio]

13/04/2025

Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about how hard it’s getting to invest in the things that truly matter. The rising costs, the tariffs—it all adds up. And it can make even the most meaningful pursuits feel just out of reach.

So here’s a quiet offering. A small but intentional way to make this work more accessible to those who’ve been waiting for the right time.

If you’ve been curious about the deeper work I’ve been sharing—especially around postural stability, balance, groundwork, and developing a more intuitive connection from the ground up—this might be the moment to step in.

I’ve put something special together, available now through April 20.

It’s for the ones who want to meet their horse in balance.

For those building from the inside out.

For those who value soundness, communication, and clarity over control.

You’ll find all the details in the comments 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻

With warmth and deep appreciation,
Annie 💕

11/04/2025

10/03/2025

Fuego is really starting to get the hang of this! 🤩

He is so smart—almost too smart! You have to stay one step ahead because he picks things up in an instant, whether it’s what you do want or what you don’t.

He honestly reminds me of a Malinois with how sharp and eager he is. He keeps me on my toes, and I’m loving every moment of working with him! 💕

26/07/2024

Friendly Announcement: Streamlining My Online Presence

I've decided to simplify my online life by consolidating my content sharing back to my main account, Annie Dillon. This will allow me to focus on what matters most - creating meaningful content and connecting with like-minded individuals who share my passion for horses.

I'm looking forward to sharing my thoughts, experiences, and knowledge with you all in my own personal and authentic way, which most of you have already enjoyed for years. Thank you for being part of my journey! 💕

And don't worry, I'll still be sharing updates on my course creations and horse-related adventures over on my main account, Annie Dillon Horsemanship will become inactive going forward. So be sure to follow my main account so you don't miss out on future posts and updates!

Thank you all for your continued support towards real lasting change in the horse industry, "Ape alone... weak. Apes together... strong!" ❤️‍🩹

22/07/2024

Uncovering the truth: crediting sources and the complexity of originality.

It's important to acknowledge the originators of ideas, but sometimes the picture is more nuanced than we think. Our perceptions can be deceiving, and the true story behind a concept or method may be nuanced or multifaceted. It's not always straightforward.

In my own course, I meticulously cite multiple sources throughout its entirety, yet I recently received two contrasting messages from students, ironically on the same morning.

One student misinterpreted the exercises as a rehashing of an unrelated method, which left me perplexed. Meanwhile, another student expressed gratitude, recognizing that the exercises address the very issues caused by that same method.

The latter student was correct, as my exercises are rooted in my experience at a biomechanics rehabilitation facility, where I learned techniques to resolve those exact issues, backed by information gleaned in Classical texts as well as modern movement science.

It's intriguing how perception can vary so greatly, and how people become fixated on issues of credit. Even when sources are clearly cited, some individuals still claim theft or plagiarism. I wonder if this isn't a ploy to garner sympathy and followers by feigning vulnerability. In my opinion, true understanding (consilience) isn't about tearing others down.

The more I delve into Classical texts, the more I realize that nothing in horse training is truly novel. Humans have worked with horses for millennia; it's arrogant to assume we've invented something entirely new.

The irony of human nature is that we often neglect to learn from the past, despite being surrounded by the wisdom of previous generations readily available to us. Rather than rediscover concepts in dusty old texts, many are intent to try and reinvent the wheel. And when similarities arise, we can be quick to cry foul, without considering the nuances that set them apart. It's a curious paradox - our ability to innovate and progress, paired with a tendency to repeat the mistakes of history.

Horses have taught me that true humility comes from embracing the complexity of knowledge, acknowledging the contributions of others, and recognizing that wisdom is a continuous thread that weaves through time, connecting us all. 💕