Elisha's Positive Training

08/15/2026

Punishing unwanted behaviour requires the behaviour to occur in the first place.

Training to address the cause of WHY a behaviour exists involves meeting needs, achieving emotional regulation and does not seek to provoke a bad reaction or cause a horse to “practice” an unwanted behaviour in order to correct it.

The idea that trainers who don’t promote punishment as a primary means of addressing an unwanted behaviour are “unsafe” and create “dangerous behaviour in horses” is laughable because the primary goal of ethical horse training is to avoid the occurrence of dangerous behaviour in the first place.

It doesn’t get as much applause or anywhere near as many views but any time I am given a dangerous horse to work with, my primary goal is to make them look as safe as possible because if I provoke dangerous behaviour in training, it means that something has been overlooked or wasn’t addressed for whatever reason.

We don’t need to create dangerous behaviour first to fix it.

Punishment relies on addressing problem behaviours as they occur.

Systematic behavioural modification relies on addressing what causes the behaviour in the first place and taking away the horse’s need to use that behaviour as a coping mechanism.

All behaviour has an underlying motivation.

Punishment suppresses the behaviour without actually addressing the cause.

It’s kind of like putting a bandaid on a wound that needs sutures.

Ethical horse training treats the “wound” for infection and sutures it instead of just covering it up and hiding it from view.

08/15/2026

*** Every interaction is a deposit… or a withdrawal ***

One of the most interesting ideas from the scientific literature on the human–horse relationship comes from a simple but powerful concept:

Relationships are built through a succession of interactions.

Every interaction your horse has with you influences the next one.

Your horse doesn't experience today's training session in isolation. They carry memories and expectations from previous experiences into the next interaction.

If handling regularly predicts fear, pain, confusion or conflict, those experiences shape how your horse feels about you.

If interactions consistently predict clarity, safety, reinforcement and positive experiences, those experiences shape the relationship too.

Of course, not every interaction can be pleasant. Horses still need veterinary care, hoof trims, wound treatment and other necessary procedures that may be uncomfortable.

But behavioural science suggests something important:

We can actively counterbalance those unavoidable negative experiences by creating many more positive ones where possible.

For me, this is exactly why I place so much emphasis on cooperative care, clear communication, positive reinforcement and other non aversive approaches.

Not because life should be free from challenges, but because every positive interaction becomes another deposit into the relationship.

And over time, those deposits matter.

I highly recommend reading this paper:

Hausberger, M., & Visser, E. K. (2008). A review of the human–horse relationship. Applied Animal Behaviour Science.

08/15/2026

08/15/2026

Current info on file for your dog's chip is important and can speed up reuniting your pet with you should they get separated. Also, chips can migrate, so it can be a great idea to have your vet check its position.

Today is National Check the Chip Day, a perfect reminder to keep your dog's safety net current. 🐾

A microchip is only as good as the information attached to it. If a pet gets lost, an up-to-date chip is often the fastest way home.

A quick two-minute checklist to share with clients:
- Confirm your dog is microchipped
- Log in to the registry and verify your phone number and address
- Update your details any time you move or change numbers
- Pair the chip with a current ID tag for good measure

It takes just a few minutes today and can make all the difference tomorrow.

When did you last check your dog's chip info? Consider this your friendly nudge and share with your clients.

04/26/2026

03/30/2026

I love seeing how positive reinforcement can help all species of learners.