De Rust Equestrian

28/01/2025

Good training is simple. Not easy.

27/01/2025

A visit from Jordan Dale Equine Dental Care in early December to assess Landor Stud Chewbacca.

We noticed early on in his ridden training that Chewy didn’t seem quite comfortable with a bit in his mouth and would salivate during ridden work so we immediately checked his teeth. It is such an important (and often overlooked) part of young horse training and using a qualified PRO equine dentist makes a huge difference.

Luckily Jordan didn’t find anything sinister and Chewy just needed some routine floating. Now, well over a month later after the visit, you can really tell that even just the routine checkups are critical in young horse development.

Training involves all the elements of horse care (not just backing and riding) and we check them all. And working with the professionals just makes the road to success so much easier!

Also, Chewy handled it like a champ and no sedation was necessary. 💪

Luke Compaan

26/01/2025

When Ramiro arrived at De Rust Equestrian it was quite clear that he had some major challenges to overcome.

Firstly, the fact that he was an orphaned foal, bottle fed by humans, and he fully believed he was more human than horse. This became a real challenge when he didn’t understand his role as a horse and he was (quite frankly) a little dangerous when he couldn’t understand what his owner was asking of him.

Secondly, he was reactive and scattered throughout most of the work. Overthinking. Unable to relax. In general just being overstimulated by the external environment and very fidgety. Not necessarily spooky and frightened, but definitely wired and stubborn.

We had to rewire his brain and that takes TIME. He will always be who he is, and that can include a level of stubbornness as well as being opinionated. But he is also brave, careful, and fun. Looking back at where we started and looking at what he gives me today makes me truly grateful for the opportunity to be his trainer.

The road to success is never a straight line and we have our setbacks as well as the leaps forward. But a truly great talent deserves the chance to be his best.

Luke Compaan

26/01/2025

The Pyramid of Empathy

Most people have, at the very least, heard of the Dressage "Scales of Training" or "Pyramid of Training."
There are various renditions of this, with most starting with Rhythm, then relaxation, then some list connection, impulsion, straightness and finally collection.
For a while I have been playing with the idea of a "for the horse " version of this.
We recently released out first online course on the Heartfelt Horsemanship website, and we chose to start with relaxation, because I believe it all starts with relaxation.
I know, relaxation is already on the Scale of Training, but I wouldn't even get on a horse that wasn't truly relaxed, let alone try address rhythm .
Then there is the matter of what people call relaxation. I am asked to help with so many horses with behavioral issues that people are certain are relaxed. When it comes down to it the horse is highly anxious.
People seem to view anxiety as only the horse that is running away and jerking it's head around.
The industry has taught riders to ignore stress indicators so much that they are now almost incapable of spotting them.
I apply this Pyramid of empathy on the ground and, once I have achieved collection on the ground, I start progressing up the
Pyramid with ridden work.
It doesn't mean I don't ride while I progress a horse in groundwork, but I don't ride unless relaxation and understanding are in place, and I don't ride beyond their level of groundwork.
Please remember that relaxation does NOT come from desensitization. I have moved away from using, or ever needing, to desensitize since I have been working on true relaxation.
Our next course offering will be available mid February and will be titled 'The Psychology of Motion', and will address Impulsion.
The smart-a #$ess among you may be wondering what happened to understanding. Well spotted, but we cover building communication and understanding at some level in both the "Path to Calm" and "The Psychology of Motion"

15/01/2025

Number 6 might take you by surprise…

15/01/2025

Just a little Ramiro spam ♠️ Luke Compaan Aliska Luüs

07/01/2025

Because they are ATHLETES not just tools.

03/01/2025

Starting the new year off with the one thing I believe can make the most difference in a horse’s physical and mental health…turnout!

This is still a huge blind spot in the equine industry. In the competitive horse world, 1 hour max of turnout is extremely common. No turnout is common.

The idea of withholding turnout for fear a horse will get injured if allowed to move by their own will, is (and I’ve been here myself)…selfish. We need to put in the work to find the horse friendly habitat that allows them to thrive. Keeping their world confined to when we ride them and control every step, is not a thriving life.

And for those who have horses that don’t like turnout and want to come in…why doesn’t the horse like being in turnout? What needs to be changed so they do? Friends or different friends? More enrichment? Shade? Food? Space? A different boarding property? Help adjusting? There is an answer, but it might be hard to find at first.

Even small additions to turnout time will benefit your horse’s health 🐴🐴

02/01/2025

5 horsemanship basics that you shouldn’t ignore… especially the last one 🌱 Luke Compaan

31/12/2024

Let the good times roll!

29/12/2024

Does your horse understand what it is that you want from them? When s/he says no, do you just ask bigger and bigger until the kicking and yanking starts? When communication between horse and rider fails accidents happen. If you can’t get it right… it’s time to get some help.

Luke Compaan.

🌍 https://floatinganvilphoto.wixsite.com/de-rust-equestrian

25/12/2024

Merry Christmas everyone! With love from the De Rust Equestrian team 🎄♥️

18/12/2024

🙌

If a horse is too expensive to risk turnout, then people don’t deserve their worth 👀

Turnout is an essential basic need of EVERY horse.

18/12/2024

A concept that the human race so often ignores. Rushing towards a result usually ends up in the destruction of the very product that we are trying to create. Sometimes it just takes time and patience. Luke Compaan lukecompaan