Heartfelt Horsemanship

17/01/2025

The Path to Calm Online Course

Thanks to everyone for their kind feedback about the online course.

I have. tendency to feel my social media posts should be all education, opinion and advice, but I recently saw an article about self-belief and selling what you believe in...
So ... I will be balancing out my posts with a fair share of selling..
We have to make a living to keep making a difference..

So go check out " A Path to Calm"
At heartfelthorsemanship.org

The focus of this course is on helping horses adjust their neurochemistry, and reset their nervous system.
There is a healthy balance of science and soul... With practical, easily understood ways to implement a way forward for anxious horses.
We are busy working on the next course, and those that purchase " A Path to Calm" will receive a discount on the next course offering.

16/01/2025

I love seeing the shift from blaming horses for behavioral issues.
There isn't a single "problem" behavior that is the horses fault.
Problem behaviors are rooted in pain, fear or misunderstanding. ALWAYS.
No, your horse isn't " just testing you" or "being cheeky".
They might offer a behavior that appears that way, and if we lack clarity or consistency that behavior becomes set at correct in your horses eyes.
This is not new information.
I have been teaching this stuff for over a decade, but there has been a shift if how I handle the other side of the equation.
I used to be pretty hard on the rider/ owner about this aspect.
The reality, however, is that they deserve every bit as much understanding as their horses.
There is a reason owners/riders are inconsistent, or unclear, or harsh on horses.
More often than not it's that they have been taught it's the right thing. The don't understand what their horse needs from them, just like their horses doesn't understand what their riders need from them.

Alternatively, they have had a trauma which brings up fear that affects their ability to reason.
Blaming yourself for failing your horse is just as detrimental as blaming your horse for undesirable behavior.
This doesn't mean we shrug off responsibility for our mistakes, but the correct response to taking responsibility is change, not blame.
Instructors who have figured out it's not the horses fault... The next step is to be forgiving of your students.
Help them change, rather than load them with blame.

13/01/2025

Aggression in the stable

This title is difficult for me to type, because I don't actually believe that we are dealing with aggression, but defensiveness.
I work with a number of horses that fall into his category, but chose not to use photos of any of them, as the owners already have a hard enough time with other liveries labelling their horses as "problem horses".
Some of these horses with stable defensiveness have been through rough handling, but not all.

So where does the behavior come from?

There is no "once size fits all" answer, but I do want to discuss some possible reasons, and how to address them.

When dealing with undesirable behaviors we always have to address the motivation, rather than trying to suppress the behavior. Suppressing a behavior, without addressing the cause, will result in further problems.

The most obvious cause of stable defensiveness is the fact that horses have reduced ability to escape scary stimulus.
I know this is why people often do things in stables, because the horse can"t get away.

Horse runs away from the saddle? Just saddle in the stable.
Horse runs from farrier? Trim in the stable

Vet, dentist, phsyio... The list is long and too often the " solution" is the same.
This never addresses the cause of the problem, it just removes the option of escape.
So the horse consistently has scary things happen to them in the stable. It shouldn't surprise us that they start trying to prevent humans entering their stable.
I often hear people say that their horse ISN'T scared, because once the horse is on a halter they are " fine". In the best case scenario, this is obedience overshadowing their fear, and worst case, freeze or fawn response because their body tells them it's all over, they are captured.
In the latter case, a horse can have the procedures done with the halter repeated 1000 times and they will never learn it's ' not threatening'. This is because both those states are a function of the sympathetic nervous system, which is not a learning state. Your horse isn't present for anything happening to them once they enter that state.
Obedience is a different kettle of fish. Less anxious horses tend to cope with obedience, but if an anxious horse is suppressing that anxiety to avoid punishment, it is going to come out elsewhere, or at another time, and probably be amplified. Pressure contained is pressure amplified.

So how do we address this?
Going into the stable armed with weapons is a bad idea. I don't care what certain " Natural Horsemanship" trainers say. This is still obedience-based suppression. If you're happy with the fact that some horses will cower with their head in the corner, you probably aren't the audience for this piece, but you should know that I deal with this behavior often and I would say more than half the horses that have people try using fear to correct the behavior get MORE defensive.
They are already scared. The fear is the reason for the behavior in the first place. Adding more fear works far less than people think.
My first suggestion is to have all management happen outside of the stable, with plenty space.
If the horse can't be saddled, trimmed, groomed or receive veterinary care in a round pen with space, they need training, not containment.
Secondly, reduce interactions in the stable.
Even after you stop all the management tasks that cause stress in the stable, your horse will be expecting unpleasant interactions for some time.
Often they associate their owner with pleasant stable interactions, and everyone else with traumatized interactions.
Having others interact positively over the stable door can start to make a change in the horses perception, but it will take time.
Remember, what you call a pleasant interaction might not feel that way to a horse. Even grooming is often seen as som**hing done to them, rather than for them.
We have exercises like the forelock massage, or even just being with them without expectations.
It is, however, important to find workarounds to avoid being in the stable with a defensive horse. It is incredibly dangerous being in a confined space with a 600kg animal that feels it is fighting for it's life. It has no way of escaping(flight) and only has fight left.

I often have clients have the food put in the stable before the horse goes into the stable, and,if loose feed buckets are used, have a way to remove it without going in the stable.
A hole drilled into the feed bucket with a string attached is not as ridiculous as you might think, once you have seen the injuries I have.
If the horse can't be haltered over the stable door, I strongly recommend having an empathetic, learning theory educated professional assist with the early stages.

In an ideal situation I would recommend horses be turned out 24/7 , but I do know that quality 24/7 turn out facilities are not common as yet.

Gareth Mare'
+27724703358
heartfelthorsemanship.org

03/01/2025

Just saying....

How many times have you heard vets, farriers, instructors and yard managers repeat that saying about how badly horses are designed?
Or people call horses "morons" because they don't follow cattle grazing patterns?

Horses are not designed badly, they are overwhelmingly kept in situations that don't meet their basic needs as a species. This creates health issues.
The trouble is we have a field of science that is very much devoid of actual science.it is a study of traditional practices that actually cause harm.
Very few Equine Science programs look at a horses requirements outside of domestication.
This is one of the things that keeps us in the loop of causing ha and blaming horses for harming themselves.
When the qualifications only cover care in unnatural, harmful settings, it is accepted a "The right way".
On the way horses graze.. It is different to how cattle graze. They aren't evolved to graze monoculture in highly overstocked pastures. Again, this is our choice to alter their environment, not a fault of a flawed intelligence.
"It's just joke"
Doesn't cut it.
Jokes that perpetuate harmful practices aren't funny... They gaslight people pointing to the science and saying "hey, we need to do things differently to have ANY real impact on horse welfare".
If they gaslight enough, they think they maintain the status quo, and can convince everyone that there is no welfare issue.
They think they can convince the industry that the threat to equestrian sports is the "bunny huggers"..
It's not. The biggest threat to equestrian sports is rampant welfare concerns and the industries apparent unwillingness to address it.

03/01/2025

heartfelthorsemanship.org

Get access to ethical horsemanship courses at your fingertips!

01/01/2025

"Hell Yeah" energy only!!!

I have avoided Resolutions for a few years.. But I think it's time for a resolution.

I resolve to only entertain " Hell Yeah" energy this year.
I love my work, but I have fallen into a pattern of trying to convince people of trying a kinder approach. It's an exhausting habit.
So, this year I am focussing on those fully committed to he journey.
This isn't arrogance, it's a neccesity for my mental health.
We ( Talya Mari ) have put substantial work into online material ( heartfelthorsemanship.org ), and we will be releasing more content through the year.
This means the information we offer is available to those that are on the fence, without me trying to convince anyone of anything.
So.. If you are in Port Alfred ( 24th January) Port Elizabeth ( 25the January) Garden Route (26th January)
Hout Bay (15th February) Stellenbosch ( 16th and 17th February)
Johannesburg 28th February
Pretoria 1st to 3rd March....
If you're in any of these places and you hear I am coming through... And you feel a "Hell Yeah" coming on..
Drop a Whatsapp 0724703358..
If you're curious but still fairly committed to the way you have always done things ... Check out the courseware on the website..
heartfelthorsemanship.org

30/12/2024

I have a confession..

I use aversives.

When people read my posts and watch videos they may think I exclusively use "positive reinforcement".
I think positive reinforcement is a fantastic tool, and there is simply no faster was to shape a behavior.
We are, however, not just shaping behavior, and I have found that LIGHT aversive is helpful when we are working on a horses ability to self-regulate and connect.
Don't let the cowboy hat fool you,(It's purely practical in the African sun) I am not one of those " food rewards make pushy horses" people. Well, not anymore. I have expanded my education and understand that Positive reinforcement done well is an incredible training tool. For some aspects of training it would be ONLY tool I would use.

I do, however, feel it's important not to misrepresent myself.
At foundation stages, and when working with an anxious horse I use Subtractive reinforcement.
Subtractive reinforcement is a version of "Negative Reinforcement", but without the electric shocks.
You see when the studies were done on learning theory that was the value of the aversive. Electric shock.
Not surprisingly, animals responded better to treats. It doesn't have to be a choice between electric shocks and treats.
The definition of aversive could use an update too. The Oxford dictionary :" causing strong dislike or disinclination" doesn't quite work when we are talking about light stimuli to encourage a movement.
That's the reason for the quote in the photo.. The mosquito can be moved without killing it, it will likely be a very gentle aversive to have it movie.
I have started adding to Ray Hunt's philosophy of " as gentle as possible, but as firm as neccesary" with "and never causing pain or fear".
I use this to describe how I use aversive in the foundation stages.
Does the definition of aversive need an upgrade, or do you know of another more appropriate term?
Check out our course on the foundations of relaxation: The Path to Calm" on heartfelthorsemanship.org

28/12/2024

The two-year olds...
We have done so much differently with these boys, than previous youngsters.
We didn't" feed them up". We gave them the feed they needed, but didn't push growth.
We didn't imprint. we left their Mom's to bond with them, and teach them how to avoid collisions.
They will only be introduced to a saddle at around 3 and have another full year before they start riding.
They have never been smacked.. this isn't any different to what I did with other foals, but it's worth noting.. these two are the sweetest, easy to handle colts ( currently still in-tact) ..and it's BECAUSE we don't hit them. We put kind, clear communication in place so they understand what we are looking for, instead of punishing them for things they don't know are wrong!
We are going to have their entire development, from birth to riding available on the website ( heartfelthorsemanship.org ) broken up into courses, but there are a few years before we start their riding careers.
Don't forget there are only 3 days left of the Path to Calm course being available at the launch price. the price goes up on the 1st January.

28/12/2024

27/12/2024

Don't try this at home..

A while back I read an article about why we shouldn't ride bridleless.
It was by a trainer I greatly respect, but I admit I didn't agree with this particular point of view, or the reasons behind it.
It is, however, worth discussion, because the reasons apply to far more than just riding bridleless.
First and foremost was the "horses are spooky, flight animals and they are going to be reactive".
Those that know me, know my background is in the study of wild animals, and I don't believe equids are spooky and unpredictable. The domesticated horse, known for it's jumpiness has more to do with how tradition has had us manage and train them than it does with their intrinsic nature.
As for the unpredictable, it couldn't be further from the truth. Horses give clear signs of their level of anxiety, and if we weren't trained from young to ignore them, we would have ample time to address their anxiety before issues escalated.
I ride a number of my horses bridleless. Some are still at a stage of development that I would choose to only do so in a closed arena, but I have two that can be ridden anywhere safely bridleless. They have a level of relaxation that allows plenty room for stressful stimulus before they become reactive. They trust that we will keep them safe more than any new stimulus scares them.
Those two horses are safer bridleless than most horses I see at shows on any given Sunday.
Now, I work with troubled horses for a living and I give people recommendations of building communication and relaxation that rarely includes bridleless riding. I have clients that follow through, take the time and stick to a holistic program, and they often get there, but that's the example I want people to follow.
You see the other aspect the article mentioned was the " bad example" point of view I hear so much.
There are many things I am a terrible example to follow for. I am messy, disorganized, love unhealthy food and tend to have a dark sense of humor.. Please don't follow my example..
If people see me riding a calm and responsive ( not shutdown) horse across mountain tops, and want to know what example to follow to get there.. I strongly recommend an example of how to get there ( heartfelthorsemanship.org ).
The idea that I shouldn't ride bridleless, or share videos or photographs of doing so, just in case someone decides to take their anxious, defensive off the track racehorse for a bridleless ride through traffic without working on the true foundations carries no weight with me. That's not following my example. That's a level of unconscious that carries dangers far beyond horse riding. That type of person is probably just as likely to watch a 20 minute YouTube video on how yo cook m**h and blow up their neighborhood.
They are beyond my sphere of influence.

25/12/2024

Ziyo the Zen Zebra..
I know I write about thia stuff better than I speak about it.. But I can't type the video evidence..

I often feel like I rush the story when people ask about Ziyo.. So here's a little more detail with photos and videos.The full, in detail story will be in my...

18/12/2024

I often feel like I rush through an abbreviated version of Ziyo's story..
It is a full chapter in my upcoming book, but in the meantime..
I took a little time to talk about it a little more.. Complete with videos and photos of this special soul...
Yeah.. I do better hiding behind typing.. But this gives a little nore information than my typical rushed abbreviation.
Link in the comments..

17/12/2024

..but, but.. And one last big butt!!

Firstly, a big thank you for the amazing reception to the website ( heartfelthorsemanship.org ) and "Path to Calm" course.. You guys are incredible. Also for all the lovely yaysayers out there..

But.. Can I point out a few weird things I am seeing on social media lately? No judgment, I am sure it's with the best of intentions.
I am the first to roll my eyes when people excuse photos of abuse as ' a moment in time'.
If there were less incriminating moments in time, they would have chosen them to show off achievements.. In reality, I think that it's a case of not knowing stress indicators or being blind to signs of discomfort..
BUT.. There is a flipside. Some things can't be judged by a photo or video. These are great opportunities to shut up and give the benefit of the doubt.
Example 1:
A photo of me with a clients horse front on, saddled, with a slight angle. The well meaning comment? " saddle is pinching horses shoulders'.
I am not a saddle fitter, but I always enquire about saddle fit and vet clearance before I start work with a horse. This particular client has regular saddle fit, and her horse was sound with no behavioral issues. We were working on bringing up life in her horse. Som**hing that was incredibly successful.
While I am not a saddle fitter I do know enough to know you cannot accurately assess a saddle fit from an angled photo of a horse from the front. Angles do weird things to perspective.
Great opportunity to shut up and give the benefit of the doubt 😁! I say this in absolute love. Your life will get better when you start looking for the good when you aren't certain there is som**hing bad.
The second example:
Now this is, again, som**hing I am passionate about, and I am really happy people care about it: weight carrying capacity...and here's the big BUTT..
YOU cannot, and I repeat cannot, never, at no point.. Bring out the thesaurus and find another 100 synonyms for can't.. You can not assess weight carrying capacity from a photo or video.
I saw someone comment on a horse and rider combination that I know.. I know exactly what they each weigh and the rider is WELL within the weight carrying capacity of the horse. The horse is a shorter western build, but about as tall lying down as it is standing up, and full of muscle.
The rider is well aware they carry a few extra pounds, and this is where the judgment came from, if you ask me. Because the rider wasn't a stick insect they got bullied.
This rider is incredibly considerate of her horse and has done all the checks to ensure she isn't causing harm. Her horse loves being ridden, and shows no sign of discomfort.
Another great opportunity to shut up and give the benefit of the doubt.
It's a warzone out here guys.. How about we reset the default to 'kind'.
If there is obvious abuse I am all for kind engagement, and if this isn't met with an open mind, report it in a constructive manner. I know there is plenty to be genuinely concerned about, but let's give the benefit of the doubt to those trying to be better.
I have a suspicion ( because I did some stalking) that the cheep shots come from those against the movement to be better, but lets all take the lesson anyway.

13/12/2024

Yeah.. I know.. I have no chill..
Never met a bad horse..
But I have switched off many bad TV shows..

Life's too short to watch crappy TV shows which promote ignorance about horse behavior

10/12/2024

Did you know we also have a section on our website where you can book a face to face consultation call?

This will be a 1hr zoom call focused on addressing any queries or challenges you might be facing on your horsemanship journey!

heartfelthorsemanship.org

09/12/2024

Neutral relaxation and the big bad wolf!

My approach has changed a lot over the last 5 years or so.
I no longer practice staple " horsemanship" techniques like desensitization.
I have a vastly different perspective on what pressure is.
I no longer hold illogical bias against food based reward training in the right setting, with a solid framework.
But there are things I do that reflect my roots in the Tom Dorrance/ Ray Hunt lineage of horsemanship.
Tom's observation of horses yielded some incredibly helpful tools.
Sure, some of the people who carried that information forward tainted it with timelines to suit competition goals, and when people see the movements they might be mistaken enough to assume it's the same thing.
But how we do things is more important than what we do.
Most of us drive to work daily, but some people will consider other road users and safety more than others.
There is a fair dollop of judgment when people see some movement's or ideas.
I saw someone writing about a concept I practice with some judgment the other day.
The concept of a horse keeping their feet still.
This person thought it was about "showing a horse whose boss" or " never letting the horse win". Archaic ideas I would never support, and I have seen the idea of keeping a horses feet still explained with these barbaric concepts.
So why do I ask a horse to keep their feet still, and more importantly, how?
The why is all about relaxation.
How can asking a horse to keep it's feet still affect relaxation? Well as a baseline expectation, before anything else is asked, keeping their feet still is an easy task. Knowing that it's all that's expected by the strange, bald, two-legged predator is a relief
Whether you're a horse or a human, knowing what is expected of you is comforting. Especially if you know you are capable of it.
Now the 'how' comes in.
I use a light aversive to ask this. Never aversive enough to cause pain, or fear.
I have tried using food reward, but when you are aiming for a neutral relaxation, where the horse knows nothing else is expected and their is no cue to anticipate, the food reward becomes tricky.
They will keep their feet still if they are rewarded often, but if regular reward is withheld they feel they are being negatively punished and must be doing som**hing wrong.
So the horse is either seeking reward and receiving it, or it feels wrong for not being rewarded. Neither of which can set a relaxed default state.
Is there an aspect of leadership here?
Yes.
I don't view passive leadership as a bad thing.
It's not "showing the horse whose boss".
It's developing a communication of what is expected in certain situations.
Leadership roles with horses are fluid. There are times I feel my skills and knowledge better serve the partnership, and there are times I relinquish leadership to the horse.
Leadership is not about obedience.
Just like setting boundaries with other humans is not dominance.
Absolutes are dangerous and virtue judgements aren'thelpful in our goal of being better for horses.
If a clear, kind boundary creates a more relaxed horse ( not shut down) is it really the unkind option?

06/12/2024

I will be in Hout Bay on the 15th February, and Stellenbosch the 16th and 17th.
Private sessions available on Monday 17th.
The Hour Bay clinic is focused on trailer loading, but as we have one on one sessions each persons focus can be tailored accordingly.

05/12/2024

So, I bit the bullet and we launched an online course.
I don't think people realize how big a deal this is for me.
I love working face to face with horses and their people.
I have also spent years feeling inadequate. Comparing myself to other professionals and the material they have available.
Enter Talya Mari as the voice of (incessant) reason.
I might not have any olympic medals in my future, but I have never met a horse that I couldn't calm.
Talya kept driving this home.. So our first course is " The Path to Calm".
I don't say ' our' flippantly.
Without Talya this course would never have happened. From filming, to editing to the website and course hosting.. She did EVERYTHING! I gave my knowledge.. She did everything else ( she hasn't slept in a week!)
If you have a relatively calm horse.
There is still information in this course that will benefit you.
It's the science and the magic behind relaxation and connection.
If you were to ask me who it's for.. It's for those that value safety and the happiness of their horses above all else.
You can find the course on the Heartfelt Horsemanship website
heartfelthorsemanship.org