24/09/2026
A really interesting CPD last night with Kelly Marks from Intelligent Horsemanship.
The biggest takeaway for me was around Learning Theory.
We hear a lot about positive and negative reinforcement, but Kelly made a really interesting point that “positive” and “negative” shouldn’t be thought of as meaning good and bad. Instead, think of them more simply as a plus (+) and a minus (-) towards the outcome we’re looking for.
A “minus” can actually be paired with a “plus” to help move us towards a positive reinforcement goal.
It got me thinking about my own practice and, in particular, something I often talk to clients about “showing the horse the door.”
The idea is that we don’t want to create an argument or force a horse into a direction or movement they’re unsure about. Instead, we can use something like a firmer contact or body position to say “no, this way isn’t an option”, while simultaneously creating a much softer “open door” in the direction we do want them to go.
This gives the horse the time and space to work out the answer for themselves, rather than feeling like we’re forcing the answer on them.
And, importantly, it can leave the horse feeling like it was their decision - which can make the outcome much clearer when the same question comes up again.
In this example, the “minus” might be the horse’s reluctance or inability to go one way, paired with the “plus” being the open door and softer option in the direction we want them to take. In a Veterinary Physiotherapy sense it often comes down to education & patience, teaching them the correct way whilst being patient in letting the horse learn.
Definitely one I’ll be thinking about and applying in my own practice! The diagram is below for those more visual learners.
