Heart to Heart - Equine

21/10/2026

Early bird gets the worm, and small foal gets the grass 🤩

18/10/2026

Do you need stronger equipment?

We often get advice that tells us that we need a stronger bit, or spurs, or draw reins, or any other type of equipment that will solve the problem we're facing with a horse.

How do we know if the equipment is really the answer? Can it be helpful, or will it make things worse? What do we need to consider before making the decision?

This will be the topic of our live call today, inside the Calm & Connected Horse community. Join us today and become a founding member, which gives you free access now and in the future.

All the live calls are recorded and added to the library, available to watch at any time.

Founding memebers also get one FREE behaviour clarity session 1:1. More info inside the community.

A supportive community for compassionate horse lovers who want to create a calm, safe and connected partnership with their horse.

14/10/2026

Being nice to your horse is not always the same as being gentle.

And no, I’m not saying you need to start whipping your horse or using pain as a training tool, as we so often see.

I’m talking to those of you who are searching for a better way. Those who instinctively feel that training methods based on control through pain are wrong. Those who genuinely want to do what’s best for their horses and put their well-being first.

But here’s something important to understand: trying to always be gentle can sometimes do more harm than good. It can create confusion that leads to frustration, or a lack of respect that can undermine your horse’s trust in you.

When we think about a horse’s well-being, we need to consider their nature and needs, not just how we want to treat them.

I once met a lovely lady who felt that even a little tap with the end of the lead rope to move her pony off the grass was too cruel. Yet that same pony lived completely on her own. Her love was genuine, but a lack of knowledge meant some of her pony’s important needs were being overlooked.

I've also seen horses become pushy to a dangerous level because their humans were reluctant to set clear boundaries.

This isn't fair on the horse. Apart from the actual danger to the people around them, these horses risk being labelled dangerous, leaving their future uncertain. But there's more to it than that.

A horse who constantly pushes into our space, ignores our requests or feels the need to take control isn't necessarily a happy or secure horse. Horses need clear boundaries to feel safe. They need to understand what is expected of them and be able to trust our communication.

When we avoid setting boundaries because we're afraid of being too harsh, we can end up giving our horses mixed signals.

If you're asking your horse to do something that goes against their natural instincts, such as walking into a small box on wheels (a horse float), approaching something scary, or standing quietly when they want to run, you need to establish yourself as someone they can fully trust to lead them. The treats and scratches you give them aren't going to be enough on their own.

**Clear boundaries aren't about dominating our horses. They're about helping them understand how to live and work safely with us.**

So where does pressure fit into this?

Pressure is simply a signal we use to communicate what we're asking. It can be as subtle as the direction of our gaze or a shift in our body position. Sometimes, though, physical contact is needed to make our request clear, and that's okay, too.

You'll see horses use physical contact to communicate with each other in a herd. It doesn't automatically damage their bond. Clear communication and boundaries can actually strengthen relationships, including the one we have with our horses.

The key is understanding **when, why and how to apply pressure**, so we can communicate clearly without causing unnecessary fear or discomfort.

The goal is always to help our horses understand what we're asking, using the lightest effective signals we can. This takes knowledge, awareness and practice, but it's a skill worth developing.

Because being kind to our horses isn't about avoiding every situation that might make them uncomfortable. It's about making thoughtful decisions that support their physical and emotional well-being, even when that means setting boundaries.

💚 Have you ever been afraid of using physical pressure with your horse because you didn't want to hurt them or damage their trust in you? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

09/10/2026

🐴 Want to understand your horse on a deeper level?

Sometimes the behaviour we see on the surface is only part of the story.

That’s why I’ve created Clarity Sessions — 1:1 sessions where we look at your horse, your situation, and the relationship between the two of you, so we can understand what’s really going on and create a practical plan to move forward.

And right now, I’m offering something special for the first members of my new community. 💛

✨ The first 50 members are founding members, and each founding member is entitled to ONE FREE Clarity Session. (normally $125)

The session will be shared inside the community, so others can learn from your situation too. There’s already an example in the Classroom if you’d like to see what these sessions look like.

What makes a Clarity Session different from general horse-training advice is that it’s about your unique combination of horse + human.

We can take into account things like: 🐴 Your horse’s individual behaviour and personality
🤍 Your relationship and communication
🎯 Your goals
🌱 Your experience and confidence
🏡 Your facilities and lifestyle
…and all the little details that make your situation unique.

Because sometimes you don’t need more advice.

You need someone to look at the whole picture with you and help you figure out what actually makes sense for you and your horse.

If that sounds like something you’d find valuable, I’d love to have you inside the community. 💛

Join now while there are still founding-member spots available and claim your free Clarity Session.

https://www.skool.com/compassionate-horse-lovers-3874/about

What’s one behaviour from your horse you’d love to understand better?

In the photo - little Brumby is only 1yo and she has a lot to say!

01/10/2026

There’s no better way to learn than to teach.

Giving my kids responsibility and encouraging them to support younger or less experienced riders, according to their abilities, is such a great way for them to learn. They have to think about what they know, how to explain it, and how to help someone else understand.

I see this in my own learning too. I often find myself giving myself advice as if I were my own student. When I’m unsure about something, I ask, “What would you say to a student?” And suddenly, the answer is clear.

Some people think they need to know everything before they can teach.

Newsflash: you never will.

You just need to know more than the person you’re teaching, and be willing to keep learning yourself.

27/09/2026

Buddy Sour Horses recorded presentation

heart-to-heart-equine-buddy-sour.subscribepage.io

22/09/2026

14/09/2026

Anyone else with hairy ponies?

10/09/2026

The older I get the less I care about how me and my horses perform, and the more I care about my relationship with them.

Do you relate?

04/09/2026

Keep an eye for this stolen horse