Many horses cope well on the ground but struggle once ridden. This can be confusing and frustrating for owners, especially when groundwork appears solid. Ridden anxiety does not mean the horse is being difficult. It usually means the horse is finding the added complexity of balance, expectation, and pressure hard to manage. This article explains … Read more
For many anxious or uncertain horses, confidence is best rebuilt on the ground. Without a rider to balance, respond to, or worry about, the horse has more space to think. Groundwork is not about dominance or control. Done well, it is about clarity, predictability, and helping the horse learn that they can cope. This article … Read more
Horse confidence gets talked about as if it’s a personality trait. Some horses are “brave”. Others are “sharp”, “nervy”, or “just spooky”. In real life, confidence is not fixed. It’s shaped, slowly, by experience, handling, environment, and the way pressure is applied and released. This pillar is about building genuine confidence without forcing things or … Read more