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
Spooking is one of the most misunderstood behaviours in horses. It is often treated as naughtiness, lack of respect, or a training failure. In reality, spooking is usually a sign that a horse does not feel safe enough to think. Understanding why it happens — and why punishment so often makes it worse — is … Read more
Horse anxiety is often misunderstood because it does not always look dramatic. Many anxious horses never rear, bolt, or explode. Instead, they cope quietly — until they can’t. This article is about the early and easily missed signs of anxiety in horses. Not the obvious blow-ups, but the subtle behaviours that tell you a horse … 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