Category: The Academy of Positive Horsemanship

We all behave for effect. What I mean by that is that we all behave to achieve some environmental outcome. The outcome is the ‘function’ that performing the behaviour serves for the animal. When looking to change behaviour, we first need to acknowledge that the unwanted behaviour both produces a desired outcome and delivers a […]

Napping by Jessie Sams (one of the Equi-libre Horses Associate Coaches) Napping is an extremely common problem that can occur across a range of contexts from hacking out, in the school or field. Horses can show an array of behaviour responses when napping from a freeze response or refusal to go forwards, to spinning, rearing, backing […]

Lunging is a traditional means of exercising horses for lots of different reasons; whether that is for weight loss, to help them learn to move with better bio-mechanical balance on a circle in order to develop their asymmetries or to help desensitise them to wearing tack during their initial backing. In the majority of cases, […]

I am hugely excited to announce the arrival of the Equi-libre Horses brand spanking, whoopsidoodle new website. This website hosts The Academy of Positive Horsemanship Club. Months of work has resulted in this amazing site, the changes are absolutely fantastic – even if I might say so myself 😉 I cant wait to share them […]

We take so many behaviours our horses give us for granted! Take standing still whilst tied up for one… How many of you give these behaviours much thought, if any at all!? Its just something we do – right? Pop a headcollar on, bring them in from the field, tie them outside their stable on […]

Hey, Jo Hughes here! Positive reinforcement training is known for enriching horses lives by giving them choice. It gives them some control over their behavioural outcomes as well as allowing them to gain rewarding consequences as a result. Adding in consent training to that positive reinforcement training can offer yet another layer of choice still […]

Positive reinforcement training (aka clicker training) is most often associated with the use of food reinforcers following the marker/clicker signal. Actually though, there is another incredibly powerful but much less discussed reinforcer available to us as equine positive reinforcement trainers – tactile positive reinforcement. The problem is, the majority of tactile reinforcement used on horses […]

I spend a lot of time explaining the differences between standard ‘clicker training’ and using emotionally focused training techniques. But what exactly does that mean when it is translated into practical training? This FREE video explains exactly what I mean by emotionally-focused training for relaxation and WHY that develops truly confident, empowered horses as compared to standard clicker […]

The Half Pass The Half Pass is when the horse moves diagonally forwards with a small amount of flexion towards the direction they’re travelling. The forehand can be very slightly ahead of the hindquarters. The purpose of this exercise in classical training is to develop the strength of the horses’ outside hind leg. Conventional Classical […]

 I am absolutely overjoyed to welcome Carolyn Jenkinson to the Equi-libre Horses (ELH) team as an official ELH Associate Trainer. Carolyn is a like-minded professional who has been studying with me for many years now. She has been a Member of The Academy since it’s formation and has worked very closely with me since then. […]