‘I Love the Job Except for the Clients’: A Story of Changing Attitudes

by Joshua | Apr 18, 2018 | Horse

Recently I came across a list of continuing professional development courses I made back in 2011. It wasn’t a bad list—equine nutrition, physiology, improved knowledge of various equestrian disciplines, and so on. However, it was all about horses—nothing on improving...

Introducing a New Horse to a Group

by Joshua | Oct 31, 2017 | Horse

Earlier this summer I purchased a new horse. Before bringing him to our farm, I gave a lot of thought to how I would introduce him to the five equines already living on our farm. I allow my horses as much social contact as possible given that horses are social...

Eliminating Aversives in Training: If Dogs, Then Why Not Horses?

by Joshua | Jun 16, 2016 | Horse, June 2016

I remember it so well. I was reading my first book on dog behaviour and was impressed—the trainer was pictured happily walking a collection of dogs off lead, the book was endorsed by an eminent natural horsemanship trainer I then* rated highly, and it contained...

Relapse of Conditioned Fear in Horses: The Four R’s

by Joshua | Jun 16, 2016 | Horse, contents, contents

My 18-year-old thoroughbred is a warrior in most respects. He barely flicks an ear at a motorcycle speeding past as we cross the road; he nods politely and winks at a large coyote standing at the trail’s edge (in truth, the wink may just be a tic in his bum right...