training - Good Horse

Horse abuse no longer shocks me. Here’s why.

August 16, 2024August 16, 2024 training, dressage, competition, abuse

As the equestrian world scrambles to save its image, I’m left wondering: do we love horses, or do we love the sport?

Why am I struggling to train my horse?

September 17, 2021September 18, 2021 communication, horse emotion, horse psychology, training

Do you think you are using an effective training method? Why what YOU think doesn’t matter!

chestnut horse head against grey background

What does it mean for a horse to have learned helplessness?

May 6, 2021September 6, 2021 horse psychology, training

Does your chosen training method induce learned helplessness? What it is and why we should all learn to recognise it.

Labels Matter: Is my horse a “jerk”?

January 17, 2021January 17, 2021 horse personality, training, behaviour

We all know that horses can’t be offended by being called names – but how you describe your horse still matters!

No-Noseband November

November 3, 2020November 3, 2020 training, noseband

Is it time for a different November challenge? Here are some ideas to improve your horsemanship this month!

Top Tip that will save you Time, Money, and Heartache

August 28, 2020May 6, 2021 care, training, vet

Don’t try to shut the stable door after the horse has already bolted! The best way to address problems is to intervene before things get out of hand!

How much horse experience do you really have?

August 28, 2020 training, coaching

Seasoned equestrian? New to horses? Here’s how to get the most out of your time with horses. And remember, not all experience is equally useful!

grey Arabian horse target training, tapir, chicken, giraffe

Will you take the target training challenge?

August 14, 2019August 14, 2019 training, treats, positive reinforcement

Be it rhinos, zebras, sea lions, dogs, tigers, or chickens, target training is a very widely used and versatile tool! Are you ready to take on this fun challenge and target train your horse?

Bit fit: How many wrinkles?

May 22, 2019 communication, training, equestrian, bits

Understanding your equipment is fundamental to good horsemanship! Care needs to go into adjusting a horse’s bit so as to promote comfort and communication.

horse and human walking through the woods in autumn

Opportunity for you/your horse to appear in Good Horse educational videos

February 7, 2019February 27, 2019 fear, horse emotion, horse psychology, human emotion

Would you be interested in taking part in the creation of Good Horse videos? Get in touch to see how you could get involved!

Can we prevent trigger stacking?

January 22, 2019January 22, 2019 emotion, fear, horse psychology, training

We can’t control everything – but are there ways that we can help prepare our horse to stay calm under pressure and be less affected by the unexpected?

Dressage for Jumping – Part 3

January 9, 2019February 12, 2019 horse psychology, training, equestrian, show jumping

Dressage principles can help you and your horse excel in any jumping discipline. Here are just some of the ways in which all that flatwork pays off!

Dressage for Jumping – Part 2

January 9, 2019January 9, 2019 training, equestrian, show jumping, classical dressage

Are you a jumper who finds dressage boring? Learn how dressage principles can contribute to your performance over fences.

Trigger Stacking: how little things add up to cause a big reaction

January 9, 2019January 23, 2019 fear, horse psychology, training, stress

Explosive behaviour often has multiple underlying causes. The challenge is learning to identify these before they add up and cause a big reaction.

Managing Your Anxiety in the Saddle

December 24, 2018 fear, training, equestrian, riding

Two strategies to help you deal with riding-related anxiety and nerves.

What makes a great riding student?

December 24, 2018 fear, training, equestrian, riding

Have you ever wondered what your riding instructor expects from you? These are the things that I think make a great riding student.

What makes a great riding instructor?

November 24, 2018December 24, 2018 training, equestrian, riding, instructing

Is there any more to it than knowing when to shout “heels down”? Here are some qualities that I think help make a great riding instructor.

How do horses learn to respond to cues?

August 16, 2018April 27, 2020 horse psychology, training

Often overlooked in the horse world, a solid understanding of Learning Theory is a huge asset when working with horses.

Should I change my horse’s bit?

July 20, 2018July 20, 2018 communication, training, riding, bits

Are you struggling to find that perfect bit that your horse will work well in? This common problem often has a simple, but counter-intuitive, solution.