Hello friends, this episode is exactly what it seems to be! 25 things I've learned in my time working with horses that I wish I'd known sooner and believe are worth sharing. Enjoy!
- "they wouldn't do it if they didn't want to" is a myth
- respect is often conflated / confused with obedience
- punishment only teaches horses to conceal their worries, fears, pain, discomfort
- it's not cool or a badge of honor to ride a "hot" horse
- it's not a disservice to or waste of the horse to not exploit their talent + athleticism
- regulating bodies do not always safeguard the horse's best interest + welfare
- tradition is not law + often fails to update with current research
- there is a difference in giving the horse a treat + training with positive reinforcement
- release does not equal reward
- management should be based on ethology + species-appropriate care
- when you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change
- if you have 5 minutes, it will take all day, but if you have all day, it will take 5 minutes
- yield to win
- Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.
- many issues in the horse world are reflective of systemic issues
- mares are not moody
- softness is not weakness
- our mental health is reflected in our riding + training
- think in "what do i want the horse TO DO" instead of what i want the horse to stop doing
- good riding + training is very boring + looks too easy
- all behavior has a purpose, look at what need is this behavior meeting rather than why is my horse "xyz" character trait
- my relationship with my horse is my responsibility
- if you slow down, you get there faster (successive approximation)
- treasure my passion + honor it, don't exploit it
- when you don't respect the "no" you cannot get a real "yes"
EquiTheory Podcast — Hosted by Jill Treece of JETEquiTheory
Disclaimer: This content is for educational, informational + entertainment purposes only, not professional consultation. While we take precautions and fact-check, topics discussed should be considered opinions and listeners should practice due diligence before taking any action. If you participate (by commenting, submitting a question, or reviewing), understand it is at your own risk, accept full responsibility for any resulting liability/harm, & anything written may be used for discussion.
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