The first year of hoof growth, from new born to yearling. ?#WeShareOurLoveForHorses ______ ? Simon J Curtis   ? URGENT APPEAL ?     ..read more

  In this article, Dr Nagy gives her expert explanation of positive punishment and negative punishment. These are two of the four methods available for motivating a horse. When applied correctly, these can be used to help your horse display the behaviours you want – or stop displaying the ones you don’t. Before you go further, we suggest you read the previous articles in order: Understanding Causes of Behaviour Problems in Horses Helping Your Horse Better Understand Your Requests Positive and Negative Motivation: Part 1   There are four main motivational methods we can use to make ..read more

We look at positive and negative reinforcement... Doctor Krisztina Nagy (or Kristin) is an expert in horse behaviour. She boasts a PhD in Equine Behaviour, and is also an accredited Level 2 International coach specialising in Classical Dressage.  In our third piece with Dr Nagy, we’ll look at the different methods for motivating a horse, and the scenarios in which they can be applied. This part will focus on positive and negative reinforcement, two of the four different methods available for motivating a horse. Check out Part 1: Understanding Causes of Behaviour Problems in Horses&n ..read more

Improve your communication and provide more consistent aids to your horse... Doctor Krisztina Nagy (or Kristin) is an expert in horse behaviour. She boasts a PhD in Equine Behaviour, and is also an accredited Level 2 International coach specialising in Classical Dressage. The second chapter with Dr Nagy addresses communication between horse and rider, and how to help your horse better understand what you’re asking for. Check out part 1 here on Understanding Causes of Behaviour Problems in Horses. How do we help horses understand what we are asking for? As we covered in part one, many behaviou ..read more

  Trauma and miscommunication could be among the reasons for behavioural issues... Dr Krisztina Nagy (or simply Kristin) is an expert in horse behaviour. She boasts a PhD in Equine Behaviour and is also an accredited Level 2 International coach specialising in Classical Dressage. So, who better to talk to about horses with behavioural problems? Of course, each situation is unique – but the general principles of equine behaviour can be applied quite widely in most cases. And though some people will tell you that there are no difficult or easy horses, Dr Nagy disagrees. When asked whether s ..read more

You’re likely familiar with Oldenburg horses because of their extreme elegance, lofty height, and superior athletic ability. But do you know the interesting facts, origins, and characteristics of this fascinating horse breed? Oldenburg horses are a superb warmblood sports breed whose roots reach back to 18th century Germany. Their ancestors were powerful, but smaller horses used typically for plowing fields. Oldenburg horses are most commonly black, brown, bay, or grey. Many people looking to buy a warmblood sport horse usually consider the Oldenburg breed. They are an impressi ..read more

Want to do polework with your horse but only have 3 or 4 poles? Or limited time to put out and then put away lots of poles?  Here are some simple yet effective exercises to try.       ..read more

Text credits © World of Showjumping What is good horsemanship? WoSJ speaks with Sweden’s Olympic hero Peder Fredricson who shares his opinions. Peder has grown up in a family with a strong equestrian heritage. His grandfather was involved with horses, his father Ingvar Fredricson is a Vet Med Dr, PhD, and his brother Jens Fredricson is also an international showjumper. “I have been lucky to have very capable horse people around me that have taught me a lot. I also think it is a big advantage to have been active in different disciplines and to have had so many horses on different levels – ever ..read more

Shinning Bright Under the Alentejo Skies – Portuguese Dressage Riders make history for Tokyo 2020 In 2019 four riders with their ‘Chef d’Equipe’ Daniel Pinto took Portugal to the next level in International Dressage. They won a team place in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Although it is not the first time Portugal has competed, with great riders such as Miguel Ralão, Daniel Pinto and Carlos Pinto competing as individuals (a composed team) in Beijing 2008, Gonçalo Carvalho as a single entry in London 2012 and previously in London 1948 three riders won the bronze medal. This is the first time a full ..read more

  In locomotion, muscles do not work alone, but in pairs or groups. The better the understanding of muscle function, the more specific your therapeutic session will be. There is more to movement retraining than only 'releasing' muscles; to make permanent changes in brain-body connections, muscle activation has to be incorporated into therapeutic sessions. A thorough understanding of equine anatomy underpins clinical reasoning in the therapist's decision on where to release, and how to activate!   This manuscript by Elbrønd and Schultz (2021) offers a detailed analysis of the kinetic ..read more