“A Story of Horse Psychology, Trust, and the Wild Horses” – Email 10

Hello ,

With autumn fast approaching, I hope everyone is still making the most of the summer. But with that in mind, it does mean it's about time for me to start talking to you about Online Horse Psychology again!

This fantastic course, which runs on Tuesday evenings at 8pm, starting October 7th, is an eye-opener that will change the way you look at horse training, behaviour, and relationships forever. Who would have thought that there is so much to learn and absorb about horse psychology that has such a big impact on how we train horses and, honestly… how many of us are getting it wrong without even realising it! Me included.

I really recommend that anyone who hasn't attended one of these courses already does so. Some of you might even want to attend for a second time as a refresher. Don't miss this opportunity.

In this week's email, therefore, I will be sharing with you a variety of things that all relate to horse psychology and training, including one of my favourite videos of all time, and there might even be some details on how you could win a free place on this course (but you'll have to keep reading to find out)…

— Abi Pass MSc RAMP & The Intelligent Horsemanship Team

Kelly and Team Help Handsome Hawk To Face His Clipping Fears Using Horse Psychology

This training video shows Hawk, a lovely pony with an extreme fear of clipping and clearly a history of being treated… not so nicely.

Acceptance training with horses who have fears like these needs to be slow and incremental, and work within the horse's comfort zone (some of you might remember Dr. Rosie's 'traffic light system' from the Spring 2022 Magazine). This cannot be forced.

Acceptance training is discussed in depth on the Intelligent Horsemanship's Online Horse Psychology Course, so this is just a taste of the sort of thing that is covered.

Watch how in the space of this short demo, Hawk goes from being terrified of, well… almost everything, to allowing the clippers to touch him. What a huge leap during just one session. And while a process like this takes repeated practice and patience to achieve permanent results, this is an example of the power of working with the horse's psychology rather than against it.

A Story of Horse Psychology, Trust, and the Wild Horses

Have you ever wondered what it would actually be like to try and work with a 'truly wild' horse? Like a wild Mustang or even a population of desert-dwelling horses that hasn’t had any true contact with humans in nearly a century?

I would say 'I can't even begin to imagine what that would be like!' ... However, I can, thanks to this fascinating documentary where Kelly did just that!

This isn't your average training video. It's about Kelly’s quest to work with the wild desert horses of Namibia. Her entire approach is rooted deeply in horse psychology, trust, and ethical training methods.

This video documents her journey and collaboration with a zoologist, Telani Krilling, whose knowledge of the horses proved absolutely crucial. You'll get to see the process from the very beginning, including the construction of a “bulma” (corral) to gently enclose the horses at a water hole. The film culminates in her working with (and even riding) two bachelor stallions, Muddy Waters and Dusty, gaining their trust and applying her gentle horsemanship techniques.

The entire program is a masterclass in understanding horse behaviour, and I 100% recommend you watch it if you haven't already. You’ll witness Kelly’s amazing journey, her unique interactions, and the insights gained into these incredible wild horses.

Plus, for an even deeper dive, Kelly wrote a detailed account of her experiences…

Your Chance to Win?

IH Members, this September is your chance to win a place on the Intelligent Horsemanship Online Horse Psychology course on Tuesday evenings, starting on the 7th of October for 8 weeks!

This fantastic course, worth £195, is something that, in my opinion, all horse owners should experience. So if you haven't attended already, or if you'd even like to attend again, don't forget to sign up!

“This course has been transformative in my approach to training my horse Stan, emphasising the power of positive reinforcement.

We’ve made significant strides in confidence and behaviour outside the yard. The course also highlighted the importance of timing in rewarding desirable behaviours. The guidance on improving aids has made hacking out a joy. This experience has improved my confidence in my training approach, affirming that I’m on the right path with Stan.”

Libby Breeze