First Do No Harm – Details, episodes & analysis

Many horse owners focus on the surface-level signs of discomfort—like a limp or a stiff gait—but few understand that the underlying issue could be something much more fundamental: equine posture. Ignoring this can lead to chronic pain, recurring injuries, and unnecessary veterinary expenses.

What if there was a way to improve your horse's posture and, as a result, enhance their overall well-being, soundness, and performance? In this episode, we dive into the world of equine posture with Dr. Karen Gellman, a veterinarian specializing in biomechanics and posture rehabilitation. Dr. Gellman shares insights on why posture is the foundation of equine health and how to achieve it through simple, practical methods.

BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU’LL DISCOVER:

• Why posture is a critical, often overlooked aspect of equine health.

• The three most important influences on your horse's posture: the hooves, the neck, and the teeth.

• How proper hoof care can prevent imbalances and support healthy movement.

• The surprising role that a horse's teeth play in maintaining good posture and locomotion.

Get ready to transform your understanding of equine health and take the first step toward a happier, healthier horse!

Connect with Karen:

Equine posture training: EquinePosture.com

Website: http://www.equinesportsmed.com

LET’S CONNECT!

Website: https://www.equestrianmovement.com

Our instagram handle is https://www.instagram.com/equestrian_movement/

and fb https://www.facebook.com/EquestrianMovement

the school instagram handle

https://www.instagram.com/equestrianspiritaustralia/

and fb https://www.facebook.com/katiebonifaceequestrian

Ready to start your connection based journey? Join us for our webinar: https://www.equestrianmovement.com/sayyes

Are you struggling to understand what your horse is trying to tell you?

Many horse owners make the mistake of assuming their horses' behaviors are purely instinctual or conditioned responses, without realizing the depth of communication happening right in front of them.

In this episode, we dive deep into the intricacies of equine communication with Rachael, a renowned behavioral consultant who specializes in horses. Rachael shares insights from her groundbreaking studies on calming signals and scent work, offering solutions that can transform your relationship with your horse.

BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU’LL LEARN:

👉 How to read and interpret your horse's body language accurately.

👉 The importance of non-conditioned communication with horses.

👉 Practical applications of scent work to help horses with behavioral challenges.

👉 Techniques to expand your horse's comfort zone and reduce anxiety.

Connect with Rachael:

Check out what Rachael is doing over on her website: https://calmingsignalsofhorses.com/en/

Use the discount code equestrianmovement15 to receive a 15% discount on Rachael's online courses. Check out the link below for Rachael's calming signals and scentwork online courses

https://calmingsignalsofhorses.com/en/online-course-calming-signals/

Follow Rachaels work on facebook here

LET’S CONNECT!

Website: https://www.equestrianmovement.com

Our instagram handle is https://www.instagram.com/equestrian_movement/

and fb https://www.facebook.com/EquestrianMovement

Ready to start your connection based journey? Join us for our webinar: https://www.equestrianmovement.com/sayyes

A mantra in our school is to stop on a positive note feeling like you could've done more. As type A achiever equestrians we tend to feel something amazing when riding and keep chasing that feeling. I want it again, I want it more, I want it better!! However, quite often what we are feeling is our horses best effort. If we don't stop and reward for effort and drill for perfect behaviours our horse will go sour at best and get frustrated and throw dangerous behaviours at worst.

In this episode we will talk about how to bring down a shaping plan so that we are rewarding for effort and setting our horse up for success, not only today but in the rides moving forwards.

Ready to become a Holistic Equestrian? Join our free webinar - https://www.equestrianmovement.com/sayyes

Horses are emotional creatures, and interactions with us can be intensly stressful for some.

Join us in this episode as we talk about the immense mental, emotional and physical tax our expectations can have on our horses and how the only way they have to show us is behaviours. In this episode we dig in to some supportive strategies Jane has been helping me with in the school horses so that they are coping with their work and stress load better and able to communicate when they are not. Need a little Jane magic? You can contact her via:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EvokeAromatics

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janeatevokearomatics/

Email: jane@evokearomatics.com.au

Do you struggle to get willingness and enthusiastic yeses from your horse? Are you getting lots of nos from your horse? Lots of stubbornness, resistance, maybe behavioural nos like kicking, bucking and biting? In this episode we talk about developing a positive work ethic in our horses. Join us in the stronger bond community and keep the conversation going 

Join the stronger bond community

Get the free connection training

In this episode we are talking about 2 foundational skills holistic horse handlers require which are:

- Making your horse feel safe to relax
- Developing your horses trust and confidence in you

Join me as we go in to why just "pushing your horse through it" doesn't work if you don't have these foundational criterias ticked.

Keep the conversation going, join the stronger bond community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/5dayimprovehorserelationship

Start developing these aspects of your relationship with your horse, join our free connection training: https://www.equestrianmovement.com/connection

Do you know how important it is for our horses to feel balanced when we ride, and how unhappy they can become when that balance isn’t there?

In this episode we talk to Lindsey Mutchler from Lindsey Mutchler fitness about why balance and core strength is so important to happy horses that enjoy being ridden. 

Book in with Lindsey: https://www.lindseymutchlerfitness.com/

Check out more about Lindsey: https://www.lindseymutchlerfitness.com/join-my-team

Check Lindsey out on facebook: https://www.instagram.com/lindsey__mutchler/

When we are struggling with change, insecurity and instability in our lives it is often reflected in our relationship with our horses. In this episode I share a life changing experience that I went through and how it affected my own self worth and how well I was able to show up for my horse. It is totally normal to go through this and know you are not alone. Join our free facebook community where we share these experiences and offer support to each other. 

Stronger bond community

Get the free connection training here

In this episode join us as we chat with Amanda Goble from enriching equines about how to create environments and games for happy horses. Amanda is a zoologist and an equestrian and takes her experiences with animal enrichment and behavioural training in to her training with her horse. 

Jump over to her website for a bunch of resources and put the spark back in your relationship with your horse. 

Enriching Equines website

Enriching Equines facebook

Enriching Equines instagram

Enriching Equines pinterest

How to scratch your horse training

Do you have the competence and confidence to set yourself and your horse up for success in training? 

Or are you flying by the seat of your pants hoping it will come together but secretly feeling like you're not good enough? 

We are big advocates for having a shaping plan and being strategic and intentional about how we will get to our goals with our horses. 

Can't see the light at the end of the tunnel and feeling like your hopelessly flailing around in the woods? Join our Holistic Horse Handling Program where we give you the lesson plans for shaping the behaviours, the videos of it in action and the process of strategically and intentionally building on our skill sets. Enrolments are currently open but only until tomorrow night. You can join here