Aversive and Appetitive based training An aversive is something you use to stop an unwanted behaviour. The stimulus is unpleasant so causes avoidance. Aversive based training is the most common form of training in the equine world in both traditional and ‘natural’ horsemanship methods.  A rider or trainer using aversive training will discourage a behaviour …

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title image for blog post. image is of a man holding a horse outside the field of another horse. its titles introducing your new horse

Introducing your new horse Now that you have found your new partner, you need to pay careful attention to the arrangements for settling him in to your environment so that he starts to build confidence in you straight away. Horses are creatures of habit; they have thrived for thousands of years because they have their …

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What is PTSD? Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder caused by very stressful, frightening or distressing events. Symptoms Human symptoms of PTSD  can vary over time and vary from person to person. Human PTSD symptoms can be grouped into four types: intrusive memories, avoidance, negative changes in thinking and mood, and changes in …

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What humans think the horse wants and needs is often not inline with what the horse truly wants and needs. A human may prioritise having the latest equipment, all colour co-ordinated and branded but the horse is not at all concerned about these things.  Behavioural scientists have found that horses prioritise the following behaviours that …

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The title page for what is mindful horsemanship blog post. there is a photo of a grey horse on the left. its a close up of his eye. the image is set on a greay background. to the right there is the title with the logo for MEP underneath.

Mindful horsemanship is the practice of paying attention and being aware of what we ask of the horse. The more we learn about our self and the horse the more aware we can be. Mindfulness Mindfulness means purposely being aware and paying attention to what you are doing in the moment. When we practice mindfulness, …

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