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Horsemanship Superstars
Watching highly skilled trainers can expand our knowledge enormously. We pick up new exercises, better timing, fresh perspectives, and creative solutions to problems we've been struggling with for months. It's inspiring. It's educational. And sometimes, it's completely discouraging. Without realising it, many everyday horse owners begin comparing themselves, and their horses, to people whose entire lives revolve around training horses.Our journey doesn't have to look like the
Suzy Maloney B.Eq.Sc.
Aug 43 min read


Healthy Boundaries with Horses
Listening deeply while maintaining healthy boundaries with horses, may be one of the most valuable skills we can develop as horse people. Boundaries help create safety, trust, and mutual understanding. They allow both horse and human to have needs that matter.Compassion and boundaries are not opposites. When we combine empathy with clear boundaries, we create relationships built on respect rather than control.
Suzy Maloney B.Eq.Sc.
Jun 23 min read


Body Language Between Horses and Humans
The relationship between horses and humans is built largely through silent conversation. Understanding the body language between horses and humans is essential for all horse people. Horses constantly read us, and they constantly speak through movement and expression. When we learn to notice these signals and manage our own body language, communication becomes clearer, gentler, and far more effective.
Suzy Maloney B.Eq.Sc.
May 53 min read


The Stories We're Told About Horses
In the horse world, many of us inherit our beliefs without realising it. They’re passed down through instructors, reinforced in riding schools, and repeated so often they begin to feel like truth. When we pause and really observe horses, a different picture often emerges. Here are some of the stories we're told about horses, and what we might discover when we begin to question them.
Suzy Maloney B.Eq.Sc.
Mar 314 min read


The Hidden Reasons Why Horses Change When We Ride Them
Students are often mystified when their horse reacts to something while being ridden that they see every day when out grazing. It can result in frustration in the rider and a shift in feeling safe for both the horse and rider. As with many things horse related, it all comes down to survival. This article explores this topic and offers practical suggestions to help you and your horse move forward confidently together.
Suzy Maloney B.Eq.Sc.
Mar 74 min read


Restrictive Practices with Horses
Exploring restrictive practices with horses isn’t about doing everything perfectly. It’s about staying willing to reflect, to learn, and to soften our approach when we realise there may be another way. This article explores the topic from the perspective of compassionate horsemanship.
Suzy Maloney B.Eq.Sc.
Feb 23 min read


What Do Horses Experience as Followers
What do horses experience as followers? This article looks at this topic from a compassionate horsemanship view. When we ride with awareness of what it feels like to be the follower, we become the kind of leaders horses willingly choose to follow. It’s quite a different world that horses live in. For me it's a journey of understanding their reality from as many perspectives as possible.
Suzy Maloney B.Eq.Sc.
Dec 1, 20254 min read


What If We Took “Should” Out of Our Vocabulary With Horses?
What if we took “Should” out of our vocabulary with horses? Perhaps less frustration, fewer battles, and more understanding. Perhaps softer hands, calmer hearts, and deeper connections. Most importantly, we might find ourselves relating to horses not as tools to perform, but as sentient beings to partner with. And that is a change worth making.
Suzy Maloney B.Eq.Sc.
Sep 2, 20253 min read


Fear and the Urge to Control Horses
Fear and the urge to control horses is something every rider experiences at some point. What is involved in this and what are the alternatives?
Suzy Maloney B.Eq.Sc.
Aug 1, 20253 min read


The Sounds Horses Make
What noises does your horse make? This article looks at the sounds horses make and what they mean.
Suzy Maloney B.Eq.Sc.
Jul 1, 20253 min read


Horses Are Prey Animals
What does it mean to be a prey animal? While domesticated horses no longer face the same predators as their wild ancestors, their instincts remain deeply ingrained, affecting their emotional and physical well-being. Being aware that horses are prey animals in all our interactions with them is essential, for their wellbeing, and our safety.
Suzy Maloney B.Eq.Sc.
May 1, 20254 min read


Horses are Big Strong Creatures with Tender Hearts
Horses are not the impenetrable, fearless creatures they appear to be. They are sensitive beings, guided by instinct and emotion.
Suzy Maloney B.Eq.Sc.
Mar 19, 20253 min read


For The Love of Horses
'How is it for the horse?' a question that for the love of horses is essential to ensure their mental, emotional and physical wellbeing.
Suzy Maloney B.Eq.Sc.
Jan 18, 20253 min read


How We Think Affects Our Horses
What we think, feel, and project can have a profound impact on the horse’s behaviour, performance, and overall well-being.
Suzy Maloney B.Eq.Sc.
Dec 2, 20243 min read


How Horses Perceive the World
Understanding how horses perceive the world provides invaluable insights into their behaviour and needs.
Suzy Maloney B.Eq.Sc.
Nov 10, 20244 min read


My Horse Doesn’t Like...
'My horse doesn't like...' is this our horse talking or ourselves? Looking at clearing our minds and being with horses.
Suzy Maloney B.Eq.Sc.
Sep 2, 20243 min read


Open to Horses Through Feel
Exploring the subtleties of developing 'feel' with horses. This essential ingredient transforms our horse relationships.
Suzy Maloney B.Eq.Sc.
Aug 31, 20244 min read


Leadership and Horses
Good leadership empowers other, how does this look in the horse world?
Suzy Maloney B.Eq.Sc.
Jul 14, 20243 min read


The Spaces Between with Horses
It's the spaces between with horses that are important, not the work. It’s in the spaces that the connection and trust is created.
Suzy Maloney B.Eq.Sc.
Jun 3, 20243 min read


Loving Assertiveness with Horses
I’ve created this term to help highlight a situation I sometimes see in my work with clients. The two words seem to conflict with each...
Suzy Maloney B.Eq.Sc.
May 8, 20243 min read
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