Developing and training the horse through confidence

1. Developing The Horse
The “normal” way The “natural” way
Focus on end result/goal
Foundation is not solid so
falls over and apart
continuously
Develop Foundation
Incremental Step
at horse’s pace
Expand
base/foundation
Purpose
As we increase the
purpose

2. Developing The Horse
Another analogy
You cannot decorate a cake
that is not cooked correctly
or doesn’t have all the
necessary ingredients. It
will continue to crumble
People will focus on
the icing
(purpose/goal) and
try and keep it
smoothed over and
even decorate it

3. Developing The Horse
Last analogy
You wouldn’t put a band aid on
an infected wound. It may look
better but doesn’t address the
underlying problem/cause.
This behaviour is a
symptom. If you address
a symptom you will
make it worse.
A symptom is FEEDBACK
and it is valuable. Your
horse is communicating
with you.
You get the point
Some examples:
Martingales – keep head down
Flashes – keep mouth shut
Holding a horse still
Leaving halter on in the paddock
Anywhere we force or make a
horse do something

4. Confident
Playful
Dominant
Aggressive
Nervous
Curious
Tentative
Avoid/escape
Tolerate
Accept
Avoid/ignore
Fear Fear
Pushy
Increase Understanding (no threat) Increase Respect (expectations)
The Horse Confidence Scale

5. Confident
Increase Understanding (no threat) Increase Respect (expectations)
The Horse Confidence Scale
Flighty
Crazy
Dangerous
Reactive
Unpredictable
Hyper sensitive
Sceptical
Defensive – biting, kicking
Fractious
Willing
Sensitive
Obedient
Connected/bond
Looking for leadership
Light
Calm
Charismatic
Tolerant
Predictable
Consistent
Unflappable
Pushy
Resistant
Dull/non responsive
Dangerous
Disobedient
Unwilling
Offended – biting,
kicking
Aggression

6. Keeping Score
As a prey animal, a horse's primary concern is safety, and as a
herd animal, it has a natural inclination to understand its
place within the hierarchy. Safety, for a horse, means knowing
who is the alpha and, most importantly, whether they are
capable of fulfilling that role.
In every interaction with a horse, they are instinctively
assessing who holds the alpha position. From the moment
you enter their space, introduce yourself, enter the paddock,
or lead them anywhere, they are observing and evaluating
you. They are highly attuned to your body language, energy,
and emotions, as their senses are keen and their awareness is
acute.
It is crucial to remember that horses are not manipulative
creatures, nor do they possess an ego. Their behavior of
assessing leadership and earning points is driven solely by
their innate need for survival. Understanding the dynamics of
gaining points and establishing yourself as the alpha is
essential for creating a harmonious partnership with your
horse.
In the absence of a clear leader, the horse will naturally
assume the role. It is therefore imperative that you step into
the role of the leader. Someone must take charge to ensure a
sense of security and direction in the horse's world. By
assuming the alpha position and providing clear guidance, you
establish the foundation of trust, respect, and safety that is
vital for a successful partnership with your horse.

7. Keeping
Score
• The affect on different horsenality types when leadership is absent:
• Dominant horse: they will dominate or not respond when relaxed
and this lack of responsiveness becomes dangerous when they
become afraid. They may come across confident, but they are still a
horse. They can resort to biting, pushing people over, knocking
people with their head, etc. This horse may shy, not out of fear, but
to deter the handler
• Fearful horse: it will freak out more and be more unconfident
because it feels alone and unsafe without leadership. It may try and
get away often seek the safety of the herd – separation anxiety.
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• Osidjfoiej
• Sodijf

8. Lack of leadership and
different Horsenality types
• The affect on different horsenality types when leadership is absent:
• Dominant horse: they will dominate or not respond when relaxed
and this lack of responsiveness becomes dangerous when they
become afraid. They may come across confident, but they are still
a horse. They can resort to biting, pushing people over, knocking
people with their head, etc. This horse may shy, not out of fear,
but to deter the handler
• Fearful horse: it will freak out more and be more unconfident
because it feels alone and unsafe without leadership. It may try
and get away and often seek the safety of the herd – separation
anxiety. It may demonstrate defensive gestures showing
aggression in a different way to the dominant horse.

9. It is crucial to recognize the individual horsenality type of
your horse and understand how the absence of leadership
can impact their behavior and emotional state. By
assuming the role of a confident and compassionate
leader, you can provide the guidance, support, and
security that these horses need to overcome their
challenges and develop a trusting partnership.
Qualities of a leader
Wimp Leader Boss
Nagging
Passive
Unclear
Lacks focus
Firm
Fair
Graceful
Clear
Compassionate
Focus
Make
Fear & intimidation
Aggressive
Insensitive

10. The Horse Score Board
Moving your feet 5
Moving your head away 5
Being fed with a nasty
expression 10
Getting you to run away 50
Changing your focus 5
Dragging you around 5
Getting you frustrated or
Emotional 10
Not being able to catch
Them 20
Alpha Points
Moving their feet 5
Standing your ground 10
Maintaining focus 5
Following through 5
Release on good notes 5
Fairness 5
Increasing their comfort zone
Demonstrating understanding
Emotional fitness

11. Signs of confidence
Whether a horse is predominantly fearful or dominant, the goal is to
build confidence or create it in everything you do. This way you
maintain trust, respect, rapport, willingness and calmness.
It is important to know where the horse is at to engage them at their
level and advance them to accepting a task. This is what makes
training solid,
Predominantly fearful horse
A predominantly fearful horse will show
these signs when out of their comfort
zone. It is important to recognize when
they are advancing onto a step and
release to have them progress.
Additional Stage Title 01
A predominantly dominant horse will show
these signs when out of their comfort zone. It
is important to build respect and follow
through effectively to lower the dominance
and reward forward steps towards true
respectful confidence.
Aggression
in fear is
defensiven
ess

12. Growth is…
Its fluctuating and
expanding
not linear
Ability
Confidence
Partnership
Hope/Expectation
Reality

13. Building Emotional Fitness – comfort zone

14. Building Emotional Fitness – comfort zone

15. Building Emotional Fitness – comfort zone

16. Building Emotional Fitness – comfort zone
CZ
Unknown
Learning & Growing
Running
Head up
Frozen
Reactive
Dominant
Non-responsive
Pulling back
Bucking
Threat
to bite
Bolting
Exploding
Weaving
Rearing
Cold backed
CZ
Can’t maintain gait
Striking
Cranky
Shying
Pushy
Jig jog
Scrambling in
float
Wind sucking
Chewing tongue
Biting self
Aggression
Patterns can form
and displaced
behaviour/vices
Fight/Flight/Freeze
Biting
Kicking
Dull/resistant
Stuck

17. Building Emotional Fitness – comfort zone
CZ
Unknown
Learning & Growing
Running
Head up
Frozen
Reactive
Dominant
Non-responsive
Pulling back
Bucking
Threat
to bite
Bolting
Exploding
Weaving
Rearing
Cold backed
CZ
Can’t maintain gait
Striking
Cranky
Shying
Pushy
Jig jog
Scrambling in
float
Wind sucking
Chewing tongue
Biting self
Aggression
Patterns can form
and displaced
behaviour/vices
Fight/Flight/Freeze
Biting
Kicking
Dull/resistant
Stuck

18. Building a profile
CZ
CZ
 Different horses have confidence in different areas.
Some are very confident with environment, but
really lack confidence as a learner.
 Some are very willing
 Horses that are predominantly confident/dominant
are very good with environment, however, they are
harder to lead because they are not looking for a
leader. These types can also be more difficult when
they do get scared because they will not look to you
if you have not built that leadership.

19. Building a profile
CZ
CZ

20. Contexts to expand the horse
Primary Confidence Areas:  Environment
 Tools
 Themself as a learner
 You as a leader
 Activities
 Environment
 New surroundings
 Weather (especially wind &
rain)
 Changed surroundings –
horse added or leaving
 Noises
 Movement
 Traffic
 Environment
 Tools
 Themself as a learner
 You as a leader
 Activities
 Environment
 Tools
 Themself as a learner
 You as a leader
 Activities
 Environment
 Tools
 Themself as a learner
 You as a leader
 Activities
 Builds ability to regulate emotions
 Activates the Creates a thinker instead of a reactor
 Consistent results – enlarges Comfort Zone
 Builds trust
 Enhances sensitivity and learning
Confidence VS Desensitising/Habituation
 Dulls the horse – we want a horse to be sensitive and calm
 Inconsistent results
 Only tolerates that object
 Can cause horses to shut down (then react when not shut
down)
 Doesn’t cause an emotional shift

21. Introverted and Extroverted
• Prefers to keep their feet still
• Gets stuck
• Subtle body language
• Does things slowly
• Prefers to move their feet
• Outwardly expressive
• Cannot stop moving their feet
• Reacts quickly

22. Profile
• What do they do when relaxed
• What do they do when just out
of comfort zone towards flight?
• What take them there
• Movement
• Apt to do
• Tendencies

23. Impulsion
• The way a horse moves its feet is a reflection of how it is emotionally
• The way to move or unblock emotion is through its feet
• If a horse has underlying emotion stuck, when put into motion it will
come out as commotion. This is seen when a horse is moved too
quickly (without working some of the emotion out first) on the circle
and things go hay wire. It is also a good check to see what emotions are
there before riding.
• Impulsion is the collection of emotions which creates controlled
forward energy
Impulsive
Lacking impulsion
Impulsion

24. Horsemanship Quotes
1. "A horse is the projection of people's dreams about themselves - strong, powerful, beautiful - and it has the
capability of giving us escape from our mundane existence." - Pam Brown
2. "Horsemanship is not merely a sport; it is a way of life. It is a journey of self-discovery, trust, and partnership with a
magnificent creature." - Unknown
3. "The essential joy of horsemanship is derived from an inner satisfaction of one's ability to communicate with and
understand a horse." - Tom Dorrance
4. "A horse is the mirror to your soul, and sometimes you might not like what you see in the mirror. Sometimes you
will." - Buck Brannaman
5. "Horsemanship is not about dominance or control; it is about communication, understanding, and respect. It is a
dance between two beings." - Mark Rashid
6. "In riding a horse, we borrow freedom." - Helen Thompson
7. "The horse is a mirror, reflecting your inner self, your strengths, and your weaknesses. It teaches you to be humble
and patient, yet determined and courageous." - Unknown
8. "Horsemanship is the art of creating a partnership, a bond that transcends words and relies on trust, empathy, and
understanding." - Unknown
9. "The horse is a teacher, a healer, and a friend. It challenges us to be better versions of ourselves and shows us the
beauty of simplicity and connection." - Unknown
10."Horsemanship is about finding harmony within oneself, the horse, and the world around us. It is a lifelong pursuit of
knowledge, compassion, and grace." - Unknown

26. Janine's love for horses has been a lifelong passion. Her journey into Natural
Horsemanship began in 1998 when she faced a loss of confidence as an adult while
working with her mare, Misty. This pivotal moment ignited her dedication to learning and
understanding horses on a deeper level.
Over the years, Janine has sought wisdom from numerous master horsemen, gaining
invaluable insights and honing her horsemanship skills. She has successfully retrained
many horses, drawing from her diverse knowledge and experience.
Janine's driving force is her unwavering passion for assisting others in achieving their
equestrian dreams and ensuring horses lead joyful lives. Her unique approach to
communication resonates deeply with her students, who find her message easy to grasp
and implement. Janine's teachings evoke excitement and make learning a seamless and
enjoyable process, regardless of her students' age, ability, or background. Her impact has
been profound, positively influencing the lives of countless horses and students.
Her commitment to personal growth led her to complete and obtain the following:
2 Star Parelli Instructor (no longer licensed)
Teach Certificate III in Equine Studies at TAFE
Various Instructor and Horse Development courses
Graduate Diploma in Learning
Residing in the picturesque Yarra Valley in Victoria, Australia, Janine draws inspiration
from her beautiful surroundings. It serves as a nurturing environment where she continues
to refine her skills, deepen her understanding of horses, and spread her message of