The EquiCan Academy

29/08/2026

What a weekend at Scone Palace Horse Trials! 🐎

We’ve had an incredible few days surrounded by phenomenal horses, world-class athletes and some of the most knowledgeable professionals in the equestrian industry.

And, of course, we’ve been asking LOTS of questions on behalf of our EquiCan Academy members!

We’ve filmed some fantastic interviews covering everything from saddle design and fitting, to what really matters when choosing the right horse.

One of the highlights was chatting with the amazing Tim Price about buying an event horse — what he looks for, what really matters, and the qualities that can make the difference when you’re trying to find the right partnership.

We’ve also been getting expert insight into saddle design, fit, horse conformation and the details riders often don’t realise they should be looking at.

This is exactly why we created The EquiCan Academy.

We want our members to have access to the conversations, knowledge and experience that would normally take years of being around the industry to collect.

And we’re bringing it all back with us!

We cannot wait to start sharing these interviews, demonstrations and expert insights inside the EquiCan Academy Members’ Area.

A huge thank you to everyone who gave us their time this weekend, shared their knowledge so generously and helped us create something genuinely useful for everyday horse owners and riders.

We’ve got some VERY exciting content coming your way… 👀🐴

26/08/2026

So many riders are told to relax their legs, but without proper guidance, that relaxation can lead to losing control. At The EquiCan Academy, we teach young riders and their families how to find the right balance—building strength and confidence in the saddle. Visit your website to explore our expert-led courses and start your equestrian journey the informed way. Prepare, learn, grow, and succeed with us!

https://theequicanacademy.co.uk/f/why-your-toes-turn-out-and-why-%E2%80%9Cjust-turn-them-in%E2%80%9D-won%E2%80%99t-fix-it

25/08/2026

A huge THANK YOU to everyone who joined us live for our Horse Buying Masterclass!

We absolutely loved having you with us and introducing you to our newest horse-buying solution:

🔎 The Horse-Buying Detective Method

Because finding the right horse shouldn’t come down to luck, emotion or simply hoping you’ve asked the right questions.

The Horse-Buying Detective Method gives you a clear process for investigating the horse in front of you, spotting the clues that matter, asking better questions and working out whether they really are the right match before you make one of the biggest decisions of your equestrian life.

📩 If you joined us live, keep an eye on your inbox.
Your Masterclass recording will be arriving by email, so you can go back through everything we covered at your own pace.

And if you missed this one — don’t worry!

We’ll be running a brand-new live Horse Buying Masterclass in September, giving you another opportunity to discover the Horse-Buying Detective Method and learn how to approach your next horse search with a plan rather than leaving it to chance.

🐴 Your perfect match is out there.

You just need to know how to investigate the clues.

The Horse-Buying Detective Method 🔎🐴

21/08/2026

STABLE HANDS DON’T MEAN STILL HANDS 🐴

There’s a BIG difference.
Ever been told: “Keep your hands still.”

So you concentrate really hard on keeping them perfectly fixed…and suddenly your horse feels tighter, shorter and less willing to go forward?

Here’s why.
A good hand isn’t frozen.
It’s stable, elastic and responsive.

Your horse’s head and neck naturally move as they walk, trot and canter. Your hands need to quietly follow that movement while maintaining a consistent conversation through the reins.

Think of it like this: Your hands should provide a connection, not a handbrake.

When the hand becomes fixed or pulls backwards, the horse may respond by resisting the contact, shortening the neck, coming behind the bit, raising the head or changing the way they use their back.

And that can influence the entire way of going.

So instead of thinking: ❌ “I need to hold my horse together.”

Try: ✅ “I need to create a consistent connection that allows my horse to carry themselves.”

Stable hands come from a stable rider too.

Your seat, core, shoulders and elbows all matter. If your body is bouncing, tipping or bracing, your hands will usually tell on you!

Next time you ride, ask yourself:

Are my hands following my horse… or is my horse having to follow my hands?

That one question can change a lot.

Know More. Worry Less. Ride Better.

The EquiCan Academy

05/08/2026

Did you catch this latest article in Horse & Hound?

As professionals it is important for us to ensure our team practice to our gold standard guidelines, it’s incredibly important for us to raise awareness of where owners can find practitioners who are qualified, insured and committed to their education.

If you haven’t had a chance to read it yet, be sure to check it out!

05/08/2026

Looking to buy your next horse/pony but worried about being taken for a ride?

We’ve got your back! Our next horse buying free masterclass is ready for signup this month. Come along and learn from our team of experts.

Buying a horse is one of the most exciting things you can do—but it’s also one of the riskiest. This masterclass is for anyone who is looking to buy their horse or pony in the next 6 months and is worried about making a massive mistake.

04/08/2026

🐴 Want to know the one thing that improves almost every horse?

It isn’t a stronger contact.

It isn’t a more expensive saddle.

It isn’t riding more often.

It’s rhythm.

Whether you’re riding a dressage test, jumping your first clear round or heading out on a cross-country course, rhythm is the invisible thread that holds everything together.

Without it, horses lose balance.

They fall onto the forehand.

They rush… or back off.

And suddenly every movement becomes harder than it needs to be.

In our latest EquiCan Academy blog, we explain:

✅ Why rhythm is the very first stage of the Dressage Training Scale.
✅ Why holding your horse before a fence usually makes jumping harder.
✅ The difference between a dressage, show jumping and cross-country canter.
✅ A simple pole exercise you can practise at home to dramatically improve balance, consistency and confidence.

The best riders don’t just ride forwards…

They ride in rhythm.

Read the full article and discover why mastering this one skill could transform every ride you have.

https://theequicanacademy.co.uk/f/rhythm-the-secret-ingredient-that-makes-every-horse-easier

Have you ever noticed your horse changing rhythm before a fence or transition? We’d love to hear your experiences in the comments.

One of the biggest mistakes amateur riders make is focusing on what they’re doing before mastering how they’re moving.

27/07/2026

What if one of the biggest reasons your horse isn’t scoring higher has nothing to do with movement… and everything to do with straightness?

Most riders spend hours perfecting transitions, circles and test movements.

But if your horse isn’t truly straight, balanced and carrying itself correctly, you’re simply building movement on unstable foundations.

One exercise has shaped classical dressage for centuries because it develops the qualities every horse needs—not just for dressage, but for show jumping, eventing and everyday riding.

The problem?

Most riders have been shown what shoulder-in should look like, but not what it should actually feel like or what it’s doing biomechanically.

That means many horses are:
❌ Falling onto the forehand.
❌ Escaping through the shoulder.
❌ Carrying crooked muscle development.
❌ Losing engagement behind.
❌ Producing a shape that resembles shoulder-in but misses its true purpose.

In my latest article I break down:

✅ The true history of shoulder-in and how it evolved.
✅ The difference between shoulder-fore and shoulder-in—and why confusing the two limits your horse’s progress.
✅ How these exercises improve straightness, symmetry and muscle development.
✅ Why understanding the biomechanics leads to better dressage marks.
✅ The biggest myths and mistakes that prevent horses from working correctly.
✅ Simple rider cues to help your horse become lighter, stronger and more balanced.

Whether you’re training a young horse, aiming for higher dressage scores or simply want to develop a healthier, more athletic partner, understanding why these exercises work is just as important as knowing how to ride them.

The best horsemen don’t just copy movements.

They understand the mechanics behind them.
Read the article here - https://theequicanacademy.co.uk/f/“shoulder-in”-a-layman’s-guide

📖 I’d love to hear your thoughts…

Do you consciously ride shoulder-fore during your everyday schooling, or do you mainly focus on shoulder-in?

“SHOULDER-IN“ A BRIEF HISTORY