Connected Natural Horsemanship

05/15/2026

Yes!

Why are so many horse guardians giving up bits, spurs, and tight equipment—
and what are they finding instead?

If you’re not a “horse person,” here’s the quick version:
For a long time, the horse world relied on tools designed to control—metal in the mouth, pressure on sensitive ribs, gear that held everything tightly in place. It was normal. It was tradition. It was “how it’s done.”

But something is changing.
More and more people are quietly asking:
“What if there’s a kinder way?”

And when they try gentler approaches—less equipment, softer communication, more listening—here’s what they’re finding:

1. Horses become more expressive.
Without restrictive gear, horses show more personality and less tension.

They communicate… and humans finally hear them.

2. Behaviors once labeled “stubborn” disappear.
A lot of what used to be called misbehavior turns out to be discomfort.

Remove the discomfort?
The “problem” dissolves.

3. The relationship improves.
When a horse isn’t bracing against pain or pressure, they relax.
They seek connection.
They show curiosity.
They walk toward you, not away.

4. Humans become more intuitive.
Without relying on tools to make things happen, people start paying attention—
to posture…
breathing…
tiny signals…
and the emotional weather of the moment.

5. Safety increases, not decreases.
This surprises people.
But a relaxed, respected horse is far safer than a restrained, stressed one.

6. Things get… quieter.
Less force.
Less fear.
Less adrenaline.
More presence.
More conversation.
More peace.

This isn’t about saying everyone must do the same thing.
It’s not about shame, blame, or “you’re doing it wrong.”

It’s simply a cultural shift:
from managing animals through pressure
to partnering with them through understanding.

Whether you have horses, dogs, cats, or dogs who think they are horses, the movement is the same:
Less equipment.
More empathy.
Less controlling.
More listening.
Less “make you.”
More “with you.”

Animals have been waiting for us to notice this for a long time.
And now, finally, we are.

04/24/2026

I was looking through videos recently and I realized I never took one of how Francis is bridled so I asked my husband to video him being bridled after feeding tonight. I want to show this kind of cooperation, agency, and partnership really is possible. Here it is:

02/01/2026

Beautifully balanced lead changes :)

01/31/2026

Good information! I can confirm from experience this is true.

𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐚 𝐰𝐞𝐭 𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞?

I have seen statements on this subject floating around social media and I felt it was time to step in and set the record straight!

𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐰𝐞𝐭 𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞.

For as long as I can remember, this practice has been taboo, you just shouldn’t do it. However, the University of Kentucky came out with an extension publication a few years back on why this generalization is false and I want to share that information with you along with some of my own relevant research.

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐰𝐞𝐭 𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐚𝐝?

The thought here is that by blanketing a wet horse, you trap the cold water next to their skin, which will actually make them colder. And if this actually happened, I would agree that this practice would be detrimental. However, if you have ever blanketed a wet horse with a blanket that has fill or added insulation, you know that within a matter of hours your horse will be warm and dry again.

𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐲?

Well the fill in the blanket will wick away and absorb the moisture and the body heat from the horse will help it evaporate.

𝐇𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚 𝐟𝐞𝐰 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬.

The moisture or humidity underneath the blanket could increase the risk of skin conditions or rain rot. As a result, you should change out the blanket as soon as you can to allow the blanket to adequately dry.

Also, if you use a sheet without fill, there is no insulation to absorb the moisture and this practice COULD be problematic. I found this to be true even for a dry horse. Two winters ago I performed research and placed temperature and humidity sensors underneath blankets of different weights including sheets with no fill. During the winter, I found that while the temperature under the sheet was warmer than the environment, the humidity under a rain sheet was far greater than the humidity under medium or heavy weight blankets as there wasn’t any fill to absorb the moisture. This is problematic because when high humidity occurs alongside cold temperatures, it can feel much colder, as humid air conducts heat away from the body faster than dry air. These results demonstrate the value fill can add to a blanket - not only to provide insulation but also to regulate humidity. Based on these factors, I would not recommend blanketing a cold, wet horse with a rain sheet.

𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧

Blanketing a dry horse is the gold standard. And if you are able to dry off your horse before you blanket, please do so. However, we know this isn’t always feasible, especially for those who don’t live with their horses or have to deal with unpredictable weather. And in those scenarios, blanketing a horse with a blanket that has fill is a much better option than letting a cold, wet horse shiver.

Cheers!
Dr. DeBoer

01/24/2026

As you prepare for this winter storm, consider adding extra shavings or straw for warm bedding in your horse’s shelter. Even if you don’t usually blanket, consider a rain/wind sheet, especially if your horse doesn’t have shelter. Stock up on extra hay. Feeding extra hay will help with body heat. If your horse wears shoes, add a little Vaseline to hooves to prevent ice and snow buildup that increases injuries. Consider bringing warm water out to help your horses drink better in cold weather, if possible, or add a few rice bran crumbles or treat crumbs to their water to increase water intake. Once you’ve prepared, know you set them up to do as well as possible. Rest. And check on them when possible. Stay safe!

10/07/2025

Thank you!!! I loved working with every one of you and watching you grow as horsewomen and horsemen. Sharing your journeys and helping you and your horses connect was my pleasure. Getting recognized for that because of your feedback is just icing on the cake.

10/01/2025

I had the BEST ride ever with Francis this morning! : ) I started the session from the ground doing Horse Speak at liberty and then combined Horse Speak, Centered Riding, and patterns while riding. I rode for about 30 minutes; Francis was calm and responsive. He LOVED the safety cone in the arena while riding and we used it after the patterns when he did something particularly well for a reward and to help him reset and stay relaxed.

Here’s where it got really cool — at the end of the ride, when I was getting ready to dismount he stood up tall (still relaxed) and nickered softly at me. He’s never done that before at the end of a ride! My other horses have. (Arabians tend to be a more vocal breed.) It’s been a measure for me of how well our rides were. Whenever they were happy with the session, my Arabians ended the rides with a soft nicker, as if saying “That was good, wasn’t it?” They seem happy and proud of themselves and, yes, it usually gets them a treat also because I love it. Francis has never done that until today. It made my heart happy!

So, what did I do differently? Two things. 1) I used as relaxation marker in the arena. It was a tall cone that I promised Francis I would ask nothing of him and would allow him to relax while we were standing at it. He has permission to ask to go to the cone at any point in the riding session and I could respond either by saying yes, or by saying “After we finish this pattern.” (This is a technique I learned by auditing a clinic with Heidi Potter teaching Horse Speak and Centered Riding.)

And, 2) I was intentionally more aware of our surroundings, scanning the environment and breathing out whenever I was looking in a direction Francis seemed concerned about to let him know “It’s ok. I’ve got this. You can relax.” It worked.

Both Horse Speak and Chris Irwin’s horsemanship program talk about awareness helping horses to relax. One way to help horses feel safe and let them know you’ve “got them” is by being more aware. Be more aware of the surroundings — scan, look up, breathe… and be more aware of their communications and your body language/ communications, and be more aware of their feet and how to help them be balanced and comfortable.

One thing I’m particularly guilty of is looking at my horse. I LOVE watching Francis. I’m great at reading his communication and aware of my own movements but I miss out on letting him know I’ve “got this” because instead of looking up and around, I’m guilty of looking at him. What a HUGE difference it made to Francis today when I intentionally scanned the environment while riding and breathed out more! He relaxed sooner and riding was much softer and more enjoyable as a result. I think these things, along with utilizing a designated safety cone in the arena while riding, are what led him to say, “that was good, wasn’t it?” at the end of our ride today. For me, that’s priceless.

09/30/2025

Chris Irwin has great horse insights. Check out Jo’s webpage and online courses at mindyourhorse.com

09/03/2025

Something trainers especially tend to forget

08/17/2025

From Natural Horsemanship to LIMA: My Training Evolution:

Twenty years ago, I started Connected Natural Horsemanship because I wanted the gentlest possible way to work with horses. I studied with the greats – Parelli, Karen Rohlf, Sharon Wilsie and others who emphasized relationship and understanding.

Then Francis arrived.

A horse that didn’t respond well to pressure and got scared easily. He was explosive, aggressive, and unpredictable. R+ training helped gentle and calm him while rebuilding his trust, and I saw new possibilities in horse training.

But when I tried to apply exclusive R+ with my confident partner Khaleil, something wasn't working. Different horses need different approaches.

That's when I discovered LIMA: Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive
LIMA isn't about choosing sides in training wars. It's about:

• Starting with the gentlest effective method for THAT horse in THAT situation
• Using positive reinforcement when it builds confidence and connection
• Using ethical pressure when it provides clearer communication
• Reading each horse's individual needs
• Always prioritizing welfare, understanding, and relationship
Here's what I've learned:
• Francis still thrives on positive reinforcement – it rebuilt his trust
• Khaleil responds best to clear, confident, and fair communication
• Some horses need a combination of both approaches
• The horse always tells you what they need; you just need to listen

The evolution continues: I'm now “Connected Horsemanship (LIMA)” because I've learned that the best training is individualized training. It's not about following one methodology religiously – it's about knowing what your horse needs and meeting every horse exactly where they are.

After all these years, the horses are still my best teachers. They've taught me that flexibility in methods often leads to stronger connections, and that true horsemanship means putting the horse's needs above our training preferences.

PS I just finished a fabulous, short trail ride on Khaleil. I have my partner back. We’re both loving LIMA!

What has your training journey taught you about adapting to different horses?