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“A horse doesn’t care how much you know until he knows how much you care. Put your hand on your horse and your heart in your hand.”
– Pat Parelli
Equestrian Community of Practice
At Equine Presence, we recognize that horse-human partnerships carry both privilege and responsibility. We believe meaningful partnership requires ongoing attention to the wellbeing, agency, communication, and experience of the horse. Our goal is not simply to help riders achieve more, but to help foster relationships in which both horse and human can flourish.
Developing the Compassionate Equestrian
Inspired by the work of Susan Gordon and Dr. Allen Schoen in The Compassionate Equestrian, this series explores compassion not simply as a feeling, but as a practice. Together, we will examine what compassion, respect, stewardship, and partnership might look like in the everyday realities of living, working, training, riding, and caring for horses.
BEYOND THE TRAINING PYRAMID: Is the Dressage Training Scale a Horse Pyramid, Rider Pyramid, or Relationship Pyramid?
What might become visible if we considered the training pyramid through a psychological, relational, or wellbeing lens?
Beyond Grit: The Resilient Equestrian thriving in the saddle
Durand-Bush et al. (2023) developed a Gold Medal Profile for Sport Psychology that suggests sustainable performance and wellbeing are supported by a broad range of psychological capacities, including emotional regulation, resilience, confidence, self-awareness, recovery, adaptability, relationships, and social support.
What it means to move beyond mental toughness and toward a more complete understanding of resilience.
HORSE CULTURE: Community of Practice
The ways we ride, train, compete, care for horses, define success, and understand good horsemanship are shaped not only by individual choices but also by the communities and traditions we inhabit.
Beyond the Barn
Building Healthy Equestrian Communities
Healthy equestrian communities do not happen by accident. They are created through intentional relationships, supportive leadership, respectful communication, and a shared commitment to wellbeing.
This workshop explores the social and psychological factors that influence wellbeing within equestrian environments.
A good rider can hear his horse speak to him. A great rider can hear his horse whisper.
– Author Unknown
BESPOKE
WORKSHOPS AND EDUCATION SESSIONS
AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST
CONNECT DISCOVER GROW
Equine Presence looks forward to welcoming you.
