I really want to share a blog I did around 5 years ago... ( my hair was red) 😉 I invited my Manager's to spend a day with me and the horses to learn about how clear communication with horses they had never met before could help them as the leaders they were in the day job. Sorry its small typo as I took a photo of it... hopefully you can enlarge using your fingers once opened....I hope it helps you to think about our own horse leadership journey and all the techniques Zoë is teaching us can carry into our daily life too 🫶🐴👌🏻🤠🙂

✨ Progress isn’t linear and that’s normal. When something feels like it’s slipping or getting harder, it doesn’t automatically mean you’ve failed. Often, it means your horse is integrating, processing, or adjusting to a new layer of understanding. Or perhaps you’ve now revealed the horse you truly need to teach because the version before was either shut down or too busy to really notice. Growth can look messy before it looks solid. And this is often the moment people lose patience or give up. When in reality, it is simply part of the process. Staying steady in those moments is part of what it means to Get Good by not abandoning the idea when it wobbles. 👉 Question: Where did things feel worse before they got better? Zoë 🐴✨🫶

✨ Consistency beats intensity with horses...always. Five or seven calm repetitions over five or seven days will outperform one big training session anyday. Horses learn through repetition they can process and not through pressure they feel they have to survive. Think of those horses that do not want to enter an arena or lunge pen, it is a message. 'I do not want to go in there, it does not feel nice!' Big efforts can feel productive but steady, predictable practice is what builds understanding, confidence, and reliability. People think I spend days on end, and many hours training my horses. This is far from reality where doing what I do as a horse professional and educator, unfortunately my horsemanship pretty much most of the time comes last. It is a sacrifice very common for those that help others. So, I always take it as a compliment because I know it's the break down of subjects and training over sessions when I can that creates this illusion rather than the latter. Some subjects are revisited months and even years later, but the horse never forgets. I will never take that for granted. Therefore and with certainty I know good horsemanship can be built in layers, so long as we understand the why, the how and the bigger picture. 👉 Question: What is one exercise/communication/subject you are training that might improve more through repetition than effort? Zoë 🐴✨🫶

Does anyone have this problem? Storm started 2 years ago aged 5 when we moved to where we are now, which is more boggy wet land with more midges!! I researched that Sweet itch is a common, chronic allergic reaction in horses caused by sensitivity to saliva from Culicoidesmidge bites, resulting in intense itching (pruritus), hair loss, and scaly skin, primarily along the mane, tail, and belly . Affecting roughly 5% of horses, this condition peaks from March to November. While no absolute cure exists, management includes using specialized rugs, insect repellents, and keeping horses stabled during dawn/dusk to prevent bites. Key Symptoms storm now presents with are: - Intense Irritation: Severe itching, leading to restless behavior, agitation, and self-trauma. - Skin Damage: Hair loss, bald patches, thickened/rough skin, and scaly, scruffy skin. - Affected Areas: Primarily his mane base, withers, tail, face, ears😒 I am preparing now as with all the rain, and odd sunny days the midges are out already!!! His withers skin so hard/rough poor little lad!!! I have tried everything!!!! He wont wear a rug, and is out 24/7 so last year I treated him early and he seemed better... his mane has never fully recovered properly but if you do know of any herbal creams please let me know!!! He will wear a fly mask🤩 but he escapes from rugs so I gave up as too dangerous!! I use avon skin so soft which midges hate and I smother his mane/top of tail in baby oil and teatree/neem oil which is cheaper and works against them but any other ideas welcome! I have also purchased farm cattle "spot on" which i think helped him better last year too!! I am always keen to learn what other people do, plus I read somewhere that younger horses can fight against it and need to self immune? Not sure if thats true?!!! Also let me know about any products especially more handmade/herbal as you add "horse" to a label and it trebles in cost lol 🤣 I know we can humanise horse care a lot and I try not to molly coddle him, to allow as natural habitat as possible, but sweet itch is simply horrid for them...

Just reading through posts and I am thinking @Zoë Coade shall we all create a recommended book list? Alongside all your wonderful classrooms 🙂 We all have so many we have read and been inspired by📚📘📕📖📙📗 🐴🤠🌟 Thoughts? I am not sure how to set up in the skool so sharing this post for now....maybe another page just share where we can add our "Book Brief" recommendations??? ☺️🫶🐴🥕