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Optimising Horse Management: Nurturing the Nervous System for Better Behaviour and Training

Updated: 6 days ago

Most undesirable behaviour when working with horses can be broken down into three categories: 

  • Management problems 

  • Unresolved pain

  • Rider/handler issues (including rider fitness)


Management - it's a nervous system issue

In our blog 'the brain-body connection for riding confidence' we discuss how taking a holistic approach to health and wellness can improve a riders function and performance.


Nurturing your nervous system by ensuring balanced nutrition, sleep, stress mangement and social interactions, creates a sense of safety in your brain. When your brain detects safety, it grants full access to your capabilities - strength, speed, coordination and makes you receptive to learning.


Our horses are no different. When they feel safe they are able to move their best, are more resilient to the environment (windy days, busy competitions, the unexpected) and they are receptive to training.


The five domains - from care to welfare


The 'Five Domains' model represents a paradigm shift from care to welfare, providing an important framework for creating a positive environment for our horses. This means not just meeting their basic welfare needs but making decisions which go further to optimise their physical and mental wellbeing. In other words, we are nurturing their nervous systems.



Slowly, awareness is growing about management that supports the horse, as a horse. Horses evolved as herd dwelling, grazing animals in secure social groups and the more we can replicate that in their daily regime the happier, healthier and more trainable our horses will be. An environment that allows them to access the 3Fs of friends, forage and freedom, with the ability to graze, move, play, socialise, drink, rest and sleep.


There is no one-size fits all setup, each horse is individual, every plot of land has it's own constraints and if your horse is on livery then the business rules will also factor. Our yard operates a track/Equicentral hybrid: there is a centralised loafing area with shelter and hardstanding that is accessible all year round. In the dry months the herd have access to a grass track and in the wet months we rotate the fields that have been cross-grazed and rested.


I love in the summer how much they enjoy moving to access the varied resources, how intrinsically motivating the movement appears, how the movement helps maintain their training, hooves and weight. And I love that whilst they move less on winter grazing they gain hill work, nutritional variety, a change of scenery, more space and additional hedgerows.



Yeah but...


At EmpowHer Equestrian, one of our core principles is: focus on the 'CAN,' not the 'CAN'T.' Our positive, no-nonsense approach empowers you to shift from limitations to possibilities, encouraging a mindset that seeks solutions rather than excuses. This attitude builds momentum over time, training your mind to consistently look for opportunities to succeed, both in and out of the saddle. By focusing on what you can achieve, you'll not only overcome challenges but also strengthen your ability to persevere and grow in all aspects of life.



Take a moment now to have a think about your horse’s management and how you can align this as best as possible with their needs as a horse over the coming months. If you feel a 'yeah but...' bubbling up, take a breathe, pause and then see if you can reframe it into something that you CAN do. We'd love you to share some of your solutions so that they can inspire others!


If you'd like help building your resilience, training a can-do attitude, all whilst helping your riding, check our our six week online coaching programme, designed by equestrians, for equestrians.

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