The Use-of-Force Gap in Horsemanship: Understanding Safety vs. Skill Training There is a critical distinction in horsemanship that often goes unnamed, yet quietly shapes the way horses are handled, trained, and misunderstood. It lives in the space between non-negotiable safety and skill development, and when that space collapses, force gets misused, justified, and normalised in places where it does not belong. This confusion is not benign. It alters nervous systems, erodes trust, and teaches horses lessons they were never meant to learn. Safety and training are not the same conversation. They require different energy, different intent, and different responsibility from the human. Why Safety and Skill Training Require Different Approaches Working with Traumatised and Aggressive Horses I say this as someone who often works with traumatised horses, aggressive horses, and horses in deep psychoemotional recovery. These are not theoretical distinctions for me. They are lived, daily realities. When you work close to the edge of fear, reactivity, and survival responses, you learn very quickly what is necessary for safety and what quietly damages a horse long after the moment has passed. Understanding Horse Behavior and Safety Emergencies Horses are large, powerful, fast-moving prey animals. They can injure us without malice, simply by reacting faster than we can think. When a situation crosses into real physical danger, when a horse strikes, charges, runs someone down, drags a handler, or creates an immediate threat to human or equine life, intervention is necessary. In those moments, clarity must be decisive. Space must be created. The human nervous system may need to rise in intensity to interrupt what is happening. Sometimes, that intervention is loud. This is not a failure of horsemanship. It is not abuse. It is not domination. It is an emergency response. It is the human taking responsibility for safety in a moment where hesitation would be negligent. But this is where the line matters. What is justified in a moment of survival does not become a method for teaching. Emergency energy is not a training tool. How Horse Learning Actually Works: The Neuroscience The Survival Brain vs. The Learning Brain Survival responses such as fear, urgency, force, and escalation belong to the realm of threat management. They exist to stop something dangerous from continuing. The moment safety is restored, that energy must stand down. When it does not, when it bleeds into everyday handling and skill development, the relationship begins to fracture. Skill learning does not happen in the survival brain (amygdala). It happens when a horse feels regulated enough to think, process, experiment, and try again (pre-frontal cortex). You cannot teach softness through fear. You cannot teach understanding through intimidation. You cannot build trust in a nervous system that is bracing for impact. What Ethical Horse Training Looks Like Training skills should not become louder, bigger, or more forceful when the horse does not respond. It is about becoming clearer. It is about timing, feel, emotional regulation, and the ability to adjust the conversation rather than punish the misunderstanding. Good training sounds quieter, not harsher. Understanding Problem Horse Behavior: Can’t vs. Won’t When Horses Are Labelled “Difficult” or “Disrespectful” Many horses who are labelled as difficult, disrespectful, or dangerous are not necessarily defiant. They are horses who have never experienced healthy boundaries. Many have learned that pressure escalates without warning, that humans are inconsistent, and that compliance does not reliably bring relief. These horses are often hyper-vigilant, emotionally unavailable, or explosively reactive, not because they are dominant, but because their nervous systems have learned that force is the only language spoken. Responding to these horses with more force does not establish leadership. It confirms their worst expectations. The Framework: Can You Do This? Horses without healthy boundaries require more skill from us, not less. They require humans who can hold structure without aggression, clarity without punishment, and firmness without emotional volatility. That kind of leadership is not performative. It is precise. It asks the human to become regulated enough to separate their own fear, frustration, or urgency from the learning process itself. Question frame of reference: Step 1: Can you do this?Step 2: If yes, then “go ahead”, if no, then “can’t or won’t?”Step 3: Address the horse that is in front of you with an appropriate approach. When Is Force Justified in Horse Handling? This is where the ethical line sits. Force may be necessary to prevent injury. It should never be used to manufacture understanding. If force is required repeatedly outside of genuine emergencies, the issue is not a strong horse or a stubborn personality. The issue is a broken conversation. And broken conversations are not fixed by shouting louder. They are repaired by learning how to speak more deliberately, and by asking questions. Leadership Through Loving Boundaries This is what leadership through loving boundaries actually looks like. It is not permissiveness, and it is not aggression. It is the capacity to intervene decisively when safety is at stake, and then return deliberately and consciously to curiosity, neutrality, and two-way conversations once the danger has passed. Horses are not bikes. They are not machines. They are not here to absorb unresolved human emotion or to comply at the cost of their nervous systems. Whatever you are doing with your horse, you are training them to become something. Moving Toward Force-Free Horse Training Methods We must cease using force as the most popular and normalised training mechanism. We must question what it teaches, what it costs, and who ends up paying for it. Only then can we use force where it truly belongs, sparingly, responsibly, and in service of life rather than control. Finding Psychology-Based Horsemanship Support in Australia If you’re working with a reactive, traumatised, or challenging horse, seeking professional guidance can make all the difference. Merja Sumiloff offers psychology-based horsemanship training across Australia, including: Horsemanship lessons and clinics teaching the “How To Talk Horse” curriculum Private consultations for horse behavior problems Trauma-informed approaches for reactive horses Psychology-based training methods that respect horse welfare Learn more
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What is Dressage and How did it Evolved Dressage is often described as ‘horse ballet’ and when you watch one of these elite equine athletes in action, you can understand why! The precision, elegance, rhythm, and movement of the higher levels of dressage in particular make the horse appear to be ‘dancing’. But what is dressage exactly, and how did it evolve? The Origin And History Dressage has its origins in the military, notably with the cavalries of the ancient Greeks. The Greeks were dedicated cavalrymen and needed a way to improve the responsiveness and discipline of their war mounts. So they invented a series of exercises designed to help develop their suppleness and athleticism, as well as improve their own abilities to control their mount’s movements. Over time, this training evolved into a sport, focusing on the horse’s balance, obedience, and suppleness. It gets its name ‘dressage’ from the French work ‘dresseur’ meaning ‘to train’ or prepare. Today, it is recognised as an Olympic equestrian sport in its own right, and is also one of the phases of the 3 Day Event. Dressage As A Fundamental Training Principle The fundamental movements and training required in dressage have many applications across equestrian sports per see. Indeed, almost every equestrian discipline contains some elements of movement that can be improved by basic dressage training. Both Western and English… Dressage As A Sport Dressage involves a horse completing a ‘dressage test’. This is a series of movements performed in a specific order. The movements include things like leg yields, lateral movements, transitions, and pirouettes along with collected and extended versions of the walk, trot, and canter. Dressage tests are performed in a rectangular arena 60metres by 20metres in size with the judge sitting at the far end of the arena opposite the entrance. There are letters at designated intervals around the sides of the arena, and 3 down the centre line. Individual movements within the test start and finish at certain letters, and each movement is judged on a scale of 0-10. How is Dressage Judged? Rules, Regulations and Standards of Dressage Judges considers things like correctness of gaits and the accuracy of each movement. At the end of the test, additional scores for paces, impulsion, submission, and rider (the collective marks) are added to give a total score. This is then calculated as a %. The higher the score, or %, the better the performance was. Dressage tests are also divided into a number of levels – Intro, Prelim, Novice, Elementary, Medium, Advanced Medium, Advanced, and right at the top – Prix St Georges. Each level develops the skills and training required to advance to the next level. What Makes Dressage Unique? One of the things that makes this sport unique is its emphasis on precision and harmony between horse and rider. Unlike other equestrian sports like show jumping or cross-country, it does not involve obstacles or jumps, but rather a series of purely technical movements. Why is Dressage Good for Horses? There are many benefits for both horses and riders. It has many cross-training benefits The foundational skills and training principles don’t just benefit horses but can also be used to improve the performance of horses in other disciplines. The balance, suppleness, core strength, and responsiveness gained with training for example can improve their performance in many other equestrian disciplines. Develops suppleness and flexibility Exercises and movements, such as circles, lateral movements, and transitions, help horses become more supple and flexible. This significantly improves their range of motion and balance, and helps prevent stiffness and muscle imbalances. Improves horse strength and muscle development When movements are taught and executed correctly, the horse engages and strengthens its core muscles, hindquarters, and overall musculature. These have benefits for overall fitness and well-being Improves horse balance and coordination In order to perform at the highest levels, horses need good balance and co-ordination. They have to be able to carry themselves (self-carriage) in the various movements, evenly distribute their weight over their feet, and be able to transition up and down in their paces. This improves their overall athleticism. Develops better communication and responsiveness between horse and rider Clear and precise communication between horse and rider is an essential component. The further the horse progresses, the more responsive it becomes to a riders’ cues and aids. A well-trained dressage horse is a joy to work with. Provides mental stimulation for the horse The training requires horses to focus, concentrate, and respond to a variety of exercises and cues. This helps keep them engaged with their rider, prevents boredom, and can generally improve their overall mental well-being. Benefits a horse’s longevity and soundness The correct biomechanics and muscle development promoted in training can contribute to the long-term soundness and well-being of the horse. Proper engagement, balance, and muscle development for instance can help prevent injuries. What is Dressage – Key Takeaways Dressage is one of the most technical, and beautiful, of equestrian sports. It also requires a great deal of skill, discipline, training, and commitment. However, basic dressage movements underpin many of the movements required in other disciplines. Therefore, doing some basic dressage training will provide both you and your horse with good groundwork
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