ProHorse Training

A disrespectful horse does not exist.

I know that’s a statement that not everyone will agree with.

But think about what the word disrespectful actually means. It implies that a horse has formed an opinion about us—that they’re intentionally being rude, stubborn, or trying to challenge us.

Science tells us otherwise.

The horse’s brain isn’t wired to make moral judgments or play power games with humans. It’s wired for survival.

Every decision a horse makes is based on one simple question:

“What is the safest and most comfortable option for me right now?”

That’s it.

When your horse drags you, doesn’t load in the trailer, walks through you, spooks, or ignores what you’re asking, they aren’t sitting there thinking, “I’m going to disrespect my human today.”

They’re simply giving you the answer that makes the most sense to them based on what they know, what they’ve experienced, and what feels safest or most comfortable in that moment.

The problem isn’t a lack of respect.

The problem is usually one of three things:
The horse doesn’t understand, it doesn’t feel comfortable or it has learned that another answer works better.

Instead of taking the behavior personally, become curious.

That simple shift changes everything. It replaces frustration with curiosity, punishment with education, and conflict with communication.

The goal isn’t to make a horse “respect” us.

The goal is to help them understand us, trust us, and discover that the answer we’re asking for is the easiest and most comfortable one to choose.

Because good horsemanship isn’t about winning an argument.

And that’s the foundation of every horse I train.

Photo: Ranahan Photo
www.prohorse.ca

Welcome back to your feed! 👋

We’ve been a little quiet over here lately, but we promise it’s for the absolute best reason. Look closely at the photo… we’ve officially welcomed our newest (and cutest) ProHorse team member!

Life is changing in the best way possible, and with that comes some incredibly exciting updates and additions to ProHorse Training:

Training Spots: My personal training roster is currently booking into February 2027.

New Opportunity: We are thrilled to announce that one of our talented students is now taking on client horses at a discounted rate! If you’ve been wanting to get your horse into our program, this is a fantastic opportunity.

Online Academy & Content: Get ready for more education! Our Online Academy is growing, and we are diving back into sharing regular training tips right here on our page.

Clinics: We already have some exciting clinics planned! However, we still have a couple of free weekends available if you're interested in hosting one at your barn.

Lessons: We are still rolling with in-person lessons at the beautiful Rocky Six S Ranch Stables, as well as our flexible Online Lessons.

Thank you all for your incredible support as we step into this new chapter. Head over to www.prohorse.ca to check out our services, explore the academy, or secure your spot!

Photo: melanieleonphoto

Don’t miss this! Dr. Shacker is our Vet/Chiropractor we use here at ProHorse Training and there is so much you can learn! It‘s all online and you can just lean back and learn 😍

🥃 𝗪𝗵𝗶𝘀𝗸𝗲𝘆 𝗼𝗻 𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆𝘀

THIS Wednesday!

Join us and Dr. Kelsey Shacker as we dig deeper into alternative therapies.

Understanding how they fit into your horses wellbeing and fitness programs and how they are used.

As a vet herself, Kelsey is a wealth of knowledge that has added to her skillset of both Chiropractic and Acupuncture making her very well rounded and ready to share with us!

Can’t make it? No prob. Webinars are recorded and shared with registrants.

✨ Liberty Communication Clinic ✨
A One-Day Crash Course into Connection, Science & Freedom

🗓 Sunday, March 29th
💲 $225 + GST per participant
🎟 Auditors welcome: $50

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Short on time but still want to dive into liberty?
This one-day clinic is designed as a crash course for those who can’t commit to a full weekend—but still want to experience what true liberty training feels like.

Discover a whole new way to be with your horse.
Learn how to communicate through body language, not ropes or force—and create a connection where your horse wants to be with you.

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🧠 What You’ll Learn:
• The basics of liberty communication—no halter, no pressure
• How to read and use your horse’s body language in every situation
• Brain- and evidence-based horsemanship principles
• How horses actually think, learn, and respond

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✅ What’s Included:
• A group theory session to understand the “why” behind the training
• Two private liberty sessions with your horse
• Your own round pen—just you and your horse, no sharing

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This clinic is perfect for anyone wanting to get started with liberty or build a stronger, more willing partnership in a short amount of time. You’ll walk away with practical tools you can immediately apply—and a whole new perspective on your horse.

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📍 Rocky Six S Ranch, Madden, AB
📩 Spots are limited—secure yours now!

What an incredible weekend!

We had the honor of being clinicians at the Michigan Horse Expo alongside some amazing horsemen and women, including Wendy Winn, The Lyons Family, The Three Cowboys, and Brandt Clark. It was truly a pleasure meeting everyone, exchanging ideas, and sharing different philosophies about horsemanship.

I learned so much throughout the weekend and hope I was able to share a little insight into the way we approach Liberty. ♥️

A huge thank you to everyone who came to watch the demos and stopped by our booth—it was wonderful meeting so many of you! I’m also incredibly grateful for my amazing team, who made this entire experience possible.

And the biggest thank you goes to my partner for the weekend, Sturgis—a talented 3-year-old Gypsy Vanner owned by Heidi Lenz from Strides Equestrian Therapeutic Center—who kindly allowed me to work with him during the demonstrations. I’m so proud of this little guy!

See you tomorrow Michigan!! We are excited!! 🥳

Slowing Down Isn't Doing Less—It’s Teaching Smarter

Have you ever felt like you’re repeating the same cue over and over, but it’s just not "clicking" for your horse?

The secret to faster progress might actually be doing less.
Horses don't learn while they are doing; they learn while they are processing. Here is how to hack your training for better results:

1. The Power of the Pause
Equine neuroscience shows that brief pauses help the brain move a new experience into long-term memory. When we stack "questions" too fast, the brain hits sensory overload.

2. The "Dopamine Release" Secret
Watch for the lick and chew. When your horse does this after a task, it’s a physical sign of a dopamine release—the "Aha!" moment.
If you see this: Leave them completely alone. * No petting.
Why? Because once that dopamine hits, a horse’s brain can "replay" the successful pattern up to 20 times internally. If you interrupt them to offer praise or move to the next task, you break that cycle. By letting them sit in peace, you’ve essentially just done 20 repetitions without moving a muscle!

3. Regulation = Retention
A horse in a "fight or flight" state cannot learn. A regulated nervous system—indicated by calm breathing and relaxed posture—is the only state where true progress sticks. Tension is a literal roadblock for the brain.

The Takeaway:
Instead of drilling, try asking once and then waiting. Give your horse the space to think, search, and understand. You’ll be rewarded with a more confident partner and progress that actually lasts.

We don’t train with emotions.

And we still get far.

This is Straight on competition day — a 3-year-old Quarter Horse I competed with in a 60-Day C**t Starting Challenge.

And we got there with No anger. No frustration. No fighting. No “he should know better.”

Here’s the truth most people miss 👇

Horses don’t understand emotions the way we do. Their brain is built for survival, not intention or judgment. They don’t have a developed prefrontal cortex like humans do — the part of the brain responsible for logic, intent, and doing something “on purpose.”

So a horse is never being rude, lazy, or disrespectful.

They literally can’t be.

What we often call bad behaviour is simply a horse trying something new to find release.

That’s it. No drama. No disrespect.

And if you know those facts - which I hope every horse trainer does - how do you get mad at them?

Our job is to explain to the horse — clearly, fairly, and consistently — which answer works. Not saying „he is disrespectful“ or „he is a bad horse.“ that needs to be fought!

Anything is possible in horse training — without anger or fighting them!