Creating Lives Worth Living for Horses
Evidence-based education for horse owners, carers, and professionals committed to closing the gap between domestic life and natural wellbeing.
Discover how cutting-edge behavioural science transforms horse-human relationships - from the stunning Scottish Highlands to your own yard.
Our Mission
At Horse Play Highlands, we believe every horse deserves a life worth living - not just existing, but truly flourishing.
We're closing the gap between the freedom horses evolved for and the reality of domestic life. Through education rooted in the latest behavioural science, we're empowering owners, carers, and professionals to create environments where horses can thrive.
Our approach is simple:
- 🧠 Evidence-based learning - The latest research, made accessible
- 🐴 Practical application - Knowledge you can implement immediately
- 🏔️ Real-world observation - Learn from horses living naturally in the Highlands
- 💚 Ethical foundations - Respect for horses' instincts and cognitive abilities
Join hundreds of horse enthusiasts worldwide who are revolutionising their relationships through understanding, not dominance.
Understanding our horses better helps them to achieve optimal well-being
- Reducing vet bills,
- Minimising the need for outside trainers,
- Alleviating stress and uncertainty about caring for our horses.
Not sure where to start? Join our free masterclass:The 3 Keys To Horse/Human Harmony.
Your Learning Journey Starts Here
Whether you're taking your first steps in understanding horse behaviour or deepening existing knowledge, we have a path for you.
Applied Equine Behaviour Learning Hub
Online Course | Self-Paced Learning
Comprehensive online education in equine behaviour science
Master everything from evolution and neurology to communication, enrichment, and agency. 60+ video lessons, interactive field guide, and optional live study groups with our global community.
Perfect for: Horse owners, trainers, and professionals seeking systematic, science-based understanding.
From £995 | Lifetime access
Into The Wild Retreat
4-Day Highland Residential | May 2026
Immersive learning experience in remote Scotland
Join us in the stunning Ardnamurchan Peninsula for four transformational days. Observe free-roaming horses, explore cutting-edge concepts like positive affect states and agency, and experience genuine connection with like-minded people.
Perfect for: Those seeking deep, transformational learning away from daily distractions.
From £1,150 | Limited to 10 participants
Digital Field Guide | Instant Download
Start understanding your horse today
Three hands-on activities to decode communication, map social dynamics, and track natural behaviours. Interactive digital format works on any device - perfect for observations at the yard.
Perfect for: Anyone wanting practical tools to apply immediately, or to test our teaching approach.
Just £15
Highland Experience | By Appointment
Discover the ultimate immersive experience by visiting us here in the Scottish Highlands. Stay in our luxury, self-catering tower and learn from the experts, the ponies themselves.
Get in touch to create your bespoke experience today.
Plan Your Visit
Why Learn With Us?
Evidence Meets Experience
We don't just teach theory - we live it. Our horses roam freely across Highland moorland, expressing natural behaviours that most domestic horses never experience. This isn't idealism; it's informed by decades of research into what horses actually need to thrive.
Every lesson is grounded in peer-reviewed research. My published work on horse agency in domestic and commercial settings (CABI Journal) forms the foundation of our teaching approach.
What makes us different:
📚 Scientific Rigor
Every lesson, every concept, every recommendation is grounded in peer-reviewed research and current behavioural science. No tradition-based guesswork.
🏴Real-World Application
Our Highland setting provides unique opportunities to observe natural horse behaviour. Theory tested against reality, daily.
🌍 Global Community
Join students from 23 countries, all committed to ethical, evidence-based horsemanship. Learn together, support each other, share breakthroughs.
💡 Practical Focus
Knowledge without application is just information. Every concept includes hands-on activities you can implement at your own yard, regardless of facilities.
🔬 Constantly Evolving
Equine science is advancing rapidly. We stay current so you do too - all courses include lifetime access to updates as research develops.
"After 25 years with horses, I thought I understood them. Horse Play Highlands showed me I'd been missing 90% of what they were telling me. My mare and I have a completely different relationship now - built on understanding, not control."
- Ruth Hammond, Aberdeenshire
"My visit to Horse Play Highlands changed my life. Watching horses be genuinely free, having space to examine my own beliefs, connecting with people who get it - I came home transformed. My horses are thriving in ways I didn't know were possible."
- Sarah Kennedy, Yorkshire
"I'm a professional trainer and was skeptical about online learning. The Applied Equine Behaviour Hub genuinely enhances my professional practice. Being part of this supportive and well-informed community, hearing from those carrying out the research, keeps me a step ahead. I now recommend it to all my clients."
- James Morrison, Ireland
Nice to meet you!
I'm Nicky Ross, a qualified equine behaviourist and published author specialising in horse agency and evidence-based relationships.
My research on enhancing agency in domestic horses has been published in CABI's Animal Behaviour and Welfare Cases journal and forms the core methodology taught in our programs.
I work with equine professionals, owners, and caregivers to develop the knowledge and skills necessary for creating harmonious, mutually beneficial partnerships with horses.
As a member of International Equine Professionals, I am committed to force-free, ethology-based methodologies and staying current with the latest developments in equine behavioural science. My approach combines rigorous scientific principles with practical application to help you understand and work with your horse's natural behaviours.
Find out more about my approach here.
