Finally Understand Your Horse's World
Move beyond traditional interactions and discover the fascinating science behind horse behaviour. This comprehensive learning experience with online access to materials and community, combines cutting-edge research with practical application to help you build deeper, more meaningful relationships with horses.
Are You Struggling With...
❌ Your horse's body language telling you something important, but you can't read the warning signs?
❌ Training techniques that don't work long-term because you're treating symptoms, not understanding root causes?
❌ Making your horse comply through pressure, but there's no real partnership or mutual understanding?
❌ Every interaction feeling like trial and error - never sure if their behaviour is normal or if small issues are building?
❌ Behavioural issues costing thousands in vet bills while your horse's quality of life declines?
You're not alone. And there's a better way.
Evidence-Based Foundations
Drawing from the latest research in equine cognition, neuroscience, and ethology, you'll understand the 'why' behind every horse's behaviour. Gaining scientific insights that inform better training, management and interaction decisions.
The Way Forward
The Equine World Is at a Crossroads
Traditional methods are failing horses. Research reveals that meeting basic physical needs and achieving compliance isn't enough for genuine welfare and partnership.
But a powerful shift is happening.
Horse owners worldwide are rejecting dominance-based approaches and embracing science. They're discovering that understanding equine cognition, emotion, and natural behaviour creates better outcomes for everyone.
The question isn't whether this change is coming - it's whether you'll be part of it.
Join the movement transforming equine welfare through education and ethical practice.
What You'll Master
Complete Behavioural Framework:
Through video lessons, practical activities, scientific observation, and live study groups, you'll see your horse as never before.
- Ethology & Evolution: How evolution and adaptation shaped modern horse behaviour
- Neurology & Cognition: Understanding the equine brain and information processing
- Communication Systems: Decode body language, vocalizations, and stress signals
- Social Structures: Master herd dynamics and relationship formation
Cutting-Edge Concepts: New insights require new practices
- Horse Agency: Recognising, respecting and nurturing horses' capacity for choice
- Enhanced Enrichment: Creating environments supporting psychological well-being
- The 'Good Life' Framework: Moving beyond basic welfare to promoting flourishing
- Mutually Beneficial Relationships: Building partnerships based on accurate knowledge and understanding
Your Personal Roadmap to Understanding Your Horse
Your full, comprehensive 75-page companion for applying equine behavioural science in real-world settings. This digital workbook combines practical observation activities, reflection exercises, and evidence-based lessons to deepen your understanding of horse behaviour.
What's included:
- Fillable observation sheets for tracking behavioural patterns
- Guided reflection prompts to analyse your horse's communication and social dynamics
- Interactive elements with clickable links to expert video content
- Practical activities you can implement immediately with your horse
Perfect for: Building systematic observation skills, documenting behavioural changes, and creating a personalised reference guide that grows with your knowledge. Whether you're working through challenging behaviours or simply want to understand your horse better, this field guide transforms theory into actionable insights.
Access anywhere: Fully digital format allows you to complete activities on any device, save your progress, and build a comprehensive behavioural profile of your horses over time.
Learn at Your Own Pace - Just 15 Minutes a Day Over Morning Coffee!
MODULE 1 Our History with horses.
Explore the journey from wild horse domestication to modern partnerships. Understand how this relationship shaped both species and continues to influence our interactions today.
MODULE 2 From small beginnings
Discover how 56 million years of evolution created the modern horse's behavioural patterns and survival instincts. Learn why understanding evolutionary adaptations is key to working with, not against, natural behaviours.
MODULE 3 Get social
Master the complexities of herd structures, friendship bonds, and group dynamics that govern horse relationships. Understand how social needs influence behaviour and welfare in domestic settings.
MODULE 4 On the move
Examine the natural time budgets essential for physical and psychological health in horses. Learn how restriction of movement impacts behaviour and how to support natural locomotion needs within your setting.
MODULE 5 Food for thought
Understand the foraging behaviours and digestive needs that drive equine feeding patterns. Discover what is needed to support both physical health and natural behaviours.
MODULE 6 More than survival
Move beyond basic care to create environments that promote psychological well-being and natural behaviours. Learn evidence-based enrichment strategies that enhance quality of life and reduce behavioural problems. Helping your horse to become braver, smarter, and healthier.
Module 7 Look who's talking
Decode the subtle language of equine body postures, facial expressions, and vocalisations. Develop skills to read stress signals, emotional states, and social intentions accurately.
Module 8 Touch and feel
Explore how horses experience the world through their unique sensory capabilities and cognitive processes. Understand how perception differences affect learning, behaviour, and human-horse interactions.
Module 9 Changing the tide
Learn to recognise, understand and facilitate horses' capacity for choice while building cooperative partnerships. Discover the knowledge, skills and understanding needed to honour horse agency while achieving human goals.
Module 10 A Horse/human evolution and revolution
Examine how modern science is reshaping traditional approaches to horse care and training. Explore ethical frameworks for creating relationships based on understanding, Knowledge, and mutual benefit.
Prevention is better than cure
Investing in building your knowledge, skills, and understanding could save thousands in vet bills, training costs, and behavioural interventions. Plus, you'll use these skills for the lifetime of every horse you work with.
One emergency vet call for stress-related colic costs £500+. One session with a behavioural specialist costs £200+. This course prevents problems before they start.
It is not about training our horses, it's about training ourselves.
Unlock your horse's world in just 15 minutes a day.
60+ Expert Video Lessons - Structured learning modules that build your knowledge systematically, set in the backdrop of the stunning Scottish Highlands.
Interactive Field Guide & Journal - Practical observation activities, reflection exercises, and real-world applications to deepen your understanding of your horse
Monthly Live Study Groups - Connect with fellow learners, ask questions, explore case studies, review recent research and explore concepts beyond those detailed in the course, all with expert guidance. Study groups are recorded for your convenience.
Lifetime Access - Learn at your own pace with permanent access to all content and future updates
Nice to meet you!
I'm Nicky, a qualified equine behaviourist and educator specialising in evidence-based horse-human relationships. 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.
"After 25 years with horses, I thought I understood them. This course showed me I'd been missing 90% of what my mare was telling me. Within 3 weeks of Module 7, I could read her stress signals before they escalated - it's prevented two potential colic episodes and transformed our relationship."
Ruth Hammond, Aberdeenshire
"I wish I'd known this three years ago, it would have saved me a fortune in vets bills! I didn't realise that the way I was managing Milly was causing the problems. Once I addressed her past trauma and gave her a voice, her skin issues cleared up rapidly."
Sarah Kennedy
Meet our members
We have members around the world from a host of equine backgrounds. Here's what they have to say:
Why 400+ Horse Owners Choose This Over Traditional Training
✓ Scientific Credibility - Base your decisions on research, not guesswork
✓ Practical Application - Every concept includes hands-on activities you can implement immediately
✓ Professional Development - Enhance your skills whether you're a horse owner, trainer, or equine professional
✓ Problem-Solving Toolkit - Understand the root causes of behavioural challenges rather than just managing symptoms
✓ Ethical Foundation - Learn to work with horses in ways that respect their natural instincts and cognitive abilities
✓ Community Support - Join a network of like-minded individuals committed to evidence-based horse care and positively influencing the lives of equines.
Are my results guaranteed?
Do I need to have my own horse?
Will this work for any horse?
Do I need time to train my horse?
Is there individual support in each live study group session?
Is there a time limit for completing the course?
Can I share course info with a friend?
Still have questions?
Still wondering if the Horse Play Learning Hub is right for you and your horse? Book a call with us and dive a little deeper.
