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Horse Brain, Human Brain was one of the first books I read when I was trying to understand horses better. So when I had the chance to sit down with its author, Janet Jones, for the podcast, I was pretty excited.

Janet is a neuroscientist, horsewoman, and the author of her new book, A Horse's World.

We talked about trust, fear, learning, the horse's sensory system, and some of the things horses notice that humans often miss. One thing that really stood out to me was this:

Dogs tend to give their trust freely. Horses make us earn it.

Whether you live with horses, train them, compete with them, or simply enjoy being around them, I think you'll find plenty to think about in this conversation.

I hope you enjoy it.

https://www.empathetic-trainer.com/

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Today I’m talking with Toni Mattson of Trinity Equestrian Center in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

Toni and her team work with horses alongside veterans, first responders, youth, and individuals facing trauma, PTSD, dementia, and other life challenges.

We talk about what horses notice about people, why they respond so honestly to emotion, and how animals can help people reconnect with hope, trust, and themselves.

We also discuss Toni’s book Unlikely Recruits, her work with veterans, and Trinity’s dementia program, “Reminiscing on the Ranch.”

A really thoughtful and meaningful conversation.

https://www.empathetic-trainer.com/

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What happens after the horse reacts?

In this conversation, I talk with carriage driving trainer Christine Beattie about how driving changes the way we communicate with a horse — and why it can have such a big impact on the relationship.

We talk about ground driving, working horses in real-world environments, and what horses need from us when things feel uncertain.

A big part of this conversation comes down to something simple:

It’s not whether the horse reacts…
it’s what happens next.

If you want to better understand your horse — this is a good one.

https://www.empathetic-trainer.com/