Our horses’ cognitive performance is grossly underestimated until today. Yet, their intellectual capacities carry a beauty within that can best be described with the following image: It is like taking a stroll at the beach when every now and then a ...
The idea behind RPlus is to create something that unites all of us. This includes much more than all the single experiences Marlitt and I had because RPlus can only exist the way it does now if all our two- and four-legged friends, interested persons...
Sooner or later we all ask ourselves the same questions, where do we come from, where are we going and what motivates us. Who are we really, and how does our and our horse’s personality come into being in the first place? We can learn...
August 2015. This date marks a milestone in my life even though I had not been aware at that moment in time; I was allowed to watch wild horses against a magnificent backdrop for the first time in my life. And it has unleashed a...
When training with human-horse-teams, I always try to find out through observation where intervention is needed the most so that possible sources of error as well as yet unexploited potential can be better understood. At first glance, RPlus training ...
In order to being able to act for the benefit of my horse I do not only have to develop an understanding for my horse’s feeling in a certain moment but I also need theoretical knowledge about facial expressions and body language to prevent speculating...
A frequent question that arises considers the right moment in training to add a certain gesture or voice signals to every trained behavior. After all, the horse should be able to understand as quickly as possible which specific behavioral response we...
Training horses with treats can be satisfying and can lead to success. However, depending on your horse and the method you use, treats might also create excitement, tension, and stress. Your horse’s concentration and inner calm can be reduced if it...
A well-intentioned horse owner or trainer will search for the cause, and will not “blame” the animal alone if a horse surprises us with its reactions or its behavior. Yet, it is oftentimes difficult if not impossible to conclusively point out a specific...
It has often been a long, hard road for many of us to finally discover a piece of happiness. My piece of happiness is the discovery of positive reinforcement. I have subconsciously been longing for exactly this kind of communication with my horse for...