For as long as I can remember I have worshipped horses. One of my earliest memories is of cantering my imaginary horse around a field while my mother had her riding lesson. I was four years old.   I have lived and breathed horses my whole life. They are my sanctuary in a sometimes noisy and …

There has been much news recently about Moorland’s Totilas who is now being ridden by Matthias Alexander Rath, facing a future subjected to the training “guidance” of Sjef Janssen – the strong proponent of Rollkur, or Hyperflexion. I am happy to see that the German Federation of Professional Riders (BBR) is strongly voicing their opposition …

Or if you prefer to call it low, deep and round then go right ahead. I don’t differentiate the two very much, it is mostly political semantics so the FEI can avoid making top riders responsible in training their horses without abuse. I digress. What you came here wondering about is Edward Gal’s involvement. He …

Studies in animals, and humans, have shown that the mere association with reward for particular behavior can quickly replace the need for direct reward. The brain assumes that a reward is coming and begins to signal that we ought to behave in a particular manner to receive that reward. In turn, this neural firing on …

The following text inspired me in thought, it is an excerpt from On The Family, written by the Florentine humanist Leon Battista Alberti in 1443. Dated? Yes, but that hardly means it is outdated. It addresses the subject of idleness and the consequence it has on personal achievement. When I read this text I relate …