Empathy
Understanding horses begins with imagining life on their side of the rope - where someone else controls your body, your movement, and much of your life.
“I don’t just see an animal. I see a soul, an individual capable of love, kindness, and companionship.”
We ask for enormous trust when we tie horses up, touch their bodies, put equipment on them, and direct their movements. It’s easy to take that trust for granted when we hold the power.
Small things matter. Asking permission before touching, offering a gentle hand, and listening to their responses during training help horses feel seen and heard.
Compassion means paying attention to how they feel and responding to what they tell us.
The power we hold comes with a responsibility to use it with care.
Horse Needs
Tara has spent years studying wild horses - their herd instincts, communication, and needs. Their social world is complex, with family groups, distinct roles, and personal space within a shared territory. Much like us, they balance family life with belonging to a wider community.
Because horses don’t communicate through words, they use energy and body language to talk to one another. This makes them incredibly good at reacting quickly, reading others’ energy, and sensing even the most subtle movements.
Like us, horses need companionship, freedom, comfort, and safety. Understanding them means seeing the world through the eyes of a prey animal, alert to potential danger. We can help them feel safe by becoming a calm, trustworthy presence.
This understanding is at the heart of Tara’s approach to Natural Horsemanship: training informed by horses’ natural behaviour and needs.
Horse Language
Watching wild horses can teach us a lot about communication and safety. A band stallion plays an important role in protecting his family, watching for danger while others graze or rest. That watchfulness helps the group feel secure.
There are many roles within a herd. In Tara's approach to training, the lesson is to become someone your horse can trust to keep them safe. This is where the bond begins.
When horses meet for the first time, they use energy and body language to establish boundaries and roles - including who moves the other, who gives space, and who has first access to food or water. Some settle quickly; others need more time, depending on the horse's personalities. Once the roles are clear, they start to build a strong friendship.
With our horses, clear communication also creates predictability. Asking your horse to move, stop, or give space should be taught calmly and consistently, helping them understand what you are asking without fear or confusion.
Safety in being able to move your horse
Imagine walking with your horse towards a road as a truck approaches. Being able to ask your horse to stop and wait is essential to keeping you both safe.
This is why responding to your guidance matters. The aim is to build trust and understanding so your horse can follow your direction when it counts.
The Training
Becoming a kind, trustworthy protector and friend helps build a calm, balanced relationship with your horse. Learning to use your body and energy - from soft to more assertive - without becoming emotionally reactive makes your communication clearer.
Every subtle movement matters. Being aware of what you communicate shows your horse that you are truly present.
Early training is about building trust and understanding. A horse may initially react instinctively; as they become more comfortable and understand your cues, you can encourage them to pause, think, and explore a response. Your role is to offer patient guidance, much like a parent teaching a child how to stay safe, navigate the world, and have fun.
As this understanding grows, you can deepen the bond and build on the basics. Education can help your horse become more confident and comfortable with what you ask. Think of it as learning a shared language: walk, trot, and stop give you a few words. Imagine the connection you could develop as that language becomes richer and more fluent.
Tara's approach brings together an understanding of horses’ needs, trustworthy guidance, and education that builds confidence. But It is not just about what you do, but how you do it. A horse can feel safe without feeling happy, or follow directions without feeling heard.
This is where empathy comes in: putting yourself in your horse’s situation, listening to their responses, and making sure their experience matters as much as the result.
Motivation
Our horses didn’t choose us - we chose them. We ask them to follow our guidance, carry us, and let us shape much of their lives. That is a lot to ask. So how can we make that experience enjoyable for them, too?
Horses are intelligent, curious animals. A familiar paddock can offer limited variety, making training an opportunity for exploration, mental challenges, and physical activity. Imagine your training is like a school, you are the teacher and the horse is the student. Imagine how you would like your teacher to be.
The key is listening: noticing when your horse needs a break, a clearer explanation, or a new challenge. When a horse feels understood, learning can become fun.
Rewards can make that experience even more enjoyable. Positive reinforcement, such as food rewards, can encourage learning. Beyond training, a trip to a favourite grazing spot or an outing your horse enjoys adds variety and gives you time to simply enjoy being together.
Rewarding
Imagine doing your best at school without anyone acknowledging your effort. Recognition matters - and rewarding your horse helps make training encouraging and motivating, too.
There is something special about a horse who wants to participate. Rewards, praise, and treats can help build that willingness. Your horse may even begin offering an exercise before you ask.
A consistent word like “GOOD,” paired with a treat, can work as a marker much like a clicker. It tells your horse exactly which moment earned the reward, even if the treat follows a few seconds later.
Training with treats also means teaching polite behaviour. Learning to wait calmly for a reward is part of the process, helping make training enjoyable for both of you.
Riding and Biomechanics
Horses may look naturally suited to riding, but carrying a rider requires preparation. We have a responsibility to help them develop the strength, balance, and coordination they need to carry our weight comfortably.
Building a strong back is at the core of Tara’s method. Her background in classical dressage, western riding, and the Spanish riding tradition of Doma Vaquera has shaped her approach to collection and engagement.
The goal is a horse who is focused, present, and responsive to subtle cues, with the strength and body awareness to move in balance. This creates the foundation for relaxed riding on loose reins—even with one hand—and a shared understanding of what you are asking.
Tara’s training is always bitless, with an emphasis on comfort to support relaxation and learning.