Christa Culbert

We will explore the ways that patterns can foster safe, balanced, and multi-directional interactions between horses and humans. Using patterns creatively and thoughtfully can help build reliable behaviors, from husbandry care to riding. Regardless of experience level, discipline, or training method, patterns can improve our dialogue with horses and help give horses a voice. 

Coraline Plumat

We've all been there. We had a plan, driving to the barn with high enthusiasm and beautiful mental images of how this would be a glorious training day. Then, somehow,  it all went sideways and we left the barn with this bitter feeling of having failed, ourselves and our horses. This talk will investigate the signs that we may sometimes miss that today is not training day, how to shift gears and still have some activities when conditions are not ideal and what to do to save the day without hurt if, unfortunately, training day still went wrong. 

Kate Banfield Rickard

Kate will demonstrate how thoughtful training design can be used to build a mounting block behaviour that is calm and predictable for a horse. The focus is on reducing pressure, removing confusion, and giving the horse a clear and achievable path to success. Kate will break the behaviour down into small, workable components. You will see how to set up the environment so the horse can focus, how to shape each stage without rushing, and how reinforcement can be used to reduce stress rather than create conflict. You will leave with practical steps and a clearer understanding of how good training design supports genuine progress at the mounting block and beyond. 

MIlly Paton

Milly explores psychological safety as the foundation for learning in both humans and horses. Drawing on her experience as a mental health nurse and positive reinforcement trainer, she examines how distress and cognitive overload can be present even when training seems successful, and how these states shape behaviour and learning. Using practical examples from her work as an equestrian coach, Milly shows how session structure, pacing, and learner agency support nervous system regulation and engagement. She also considers the trainer’s mindset, reframing learning as an emotional and safety-driven process rather than a purely technical skill. 

Naomi Garner

Equine podiatrist and clicker trainer Naomi explores what both horse and handler need for safe, welfare-led hoof care. Good hoof care is not only about what is done to the feet, but how it is carried out. Too often, forceful handling is normalised, despite escalating fear and risk. This talk covers handling hooves, essential skills for both horse and owner, training alongside your hoof care provider, and retraining the “kicker.” Attendees will leave with practical tools to improve safety while advocating for their horse’s physical and mental wellbeing.

Trudi Dempsey

Trudi will explore how thoughtful training design can reduce stress for both horses and humans. By creating learning environments that support the horse, tasks become clearer and easier to understand. When steps are small and well defined, horses can learn more efficiently and with less pressure. Trudi will look at how to frame the behaviour you want, shape it through clean and simple stages, and make reinforcement work effectively. The focus is on setting things up so the horse can succeed without the stress of guesswork. The session offers practical strategies that build confidence in real world training situations for both horse and human.