Equine Care,
Management & Connection
Horses are large, complex animals who require a lot of knowledge and understanding to handle and manage. As we learn more about these animals, and how they experience the world, management, care, and training practices are all beginning to shift.
Whether you are brand new to the world of horses, or have been in the industry for years, we can all agree happy, healthy horses are always the goal. Horsemanship classes at Equi Evolution embrace the newest education regarding best care practices and ethical training.
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These courses focus on a Relationship-Based approach to equine interaction and prioritize meeting both the needs of the species as well as the individual. Learn how you can care for and work with horses while still honoring the autonomy of the horse and yourself.
Relationship-Based Horsemanship
"Traditional" horsemanship often teaches us that we must be dominant over the horse. We must force him to comply and we applaud the ones who out muscle the wildest and most dangerous of them, as they beat their chests with pride over "breaking" such a powerful beast. Lucky for us, and our horses, we now have a much better understanding of the equine brain and body, and science now supports the importance of maintaining nervous system regulation for optimal learning and connection...so what the heck does that mean? It means being an A**hole is OUT, and being mindful and compassionate is IN!
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Equi Evolution wholeheartedly embraces the principles of these concepts and has created a program to share how we apply this in real world situations. Our horsemanship courses address all aspects of care, management, and groundwork training for a fully holistic approach to working with everyone's favorite animal. We believe every voice has a place and deserves to heard and honored. These classes will walk you through exactly how to hold that space for both species and truly enjoy the time you spend with horses.
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We currently offer 2 Levels of Horsemanship in our on-farm learning programs. Experience and learn about this approach first-hand at our quaint New England farm, with our own herd of horses who are all managed with this Relationship-Based Horsemanship model. Take your learning back to your home barn or horse, share it with local programs and farms, or simply enjoy the growth & experience for yourself. You do not need to have a horse of your own, or even currently be working with horses, to benefit from the learning in these courses. All you need is an open heart that's ready for something fresh as you explore what it means to holds space for the horses and the humans.
Learning Options:
Our courses are offered in 2 different learning formats to meet the various needs, learning styles, and schedules of our students. We have several available dates for each of these programs:
Level 1
Introduction to Relationship-Based Horsemanship
Behavior & Communication
Horses are both prey animals & herd animals; two factors that strongly influence how their brain works, what kind of basic needs they have, and how they move through the world. From a Relationship-Based Horsemanship perspective, we will focus on learning how to interpret equine body language and holding space in a way that supports connection over fear.
Anatomy
While they have a lot of similarities to other mammals, there are key features that are especially important to know and understand when it comes to working with horses. Understanding equine anatomy can help you better interpret body language and will help you spot abnormalities or health issues much sooner.
The Equine Hoof
“No hoof, no horse” is a very real saying when it comes to our equine partners. From a Relationship-Based Horsemanship perspective, having a strong understanding of the anatomy, function, and care practices of the hoof is essential to optimizing whole horse health. A healthy hoof not only supports physical stability and movement but also plays a crucial role in a horse’s overall well-being, enhancing their comfort and resilience.
Nutrition
There is a lot of varying advice when it comes to equine nutrition. Dietary decisions are very personal and should be considered for each individual horse and their unique circumstances. At Equi Evolution, we feed our horses a forage based diet and will introduce you to what this looks like and various ways to implement different forages and vital nutrients. This holistic approach helps to reduce harmful inflammation, support gut health, and minimize/eliminate future chronic health problems.
Grooming
We all love the way a horse's silky clean coat can feel and look, but grooming is so much more than running a brush over them because it looks good. Grooming provides an opportunity to get to know your horse’s unique body, helping to spot any changes or potential health issues early on. This mindful practice also fosters connection and trust as you get to know your horse's individual preferences for touch and connection.
Health & First Aid
Knowing common health problems is important of any species we are working with. Because of ALL the topics mentioned above, horses have a variety of unique and specific issues that are important to understand. Having a solid foundation in equine baseline health and common ailments can not only help you catch and treat problems early on, but can help you implement preventative measure to minimize risk and build a happy healthy horse from the ground up. Additionally, a strong foundation of trust will make treatment and medical procedures much easier and safer for all involved.
Level 2
Deepening Connection
Level 1 is a prerequisite to this course
Understanding the Horse
Reviewing Level 1, and diving deeper into the particular nuances that impact how horses exist in the world, we will learn how to prioritize the horse’s need to feel safe. Explore how many aspects of the equine industry actually create behavioral injuries that often go unacknowledged for too long. Understanding common experiences horses face within the human world can help us meet them where they are and better honor their individual traits.
The Nervous System
Discussing how horses AND humans receive, interpret, and process sensory information and experiences helps us improve communication & connection. This encourages development of our own emotional intelligence as we explore the importance of regulation, distress tolerance, threshold, and sympathetic dominance. In English? We’ll talk about how the brain and nerves work to shape all our experiences and perspectives!
Exercises in Connection
The big question everyone wants to know is what specifically they can do to build a trusting relationship with a horse. We will walk you through a variety of exercises to help you recognize and honor your horse’s unique communication style. You will be armed with a toolbox full of new skills designed to encourage authentic and meaningful connection.
Setting Boundaries
For many people, the idea of horsemanship centered around connection tends to end up with overly permissive owners being pushed around by horses they refused to set boundaries with. Relationship-Based Horsemanship is about the conversation and understanding between horse and human, which means BOTH get to have a voice. We will cover how to respect your horse’s boundaries while also setting safe and healthy boundaries for yourself.
Classical & Operant Conditioning
While Relationship-Based Horsemanship is not a training method itself, there are various ways we can consider this approach when using certain training methods. Having an understanding of Classical & Operant conditioning, the 4 Quadrants, and the implications of each, plays a huge role in determining which training methods are best for your horse.
Cooperative Care
Domesticated horses require a lot of hands-on care and often times we can get so caught up in the task at hand we forget that these tasks can create a lot of stress for a horse. Learn how you can better support your horse so that he is open and comfortable being with you and participating in regular care tasks. Ideally, we want to build a relationship in which the horse easily & comfortably participates in care tasks at liberty.
What to expect:
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Small class sizes to optimize learning
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Hands-on interaction with a variety of equine personalities
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Gain an understanding of the equine brain and how horses experience the world
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Dive deep into understanding the physical, mental & social-emotional needs of horses
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Develop confidence around reading and responding to a horse's body language
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Practice handling horses in safe & mindful ways
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Understand the significance of autonomy & consent in working with these incredible animals
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Find peer support in an encouraging and fun environment
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See how this approach impacts horses first-hand
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Reflect on how you show up in the space & how it affects relationship
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Make tons of memories you'll never forget!
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*Due to the mature nature of some of the learning & themes presented in these courses, they are available for ages 16+. If you have a group of younger students interested in learning about this fresh approach to horsemanship please contact us for information on scheduling a private learning experience or event.
​Upcoming Learning Opportunities
Course Length: 2-day Intensive OR 6-week Reflective
Schedule: See Availability Below
Price: $350
Ages: 16+​
Sat, Mar 22Equi EvolutionMar 22, 2025, 10:00 AM – Mar 23, 2025, 4:00 PMEqui Evolution , 215 Scott Rd, Cumberland, RI 02864, USA
Sat, Apr 26Equi EvolutionApr 26, 2025, 10:00 AM – Apr 27, 2025, 4:00 PMEqui Evolution , 215 Scott Rd, Cumberland, RI 02864, USA- Wed, Apr 30Equi EvolutionApr 30, 2025, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PMEqui Evolution , 215 Scott Rd, Cumberland, RI 02864, USA
Wed, Sep 10Equi EvolutionSep 10, 2025, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PMEqui Evolution , 215 Scott Rd, Cumberland, RI 02864, USA- Sat, Sep 27Equi EvolutionSep 27, 2025, 10:00 AM – Sep 28, 2025, 4:00 PMEqui Evolution , 215 Scott Rd, Cumberland, RI 02864, USA
- Sat, Nov 29Equi EvolutionNov 29, 2025, 10:00 AM – Nov 30, 2025, 4:00 PMEqui Evolution , 215 Scott Rd, Cumberland, RI 02864, USA
