Consciously You - Centre for Human & Equine Development

21/10/2025

An interesting visual from a recent hike of the difference between south facing and north facing slopes. Perfectly illustrates the impact direction makes when it comes to sun exposure and how one side is always cooler than the other because of this.

19/10/2025

Always a bit more prep to going away when you have horses…spent our last day trimming feet, prepping minerals, grooming, exercising the girls and making sure the horses and dad were across everything 🙈🤠

18/10/2025

When we moved to Palmer we spent some time training Zulu with car trips so he would be less stressed when we had to do vet visits and now, if there is a door or window open, you can bet he will be in your car, and good luck getting him back out again! 😂🙈❤️

Nearly got a new pet from Consciously You - Centre for Human & Equine Development to round out the week! Have a beautiful weekend everyone ❤️

13/10/2025

Still in my becoming phase but I think about my previous horses a lot and the lessons, patience and understanding they gave me 💜🖤💙

Today I felt a wave of reflection… about the horses who lived through my learning curve.

They didn’t stay with me because they had the choice.
There were ropes, bridles, halters and fences—expectations.
There were times I led them without asking, touched them without listening,
and taught them what I had been taught.

They didn’t get to walk away when I did harmful things.
And that’s what humbles me the most.

I used to believe I was being kind.
And in many ways, I was doing my best.
But now I see how often doing my best still meant asking too much…
still meant silencing what they were trying to show me.

Most stood through it.
They bore it quietly.
They adapted—not because it was easy, but because it was safer to comply.

And still, they gave moments of softness.
A look. A breath. A leaning in.
Moments that taught me more than any lesson I ever tried to teach them.

I didn’t know what I didn’t know.
But now that I do… everything has changed.

I listen more now.
I question more.
And I honor every horse I meet as a being with their own life—not an extension of mine.

So this is for those horses, past and present.
You endured more than I saw at the time.
You lived through my becoming.

I owe you everything.

And I hope that now, in this quieter chapter,
I am someone worthy of standing beside you—without asking you to carry me.

With reverence,
🌿 Stormy

12/10/2025

Cannot recommend Raquel’s work highly enough! She provides so much good information in her free masterclasses too!

The nervous system doesn’t separate physical imbalance from behaviour.

Postural instability isn’t just a structural issue — it’s a neurological one.

When a horse feels unsafe or braced in their body, their behaviour reflects that. It might look like:
⚠️ Over-reactivity
⚠️ Spooking
⚠️ General anxiety

I had a beautiful pony once who, at first, felt like I was riding a little bullet.

The moment I picked up the reins, her whole body would brace - neck tight, back rigid, head locked straight - while scanning the horizon for “boogey monsters.” And if she saw one, we’d leap a few metres sideways (thankfully she always took me with her, even if half my body felt like it stayed behind!).

But here’s what changed everything:
As her body became more stable and comfortable, her nervous system began to process the world differently.
✔︎ She could move and look around without losing balance.
✔︎ The brace disappeared.
✔︎ The spooking stopped.
✔︎ And the tension melted into trust.

She taught me just how deeply posture, proprioception, and behaviour are linked - and how powerful it is to create new, supportive patterns in motion.
In the Free Live Posture & Behaviour Masterclass, we’ll explore how pain, proprioception, postural control, and the nervous system shape behaviour - and what you can do to support a horse more effectively.

Tune into the science behind the signs - join the Free Live masterclass:
📅 Thursday Oct 23rd 10AM OR 7PM AEDT

Register now: https://www.integratedvettherapeutics.com/pbmcfb-oct25

11/10/2025

My very first bitless bridle over 20 years ago was a Dr. Cook bridle and it changed mine and my horses ridden life completely ❤️
I have a huge amount of respect for the work he did, and it’s well worth reading to get a broader perspective on the subject.

The late Dr Robert Cook explains how bit use harms horses’ welfare and performance, calling for bit-free sport to safeguard equine wellbeing.

10/10/2025

My very belated birthday present has arrived! If you’re looking for me I’ll be out testing this with the horses and maybe one day you’ll actually see my face in a post 🤪🤠🤩

07/10/2025

💞

04/10/2025

So excited for our barn door handles 🤩 we are currently deciding whether to match them or make each one slightly individual. Let us know your thoughts!
Blessed to have such a talented and creative hubby 🥰

03/10/2025

Wishing you all a safe and wonderful long weekend 🥰

We’re looking forward to some time to spend with our favourite furry and feathered friends soaking up some sunshine ☀️

01/10/2025

I recently attended SA’s first Level 1 Equine Biodynamic Craniosacral training and one of the things that has stuck with me the most, and that I was finding challenging, is to focus on the health of the horse (and of all things, including ourselves).

It’s something that I have been practicing extensively with Merlin since and it has changed so much for us. The way I look at him and interact with him, and therefore the way he responds to me has softened, become lighter, and so much more positive.

I greet him and tell him how good he is looking and I swear he perks up every time. In his treatments and in all our interactions I am focusing on the wellness he has, and if nothing else, it will make our days together more joyous.

It’s not just him, I’ve started doing it with all of the herd and felt a lovely shift, mostly in myself. It’s amazing to see how much our focus changing can alter things without us doing anything else differently, or changing our circumstances.
I still have a long way to go with this but practice makes perfect!

30/09/2025

We try to give the herd some variety by trying different (healthy) food treats for enrichment. They were all very excited to find some celery scattered around when they came in for the night 🥰