Trauma-Informed Connection Training for Mustangs & Fearful Horses.
What is trauma-informed connection training?
The goal of connection training is to create the best possible experience for the horse, based on the science of learning and equine emotions. By allowing choice and using reward-based methods, both the handler and the training become associated with feel-good emotions. The result is a relaxed, yet motivated horse who willingly and happily cooperates in their care and training. The goal of trauma-informed horse training is to create a supportive and healing environment for horses that have experienced trauma, fostering their physical and emotional recovery and helping them to become more confident and well-adjusted.
How can trauma-informed connection training help?
Problem solving (trailer loading, hoof handling, medical care, oral medications, etc.)
Behavioral issues (shut down, fear, tension, stereotypies, separation anxiety)
Preparation for calm, relaxed mounting and riding
Developing self-carriage through gymnastic groundwork / lateral movement
Build a trusting relationship for a calmer, more responsive, adaptable horse
Helping abused or neglected horses recover physically and emotionally
Learn About Connection Training
Watch this presentation to learn about the four key elements of Connection Training: the value of rewards, the nature of equine emotions, the power of choice, and the importance of clear communication. Each of these four elements work together in perfect harmony to create happy, willing horses who love to learn and are a joy for their humans to handle and train.
Connection Training Case Studies
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Gentling - Tsuki
Follow the first 100 days of gentling and early training with an unhandled mustang using low-stress, force-free, positive reinforcement training.
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Advanced Groundwork - Tsuki
Working on engagement, lateral movements, stepping over poles, trot, despooking, leading out and riding from the ground.
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Starting Under Saddle - Tsuki
First steps in short-reining, introducing tack, mounting block prep, adding weight, shaping movement with weight, and riding.
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Ponying - Chai
Teaching two mustangs, who are not naturally bonded, to be relaxed while one is ponied from the other.
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Short Reining - Koda
Working with a mustang who was averse to physical proximity and continuous touch while moving to be comfortable with short-reining.
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Leading - Chai
Working with a boisterous mustang filly to teach her boundaries and calm, connected leading outside the yard.
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Trailer Loading - Koda
Working with a mustang who was fearful and reactive to being in tight spaces and having people or stimuli behind him, to load and stand calmly in a trailer while the door is closed.
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Despooking - Koda
Helping a fearful mustang to be confident and curious around novel objects like tarps, bags, balls, and poles.
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Overarousal - Mazama
Experimenting to find the right balance between relaxation and motivation for training an easily aroused, anxious mustang.
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Fly Sheet - Koda
Using systematic desensitization to help a mustang who was afraid of novel objects touching his body, to willingly wear a fly sheet.
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Impulse Control - Chai
Teaching a filly mustang to control her impulse to pull the handler toward novel objects, dive for grass, paw, strike and rear.
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Oral Syringe - Mazama
Helping a mustang who reacts to the oral syringe with severe head tossing and avoidance, to accept a syringe calmly and cooperatively at liberty.
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Backing - Koda
Working with a sensitive, reactive mustang who is was afraid of physical contact and objects touching him, to get calm steps under saddle.
Your Coach
Sharen Ross is a certified Connection Training Coach and a certified Trauma-Informed Horse Trainer. with 20 years of hands-on experience in owning, riding, and training horses. For the past 8 years, Sharen has developed a passion for working with wild mustangs using LIMA (Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive) and positive reinforcement training methods. Today, Sharen cares for four formerly wild mustangs and a burro, all from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and each at different stages in their training and acclimation to the human world. She provides online coaching services to clients worldwide and in-person in the Phoenix area of Arizona. Sharen’s professional career over the past two decades has been in senior roles at organizations that provide evidence-based behavioral coaching and behavioral health services, grounded in the same learning theory used in horse training.
What Clients Are Saying
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I want to acknowledge you for giving such great feedback. Because of your thoughtful and clear guidance, I’ve become much more aware of my inner workings as well as his during our sessions and am catching things sooner so that I can pivot into more relaxation and slowing myself down a bit. A huge thank you to you!
DARCIE L.
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Thank you so much! You have helped me so much already, I can't tell you how much of a difference it makes to have someone watching, helping, and being so positive in their feedback. I watch your videos repeatedly to look for what I'm doing differently as your training is so clear and clean.
LAURA M.
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Sharen has been the missing piece to making the switch to R+. Previously I had tried R+ but with no trainers in my area or support, it was really hard. Working with Sharen validated wanting to handle my mare differently and more kindly. This has made all the difference. My mare and I are happier and more connected than ever!
SIDNEY D.
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My horse started off as very reluctant to be around me and now follows me around like a puppy dog! Sharen provided multiple ideas for how to move forward and always had very good feedback on my videos. I liked that she explained the theory behind the behavior and how to teach a behavior. The coaching also helped me look at what I can do to build my relationship with my horse outside of just training.tem
KATE W.
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Your feedback is clear, detailed and nuanced! Thank you! I’m extremely grateful to you for your patience and observations. I have gotten so much out of our time! I've gotten a little reliant on your wisdom and observations. They've made a world of difference in the best way possible.
JESSIE K.
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Before working with Sharen, my mare had a very dulled seeking system. Sharen showed me how to engage her interests and she quickly became eager for our training sessions. My horse has opened up to engage with me more in the last few months than she has in the last few years since she was pulled from the kill pen! Sharen is a remarkable teacher, offering constructive and easy to follow feedback that left me empowered
SARAH T.
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Oh my gosh, Sharen - I am learning so much from your feedback. Such VALUABLE information. Videoing, and reviewing the video is a game changer. I can observe so much more than I can while I’m working. I have figured out how to get the consent cue, this is a major victory, because I have not understood how to do that.
JULIA M.
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Sharen was friendly and very knowledgeable. She was clear and concise when explaining things to me and she helped me to look at things in a different way so I could see a way forward with solving the issues I had. She encouraged me to have confidence in what I was doing and that I was not alone in having problems to solve.
LYNETTE B.
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Great feedback! I'm so relieved to hear you say I had clean loops and saying we should move on. You put everything I was thinking and feeling into words. Your explanation of operant conditioning versus counter conditioning was very helpful. I often feel confused while training, and hearing your explanation of methods is a huge "aha" for me.
CARRIE S.
Featured Client Story
Sharen and the incredible training she does with horses has been a complete game changer for our two Mustangs and for me. I met Sharen just shortly after we adopted our first mustang, Sampson. I had zero experience training horses, not to mention wild horses. I had done some initial work with him on connecting and positive reinforcement but I could only go so far, and I was getting very frustrated with how "pushy" he was around food.
Sharen's demeanor is so calm and her communication is so clear, and I love that she never puts any pressure, force, or domination on horses. In fact, after our first session with Sampson, he even looked like he was enjoying it. Ears up and forward and very curious and willing. He was a completely different horse. She has also worked her magic with our newer filly, Q that all of the sudden had grown interested in biting people. Sharen does a fantastic job of demonstrating various activities and then helps me practice the activities so I can do it on my own as well. She is incredibly patient with all of us. She is always making sure we are all comfortable with what we learned and deeply loves horses and their well-being.
After every session, our mustangs evolve and grow. They are more patient, more curious, and their demeanor completely shifts. I love watching Sharen work with them and their response to her. The next day after our last session, our filly seemed to be walking up to me rather quickly, and I was concerned she would come straight in for a nibble, but instead, she turned to her side asking for scratches, and we spent at least 10 minutes together with a calm sweet demeanor from her.
We're so excited to see where the next session will lead. I highly recommend Sharen and trust she will take great care of your horses.
Siarra Decomi, Founder & President
Services
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Video and phone-based coaching and feedback for clients worldwide.
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In-person coaching for horse owners as they work with their own horse (25 mile radius of Cave Creek, AZ.)
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Hands-on work with horses to solve behavioral issues. Includes coaching for the owner.
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Small group presentations, demos, and clinics by request.
