Tension in the Equine Body
This short class gives you a simple, grounded starting point for better understanding what tension can look like before it shows up more clearly in movement, behavior, handling, groundwork, or riding. We’ll look at where horses commonly hold tension, what to notice in stillness and in motion, and how the body can sometimes be communicating long before the behavior gets louder.
This is information every horse person should have.
Whether you own, lease, ride, handle, groom, train, or simply love spending time with horses, learning what tension can look like in the body gives you a better place to start when something feels different.
It helps you:
catch smaller signs before they turn into bigger issues in behavior, movement, handling, groundwork, or riding
make better decisions instead of pushing through when the horse may already be bracing or guarding
better understand what your horse may be communicating through posture, expression, and movement
feel more confident in what you are seeing so you can respond with more thought and less second-guessing
Because when you can recognize tension earlier, you are less likely to miss what the body is trying to tell you.
After this class, three things shift immediately:
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***You'll catch tension earlier***
Instead of waiting until your horse feels obviously reactive, resistant, short-strided, braced, or harder to work with, you’ll start noticing the smaller signs first.
You’ll have a chance to slow down sooner, adjust your plan, and make better decisions before tension shows up in a bigger way.
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***You'll feel less confused by changes***
When your horse suddenly feels tighter, more distracted, more reactive, less willing to bend, heavier in your hand, harder to stand still, or just different from one day to the next, it is easy to start throwing guesses out there.
This class helps you better understand what those changes may be pointing to, so you can sort through what you are seeing with more clarity and less second-guessing.
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***You'll have a solid direction during training sessions***
The more clearly you can recognize tension, the easier it becomes to respond well in real-life moments — like when your horse braces or kicks out during grooming, can’t pay attention, struggles in transitions, resists bending, feels hard to connect with under saddle, or seems unsettled at the mounting block.
That means you can make informed choices in the moment instead of automatically pushing through, correcting more, or wondering what you missed!
Take Your Seat in Class
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Take Your Seat in Class ☆
In this class, you’ll learn how to look for tension in a more thoughtful, whole-horse way. We cover what tension really is, where it commonly shows up, what to notice in stillness and in motion, and how body tension can influence posture, movement, and behavior.
When I talk about tension in this class, I am not just talking about obvious tight muscles or a horse who looks visibly sore.
I’m talking about the ways a horse may start to brace, hold, guard, or compensate when something does not feel easy in the body, in the nervous system, or in the moment.
That can show up in:
How they stand
How they move
How they carry themselves
How available they feel in your training sessions
So instead of only waiting for something big or obvious, this gives you a way to start noticing the quieter signs first.
We begin with tension because it shows up constantly in everyday life with horses and has a direct influence on how your horse:
Moves
Responds
Connects
Copes
It matters in handling, groundwork, and riding, and it can change the whole picture long before behavior gets louder.
What do I even mean by tension in the body?
I’m Chelsie Brooks, an equine behavior specialist and an IAABC member with over 30 years of experience in the horse world. At the core of my work is a belief that horses deserve a voice. Every behavior is a form of communication, and when we take the time to listen, we uncover what our horses truly need. My role is to help you understand those signals and guide both horse and rider toward trust, relaxation, and balance. The general goal is always the same…creating space for horses to be heard and for real partnership to grow.
Nice to Meet You!
About Your Instructor
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Morrisville State University - 2003
Post University 2023
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Centre of Excellence - 150 hour certification
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Currently putting in hours for Equine Behaviorist Certification for the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants.
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2.5-hour certification led by Debbi Bell + over 50 hours of hands-on experience.
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2 hour certification - Taught by Celine Homan
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Yoga Renew