What does it mean to be “Ethical?”

It’s not about what we can do with horses. It’s how we get there that matters most…to them.

Our love for horses should drives us to want what is best for them to the best of our abilities.

Having an ethical mindset looks like responsibly prioritizing their physical, emotional, and physiological needs: nutrition, living environments, social needs, veterinary care, daily management, enrichment, and training are all important examples of areas to continuously improve our humane care for them.

By embracing ethics in care and training, we can naturally see improved results in our connection, communication, and overall relationship with our equines. They offer us so much in companionship and deserve nothing less than optimal care from their humans.

This is why the word ethical means so much to me and what why I keep it at the forefront of everything I offer here at Ethical Equine Academy.

About Me

Hello, there! 👋🏻

I’m Kelsey and I’m glad you made it here!

I’m a Cincinnati-based Clicker Cowgirl who teaches through 1:1 local lessons, both small group and 1:1 virtual coaching, and is willing to travel anywhere for in-person group workshops wherever you are located.

I have been around the horses since I was a young girl. I spent many years riding in both Western and English disciplines; on the trails and in the show ring alike. I eventually found my way to “natural horsemanship” methods with big hopes and dreams of becoming a professional in this style of training.

After my heart horse passed away in 2016, I decided it was time for a change in my career. I pursued my certification as a riding instructor in November 2016 and proceeded to start my own youth equine lesson program in June 2018. I specifically wanted to put the welfare of my horses first and the safety and fun of my students at the forefront of every single lesson.

After about a year of already burnt out lesson ponies while utilizing traditional training and lesson curriculums…I needed to find a better way to pursue an equine lesson barn. Honestly, I was losing hope in my vision.

Enter in ✨ positive reinforcement training ✨

My positive reinforcement journey started after I completed The Willing Equine Foundation Course in 2020. I simply haven’t found a reason yet to look back on how I used to train and care for horses!

After a few years into The Willing Equine Academy and training in-person with a few positive reinforcement professionals, I pursued and graduated from the Positive Equine Professionals Behavior Consulting Mentorship Program in October 2024.

I have had many influences in the positive reinforcement/R+ world since – so many trainers and equine behavior consultants that have paved the path before me that I continue to pour my education investment into. We all end up having our unique teaching styles, but I do embrace the value of gaining insight from multiple professionals who are humble and open to pursuing progress over perfection and ethical standards of care in their training approaches. Each person I have ever learned from has taught me something different but equally valuable that I aim to pass on in my own light.

If there is anything to remember from this bio, it’s that I love coaching and helping with the skills needed for applying positive reinforcement training for horses.

Anyone can do this. Yes, you too!

It just takes the right support and guidance to get started safely and successfully.

Educating and supporting others in positive reinforcement with compassion is my passion…

No matter where your horse is taking you…you are welcome here!

“So…What is Positive Reinforcement?”

Positive reinforcement can be commonly known as, “clicker training,” although it is not exclusive to using only clickers. You will also see people abbreviate positive reinforcement with “R+.”

When we use positive reinforcement in training, we are reinforcing our horse by adding an appetitive to the training equation. This means that we are reinforcing desirable behaviors with something that the horse really likes! We know we are successful in training with positive reinforcement as we continue to see these desirable behaviors increase. In almost all cases of training animals with positive reinforcement….reinforcing the horse with something they really like is often going to mean we train them with food.

My training and coaching centers around positive reinforcement because it has been proven to be the least intrusive and minimally aversive way to effectively and ethically modify behaviors. When applied correctly, it allows for true compassion, connection, cooperation, and trust with our equine companions.

But here is the thing…

You don’t have to learn all the nuances of positive reinforcement on your own!

In fact, I would highly encourage anyone new to positive reinforcement to hire an experienced trainer or coach to guide them through the beginning stages of introducing it to their horses.

This is where Ethical Equine Academy can help!

Whether virtually or in-person, anyone can learn and apply R+!

If you don’t think the virtual learning options are your cup of tea, I encourage you to give it a try.

Your horse will be the first to thank you!

You can have the connection, cooperation, and trust you have always wanted with your horse.

So let’s get started on your ethical equine journey together.