Elsa Sinclair is a horse trainer from the Pacific Northwest of the United States. From a family of horse trainers she has had a meandering journey through many different styles of horsemanship until she stumbled on a question that needed exportation. What if horses were given a choice? Would they let us ride them? Without force or tools to control and without bribes to lure them? The question led to a project that begged to be documented as it become a film is the journey of one wild mustang off the range, Myrnah, a horse with her own mind, strength, and sense of independence. One trainer, no tools, just body language. The ups and downs, the trials and frustrations, and the beauty and persevering truth connection brings in its wake. This is the adventure that shaped the horse trainer that Elsa Sinclair is today and the theories behind Freedom Based Training.
Topic: Taming Wild: The Nuances of Herd Dynamics
Description: It is easy to see the aggressive moments in a herd of horses, but there is so much more happening underneath those obvious currents. What can we learn from herd dynamics beyond what is normally seen? How do we make it useful to our every day lives and relationships
with our horses?
Topic: Taming Wild: Theories of Freedom Between Horse and Human
Description: What is freedom in the context of a horse/human relationship? Does Freedom Benefit the relationship? If we decide freedom is beneficial, how do we foster more of in the right times and places?
Topic: Taming Wild: The Cycle of Stress: The Good, The Bad and The Sleepy
Description: Everything has a time and place. Every action we take will be harder at some moments in time and easier at others. Every pause we rest on has more or less impact on our lives. Learning to use our time wisely for the benefit of horses and humans alike is fascinating!
Topic: Taming Wild: Developing a Thinking Horse
Description: It is possible to develop a horse in emotional ways, mental ways and physical ways. Physical development is about movements in repetition to build a stronger body. Mental development is about problem solving. Emotional development is about the use of the sensory system to regulate the nervous system. When we develop a thinking horse, this is a horse that can link their emotional and mental development for the good of everyone.
Topic: Taming Wild: What Do Horses Really Want?
Description: The subject of motivation is interesting when we remove halters, food rewards, scratches and other obvious extrinsic motivators. Why would a horse choose to do one thing over another? Why would a horse choose to partner with a human if it had a choice?
Topic: Taming Wild: Proving Yourself To Your Horse.
Description: Understanding the horse better is step number one! Taking actions that prove to your horse that you understand them is step number two. Using the timing of those actions to improve life for everyone is step number three.
June 6-8, 2025
Friday June 6th 9:00 AM – 6: 00 PM
Saturday June 7th 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sunday June 8th 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
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We love dogs, but we ask that you please leave your pups home while attending the Horse Expo. Thanks!
Photos courtesy of Carolynne Smith, Elizabeth Ruiz, Kathy Higgens, Fuentes, Hill Shepard, Charles Hilton, Kala Johnson, Jessi Hogan, Tyson Rininger, Traci Nelson, Lisa Reese, and Constance Birdsong Photos.
