Sarah Olson
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boldhorsebehavior.bsky.social
Sarah Olson
@boldhorsebehavior.bsky.social
I help horse owners resolve problem behaviors with humane, science-based methods 🐴
📍Portland, OR
🏳️‍🌈 She/They
Just out here trying to fight fascism and play with cute ponies
February 25, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Just a friendly reminder, that the right wing men are currently fantasizing about hanging female politicians they don't agree with.

This is why Trump's America is dangerous.
February 22, 2025 at 11:57 PM
This is so wholesome 😭
February 15, 2025 at 8:56 PM
New profile picture! I got my septum re-pierced today 😜 unfortunately the first time I got it done years ago, they messed it up...I had to wait for it to heal over and get it redone. It was much easier this time around!
February 15, 2025 at 7:14 AM
Snow day! 🌨️
February 13, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Respect our existence or expect our resistance 💪🏼
February 12, 2025 at 7:48 AM
Friendly reminder that trans people are only around 1% of the population.

Trans people aren't a threat to you. But billionaires sure are 🖤
February 12, 2025 at 1:35 AM
Humans - and animals - are so brave and kind and capable of extraordinary things.

I spend my time encouraging people to train animals with science-based methods that support their consent and autonomy, and I wish everyone could experience this beauty and connection and joy.
February 11, 2025 at 12:42 AM
Alula says to stay silly and stay strong, friends!
February 9, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Right now, men in power in my country are trying to erase the most vulnerable of us - trans and genderqueer people.

In a world where patriarchy is upheld by violence, force, and hate, picking up my clicker and training horses with kindness and empathy is an act of protest.
February 4, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Let me introduce you to: miniature horses
February 2, 2025 at 3:41 PM
For those curious: reverse round pen was set up as a boundary between them, and the handlers practiced sending their horses to and from blue cones, gradually increasing the distance between cones!
February 2, 2025 at 3:17 AM
My teen student on Alula and a friend with her horse played some clicker games together today and we had fun! 💕
February 2, 2025 at 3:14 AM
Looking back at pictures/videos of me training baby Alula while going through chronic illness is bittersweet, my R+ skills were terrible back then (I was entirely self taught for a while) and I'm impressed we accomplished so much in spite of it!
February 1, 2025 at 6:37 AM
R+ makes training and working with horses more accessible if you have physical limitations.

R+ allowed me to safely start a feral filly while going through chronic illness, surgeries, and physical therapy.

Training horses doesn't have to be forceful, physical, and unsafe.
February 1, 2025 at 6:32 AM
How can you look at a horse and think it's okay to pick up a whip or spurs, or stick a harsh bit in their mouth and strap it closed?

We don't get it.
February 1, 2025 at 4:39 AM
I was anti tongue clicks for a long time (they cause me misophonia!!) but since learning to trim I have learned that hands-free clicking is an essential skill and I'm fully converted
January 30, 2025 at 10:54 PM
Anyone else looking forward to soaking up some much-needed horse time this weekend? Just gotta get through the last half of the week 💪🏼
January 29, 2025 at 6:07 PM
I used to try so hard to please everyone. To do everything right. I constantly apologized for myself.

The truth is if someone is determined to find something about you they don't like, they will.

All you can do is embody bodhicitta, loving compassion for all beings, and move on.
January 28, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Over the years I've become more and more against stalling because of the irrefutable evidence that they harm welfare.

That being said, some stalls are better than others - like if they are open and can see/interact with other horses and freely exit the stall to a large paddock.
January 28, 2025 at 6:17 PM
"Once we agree that animal emotions exist and that they matter...Then we must consider ethics. We must look to our actions and see if they are consistent with our knowledge and beliefs."

Currently reading:
January 28, 2025 at 1:40 AM
So many owners don't properly prepare their horses for routine care tasks like hoof trimming, deworming, and vaccines/blood draws.

It is absolutely worth investing time in teaching horses to be confident and calm during these essential tasks using clicker training.
January 28, 2025 at 1:16 AM
Mine are even brothers from the same litter and truly living up to the smart black cat/single-brain-celled ginger stereotype 🤦🏼‍♀️
January 27, 2025 at 5:09 PM
One of the books I am most excited about this year is The Siren's Call by @chrislhayes.bsky.social, which is about the attention economy.

Our attention is a limited and valuable resource that is crucial to presence and mindfulness. We should be aware of how it is exploited.
January 27, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Can you imagine a world in which you walk into a feed store and the equine section has dozens of clickers, target sticks, treat pouches, and ethical equipment instead of whips and spurs and bits? That's the world I'm working to create.
January 26, 2025 at 9:46 AM