Lynn Acton has a diverse equestrian and academic background that helps her understand horses, relationships, and leadership from an interdisciplinary point of view. Her degrees in sociology and systems science have contributed to her understanding of research studies, the social dynamics of horses, their interactions with people, and how the interconnected parts of complex social systems fit together. After spending time working on a Thoroughbred breeding farm and later retraining off-track Thoroughbreds, Acton became certified by the Certified Horsemanship Association (CHA) to teach both English and Western riding and started a therapeutic riding program for at-risk youth. She currently competes in Horse Agility and Equagility (ridden agility).

Section I. Horses Want Leaders They Trust

Chapter 1: A Tale of Two Ponies

1. Snickers, Pony Einstein?

2. What I discovered about leadership

1) Leadership approach has been around a long time

2) Research validates Protector Leadership based on horse behavior

3) Research shows differences in domestic vs free-roaming herds

3. The value of scientific research

4. Brandy the uncatchable

5. Protector Leadership

6. Training vs relationship

7. Empathy vs anthropomorphism

8. Being in charge

9. Mentors and role models

10. Safety

11. Things to try

Chapter 2: Earning Trust

1. First and lasting impressions

2. Catching the uncatchable horse

3. What next?

4. A teacher appears

5. Brandy arrives (May)

1) The Velcro Pony

2) Leading and following

3) Personal space

6. Saddle phobia (June)

7. Remedial saddle training (July)

8. Becoming a Protector Leader to my own horses

Section II. Horses Want Security and Social Bonds

Chapter 3: Free Roaming Herds: Complex Social Networks

1. Structure of free-roaming herds

1) Harem bands

2) Bachelor bands

2. Social bonds

3. Rank

4. Aggression

5. Mares and geldings without a stallion

6. Living conditions and diet

7. Leaders, friends, and social networking

8. Education of a free-roaming foal

9. Protector Leadership validated

Chapter 4: Domestic Horses: Social Networks Disrupted

1. Structure of domestic herds

2. Social bonds

3. Rank

4. Aggression

1) Confined spaces

2) Having food supplied

3) Artificial social groups with high turnover

5. Living conditions and diet

1) Being confined is abnormal

2) Lack of opportunity to use curiosity and explore surroundings

3) Diets high in carbohydrates and/or low in forage

6. Leaders, friends, and social networking

7. Education of a domestic foal

8. Stress-related behaviors (stereotypies)

9. The importance of early learning

10. Table 1: Herd Characteristics: Free-Roaming vs. Domestic

Chapter 5: Brandy Changes Our Herd Dynamics

1. History of our semi-dysfunctional herd

2. Snickers

3. Brandy comes on the scene

4. A friendship develops

5. Horses grieve

6. Brandy and Shiloh

7. Brandy and Bronzz

8. A year later: The circular hierarchy

9. Three years later: Circular hierarchy or Family group?

10. Changes in relationships with us

11. Sapphire's point of view

12. What bonds between horses mean for us

Section III. Interpret Behavior Accurately

Chapter 6: Positive Behaviors Misinterpreted

1. Initiating an action in an attempt to communicate with us

2. Pausing or experimenting to figure out what we want

3. Anticipating what we are going to ask

4. Volunteering an action that has been rewarded in the past

5. Disobeying for what the horse believes to be a good reason

6. Showing signs of trust and attachment

Chapter 7: Interpreting the Causes of Unwanted Behavior

1. Pain

1) Common signs of pain

2) Pain is often caused by people

2. Insecure balance

3. Confusion and misunderstandings

4. Insistent expectations

5. Punishment

6. Boredom or fatigue

7. Living conditions and diet

8. Pressure that the horse cannot relieve

9. Stressful situations

10. Anxiety

1) Fight, Flight, Fidget, Freeze

2) Hidden anxiety

Chapter 8: Brandy and Friends: "Bad" Behavior Reinterpreted

1. Bronzz: Spooky horse with a bucking problem

1) Bronzz's behavior reinterpreted

2. Shiloh: Lazy horse with a bad attitude

1) Shiloh's behavior reinterpreted

3. Brandy: Dangerously unpredictable

1) Brandy's behavior reinterpreted

4. In retrospect

Section IV: Communicate Like a Horse

Chapter 9: The Power & Pitfalls of Pressure

1. How horses use pressure with each other

1) Pressure is gentle

2) The meaning is clear

3) Horse is comfortable doing what is asked

4) Pressure is released promptly

2. How people inadvertently turn pressure into stress

1) Pressure is too strong

i. Our posture

ii. Our body orientation and where we look

iii. Eye contact

iv. Facial expressions and tone of voice

v. Personal space

2) Pressure that does not have a clear meaning

3) Horse is not comfortable doing what is asked

4) Pressure is not released promptly

3. The pitfalls of pressure

1) Pressure is a tricky training method

2) Pressure has a negative impact on relationships

3) High pressure "training" methods can appear dramatically successful

4) Horses can be overwhelmed with pressure

i. Learned helplessness

4. The power of pressure as positive communication

1) Pressure should be gentle enough to be comfortable for the horse

2) Pressure should be a clear cue that the horse understands

3) Horses should not be pressured to do things that make them uncomfortable

4) Pressure is released promptly

Chapter 10: Friendly Body Language

1. Synchronizing: Body Language that promotes trust and leadership

2. How synchronizing is different from learning through pressure

3. Brandy demonstrates synchronizing with me

1) Walk

2) Leading position

3) Turn

4) Setting the pace

5) Halt

6) Back

7) Trot

8) Canter

9) Head down

4. Standing still: Influencing Energy and Emotions

5. Recall (includes Brandy's escape into the woods)

6. An exciting new perspective

7. Trusting our horse's responses

8. The benefits of Friendly Body Language

1) Horses feel more secure

2) Horses reliably focus on leader

3) Cues learned by association expand horse's skills

9. Training myself

10. Surprises

11. Expanding our fluency in Friendly Body Language

Chapter 11: Rewards are Positive Feedback

1. Is our approval a reward?

2. Basic facts about rewards

1) Rewards are not bribes

2) Horses do use rewards in their own social interactions

3) Rewards must be something the horse appreciates

4) The timing must show a horse what he's done to earn it

3. Typical rewards

1) Praise

2) Stroking or scratching

3) Rest break

4) Fun break

5) food

i. Structured routines / no freebies

ii. Clicker training

iii. A mugger reformer

iv. Clicker training is versatile

5. Making the most of rewards

1) Stressful situations

2) Learning something new or difficult

3) Horse has done something exceptionally well

6. Limitations of Rewards

1) Do not replace good leadership, sound basic training, clear expectations, or consistent limits

2) Do not replace pressure / release as efficient communication

3) Do not replace Investigative Behavior or Confidence Building

4) Do not teach concepts such as intelligent disobedience

5) Do not replace need for security

7. Clicker training resources

Section V: Investigative Behavior Expands Horses' Comfort Zones

Chapter 12: How Horses Explore the World

1. Why confidence matters

2. Investigative Behavior (photo) sequence (at liberty)

3. A successful investigation

4. Obedience vs learning

5. Horses see things we don't see

6. Horses see things in a different context than we do

7. Investigative Behavior study: retraining jumpers

8. Practical application

1) Other reasons for jump refusals

9. Long term benefits of Investigative Behavior

10. Investigative Behavior as part of basic jumping training

Chapter 13: Encouraging Investigative Behavior

1. Our role as Protector Leader

2. Investigative Behavior: General guidelines

1) Lead by example

2) Position horse on the edge of his comfort zone

3) Allow investigation with no pressure or distractions

4) Allow approach and retreat

5) Stay tuned in to the horse's emotional state.

6) Plan for safety

3. Investigative Behavior on-lead: Skills needed

1) Horse needs reliable lead line manners and respect for personal space

2) Person needs good horse handling skills, especially the ability to read horse's emotional state

4. Equipment

5. Investigative Behavior on lead: Brandy and the tractor tire (photo sequence)

1) When not to get ahead of the horse

6. Investigative Behavior under saddle: How it goes wrong

1) Big horse vs small ditch

2) When a human is not acting like a leader

7. Investigative Behavior under saddle: Skills needed

1) The horse must respond reliably to basic riding cues

2) The rider should be skilled and confident enough to stay physically relaxed while mentally alert

8. When in doubt, dismount

9. Investigative Behavior under saddle: Bella and the big bad ball (photo sequence)

10. Investigative Behavior compared to desensitizing, bomb-proofing, spook busting, and flooding

11. Why Investigative Behavior is underused: people do not recognize:

1) Horses are curious.

2) Horses learn in ways other than repetition or conditioned response.

3) Anxiety is a common cause of problems.

4) Horses do not fake fear.

5) It's okay to let horses retreat, back away, look away, and/or circle...