Virtual Workshop with Janet Jones, Ph.D. on Oct. 26, 2025

Virtual Workshop with Janet Jones, Ph.D. on Oct. 26, 2025

$30.00
$30.00
Sold out

Human-Equine Neuroscience Under a Therapeutic Umbrella

Workshop Format

- Introduction & Opening Remarks

- Discussion topic: Six Neurological Reasons Why Horses Excel as Assisted-Therapy Animals

The biological nature of equine brains makes horses excellent for assisted therapy, whether physical or psychological. This topic explores the effects of equine body language, fear, learning, perception, and executive function on the horse’s unique ability to help human companions. Each is applied to specific therapeutic needs.

- Question & Answer Opportunity/Discussion



About the Faculty

Janet Jones, Ph.D. applies brain research to the training of horses and riders. She earned her Ph.D. from UCLA and taught the neuroscience of perception, language, memory, and thought for 23 years. Janet trained horses at a large stable early in her career, and later ran a successful horse training business of her own. She has schooled hundreds of green or difficult horses, rides many breeds and disciplines, and has competed in hunter, jumper, halter, western riding, and reining. She uses the principles of dressage in all horse sports. Janet developed brain-based horsemanship and offers it to the public in her internationally bestselling book Horse Brain, Human Brain.

 

About the overall Concepts

Horse Brain, Human Brain is a book and training philosophy developed by Janet Jones, Ph.D. With her background as a brain scientist, horse trainer, and writer, Janet is uniquely positioned to apply brain function to the training of horses and riders. All horsemanship rests on mutual interaction between horse and human brains. By understanding how our horses’ brains work, and how their brains differ from ours, we can

  • ride and handle horses more safely
  • train more effectively 
  • improve performance in all equine disciplines
  • protect our animals’ comfort and welfare
  • encourage mutual trust between prey and predator species
  • develop brain-to-brain communication between species, and
  • create stronger horse-and-human teams.

All horses and humans have brains and must use them regardless of discipline. For that reason, brain-based horsemanship™ is as relevant to Western riders as English, as important to headers and heelers or working draft breeds as to dressage champions, racehorses, Grand Prix jumpers, and backyard pasture ornaments. Anyone who works with horses should learn how equine and human brains work in tandem.

 

Important Notes for Attendees

  • Be sure to input your email at checkout, as Zoom links and notes regarding the workshop will be sent via email
  • For questions, please contact Clinic Coordinator Emma Yanowsky via email at emma@thorncroft.org