Special Advisor, Transylvania University Equestrian Program
Transylvania University, Lexington Kentucky
CPD Partner, North American Saddlery School
Kerry M. Thomas
Founder
Sensory Soundness™
& Herd Dynamic Profiling™
"Blending the Art of Horsemanship,
with the Science of Nature".
Royal Dutch Equestrian Federation (KNHS) Accredited Ethologist
"Be the Bridge, Not The Block"
"Bridging the gap between the natural herd dynamic and the domesticated world."
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Step through the Doorway...
Sensory Soundness & Herd Dynamics
When people ask me to describe my work with horses, I often say this: I translate the equine mind.
My work is centered on understanding how horses experience the world, how they perceive their environment, process emotional and sensory information, and express that experience through behavior, movement, and performance. We all know what horses are. My work is about uncovering who each horse is.
At its heart, this is a journey of discovery, revealing the emotional, sensory, and herd-driven forces that shape a horse’s responses and capabilities. Our goal is collective: to bridge the gap between the natural herd dynamic and the domesticated world.
What You’ll Discover Every horse carries a unique behavioral and emotional profile shaped by their Herd Dynamic. Sensory Soundness™ influences how that horse processes stress, regulates emotional load, and expresses emotional intelligence and performance capacity. Together, these elements form the internal operating system running the machine and understanding them is essential to building a meaningful, effective partnership between horse and human. They are also the cornerstone upon which true equine welfare must be built. Sensory Soundness™ connects the physical world to the emotional horse. It describes how efficiently a horse processes sensory information, mitigates emotional stress, and maintains balance within both their environment and their mind. For the herd-wired horse, true well-being is found not in control, but in harmony and contentment; harmony within their environment, and contentment with their peers. Understanding herd dynamics within the domesticated environment is critical. Horses are constantly absorbing, processing, and expressing stress through a herd-based emotional framework, even when housed individually. By exploring how sensory profiles—visual, auditory, tactile, and spatial—interact with herd dynamics, we gain insight into who the horse truly is, not just what they do. These principles form the foundation of our Learning Library, an evolving collection of lectures, field studies, and educational resources designed to help you see your horse more clearly and work with them more honestly. Your Journey With Us As you explore this site, you’ll find educational offerings, lectures, clinics, and tailored services designed to deepen your understanding of the horse from the inside out. Whether through live events, ongoing research, or one-on-one work, my mission is to help you better understand your horse and to honor the internal beauty that lives within them. I work with horses in every discipline; it's about the horse first and the discipline second. For I believe that the horse should fit where they go, not be asked to fit in where they're going. Through the lens of herd dynamics, we explore how horses interpret their surroundings, adapt to their environment, and manage emotional load under competitive stress. This work blends the art of horsemanship with the science of nature, offering a path toward deeper connection, clearer communication, and untapped potential. Join me in stepping through the equine mind. Take your view, from the hoof. Kerry M. Thomas is an official Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Partner with the North American Saddlery School, contributing educational programming focused on Herd Dynamics™ and Sensory Soundness™. He also serves as an equine behavior and performance resource for the Transylvania University Eventing Team, supporting athlete–horse partnerships through applied behavioral insight and welfare-centered performance understanding. “Herd Dynamics Matter; every horse, every discipline, everywhere.” KMT
“Kerry Thomas has consistently identified elite horses based on psychological and sensory efficiency rather than traditional metrics—often revealing performance indicators others miss.”
— The Wall Street Journal
“Kerry Thomas is the final opinion I seek before making a purchase decision.”
— Kylie Bax, New Zealand
“Kerry Thomas’s work bridges observational research and real-world application in a way rarely seen in equine science.”
— Kimberly I. Tumlin, PhD, Researcher & Educator
Herd Wired: In Pursuit of Discovery
"Herd Wired is a foundational work on equine behavior and herd dynamics, exploring how horses process environment, pressure, and social structure at a neurological and emotional level. It is increasingly used as a reference by educators, professionals, and welfare-focused organizations seeking a deeper understanding of the horse beyond surface behavior."
A Field Companion for a Journey Through the Mind of the Horse
Step into the horse’s unseen world.
Decades of fieldwork—wild herds to elite athletes— distilled into a legacy you can hold in your hands.
Not a manual. Not a memoir.
An invitation.
“A literary field companion into the heart of the horse—
and the soul of connection. Herd Wired will change how you see your horse, your role,
and the emotional language between you.”
—Tegan Lush, 5★ Eventer, Australia
"Kerry nails it with this new book. Your horse has an operating system and "Herd Wired" is the owner's manual, a fascinating read for anyone who aspires to understand their equine friends from the hoofs up." Mark Coomes former Louisville Courier-Journal Turf Writer
"Herd Wired should be required reading for anyone who engages horses! Thanks for being an equine ally, Kerry!" Lissa Pohl ~ Equine Assisted Learning Expert
Episode 12 just dropped 2/12/26
Human ↔ Horse Connection Tour – Western Australia: Herd Dynamics & Sensory Soundness with Tegan Lush and Amy O’Neill
In Episode 12 of Beyond the Hoof, Kerry and Daphne Thomas are joined by Western Australian equestrians Tegan Lush and Amy O’Neill for a heartfelt and forward-looking conversation ahead of the upcoming Human ↔ Horse Connection Tour in Perth.
Tegan, a five-star eventer and contributor to the back page of Herd Wired, and Amy, an accomplished horsewoman and dedicated student of equine understanding, share their personal journeys and how the principles of Herd Dynamics and Sensory Soundness™ have shaped their horsemanship, relationships, and performance.
This episode explores what happens when education moves beyond theory and becomes lived experience.
Topics Explored:
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How herd dynamics and sensory awareness deepen horse-human connection
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Building stronger relationships through “a view from the hoof”
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Practical application of profiling and behavioral understanding
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Emotional fluency and clarity in training environments
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Performance improvements rooted in understanding rather than pressure
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What participants can expect from the Human ↔ Horse Connection Tour in Western Australia
Tegan and Amy reflect on what they learned during their first experiences with Kerry’s work — and why those lessons continue to influence how they train, compete, and relate to their horses today.
This episode is both an invitation and a reflection: a glimpse into the kind of learning environment created during the Human ↔ Horse Connection Tour — where curiosity, awareness, and responsibility shape stronger partnerships between horse and human.
For riders, competitors, students, and horse owners seeking deeper understanding and practical insight, this conversation offers inspiration, clarity, and anticipation for what lies ahead in Perth.
"A horse lives by the laws of their nature. Where they fit in to the herd, how they interpret their world, how they learn, how they're coached, how they ultimately perform, is governed by the rules of that nature; it is wise to make an effort, to understand it."
Kerry M Thomas