News

  • close up of wildflowers, mostly yellow with a few pink in blurred background

    A Profound Loss—Positive Reinforcement Pioneer Alexandra Kurland

    We stand on the shoulders of giants, and Alex was one of them. She brought R+ to horses.

  • A beautiful fat badger with a white stripe down its nose sits in the golden evening light atop a mound of soil outside a burrow

    WE HAVE A BADGER

    A badger, probably with kits, has occupied a burrow next to our jumping arena. We have a plague of prairie dogs, and badgers are one of their main predators, so we welcome this addition to the Via Nova team.

  • Trainer meeting with one actively writing notes on large poster paper

    Priority to Positive® Goes to College

    We’re excited to announce that Via Nova will be teaching our Priority to Positive® curriculum as part of the Equestrian Studies program at Stephens College! Starting in the spring semester of 2027, “Foundations of Equine Positive Reinforcement Training” will be a new course opportunity for students.

  • bay horse unwittingly approaching a squirrel half hidden on the arena railing, with red arrow sticker pointing at squirrel

    Squirrel!

    Sound on!

  • bay horse with full white facial stripe looks out over a temporary stall barrier. His smiling rider stands next to him proudly holding up a blue ribbon. She is wearing a straw hat, blue shirt and white breeches

    A Winning Combo of R+ and Dressage!

    Look ma—no spurs, no whip needed! First time out at 4th Level.

  • three women smiling over lunch menus with a beautiful sunny day, green lawn and ocean in the distance beyond tall wood and glass open door. two women in foreground wearing sunglasses

    International Friendships and Shared Ideas

    Amanda and Beth had a great visit with equine welfare advocate and equitation scientist Professor Natalie Waran, OBE, over lunch. And New Zealand scenery too!

  • Lead Trainer, Gilly Slayter, and her dark bay horse smile before a training ride.

    Via Nova at Stephens College: Bringing Change to Life

    Via Nova Training’s goal is to bring real change to the equestrian world. We recently partnered with students, faculty, and alumni at Stephens College, putting the focus where it belongs: on the horse, and on real, practical change in equestrian sport. It’s one thing to want to be the change, but it’s another to meet…

  • bay dressage competition horse trained with Positive Reinforcement shown at elevated collected trot with rider in blue coat white breeches against desert meadow background

    An R+ Future for Sporthorses

    Every horse, from the most expensive, gorgeous sport horse to the plain old pony in a back pasture, is simply a horse. They need what horses need, and they have no care or concept of competition or sport. So why would we be excited about aiming at high-level competition with Via Nova horses?

  • Vinnie, the cartoon horse, stands in a stable under the banner "Will work for carrots"

    Via Nova’s School Pony, Vinnie, introduces Priority to Positive®

    Via Nova’s school pony, Vinnie, covers the two basic flavors of reinforcement in this free video resource.

  • Via Nova: Priority to Positive® Continues to Expand and Support

    Santa Fe, NM – Via Nova was thrilled to sponsor the American Horse Publications (AHP) Annual Equine Media Conference in Lexington. We wholeheartedly agree with AHP Executive Director Chris Brune’s conference theme: Inspiration. From being a part of the educational opportunities to interacting with media from near and far, we were inspired. We were also…