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Wired 4 Connection: Transform your Horse Training with the Polyvagal Principles
Ever felt like you and your horse are speaking a different language? “Wired 4 Connection“ bridges that gap, providing you a roadmap to clarity, as you learn their nonverbal language.
At its core, this book is about connection—teaching you to understand your horse’s autonomic nervous system to create a safe, trusting relationship. Written by an expert in horse training, body awareness, and mindset coaching, this guide simplifies the Polyvagal Theory, showing how it can revolutionize your horse training approach.
In this book, you will learn:
- Polyvagal principles to transform your horse training
- Simple yet effective strategies for self-regulation
- Powerful co-regulation techniques to help your horse relax
- Ways to transform trauma into trust for both you and your horse
"Wired 4 Connection" provides more than training tools—it gives you practical steps to transform your relationship with yourself and your horse. Say goodbye to fear and frustration and turn your training sessions into joyful, rewarding experiences for both you and your horse.
Order your copy today and start a new chapter of understanding and harmony with your horse!
At its core, this book is about connection—teaching you to understand your horse’s autonomic nervous system to create a safe, trusting relationship. Written by an expert in horse training, body awareness, and mindset coaching, this guide simplifies the Polyvagal Theory, showing how it can revolutionize your horse training approach.
In this book, you will learn:
- Polyvagal principles to transform your horse training
- Simple yet effective strategies for self-regulation
- Powerful co-regulation techniques to help your horse relax
- Ways to transform trauma into trust for both you and your horse
"Wired 4 Connection" provides more than training tools—it gives you practical steps to transform your relationship with yourself and your horse. Say goodbye to fear and frustration and turn your training sessions into joyful, rewarding experiences for both you and your horse.
Order your copy today and start a new chapter of understanding and harmony with your horse!
218 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 1, 2024
27 people are currently reading
20 people want to read
About the author
Lucie Klaassen
2 books1 followerHorses have been my “lifesavers” many times, so I want to give back to horses.
I didn’t have my own pony as a child, but I always had ponies in my life to look after. I spent all my free time with those ponies because they were my safe place. When I look back, I realize now that this is when and how I learned to communicate with horses in a very natural way.
A few years ago, I realized that for most of my adulthood I had been in a state of constant alertness and was experiencing “high achievement stress.” My body gave me several warning signs; however, at that time I didn’t know how to listen. So my body gave me a stronger warning by just collapsing. I found myself falling from being a high-achieving person into a deep depression. I was even hospitalized. This took me on a journey of unveiling the trauma stuck in my body and learning how to release the stored stress. I share this because there is a relationship between trauma stuck in the body and horse riding.
I gained insight into my own childhood experiences and found a way to reconnect to my body wisdom. I was able to open my heart and ask for help. I became “the observer” of my triggers and the effect it had on my nervous system, without identifying myself with it.
One day in 2021, I received a phone call from a friend. She told me about this horse she had. He had been born and bred in Portugal, trained for bullfighting. The scars on his body told his story. I wasn’t really looking for another horse; however, we instantly connected when I first saw him, because I recognized his constant alertness. So I bought Jajão.
I believe certain horses come into your life for a reason. I started to translate everything I had learned about trauma to help him regain trust in humans. Jajão has given me so many lessons and insights about how to deal with trauma in horses. That’s what this book is about, the journey from trauma to trust.
I’m not a therapist; however, I call myself a specialist in trauma and resilience by experience. As a horse trainer and awareness & mindset coach, it is my passion to empower you and every horse owner to understand how the autonomic nervous system works, so you can reconnect with your body wisdom and become more resilient.
I didn’t have my own pony as a child, but I always had ponies in my life to look after. I spent all my free time with those ponies because they were my safe place. When I look back, I realize now that this is when and how I learned to communicate with horses in a very natural way.
A few years ago, I realized that for most of my adulthood I had been in a state of constant alertness and was experiencing “high achievement stress.” My body gave me several warning signs; however, at that time I didn’t know how to listen. So my body gave me a stronger warning by just collapsing. I found myself falling from being a high-achieving person into a deep depression. I was even hospitalized. This took me on a journey of unveiling the trauma stuck in my body and learning how to release the stored stress. I share this because there is a relationship between trauma stuck in the body and horse riding.
I gained insight into my own childhood experiences and found a way to reconnect to my body wisdom. I was able to open my heart and ask for help. I became “the observer” of my triggers and the effect it had on my nervous system, without identifying myself with it.
One day in 2021, I received a phone call from a friend. She told me about this horse she had. He had been born and bred in Portugal, trained for bullfighting. The scars on his body told his story. I wasn’t really looking for another horse; however, we instantly connected when I first saw him, because I recognized his constant alertness. So I bought Jajão.
I believe certain horses come into your life for a reason. I started to translate everything I had learned about trauma to help him regain trust in humans. Jajão has given me so many lessons and insights about how to deal with trauma in horses. That’s what this book is about, the journey from trauma to trust.
I’m not a therapist; however, I call myself a specialist in trauma and resilience by experience. As a horse trainer and awareness & mindset coach, it is my passion to empower you and every horse owner to understand how the autonomic nervous system works, so you can reconnect with your body wisdom and become more resilient.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
August 9, 2024
2024 reads, #50. As always with books like these, I have an important ethical disclosure to make here at the start of my write-up, which is that Lucie Klaassen is one of my freelance clients and that I was actually the editor of this book, so my opinion here is far from “objective” and you should take that into consideration when reading my thoughts. That said, I can honestly say that I really enjoyed this book just as a simple reader, despite the fact that I’ve never actually interacted with a horse even once in my entire life. That’s because of the fascinating theory that Klaassen puts forth here, that highly intelligent horses are essentially like the much better known cats and dogs, in that they have individual personalities, can profoundly sense when the humans around them are happy, sad or angry, and respond to training much better when they can form a profound emotional attachment to the person training them, which you can essentially facilitate through many of the theories we currently have for human mindfulness.
Her guide here to the subject is both a fascinating and a practical one, leading you step by step through the process of connecting with your horse, making sure they’re in the best emotional and mental state possible through external cues like how high or low they’re hanging their heads, what angle their ears are at, and the kinds of noises they’re making as you’re going through the training. Essentially she’s calling for the end of the old mindset behind horse training -- that is, that the horse’s rider is the whip-wielding “master” over that animal, and that your main job is to teach the beast “who’s boss” -- and her results speak for themselves, including a video montage of her training a formerly abused horse through calmness and empathy that became a huge viral hit at Instagram several years ago. I can’t personally attest to the accuracy of the training methods, since I’ve never trained a horse myself; but I can tell you that this was an extremely interesting read even not being a horse person, which makes me suspect that actual horse people will find it mesmerizing. It comes strongly recommended in this spirit.
Her guide here to the subject is both a fascinating and a practical one, leading you step by step through the process of connecting with your horse, making sure they’re in the best emotional and mental state possible through external cues like how high or low they’re hanging their heads, what angle their ears are at, and the kinds of noises they’re making as you’re going through the training. Essentially she’s calling for the end of the old mindset behind horse training -- that is, that the horse’s rider is the whip-wielding “master” over that animal, and that your main job is to teach the beast “who’s boss” -- and her results speak for themselves, including a video montage of her training a formerly abused horse through calmness and empathy that became a huge viral hit at Instagram several years ago. I can’t personally attest to the accuracy of the training methods, since I’ve never trained a horse myself; but I can tell you that this was an extremely interesting read even not being a horse person, which makes me suspect that actual horse people will find it mesmerizing. It comes strongly recommended in this spirit.
August 16, 2024
Lucie geeft haar workshops en cursussen via haar site op een enthousiaste en gepassioneerde wijze. Zo heeft ze haar boek ook geschreven. Door de goede opbouw leest het makkelijk en raak je zelf ook enthousiast om de tools die gegeven worden in praktijk te brengen. De uitleg in het boek worden ondersteund door leuke tekeningen van Rozenn die tot de verbeelding spreken. Of je nu net of al langere tijd een paard in je leven hebt, het boek nodigt je uit om de opgedane inzichten met je paard aan te gaan. Om zo tot een diepe en begripvolle connectie met je paard te komen.
Ik ben lang op zoek geweest naar wat de juiste weg voor mij en mijn paard is. Ik had al ontdekt dat mijn paard er behoefte aan heeft gezien en gehoord te worden. Door de workshops en internetcursussen en ook na het lezen van het boek heb ik goede handreikingen gekregen om dit vorm te geven. Dank je wel, Lucie
Ik ben lang op zoek geweest naar wat de juiste weg voor mij en mijn paard is. Ik had al ontdekt dat mijn paard er behoefte aan heeft gezien en gehoord te worden. Door de workshops en internetcursussen en ook na het lezen van het boek heb ik goede handreikingen gekregen om dit vorm te geven. Dank je wel, Lucie
August 11, 2024
In this book you will learn to recognize your own state and the state of the horse using the polyvagal theory. Knowing your state and how to influence it makes it easier to connect to yourself and the horse and it will make you the save spot your horse wants to be with.
Lucie is able to explain difficult stuff in an easy way and she uses her own journey with her own horse as example. He was the driving force for her inquiry in the nerves system.
I loved to read the book and see how Lucie puts everthing together in a very readable way.
Lucie is able to explain difficult stuff in an easy way and she uses her own journey with her own horse as example. He was the driving force for her inquiry in the nerves system.
I loved to read the book and see how Lucie puts everthing together in a very readable way.
Read
February 19, 2025If you long for true connection with yourself and others...
Lucie Klaassen writes from years of experience with horses in an apologetic and pure way. Her words express love and compassion - for the mistakes we as humans make from ignorance and lack of experience. She is also gentle towards herself and her own learning process. Through her openness about her own path, it becomes tangible that she stands next to you as she wants to stand next to the horses. Lucie has a mission to give horse people a good insight into how horses experience the interaction with us humans. How our actions and our energy affect their being and behavior. By first understanding what we as guides bring about, a basis is created to meet our horses from peace and calm. Only then are they able to learn and answer our questions. This makes this book a basis for all disciplines and training with horses.
Lucie understands the art of explaining boring and complex material in a simple and lively way. She delves into the polyvagal theory, the functioning of the brain, regulation of emotions, functioning of energy and relaxation techniques. Core and goal is - awareness of one's own body, one's own energy and emotions can be regulated, observe thoroughly and from there come to co-regulation.
Whoever thinks that this is a book that is only educational for people in the equestrian world is wrong. Working in care, I can say that there is a general shortage of the skills that Lucie brings to the fore among children and adults. This book is an eye-opener for anyone who struggles with overstimulation, has difficulty getting out of their head, tends to seek distraction (away from themselves) and has a strong need for real connection.
Lucie connects - theories, people, experiences, horses and hearts. Open about her own process, she invites us all to simply be human, to be a child, and to face life from contact with our heart. This is a true gift... in my opinion.
Lucie Klaassen writes from years of experience with horses in an apologetic and pure way. Her words express love and compassion - for the mistakes we as humans make from ignorance and lack of experience. She is also gentle towards herself and her own learning process. Through her openness about her own path, it becomes tangible that she stands next to you as she wants to stand next to the horses. Lucie has a mission to give horse people a good insight into how horses experience the interaction with us humans. How our actions and our energy affect their being and behavior. By first understanding what we as guides bring about, a basis is created to meet our horses from peace and calm. Only then are they able to learn and answer our questions. This makes this book a basis for all disciplines and training with horses.
Lucie understands the art of explaining boring and complex material in a simple and lively way. She delves into the polyvagal theory, the functioning of the brain, regulation of emotions, functioning of energy and relaxation techniques. Core and goal is - awareness of one's own body, one's own energy and emotions can be regulated, observe thoroughly and from there come to co-regulation.
Whoever thinks that this is a book that is only educational for people in the equestrian world is wrong. Working in care, I can say that there is a general shortage of the skills that Lucie brings to the fore among children and adults. This book is an eye-opener for anyone who struggles with overstimulation, has difficulty getting out of their head, tends to seek distraction (away from themselves) and has a strong need for real connection.
Lucie connects - theories, people, experiences, horses and hearts. Open about her own process, she invites us all to simply be human, to be a child, and to face life from contact with our heart. This is a true gift... in my opinion.
August 19, 2024
TRUST I SEE AND i FIND IN YOU.
Eyes reading this book are eyes to see the connection, not only between horse and human, but in the principles of life.
And I can tell, because I see Dardo, my lusitano horse finding his way from trauma to trust and our understanding and connection expanding everyday.
I have 12 different breeds of horses and everyone of them benefits from this approach, and so do I. And the beautiful red mares names actually is Connection.
It is like Lucie teaching me how to make miracles and I am about to write her everyday of gratefulness.
It is all about learning to navigate in our nervous system, and implement daily techniques with ourselves and the horse. The book is loaded with examples to practice and have fun doing.
Now I have a language for what is happening when thing are difficult around horses, and most important I now know what I can do about it.
Wired 4 Connection is a dictionary and a language for the world to speak horse.
Bring this book with you and read it together with your horse. I did, and I will read it again and again to make us even more connected. I enjoy talking about it with my horse- and dog friends as well, and so do they, because they didn’t know.
Everyone should tell their horse, that he/she is the most beautiful, amazing horse in the world everyday! - And everybody will be right.
All about the horse is all about you. Nothing else matters.
My favorite chapter is all of them. Which is yours ?
Eyes reading this book are eyes to see the connection, not only between horse and human, but in the principles of life.
And I can tell, because I see Dardo, my lusitano horse finding his way from trauma to trust and our understanding and connection expanding everyday.
I have 12 different breeds of horses and everyone of them benefits from this approach, and so do I. And the beautiful red mares names actually is Connection.
It is like Lucie teaching me how to make miracles and I am about to write her everyday of gratefulness.
It is all about learning to navigate in our nervous system, and implement daily techniques with ourselves and the horse. The book is loaded with examples to practice and have fun doing.
Now I have a language for what is happening when thing are difficult around horses, and most important I now know what I can do about it.
Wired 4 Connection is a dictionary and a language for the world to speak horse.
Bring this book with you and read it together with your horse. I did, and I will read it again and again to make us even more connected. I enjoy talking about it with my horse- and dog friends as well, and so do they, because they didn’t know.
Everyone should tell their horse, that he/she is the most beautiful, amazing horse in the world everyday! - And everybody will be right.
All about the horse is all about you. Nothing else matters.
My favorite chapter is all of them. Which is yours ?
April 26, 2025
Deepening the bond between horse and human with the heartfelt wisdom of Wired 4 Connection
Reading Wired 4 Connection by Lucie Klaassen was a truly heart-opening experience. With profound knowledge and genuine love for horses, Lucie weaves together the science of emotions and the art of horsemanship in a way that feels both natural and deeply moving. She brings complex ideas like Polyvagal Theory to life with simple, practical exercises that are easy to integrate into everyday work with horses.
Through Lucie's guidance, I have been learning to apply these insights more consciously with every horse I have the privilege to work with—including my own beloved Friesian mare, Carmen. Her clear explanations of self-regulation and co-regulation have helped me support the horses’ emotional wellbeing more deeply, while also encouraging my own personal growth as a horsewoman.
What I particularly admire is how Wired 4 Connection bridges theory and practice with such clarity and warmth. The book is not just about technique—it is about building relationships rooted in trust, understanding, and emotional safety.
As someone trained in equine massage therapy, instruction, and coaching, I can wholeheartedly say that Wired 4 Connection is a true gift for anyone seeking to deepen the bond with their horses—and, just as beautifully, with themselves 💛
Warm regards,
Diana Kwast-Hoekstra, The Netherlands
www.onbeperktvooruit.nl
Reading Wired 4 Connection by Lucie Klaassen was a truly heart-opening experience. With profound knowledge and genuine love for horses, Lucie weaves together the science of emotions and the art of horsemanship in a way that feels both natural and deeply moving. She brings complex ideas like Polyvagal Theory to life with simple, practical exercises that are easy to integrate into everyday work with horses.
Through Lucie's guidance, I have been learning to apply these insights more consciously with every horse I have the privilege to work with—including my own beloved Friesian mare, Carmen. Her clear explanations of self-regulation and co-regulation have helped me support the horses’ emotional wellbeing more deeply, while also encouraging my own personal growth as a horsewoman.
What I particularly admire is how Wired 4 Connection bridges theory and practice with such clarity and warmth. The book is not just about technique—it is about building relationships rooted in trust, understanding, and emotional safety.
As someone trained in equine massage therapy, instruction, and coaching, I can wholeheartedly say that Wired 4 Connection is a true gift for anyone seeking to deepen the bond with their horses—and, just as beautifully, with themselves 💛
Warm regards,
Diana Kwast-Hoekstra, The Netherlands
www.onbeperktvooruit.nl
September 26, 2024
Being a close friend of Lucie’s, I was able to witness how this book emerged from deep inside her. As she writes about herself in the intro, Lucie has experienced first hand how trauma affected her life. Even not so long ago, she rose like a phoenix from the ashes and reconnected with her true Self again. And then Jajao came into her life. Both laying the foundation for this book.
Lucie’s playful curiosity, intelligence and open mind are a few big assets that helped her understand what was going on inside herself and apply it to the beloved horses in her life. They have become each other’s teachers.
Lucie’s deep personal experiences combined with her thorough understanding of the nervous system first hand as well as the theory behind it, make this book a very valuable read for anyone struggling both personally and in contact with horses. Or anyone for that matter, who longs to know how to live a connected life.
This book is written in such a way that anyone can grasp the benefits of the many helpful explanations, tips and suggestions in deepening the relationship first of all with one’s self and then with horse(s). When not just reading but also bringing into practice the many practical examples, this book will be a life changer for horses and humans alike.
Lucie’s playful curiosity, intelligence and open mind are a few big assets that helped her understand what was going on inside herself and apply it to the beloved horses in her life. They have become each other’s teachers.
Lucie’s deep personal experiences combined with her thorough understanding of the nervous system first hand as well as the theory behind it, make this book a very valuable read for anyone struggling both personally and in contact with horses. Or anyone for that matter, who longs to know how to live a connected life.
This book is written in such a way that anyone can grasp the benefits of the many helpful explanations, tips and suggestions in deepening the relationship first of all with one’s self and then with horse(s). When not just reading but also bringing into practice the many practical examples, this book will be a life changer for horses and humans alike.
February 27, 2025
When I connected with Lucie on Facebook, she sent me an ecopy of her book as a gift. Wow! The first 30 percent of the book (and other parts) can benefit anyone, not just those who have and love horses. The Polyvagal Theory is used by some therapists to sort through our childhood traumas and the events that shaped our entire lives within our first five years. It then teaches us how to rewire our brains so we can feel more relaxed, happier, and less stressed . . . even in a stressful situation. Lucie applies these same principles to how we can connect on a much deeper and more natural manner with our equine partners so that they want to connect with us rather than obeying out of a trauma response. As I read her book, I was thrilled to discover that I was already doing much of this naturally with my horses, but I learned so much about how to apply this to myself in my everyday life and ways to continue to grow with my horses. Lucie breaks down these complex concepts into intriguing, easy-to-understand steps, and if you can't tell, I highly recommend Lucie's book!
August 28, 2024
Do you want to be true to your self and your horse? Are you not connected to your self and therefore not to your horse?
Do you and/or your horse have a trauma thats getting in the way of being together?
Then you have to read Lucie Klaasen s Wired 4 Connection.
It gives you the missing link in understanding why your horse react on your and why your react on your horse.
The book is both easy to read and deeply insightful. It is gives you theory and exercies put together in a way where you can not stop reading.
You will reconice so many things and after that say "oh this is the way to change is" understandning what is happining to us and to the horse when our nervussystem is activated.
The stocked days will have a possibility change because after reading this book you will get a new language to help change it.
We are many horsepeople already enjoying this book and changing our lifes.
Hopefully YOU will join us.
Do you and/or your horse have a trauma thats getting in the way of being together?
Then you have to read Lucie Klaasen s Wired 4 Connection.
It gives you the missing link in understanding why your horse react on your and why your react on your horse.
The book is both easy to read and deeply insightful. It is gives you theory and exercies put together in a way where you can not stop reading.
You will reconice so many things and after that say "oh this is the way to change is" understandning what is happining to us and to the horse when our nervussystem is activated.
The stocked days will have a possibility change because after reading this book you will get a new language to help change it.
We are many horsepeople already enjoying this book and changing our lifes.
Hopefully YOU will join us.
August 26, 2024
5/5 read for people that want to understand and help their horses!
An informative book with beautiful illustrations, well explained theory and it's easy to read. Refers to communication, understanding and of course connection and presence that our modern fast-paced world lacks.
Creates an understanding of the nervous system, how trauma affects us and horses, and how to help and support the horse and ourselves.
This book has already been very helpful for my warmblood with past traumas, calming her and relieving tension and for me to become her safe spot!
An informative book with beautiful illustrations, well explained theory and it's easy to read. Refers to communication, understanding and of course connection and presence that our modern fast-paced world lacks.
Creates an understanding of the nervous system, how trauma affects us and horses, and how to help and support the horse and ourselves.
This book has already been very helpful for my warmblood with past traumas, calming her and relieving tension and for me to become her safe spot!
August 16, 2024
This book (and Lucie's online courses) have been life changing for me and my horse. It didn't just helped me understanding the nervous system and states my horse is in, but it also helped me in my daily life.
Understanding the nervous system and navigating through the different states really helped me with training my young and "hot" mare.
The book is easy and very pleasant to read with lovely images. This book will forever be by my side during my life with horses.
Thank you Lucie!
Understanding the nervous system and navigating through the different states really helped me with training my young and "hot" mare.
The book is easy and very pleasant to read with lovely images. This book will forever be by my side during my life with horses.
Thank you Lucie!
August 24, 2024
This book will not only change your connection to your horse but also to yourself and the people around you. Lucie explains the Polyvagal Theory, Window of Tolerance and basic principles of teauma therapy in a highly precise, yet easy to read way.
You will learn how to become a nervous system navigator, thus, be the person your horse wants to be with, which is also the person you want to be.
Recommendable not ony to horse people.
You will learn how to become a nervous system navigator, thus, be the person your horse wants to be with, which is also the person you want to be.
Recommendable not ony to horse people.
April 13, 2025
There is a lot of good information in this easy to read book. There are a couple of diagrams that Lucie suggests are heart rhythms, one under stress and one happy. I am not sure that either is compatible with life. The Vagus nerve also seems to be the flavour of the day. As interesting as it is I don't think knowing all about it will make one a better horseman. Think of all the many greats before us before we even knew we had nerves. I am thinking Xenophon for one.
November 30, 2024
I have been following Lucie's horse training advice via Instagram and she has been extremely helpful. This book is even moreso informative and instructive, and I now feel more prepared to be my own nervous system navigator, not just around our horses but in every aspect of daily life. Thanks, Lucie!
April 26, 2025
Lucie rocks
Lucie has created an incredible resource for any equestrian looking to learn more about themselves, their nervous system and how to connect deeply with their horse and all horses. Her writing is accessible and self explanatory and will help you put this new knowledge into practice as you read. Enjoy the ride💝
Lucie has created an incredible resource for any equestrian looking to learn more about themselves, their nervous system and how to connect deeply with their horse and all horses. Her writing is accessible and self explanatory and will help you put this new knowledge into practice as you read. Enjoy the ride💝
August 23, 2024
This book is so important. Not just for horse people. I recommend this book to all who want to know about regulating the nervous system. Lucie has a beautiful way of communicate her knowledge. It definitely gets 5 stars from me
August 22, 2025
I really enjoyed this book. It has insightful information on regulating your own system to then be more present for your horse and helping the horse to regulate their body.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews