Let's be real, horse ownership isn't all rainbows and butterflies. In fact, there's a LOT of responsibility and stress that goes along with caring for these beings we love so much. In this episode I answer a listener's question about being responsible for a horse during tough times ... how to prepare for those inevitable medical bills and extenuating circumstances... And what to do when you really want to have your own horse but aren't sure you can support them should anything come up. ✦ www.TheWillingequine.com✦ Instagram.com/TheWillingEquine ✦ YouTube.com/TheWillingEquine ✦ Facebook.com/TheWillingEquine ✦

It's a question I get a lot... How do I work safely with food rewards with a horse prone to founder, gaining weight, or that really needs to get into shape but has zero motivation to do so. Well... Here you go! This episode is all about how I help horses stay healthy and get into shape with positive reinforcement and using food rewards. ✦ www.TheWillingequine.com✦ Instagram.com/TheWillingEquine ✦ YouTube.com/TheWillingEquine ✦ Facebook.com/TheWillingEquine ✦

Let's talk about stress. Let's talk about "negative" and "positive" stress. Let's talk about chronic and acute stress. Let's talk about how it impacts training, and whether or not training with positive reinforcement creates less resilient horses. In this episode I cover a LOT of ground. Including how R+ doesn't automatically = ethical training, and how I help my horses be safer and more confident horses. It's definitely one of the longest episodes I've done, I apologize for that, but I think it's worth it. ;) ✦ www.TheWillingequine.com✦ Instagram.com/TheWillingEquine ✦ YouTube.com/TheWillingEquine ✦ Facebook.com/TheWillingEquine ✦

Story time! This episode is the recap of a real life "walk the talk" moment with one of my horses that happened all in a single day. When I'm talking about not using punishment, giving the horse the benefit of the doubt, approaching behavior issues from a whole horse perspective, how trust is built and maintained, deepening your relationship with your horse, recovering from mistakes, letting go of control, giving the horse a choice.... I mean ALL of it... This episode is my recap of me walking that talk and what that looks like on a day to day basis. And WHY it's so important. ✦ www.TheWillingEquine.com✦ Instagram.com/TheWillingEquine ✦ YouTube.com/TheWillingEquine ✦ Facebook.com/TheWillingEquine ✦

In this episode I answer a listener's question about how to interact with horses that aren't your own, in a positive way! I discuss four different ways you can do this, briefly address the idea of respect (not in the way it's typically talked about 😉), and also talk about the struggles of trying to communicate with people about possible changes for their horses. ✦ www.TheWillingEquine.com✦ Instagram.com/TheWillingEquine ✦ YouTube.com/TheWillingEquine ✦ Facebook.com/TheWillingEquine ✦

Wouldn't it be nice if we could clicker train people? I mean, technically.. there's the science for it and it does work (look up TagTeach), but I don't think the other horse owners at the barn would take kindly to you clicking and giving them gummy bears haha. BUT, we can use the idea of shaping plans and reinforcing approximations of behavior with positive reinforcement for both ourselves, those around us, our students, and even the other people at the barn.. and without it being "weird" or requiring a lot of work on your part. In this episode I talk about the ways we can use positive reinforcement and shaping plans to modify our own behavior, become better trainers, enjoy our own training more, have better relationships with our human learners (students), and more! ✦ www.TheWillingEquine.com✦ Instagram.com/TheWillingEquine ✦ YouTube.com/TheWillingEquine ✦ Facebook.com/TheWillingEquine ✦

Until recently, horse training has been rather localized. If you wanted to learn how to train a horse, you found a nearby trainer. If you wanted to become a horse trainer, you went to work for a local horse trainer. Unfortunately the number of R+ focused trainers is still rather limited, and so there isn't always a nearby trainer you can learn from. In this podcast I talk about how it's still possible to become a horse trainer or learn how to train your horse with an R+ focus ...even when there are no like minded trainers nearby. ✦ www.TheWillingequine.com✦ Instagram.com/TheWillingEquine ✦ YouTube.com/TheWillingEquine ✦ Facebook.com/TheWillingEquine ✦

"Damage control" AKA what to do when your horse is already over their fear threshold, and losing their mind. can we keep both them and us safe without using punishment? Can we help them return to training without demanding obedience and respect through the use of aversives? What about if your horse is running scared in the pasture, how do you help them calm down? I talk about this and more in this episode. ✦ www.TheWillingEquine.com ✦ Instagram.com/TheWillingEquine ✦ YouTube.com/TheWillingEquine ✦ Facebook.com/TheWillingEquine ✦ ✦https://www.thewillingequine.com/single-post/2017/02/08/Desensitizing-The-Methods ✦https://www.thewillingequine.com/single-post/2017/01/13/What-and-Why-Fear-Thresholds ✦https://www.thewillingequine.com/single-post/2017/03/15/Desensitizing-Calm-Confident ✦https://www.thewillingequine.com/single-post/Trustworthy

Do you have a "bond" with your horse? is riding tackless proof of having a bond with you horse? What if you don't ride, let alone tack-less, can you still have a bond with your horse? In this episode I discuss my thoughts on this matter! ✦ www.TheWillingEquine.com ✦ Instagram.com/TheWillingEquine ✦ YouTube.com/TheWillingEquine ✦ Facebook.com/TheWillingEquine ✦

Looking for your future equine companion/partner is challenging and stressful. it's a big decision! Especially if you go into it looking to make a life long commitment. In this episode I discuss some of the ups and downs, what you need to be prepared for, and my biggest tips for finding that perfect horse for you. ✦ www.TheWillinhEquine.com ✦ Instagram.com/TheWillingEquine ✦ YouTube.com/TheWillingEquine ✦ Facebook.com/TheWillingEquine ✦ Recommend book ✦ https://amzn.to/2TeWEtS

As much as we want to focus on training our horses, it's important to remember there are two learners in the relationship with your horse. With every interaction we are learning, as are they. ✦ www.TheWillinhEquine.com ✦ Instagram.com/TheWillingEquine ✦ YouTube.com/TheWillingEquine ✦ Facebook.com/TheWillingEquine ✦

In this episode I talk with Sara Kalenkiewicz ( @equineapprentice ) about what horse abuse looks like in a wide variety of situations. I know this sounds like a terrible episode, but I think you may find it really interesting and perspective broadening. We look beyond what the law defines as abuse/neglect... and dive head first into this touchy subject to discuss the grey areas of "abuse". ✦ www.TheWillingEquine.com ✦ Instagram.com/TheWillingEquine ✦ YouTube.com/TheWillingEquine ✦ Facebook.com/TheWillingEquine ✦

We talk all the time about how the horse is the greatest teacher...but do we let them teach us? What about when what they need to teach us doesn't fit our "goals" and dreams?

This episode is a little unique, but I hope you enjoy! Its an update all about what's been going on with the horses and I at TWE this past month.

Whether it's someone on Instagram, or another boarder at the barn, comparing yourself and your horse to others is so easy.. yet so damaging...

What does the quote "By failing to prepare, we are preparing to fail." have to do with horse training? How can we prep for success?

Labeling symptoms and trying to fix labels is a fruitless endeavor. It's short lived patchwork. We need to go straight to the source to find a true solution to the problem.

We can't be so busy worrying about everyone else's opinions and feelings that we forget about ourselves or our horses. You are your horse's one and only voice.

Training or re-training a horse is one thing, "re" training ourselves is a whole new level of challenging. In this episode I discuss the process I use to help my students and myself move past old training practices.

How are relationships made? What is trust built on? In this episode I dive into how your every interaction with your horse lays a foundation for your relationship, and how you can build a positive trusting relationship with your horse.

Does your horse have a purpose? Were they bred to jump or show western pleasure? How does this impact your relationship with your horse? In this episode I break down what your horse knows about it's life and it's human given purpose.