They say 'ignorance is bliss.' With education comes responsibility. When we begin to learn more about more ethical ways to care for our horses, it can feel incredibly overwhelming at first. Suddenly we're inundated with the newest research in holistic health, species-appropriate care, and ethical training methods. This shift can often come with a lot of guilt, and questions around whether or not we're truly doing enough for our horses. If these feelings are something you've struggled with, this episode is for you.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thewillingequine/support

This is an inside look at one of the lessons contained in Foundations of Trust: The Art and Science of Positive Reinforcement For Equines . Foundations of Trust is the second course of my signature program, The Willing Equine Academy. As an Academy member you'll gain access to our foundation courses, coaching and consulting, our exclusive members only virtual show, and so much more. JOIN THE WILLING EQUINE ACADEMY to build a positive and unbreakable partnership with your horse, and receive the community support you've been longing for. www.thewillingequine.com/academy

They say 'ignorance is bliss.' With education comes responsibility. When we begin to learn more about more ethical ways to care for our horses, it can feel incredibly overwhelming at first. Suddenly we're inundated with the newest research in holistic health, species-appropriate care, and ethical training methods. This shift can often come with a lot of guilt, and questions around whether or not we're truly doing enough for our horses. If these feelings are something you've struggled with, this episode is for you.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thewillingequine/support

While I strongly believe that positive reinforcement-based horse training is the way forward, negative reinforcement is still prevalent in the horse world and is therefore worth discussing. I'm not here to judge or shame anyone for using one method or another, I simply wish to share my experiences and suggestions on how to ethically and mindfully apply negative reinforcement techniques. In this episode, I discuss: - How to skillfully and ethically apply negative reinforcement - Why I choose to use positive reinforcement over negative reinforcement - Real-life examples of how R+ training improved my R- training both personally and professionally And more! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thewillingequine/support

These are the top three biggest mistakes I see people make when they try training with Positive Reinforcement (R+/Clicker Training/Treat Training/Reward Based Training). If you're training with food reinforcers, or wanting to try soon, you should definitely look to avoid these three! There's so much to learn and explore with training this way. It's a very different experience than most of us are familiar with or have ever explored before. There's so much more to it than just adding treats to your training. There's more to it than just clicking for what you like. As with any and all training, it requires skill, practice, coaching, and education. If you'd like support on your journey to learn more about how to work with your horse in a way that avoids frustration, resolves these issues, creates harmony and partnership, and sets you both up for success no matter your training goals... we'd love to welcome you to The Willing Equine Academy where you can receive support, community, guidance, and personalized coaching every step of the way. www.thewillingequine.com/academy ​Have you made any of these mistakes with your training? Maybe during the earlier days, maybe you're currently struggling with some of these, or maybe you've been able to completely avoid them! I'd love to hear about it in the comments.

For many equestrians, owning a horse means keeping them at a boarding facility. Boarding facilities allow owners to meet their horse's needs without having to own the land to do so. And while this opportunity is a fantastic arrangement for many, it can sometimes create challenge when it comes to training and keeping our horses in a way that isn't considered traditional.   In part two of this series, I share some practical strategies on how you can meet your horse's needs at a boarding facility, and how you can continue training with R+ while setting your horse up for successful handling by the boarding facilities staff.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thewillingequine/support

For many equestrians, owning a horse means keeping them at a boarding facility. Boarding facilities allow owners to meet their horse's needs without having to own the land to do so. And while this opportunity is a fantastic arrangement for many, it can sometimes create challenge when it comes to training and keeping our horses in a way that isn't considered traditional. In this episode, I share some practical strategies on how you can meet your horse's needs at a boarding facility, and how you can continue training with R+ while setting your horse up for successful handling by the boarding facilities staff.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thewillingequine/support

In this week's episode, we dive back into the series, "What's holding you back from trying R+?" I posed this question to my social media followers several months ago and can't wait to dive into the answers with you! There are many legitimate concerns and doubts when it comes to switching over to using positive reinforcement to train your horses. In this series, I'll offer my suggestions and perspective on how you can overcome your doubts and try a new way of training with your horse!     In today's episode, I discuss: - The R+ community being divisive and exclusive - Perceived lack of choice (the horse just being in it for the 'cookie') - Lack of representation outside of groundwork (not many R+ trainers ride/show) And more! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thewillingequine/support