Relaxed & Forward Blog

The Simple Truth About Complicated Training

It was back around the time the light bulb was invented. My Grandfather Horse was a lanky spooky colt, I...
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Affirmative Training: Response Time and a Hail Mary Pass

My client and I were having an online meeting. We'd been working on a systematic process of getting her and...
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Life Happens: The Unplanned Dismount

"I owned horses for 20 years until divorce happened," the reader said, asking me to write about it. "I think...
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Riding a Princely Trot

Is your horse uncomfortable in the trot? He might toss his head or maybe his strides are short and choppy....
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Fear, Shame, and Affirmative Training

  This is a photo of when you first fell in love with horses. Maybe you dreamed it and it...
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Confidence Lost and Found

  We thought having a horse would make everything perfect. It's a dream most of us were born with; we...
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Calming Signals and Boundaries

A request to write about boundaries, in which the Loudmouth Party-Pooper returns. Am I allowed a pet peeve? I've began...
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The Power of Yes

Ever noticed how easy it is to see the horse who's resistant? How easy it is to pick out the...
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Part Three: Riding Above Fear

This is what we knew then: It started with a dream of dancing hooves and a flowing mane. He was...
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Part Two: Now I'm Afraid

[Part One: My Horse Betrayed Me.] Something bad happened. The details don't need to be repeated for me to understand. It...
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Part One: My Horse Betrayed Me.

I hear lots of horror stories in my line of work. "My horse just started bucking, for no good reason." "He...
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Fear: It’s What’s for Dinner.

Ever been afraid of a horse? No? I don't believe you. Fear is a pretty natural response, especially if your...
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Love + Fear = Confidence

It starts pretty much the same way for most of us: One day we see a horse. He's beautiful and...
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