Relaxed & Forward Blog

An Affirmation of a Life Shared with Animals.

It's springtime in the Rockies. The time change was last weekend, so I'm waking up at three am now, but...
Read More about An Affirmation of a Life Shared with Animals.

Trainer Love: In Memory of Seri

Seri died this week. She was never my horse, but she is part of the trainer I've become. Seri was...
Read More about Trainer Love: In Memory of Seri

Horse Training Means Affirmative Waiting

Humans, aren't we swell? Compared to horses, we have dim, frail senses, we're seven times slower in our response time,...
Read More about Horse Training Means Affirmative Waiting

Horse Trainers: How Do You Know Who to Believe?

It was the end of a long clinic day, and we were wrapping up. Almost done on time until this...
Read More about Horse Trainers: How Do You Know Who to Believe?

Nube: A Living Lesson in “Less is More”

There's a woman and a tall young horse, moving in perfect strides together but with a healthy space between them....
Read More about Nube: A Living Lesson in “Less is More”

Horses and Chimpanzees, Or Why Horses Aren’t Cuddlers

  When I first moved to my farm, I pretended to be Jane Goodall. My land was a high desert...
Read More about Horses and Chimpanzees, Or Why Horses Aren’t Cuddlers

Riding Lessons: Seeing Your Horse Through New Eyes

A reader request: "I hope you will someday do an article on looking at the horse's ears and eyes to...
Read More about Riding Lessons: Seeing Your Horse Through New Eyes

Balancing Energy with a Horse

Is your horse lazy? Lazy is a name we call horses when we want to denigrate them by comparing them...
Read More about Balancing Energy with a Horse

Horses Measuring Intelligence in Humans

It's my fault for asking for blog topics. She writes, "Can you possibly do a blog post on why your...
Read More about Horses Measuring Intelligence in Humans

The Difference Between Peaceful Persistence and Nagging.

Today, I’d like to use you as a human demo horse. Please, play along with me. Let’s say you come...
Read More about The Difference Between Peaceful Persistence and Nagging.

The Difference Between Training and Retraining a Horse

Lesson #1. Learning to Lead Horse Training is the process of collecting good experiences. Let it...
Read More about The Difference Between Training and Retraining a Horse

Focus is Active Listening. Horses Do It Naturally.

I had a friend who used to write me little vignettes about the antics of her and her horse at...
Read More about Focus is Active Listening. Horses Do It Naturally.

Human Calming Signals: I Want my Horse to be Fearless.

  So, you want a horse that doesn't spook? Don't we all? Great, you wanna look for something over 25...
Read More about Human Calming Signals: I Want my Horse to be Fearless.

Worried About Everything? Protection From the Unexpected

"Want to go on a trail ride with me? The last time I was out, my friend's horse slid into...
Read More about Worried About Everything? Protection From the Unexpected

“How do I stop my horse from doing this?”

"How do I stop my horse from doing this?" An oversimplified version of the most common question a horse trainer...
Read More about “How do I stop my horse from doing this?”

Letting Go of Shame and Blame. Do It for Your Horse.

Nope. Not me. I was allergic to this color, but Hannah dressed for success from the...
Read More about Letting Go of Shame and Blame. Do It for Your Horse.

Nube: When He Came Home

I was forty-nine years old with gray hair, calloused banged-up fingers, and chronic lameness in my left foot. He was...
Read More about Nube: When He Came Home

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your name and email to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.