I know how it feels when my horse Joey, a 20-years-young warmblood gelding, gives me what I need: He is quiet in the crossties and accepts the bit without complaint. He remains steady and still at the mounting block and waits until Ive picked up my stirrups. He relaxes into contact and responds to my aids. He approaches a jump with a steady pace and pricked ears.These and other behaviorsmany overt and some more subtle let me know Ive connected with Joey and successfully conveyed what I need from him. But what does my horse need from me?In a recent NF+ Masterclass with renowned trainer Josh Nichol, I learned some ways to form a stronger, more intuitive bond with Joey by meeting his needs and forming a richer relationship based on his core desires. By meeting those needs and desires, Josh emphasizes, we avoid the behaviors we dont need or want, like pawing in the crossties or avoiding the bit, being tense under saddle, spooking in the arena, or refusing at a jump.In this course, Josh introduces the idea of three essential horse needs, guides us in how to recognize which need(s) are most important to our own horse, and offers practical techniques of how to meet those needs whatever the training situation. Short videos illustrating the exercises he uses are included. Here are my takeaways from this important Masterclass:1. Mind, Space, and Pressure are the three primary needs that horses have. Every horse has all of them, Josh emphasizes, but they come in different intensities. Understanding which needs your horse has, and which are most intense, can transform your connection with your horse that will make your training sessions infinitely easier.2. The Mind Horse is scanning the world all the time, Josh explains. They are the one whos out in the pasture, and when something changes, theyre seeing it and looking at it, he points out. They are very curious and busy-minded. They want to be involved and they often become very engaged in training. They are also the horses that could very well become herd-bound; they struggle when they dont know where their friends are. The challenge with the Mind Horse is that their mind will divide from its body, Josh explains. You have to understand how to connect with their mind to bring peace to that need.Training Techniques: Make sure that when you apply an aid, their mind engages and connects with that request before they act. Feel and see the mind shift, Josh emphasizes, by paying close attention to the movement of their ears and eyes.3. The Space Horse wants to be close to you all the time, Josh shares, and while they usually are not fazed by their environment, they can also be a horse that struggles to go forward. They love trail riding, and getting out and doing things, but they hate going in circles, Josh explains. The Space Horse needs constant reassurance that we are close to them, so we to show up in a way they can feel so they dont have to reach for us. The challenge, he says, is to balance repetitive arena work with getting out and having adventures.Training Techniques: A Space Horse may seem to be disobedient when they get too close to you or rub on you, but they are simply vocalizing that they cannot connect with you. Show up energized, so your horse can feel it, which will make them feel comfortable to respond to you in a receiving state, rather than seeking that connection by getting in your space. 4. The Pressure Horse is very sensitive and responsive to the world around them from the perspective of self-preservation, Josh explains. Unlike a Mind Horse, who is curious about things and wants to see everything, the Pressure Horse is worried about the things they see. The interesting thing about Pressure Horses, Josh shares, is that although they can be spooky, they are also extremely sensitive to the aids. The challenge in our training is that the responses can happen in anxiety . . . the goal is to meet that need and [for the horse to] think through pressure rather than react to it. Training Techniques: The Pressure Horse needs to feel in control of the pressure by submitting to us, not running away. Its very important, John asserts, to release just as they connect and soften or and move toward you; they need to feel relief by staying, not leaving. Figuring out and prioritizing what your horses needs are brings an intense level of peace to your horse, Josh says. When our horses know we connect with their needs, they feel safe to work. Knowing which need is most dominant for your horse can help you understand why they might be struggling, whether on the ground, in the arena, or on the trail. From that foundation of connection and understanding your horses needs, Josh emphasizes, you can improve the outcomes of your training. If our questions in training do not connect the mind and the body of our horse, our release points must shift so that the mind connection occurs before the action of their body. The mind and the body must be aligned; speak to the mind [of the horse] and set a stage where the mind feels safe, and the body starts to follow. This is truly where training begins, Josh says.Watching Josh Nichols course has made me keenly aware that my Joey is a Mind Horse. He is the first to notice a change in his environmentwhether its a cat in the barn aisle, a car pulling up outside the arena, or a tree limb down in the pasture. By seeing his behavior through this lens and aiming to keep his mind and body connected, I am confident I will have more success when interacting with him on the ground and from the saddle. Visit the NF+ MasterClass course collection to view all nine videos of Understanding Your Horses Needs with Josh Nichol.About the AuthorHelen Townes is a writer and editor based in Portland, OR, and holds a masters degree in journalism. She rides her Hanoverian Joey at Silver Winds Farms, a hunter-jumper barn in Banks, OR, and enjoys spending time with her family, watching soccer, and reading.

Our sport of three-day eventing requires a lot of skills to be successful and competitive, but theres one thats pretty easy to guess: you (and your horse) have to be brave.The idea of being brave can be interpreted a lot of different ways, and not all of them mean the same thing. Youll notice I referred to bravery at the beginning of this article as a skill, and truthfully thats what I believe it is.Throughout my career as an Olympic eventing rider, Ive been called a lot of things: gung-ho, bold, crazy, wild, and yes, brave. But, while I may always love the adrenaline pumping, I also wouldnt say I was born brave.At the end of the day, bravery isnt just some wild concept that were somehow either born with or were not. Thats really not true. Bravery is something you can learn to create over time. .Now, its good to remember that I grew up in Australia, and I didnt begin riding at a fancy farm or at a million-dollar facility. My very first pony, a good old boy named Willy Do It or Willy at home, learned how to jump cross country in my own backyard over random debris and fallen logs I would ask my parents not to clean up after big storms. I was an adventurous kid, sure, but a lot of my confidence in the saddle came from the time I spent making mistakes and learning from them. I realized pretty quickly if I could have a good, solid relationship with Willy, where he trusted me and my judgment, hed do just about anything I asked him to do.When you have a horse willing to do what youre asking, it gives you a lot of confidence, and ultimately, that turns into bravery for both you and your horse.So this is where it begins. Yes, some of us seem to be more enthusiastic about taking on risks and participating in more dangerous activities, which truthfully is something that runs in my family on all sides, while others approach life more cautiously. Both of these types of people, and every type in between, can still be brave and build confidence in their skills.My new Equestrian Masterclass, now available on Noelle Floyd, is all about the idea of building bravery.This is an important topic to me for a lot of reasons. In my travels teaching clinics all over the world, I meet many riders who feel like they will never be brave enough to tackle a demanding cross country course, whether thats at Beginner Novice or Advanced. I wanted to provide some tools that would help any rider create their own sense of bravery in the saddle, and the result is the information in this Masterclass.Personally, when Im at my bravest as a rider and a competitor, I feel these three things, no matter the level Im competing:I am Competent in my skills. I have practiced and repeated the exercises I need to in order to feel strong and confident in my position, which in turn allows me to communicate better with my horse.I am Prepared for competition and the challenges it may present. Theres not much that can give you more confidence than going out to walk a cross country course and realizing youve practiced harder things at home with success. Confidence and bravery go hand-in-hand with the preparation.I have encouraged my horse to think for himself. One of the greatest and most rewarding parts of being horsemen is the amount of time you get to spend with your animals. You come to understand their quirks and what makes them feel confident in themselves and in you as the rider. We always want our horses to enjoy their jobs and to understand what we are asking. If we have a horse that can think for himself, it reduces the amount of micromanagement that happens during our ride.The riders I always want to emulate look like they are doing nothing in the saddle. This quiet style of riding is something that gives me a lot of confidence, because it means Ive done my homework and I can just be one with my horse out there. Riding shouldnt be a yank and pull effort, it should be smooth and polished. The less managing you have to do, the better prepared you will be to react in the moment if things dont go according to your plan.All of these skills, in my opinion, build bravery. Of course, bravery also isnt a magical wand that you can suddenly wave and you have no fear. That actually isnt a great way of thinking, if you ask me.Im not fearless by any means. I have tremendous respect for the risks I am taking, and the risks my horses are taking when we step out on a course.Out of that respect, I always go back to the three pillars of bravery for me - competence, preparation, and knowing Im on a horse who knows how to think.These tools give me the best chance to go out there and not only be competitive, but also be safe and brave, which is what everyone should be aiming for every time they get a leg up.Want to dive deeper into Boyd Martins training philosophy and program?Then check out his latest 3-part Equestrian Masterclass Series.Access 3 in-depth Masterclasses taught by Boyd Martin & learn his systematic process for developing bravery through competence, preparation and creating a thinking horse.In this series, youll learn How to develop bravery and confidence in the saddle while jumping What are the core the elements of bravery What the difference is between being scared vs reckless and finding that happy medium How to visualize what a correct galloping position looks like and what doesnt Why security and stability is important to feeling secure on your horse How to practice different cross-country and show jumping exercises to prepare yourself for competition How to introduce young horses to cross-country fences and elements Why you should be making more mistakes Why its important to teach the horse to still get the job doneSince releasing this Masterclass, eventing riders (and even riders from other disciplines) have been raving about the impact its had on their riding.CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT BOYD MARTINS MASTERCLASS SERIES.

If a horse can feel a fly land on his flank, he can feel the slightest aid from the rider.If youre an equestrian, youve likely heard some version of the above statement. Its true: horses are incredibly sensitive creatures, capable of feeling even the subtlest shifts in energy or weight from their rider.Why, then, do so many of us struggle to achieve real responsiveness to our aids? If my horse can feel my aid, then why isnt he listening?We enlisted the help of U.S. dressage Olympian Laura Graves, who shared her philosophy on responsiveness to the aids in a new Equestrian Masterclass 3-part series.Laura knows a thing or two about creating a stellar horse from scratch. Growing up in Vermont, life was all about riding whatever horses came her way. I never had a dressage horse or a jumping horse. I just had a horse, she explains. We had free horses, we had horses that were dangerous for other people, we had horses that would bolt.Having this motley crew of different types of horses, each with their own baggage, taught Laura to love the process of training and understanding each horse that came to her. After dipping her toes in other disciplines such as three-day eventing, she eventually found herself drawn back to dressage for its refinement of the skills she had picked up along the way.It just became a super complex relationship and language that I was hooked on, Laura says. Those skills would serve her well as she got to know Verdades, the horse purchased as a foal when Laura was just 15. In the beginning, Diddy was far from the Olympic superstar he grew to be. He had a unique conformation he was half Dutch harness horse, after all! and way of going, and as a result Laura had to use all of her skills to produce the best movement from her horse.For Laura, training horses like Verdades requires an understanding and empathy toward each horses individuality.So, how does this relate to teaching a horse to be responsive to the aids?As riders, we have all built up a database of knowledge. Thanks to the amount of readily available information now at our fingertips, its easier than ever to maintain a sense of curiosity about training and communicating with horses. After all, that is exactly what training responsiveness entails: understanding and communication.Laura uses a "teeter-totter" analogy in her Equestrian Masterclass on Responsiveness to Aids.Before we can progress with creating a well-tuned horse, we must first understand a few fundamentals:First, we must make sure that we are in check with our position and the delivery of our aids. In the first course of Lauras Equestrian Masterclass, youll go through a self-diagnostic ride to check in on your position and how your horse currently responds to aids you deliver.Second, we need to understand how our aids relate to how our horses travel. In her Equestrian Masterclass course, Laura uses the analogy of a teeter-totter and how a riders leg and hand aids must strike a balance between the two ends. A correct response to aid is important not just in a competitive landscape, but also for long term soundness and longevity, as a horse that travels correctly, in balance and self-carriage, will not put as much wear and tear on her limbs and tendons.Third, we must meet our horses where they are in that moment. Not every horse will respond to every aid in the same way, and not every horse learns or is motivated similarly. At any given stage in a horses training, they have options to pull from their box of answers to a question (aid) posed by the rider. As the horse progresses in her training, her box of answers will get smaller. In this way, we are able to train more technical movements.Lauras methodology for creating a responsiveness to aids comes from her extensive background working with all different types of horses. The language she speaks is simple yet complex, subtle yet clear.In her three-part Equestrian Masterclass series, Laura will teach and demonstrate the concepts she refers to, at the core always encouraging students to learn more about their horses and work to gain a better understanding of them. Through this, we can work through frustration with a sense of curiosity and arrive in a stronger relationship with our horse.Want to dive deep into Lauras training philosophy and learn which exercises she uses to develop a horse and their responsiveness?Then make sure you check out her newest Masterclass.In this series, youre going to learn How to be a teacher for your horse Why dressage is an important foundation for all disciplines What a correct response is from your horse and how to achieve it Learn what important tools are needed for a proper flatwork foundation Why getting frustrated at your horse gets you nowhere and what you should do instead How to bring out the best in your horse What to do if you ride a hot horse, dull horse, and everything in between Why cavalettis aid in essential flatwork Identifying your horses personality is key to have successful communication together How pressure and release play a crucial part in your horses trainingReady to get access? CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT LAURAS NEW MASTERCLASS.Since its release, hundreds of dressage riders have been raving about its impact on their riding, and their understanding of their horse.

NOLLE FLOYD is seeking a talented and detail-oriented Digital Content Creator to join our dynamic team on a part-time basis. The Digital Content Creator will play a crucial role in ensuring that our multimedia content, including videos and images, meets our high standards for quality and visual storytelling. If you have a passion for equestrian sports, a keen eye for detail, and experience in video and image editing, we want to hear from you.Job Title: Digital Content CreatorLocation: RemoteJob Type: Part-TimeKey Responsibilities:Video Editing: Edit and enhance video content, ensuring it aligns with NOLLE FLOYD's brand and storytelling style. This includes trimming, cutting, color correction, audio adjustment, and adding graphics or text overlays when necessary.Image Editing: Retouch and optimize images for use on our website and social media platforms. Ensure that all visuals maintain consistency in style and quality.Capturing Images/Video Footage: Capture high-quality photographs and/or video footage. This may involve different types of photography or videography, such as portrait, landscape, event, documentary, commercial, or artistic work. (Bonus for those who have a barn they can shoot at)Collaboration: Work closely with our team to best understand our creative vision and assist in achieving the desired look and feel for our multimedia content.Quality Control: Conduct quality checks to ensure that all media assets are error-free, meet our editorial standards, and are ready for publication.File Management: Organize and maintain media files in an organized and accessible manner, adhering to our file naming conventions and storage systems.Stay Current: Keep up-to-date with industry trends and emerging editing techniques to continuously improve the quality and impact of our multimedia content.Qualifications:Proven experience in video and image editing, with proficiency in industry-standard editing software such as Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, Adobe Photoshop, and Adobe Lightroom.A strong portfolio showcasing your photography, videography, editing skills and creativity, particularly in the realm of multimedia content.A passion for equestrian sports and a solid understanding of the NOLLE FLOYD brand and style.Exceptional attention to detail and the ability to work independently, meet deadlines, and manage multiple projects simultaneously.Excellent communication skills, as you will collaborate with our remote team.Availability to work part-time hours in a remote setting, with a flexible schedule.About NOLLE FLOYD:Launched in 2012 as a blog, NOLLE FLOYD is one of the most recognizable equine media brands in the world. With the major success of their educational platform, Equestrian Masterclass, and the overwhelming response to the launch of their podcast, Equestrian Voices, NOLLE FLOYD is now considered to be the fastest growing equine media company in the industry.Known for high production value, award-winning digital media products, innovative storytelling and relatable content, NOLLE FLOYD is leading the charge when it comes to equine media content. Our leading product, Equestrian Masterclass is focused on offering online equestrian education aimed to empower riders with the tools to be the best rider they can be.Collaborating with some of the best teachers, clinicians and minds within the equestrian world, Equestrian Masterclass has become one of the leading platforms in online equestrian education and #1 in North America.Equestrian Voices, launched in 2021, now ranked #1 in the world for equestrian podcasts. Our three time award-winning podcast dives deep into the emotions, lives and stories of equestrians. Each episode brings the intention of heart-felt and meaningful conversation about the realities of riders from all backgrounds. Hosted by Caroline Culbertson, our podcast gets to the 'human' of all horse people.How to Apply:If you are enthusiastic about the equestrian world and possess the skills and passion to contribute to NOLLE FLOYD's media excellence, please send your resume, portfolio, and a cover letter detailing your relevant experience and why you are the ideal candidate for this position to hiring@nollefloyd.comNOLLE FLOYD is an equal opportunity employer, and we encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply.

When I think about riding in the winter, some version of the following comes to mind:Close down my computer around 4:30 and head out to the barn, watching the sun go down as Im pulling into the driveway at 5.Fumble my way out to the turnouts, try to discern the bay from the dark bay (all with blue blankets on, naturally) in the dusk. Finally locate horse and bring to the barn to get ready.Groom (muddy, hairy) horse (thats never really clean) and debate how worthwhile scrubbing mud from hairy legs really is. Decide to curry them clean because Im a good horse mom, after all.Tack up, head to the indoor arena that can fit approximately half of a crossrail on one long side, give myself a pump up talk and a reminder that I can always shed layers when I get warm (ha ha).Give myself what feels like a good warm-up, walk trot canter. A few circles. Feeling good.Check watch, thinking surely at least 30 minutes have passed and am dismayed to see that its barely been 8 minutes. Horse cocks one ear back to ask if we can be done yet. Only because I dread the knee/ankle shock that comes with dismounting on a cold day, I soldier on for a few more laps before giving in and finishing my ride feeling less than productive and very cold.As a former resident of a region well on the receiving end of winter (the Midwest), I understand well the trepidation that accompanies impending season change.This time of year is tough for horse people. Motivation wanes, and you find yourself hovering somewhere in between end of year burnout and start of year resolution mode. You wearily scroll through Instagram and see your horse friends and professionals you follow making the mass migration to Florida. Your horse is a wooly, static-popping mammoth that feels more like riding a camel hump than a horse after a week with no turnout because the snow wont stop melting and making mud.Its funny, though, because on a recent phone catch-up with Equestrian Masterclass coach Laine Ashker (check out her most recent Guided Rides in the Equestrian Masterclass app! [Apple][Google]) I lamented about this and she gave me a different perspective.You know, I actually dont mind this time of year! she chirped, reminding me that she spends very little time in Florida. As a pro who also runs and pays for her own facility, its hard to leave for several months at a time. So she chooses certain periods to go to Wellington or Ocala, but stays north in Virginia for the majority of the winter. I immediately found myself readjusting my doom and gloom attitude to meet her more in the middle. Oh sure, sure, I stumbled, not wanting to be the downer. I mean, its also a great time to practice!Laine went on to explain how she enjoys having this period of time where she can practice things that need work or introduce new concepts without the constant looming pressure of competition. As a professional eventing and dressage rider, Laines got a full calendar of competitions and clinics each year, and so this off season gives her the opportunity to slow down and work on the things we all need eternal practice with.I thought about this point of view, and how it applies to the scenario I wrote about at the beginning of this article; what I discovered is that most of the winter, what I suffer from is lack of motivation and planning. Most of my winter rides felt unproductive because I didnt have a good plan for what I wanted to work on. I would drag my feet to go ride because it felt like I wouldnt get anything out of the work, and neither would my horse.I left that conversation with Laine thinking about how I could bring some of these thoughts into the materials I create for Equestrian Masterclass. I wanted to build something that would resonate with my fellow amateurs who dread the winter season and all that comes with it, while also giving us a positive goal to keep us motivated.In early January, Ill share our newest offering from Equestrian Masterclass in the form of a unique, 12-week training program designed to help us all get through the winter months. I wanted to give equestrians the opportunity to brush up on foundational skills, strengthen their bond with their horses, and learn some new skills. Itll also provide a chance to bond (commiserate?) with other equestrians in similar situations isnt that where the strongest bonds are made, after all? Were looking forward to sharing this with you!Existing Equestrian Masterclass members will automatically gain access to this Training Program and right now you can get a full membership for $100 off during our Holiday Sale!

Recently, after my third (amazingly fun and productive) riding lesson at a new barn, I dismounted, gave my horse an enthusiastic pat, and went to run up my stirrups only to find, to my shock, dismay, and horror, that I had given my perfect mount a spur rub.It didnt break the skin, but it was ugly and red - just the way you imagine a spur rub would look. It was about 2 inches long, and at a place lower on his belly than I thought my foot would even reach. I quickly ran around to his other flank to find (thankfully) nothing at all. But the high I experienced from the lesson evaporated into a cloud of shame as I loosened his girth and slowly walked him back into the barn.As riders, this shame feels ever present sometimes. Weve all been in the ring flatting with other people, sensing multiple sets of eyes on us as we canter to a pole and miss spectacularly. Or we know the exact sequence of aids to achieve an objective, and still flub it repeatedly. Weve been yelled at by trainers who have told us were not good enough when we miss a lead change, or we dont deserve that horse if we chip a jump, or what is wrong with us, its just ::insert desired outcome here::, its not rocket science.Or, weve given our horse a spur rub.The thing that makes the shame of mistakes in the saddle unique to other sports is that were not only feeling shame, but also guilt. When youre out playing soccer, and you miss a penalty kick, or youre running a race and trip, your mistake doesnt have consequences past the ones you give it - the power is truly all up to you in terms of how much weight you allow that mistake to occupy in your mind. With horses, though, our mistakes dont just affect us - they can bring discomfort, confusion, and sometimes even pain to our horses - the one piece of the equation who is supposed to always come first.The thing to remember is that as uncomfortable as they are, mistakes are how you learn. Your brain makes progress not by putting down the correct pathway on the first try, but by rewriting the incorrect pathway to the correct one. The phrase Those who cant do, teach, is pretty apt, as those who are naturally gifted at something usually make terrible teachers. Theyve never done it wrong, so how can they explain how to do it right beyond just telling you to do it?As riders, our job is not to avoid mistakes at all costs, but to give ourselves the grace our horses usually do when they occur, and then capitalize on them. And since were ultimately accountable to our horses, we owe it to them to use our mistakes as opportunities to improve, rather than just allow our emotions to trap us in place. What can you alter in your approach? What can you do differently next time? Why did it happen in the first place? A mistake is a gateway to a wide variety of questions, each one with the potential to make you better both in and out of the saddle.So while I of course felt no less terrible at giving my wonderful partner a spur rub, I didnt allow my guilt to be the stopping point - I pushed past it to a place of how to learn from it and do better next time. I lowered my stirrup another hole, since this horse was much taller than the one I normally rode, and I had the feeling that my leg wasnt in the correct position. I started to do balance and symmetry work on myself, since I had also a sneaking suspicion part of the problem was an imbalance in myself due to multiple past injuries. I bought myself a dressage whip to use in lieu of spurs until the wound healed and I was confident it wouldnt happen again.And of course, I gave my amazing lesson horse a treat, thanked him profusely, apologized, and promised to do better - knowing that because of my mistake, I definitely would.*image credit: Emma VanNostrand

Jumping used to be the only thing I ever wanted to do. Before I even had a concept of what training or foundation meant, I knew one thing: those girls I saw jumping over massive obstacles, across the country? I wanted to be them.So perhaps it was somewhat fortuitous that my mother expressly forbade me to even think about leaving the ground on horseback. Knowing that I simply wanted to learn how to ride, I began instead learning about this craft called dressage. Here was a way for me to ride, while still following the (silly) rule my mom had laid down.My next step was to call the barn down the street, a high-end hunter/jumper barn that also employed dressage trainers. My cheeks still color red when thinking about that first conversation.Hi, Id like to learn more about taking dress-age lessons, my mispronunciation of the word likely placing me firmly into the eye roll category to the person on the other end of the line.But they obliged me, and thus my education began. For the first two years of my riding life, I followed the rules. All four feet on the ground. I worried Id be bored but I wasnt.Now, I look back on those formative years with gratitude. Its not that I felt I wouldnt have gained the same foundational education had I started out right away with the jumper trainer in residence (but, I also feel that this education is missing from many such programs), but by dedicating myself solely to dressage at the outset, I learned more about what it meant to connect with a horse and how to use my body and my mind to influence her way of going.When I use the words flatwork or dressage, they carry much of the same meaning, though I understand most people use them as separate concepts in many ways. And while not every rider who jumps will want or need to learn how to, say, do a lovely half-pass with a perfect amount of flexion, its really the fundamental elements of flatwork and dressage that apply to all of us.I watch riders like Josh Nichol or Tik Maynard incorporate flatwork into the work they do with their horses. I watch eventers like Boyd Martin and Allison Springer focus more on footwork and flatwork than they do jumping massive fences every day. I watch Olympic jumping riders like Peter Wylde ride on the flat as an integral part of each and every ride.Surely, these riders are doing something right. And I think it starts on the flat.This month, NELLE FLOYD and Equestrian Masterclass are focusing on flatwork as a fundamental foundation (yes, I love alliteration, if you couldnt tell).We created new training content with Equestrian Masterclass coach Peter Wylde (if you havent checked out his Masterclass on Quiet Riding, you can do that here) which features several guided rides and video demonstrations about flatwork for jumping (or not!). We also recruited 5* three-day eventing rider Allison Springer to help us with a new Guided Ride Mini-Pack breaking down some fundamental flatwork tools for you.Allison's program just launched yesterday, with Peter's coming very shortly, so make sure to check them both out!Looking for some more flatwork practice in the meantime? Here are a few of my favorite flatwork-focused training materials currently available in Equestrian Masterclass:Masterclass Courses:Laura Graves: Troubleshooting Common Flatwork WoesMette Larsen: Dressage for All DisciplinesKarl Cook: Creating an Adjustable and Rideable HorseGuided Rides:Amy Skinner: Developing Leg Yield and Responsiveness in Walk and TrotAndrew Welles: Go-To, Effective Flatwork for RideabilityChelsea Canedy: Following Workout for Supple Seat and Hand

**Please note - this blog is written by Equestrian Masterclass instructor Chelsea Canedy and has been reposted here with her permission. The original first appeared on her own website. Photo courtesy, Brooke Hulford**I have been having an amazing time with Luna, my hopeful Mustang Classic mare. I have learned so much from her in these past three months, and we have made incredible strides together. I have pulled from every drawer of my toolbox to start her from scratch and have reached out to friends and fellow trainers along the way when I have had questions.I thought I was checking all of the right boxes, and the progress Luna and I were making seemed to indicate just that. I felt like I was reading her well every day and that we were making slow but appropriate gains in the right direction. I had been eagerly looking forward to being in Ocala for the winter season, and having more hands-on help with her there. Then, four weeks ago, the old adage, You dont know what you dont know, literally hit me in the faceI had sat on Luna five times prior. We had walked around my indoor like it was nothing, and had even taken some baby trot steps under saddle with absolutely no problems. It was my last day working with her before heading south in three days, and I opted to sit on her at the end of our session.For some reason, when I got on, Luna walked away from the block when asked, as usual, but then picked up a little jog on her own. I asked her to slow down like I would a domestic horse, but the combined pressure of someone above her and something pulling back on her was too much for her to reconcile, and she bolted.Of course, I was in my indoor, as my round pen was outside, frozen solid, so Luna had a wide open runway to pick up steam and buck. About 8 seconds in, I did my best lawn dart impression over her head and into the dirt. My helmet did an excellent job of protecting my noggin but also of coming down on the bridge of my nose and breaking it. I am INCREDIBLY lucky that this was the only damage done, as unpleasant as it was. I have imagined what could have happened so many times.My very first thought when I got up and tried to stop the bleeding from my nose was, But it was going so well! I was heartbroken that things had taken this turn and felt like an absolute idiot for letting it happen. At first, I could not understand why it had. I had checked all the right boxes in Lunas training, hadnt I? I had done everything right, right?!In the immediate aftermath of the fall, I was so embarrassed. My face was a mess, and my confidence was shot. Half of my thoughts were telling me that I was clearly not up to the task at hand, and the other half were reminding me that this was my first time ever starting a Mustang, and to try and cut myself a little slack.Slowly, over the 24 hours after the accident, I began to reach out to people I trust who have experience starting Mustangs. They universally told me that this kind of thing happens to everyone at some point and encouraged me to keep moving forward with help.I am beyond grateful to have people in the horse world I can turn to in these moments. I am so fortunate that my personal learning journey has connected me with amazing trainers in the worlds of eventing, dressage, reining, mustang and colt starting, positive reinforcement, and liberty work.And even though I know it is literally impossible for any one person to hold all of the knowledge that these individuals carry, sometimes I have a hard time admitting that there are things I cant figure out myself if I just try hard enough, so reaching out when things go wrong isnt always easy for me.I recently read a post by Amy Skinner, in which she writes, As I tell my students often, I am critiquing the technique - not YOU as a person. So listen well, but dont smear it all over your heart because if you fail, its a moment in time, not who you are as a person.This is something I have to remind myself of over and over again. Making a mistake or not knowing something doesnt make me bad, and there is no endpoint to the accumulation of knowledge that makes anyone good. Its all just learning, not a determination of self-worth.My good friend Tik Maynard is preparing for Road to the Horse, a colt-starting competition at the end of March, and my winter farm is just down the road from his and his wife Sineads Copperline Farm, so I am getting some hands-on help from Tik while Im in Florida. Luna is at the right stage in her understanding to be great practice for Tik as he prepares for this event, while I also benefit immensely from his help with the next steps of her training.Here, I get to follow more of Amys advice when she says, The sooner you can develop the ability to differentiate criticism about something you are doing from your self-value, the sooner you can learn and learn well. While no one has blatantly criticized me for the work I have done with Luna, there has been more than enough self-criticism along the way.So now, every day that I watch Tik work with Luna, I have the opportunity to recognize those critical voices for what they are: immaterial roadblocks to my own development. I get to consciously practice allowing them to dissolve back into the space they arose from and float away on the Florida breeze while I refocus on the daily journey of learning.Special thanks to co-sponsors Alison Brigham and Michael Frankel, as well as the barn staff at Unexpected Farm who help make this journey possible.

Josh Nichol has helped countless riders develop healthy partnerships with their horses through his method of Relational Horsemanship. He joins Caroline Culbertson on Equestrian Voices for a thought-provoking conversation about how meeting your horse's needs can forge deeper connections, encourage softness, and reduce spooking. Here is a transcript of their conversation listen to the full episode here.Caroline Culbertson: What do we need to understand about how the rider may be contributing to a horses frequent spooking?Josh Nichol: You have to recognize horses are not just worrying about the thing that theyre spooking at. They also learn to worry about your reaction to the thing. I don't think we put enough energy on this. We know it with people; if youve ever had a boss or somebody in a working environment who gets upset really fast when you make a mistake, you're not worried about the mistake, you're worried about the reaction from your boss. But when you have someone respond to a mistake like, Hey, it's all good, let's just figure this out, you settle and you feel good.Caroline: Then you actually can learn from that mistake.Josh: Thats right. Your brain clicks on. When I get scared, I get self-preserving. Horses need stimulus to feel fear, while humans do not. You and I can become scared by thought alone. A horse needs stimulation.There are two things we need for our horses in these moments. First, is to see where they can soften to and then proceedbut dont keep forcing them on that thing. When it comes up again, just see what they can do. The second thing is to be the soft answer you would love to have in that same situation for yourself. What would you love to feel in another person with how they held space for you, when you were worried?Now in competitive environments, in these situations, we're not necessarily backing away. Weve got to stay to task and work our way through it. So I want to build our relationship around that. If we're going to do hard thingshow do we do hard things together in a way that allows my horse to feel safer?"Sometimes as riders, we're bad listeners because we're too motivated by the thing we want."Caroline Culbertson: When you're inviting softness from your horse in those moments, what might that look like? What might that feel like? Is that moving away from your leg? Is that giving to the bit?Josh Nichol: This is where sometimes people struggle in the beginning, but it is more philosophical. If let's say, I connect with my reins, the essence of rebalancing is the half halt, because you're connecting with your hand, you're reengaging your seat, you apply a subtle pressure. There's a pressure inside of that, but as the horse feels that they soften back to the hand and they elongate their top line. There's a rebalancing and a re-softening.When I connect initially, I'm always trying to listen. Sometimes as riders, we're bad listeners because we're too motivated by the thing we want. What we don't recognize is that if you listen, you will have way more opportunity to get what you want anyway.As soon as any creature doesn't feel heard, they're immediately defensive. All you have to do is let someone feel heard and they become immediately open. This is the other piece, our horses can only soften to the degree that we're softening.A lot of times as riders, we want the horse to do the thing, but it's not happening in us. It's not happening in us, but we're pushing on something else to do it. This creates so much mud because it has a hypocritical energy to it. I'm out here spooking at everything that comes up in my life. I'm allowing the world to control me. I'm influenced entirely by the external world and I want my horse not to be. But if that frequency is coming off me all the time and horses can feel it.Horses have drawn me to personal growth because of observing over and over the fact that the horses are primarily resonating off the energy that comes off me. They're not resonating just off the competency of my techniques. Not to underestimate that, that is very valuable, but I feel like we overestimate using techniques to compensate for internal incompetencies.If I desire my horse to stop spooking, then I need to do a little bit of self reflection on what's happening in me and my world. Am I allowing everything around me to control me? Am I hot because somebody says something that makes me mad, or am I able to maybe breathe through things and allow things to pass and allow myself to feel how I desire?That is the high answer to helping our horses not spook. It's that we do enough work within ourselves that we're not attached to it. Then we can be an example of something new, which is what leads a horse to a change.Leadership isn't about making a horse do stuff. That's dominance. Leadership is about doing something in yourself enough that others are drawn to it. That's leadership.

More impulsion! Most of us have heard our coaches cry usually accompanied by a hearty clap or imitation of riding forward. But what does impulsion actually mean to you, your trainer, or the judge scoring you?By listener request, were breaking down riding terms that have mystified riders for years. Caroline is joined by Rob Van Jacobs, a USEF R Rated judge for hunters and equitation. As a judge, trainer and rider, Rob interprets the differences between rhythm, tempo, pace, and speed not as semantics but as part of a show ring strategy.Understanding these terms can improve your communication as a rider or trainer, and influence your decisions moving forward. For instance, knowing tempo can help you select which show rings your horse can thrive in and offer important considerations for buying horses. Well also cover:Why pace is more helpful than speed in the jumper ringThe difference between natural vs. created impulsionWhat hacking actually means and how it relates to recovery and fitnessHow to make a good first and last impression on a judge (yes, judges do notice if you forget to pet your horse!)Caroline and Rob also dive into some hot topics like whether or not judges need to have equivalent riding experience to the classes they are judging and where we may need to draw the line on draw-reins.