Some horses appear confident while others seem reactive or unsure, but what if confidence is more nuanced than that?

In this special episode from our NF+ Masterclass, The Confidence Advantage, Tik breaks down the five distinct areas where a horse can gain or lose confidence and how each one functions like a cup that can be filled from one to ten.

In this episode, you will learn:

1. Around Other Horses - Can your horse leave the herd calmly and enter new spaces without anxiety?
2. As an Explorer - Do the approach new environments with curiosity instead of fear?
3. In the Relationship - Do they see you as botha trusted friend and a steady leader?
4. In Specific Skills - Have they practiced their job enough to feel capable and secure in it?
5. In Their Skills and Sports - Practicing discipline-specific tasks with ease and gaining confidence through repetition and variety.

Tik also explains how these five areas interact and why a horse's confidence in you can help support everything else.

Watch the Full Course:

This episode is just one part of Tik Maynard's full Confidence Course, available exclusively on NF+.

Use code TIK25 for 25% off an annual NF+ membership and start building lasting confidence for you and your horse.

Streaming now at noellefloydplus.com. and follow along on instagram

You might know this feeling all too well. You want to trust your feel, keep growing, and do right by your horse, yet something in the culture makes you hesitate. Questioning a method or following your instincts can feel dangerous, like one honest moment could cost you belonging, spark backlash, or even put a target on your back.

In this episode, Sharon Madere, an equine behavior consultant and cult survivor, brings a special combination of lived experience and scientific expertise to help riders reclaim their clarity, confidence, and curiosity. As a lifelong horsewoman, she understands the mechanics of influence, pressure, and obedience in ways most people never articulate. And she applies that perspective directly to the horse world in a way that is both affirming and liberating.

In this conversation, you will learn:

• The clear signs of cult-like leadership in horse communities
• Why emotionally charged language like disrespect or naughty derails presence and erodes confidence
• How to stay grounded, think critically, and avoid manipulation as a student or owner
• Practical tips on training, positive reinforcement, and making better choices for you AND your horse
• Why empowerment and curiosity matter more than any "guru"

Sharon also shares practical strategies for safer, clearer horsemanship, from building boundaries in a herd to teaching effective trailer loading. It is a conversation that blends science, psychology, and lived wisdom into something every rider can immediately apply.

Resources and Mentions:

• Sharon's podcast: Feet of Clay: Confessions of the Cult Sisters
• Sharon's Website : EquiLightenment.com
• International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC)

Chapters:

• 00:00 Is the Horse World Acting Like a Cult?
• 02:10 Sharon's Story: Growing Up in a Religious Cult
• 08:45 How Cult Psychology Works
• 15:20 Authority Culture in Horse Training
• 21:30 The Danger of "Disrespect" in Horsemanship
• 28:40 When Riders Stop Trusting Their Intuition
• 35:15 Science vs Dogma in Equine Behavior
• 43:00 Reclaiming Critical Thinking in the Horse World
• 50:00 What Needs to Change

This episode is sponsored by YETI

Made for early mornings in the barn and long days in the saddle. Whether you're hauling feed, chasing daylight on the trail, or loading up for a weekend on the road, YETI coolers and drinkware are built to handle it.

No shortcuts. No compromise.

Just gear that works as hard as you do.

Explore more at YETI.com | @YETI | facebook.com/YETI

In Part 2 with Dr. Dennis Brooks, we step fully into the world as horses see it. This episode unpacks the five emerging immune mediated eye diseases he is treating around the world, why one of them is more alarming than moon blindness, and how tiny changes in the cornea can trigger sudden behavior shifts.

We explore how horses process color, motion, and depth, why their optic nerves move information faster than ours, and how they can perform at an elite level with one eye or even with no vision. We also bridge ophthalmology with neuroscience to understand how the equine brain reads emotion, remembers experiences, and navigates the world with extraordinary sensitivity.

In this episode, you will learn:

• The five types of immune mediated keratitis and the one specialists worry most about • How to spot early signs of cloudiness, floaters, or subtle vision changes • What colors horses truly see and how this affects training and jump design • Why horses detect motion in low light far better than humans • How elite horses perform with limited or no vision • How the equine brain processes emotion, memory, and spatial cues • When sudden behavior changes may originate in the eye and what to do next

Connect with Dr. Dennis Brooks :

• Facebook: Dr. Dennis Brooks, Equine Ophthalmologist

Book they would read to the Horse World - Veterinary and Comparative Ophthalmology, published in 1914 by Eugene Nicolas

Episode sponsored by:

Total Feeds

Our mission to provide quality nutrition to people and animals puts us in contact with all manner of interesting folks. Whether you're interested in our animal feed, or the people involved in the animal industry: you'll find it at Total Feeds!

Check out our line of Quality Animal Feeds here: https://totalfeeds.com

YETI

Made for early mornings in the barn and long days in the saddle. Whether you're hauling feed, chasing daylight on the trail, or loading up for a weekend on the road, YETI coolers and drinkware are built to handle it.

No shortcuts. No compromise.

Just gear that works as hard as you do.

Explore more at yeti.com | @yeti | facebook.com/YETI

And for even more expert-led workshops, in-depth courses, and exclusive lectures designed to elevate your riding and horsemanship, visit NoelleFloydPlus.com and use code 'DHW' for 15% off annual memberships!

NF+ brings you direct access to top equestrian professionals, training insights, and a passionate community of riders dedicated to learning and improving.

And you can follow us on instagram too! Click here 👉 www.instagram.com/dearhorseworld

When you meet Dr. Dennis Brooks, you understand why horse people around the world talk about him with a kind of reverence. He is one of the most influential equine ophthalmologists of our time, the OG of horse eye care, yet what makes him unforgettable is not just the medicine. It is the heart behind it. In this episode, Dennis takes us inside the world of horse eyes with the clarity of a teacher, the soul of a storyteller, and the honesty of someone who has spent a lifetime caring deeply for horses and the people who love them.

In this episode, you'll hear:

• Why Dennis became the original pioneer of modern equine ophthalmology
• How breakthrough surgeries changed what is possible for horses with severe eye disease
• Why Appaloosas are genetically more vulnerable to uveitis
• The simple eyelash position test that instantly tells you if a horse is in eye pain
• How the immune system and the eye communicate and why that matters
• What immune mediated keratitis is and the 5 emerging types Dennis is seeing worldwide
• Why one of those new diseases is more frightening than moon blindness
• What every horse owner should know to protect their horse's vision

This episode blends science with story, medicine with emotion, and legacy with practical takeaways. It is a rare chance to learn from the man who shaped an entire field while reminding us that the best medicine always begins with human connection.

This episode is brought to you by Total Feeds

Our mission to provide quality nutrition to people and animals puts us in contact with all manner of interesting folks. Whether you're interested in our animal feed, or the people involved in the animal industry: you'll find it at Total Feeds!

Check out our line of Quality Animal Feeds here: https://totalfeeds.com

And for even more expert-led workshops, in-depth courses, and exclusive lectures designed to elevate your riding and horsemanship, visit NoelleFloydPlus.com and use code 'DHW' for 15% off annual memberships!

NF+ brings you direct access to top equestrian professionals, training insights, and a passionate community of riders dedicated to learning and improving.

And you can follow us on instagram too! Click here 👉 www.instagram.com/dearhorseworld

Part 2 continues the conversation by moving into the moments that test riders and trainers alike. This episode focuses on what happens when something doesn't feel right, and the courage it can take to pause, question, or choose a different path in the middle of a lesson.

Karen Rohlf is an FEI Grand Prix dressage rider, USDF Gold Medalist, internationally respected clinician, and the founder of Dressage Naturally. In this part of the conversation, Karen explores how easily context gets overlooked in training, and why protecting the relationship must come before any single exercise or result.

Karen and Noelle talk about situations many riders recognize immediately: being asked to push forward when a horse is clearly uncomfortable, feeling pressure to comply even when instincts say otherwise, and how quickly intuition can be silenced.

In this episode, you'll hear:

• Why some "training problems" are actually context problems
• How fear and tension are often mislabeled
• How to be a mindful, courageous student
• How trainers can foster confident, curious riders
• Why no result is worth sacrificing the relationship

Karen also shares how different horses require different approaches, why consistency does not mean sameness, and how commitment to a decision matters more than the decision itself.

Part 2 invites riders and trainers to reflect on how trust is built moment by moment, and how much influence educators have in shaping riders who feel safe to think, feel, and advocate for their horses.

Resources & Mentions

• Karen Rohlf's Book: Dressage Naturally https://dressagenaturally.net/book/
• Dressage Naturally https://dressagenaturally.net/
• Parelli https://parelli.com/
• The Black Stallion by Walter Farley

Episode Sponsored by:

YETI

Made for early mornings in the barn and long days in the saddle. Whether you're hauling feed, chasing daylight on the trail, or loading up for a weekend on the road, YETI coolers and drinkware are built to handle it.

No shortcuts. No compromise.

Just gear that works as hard as you do.

Explore more at yeti.com | @yeti | facebook.com/YETI

Amazon Disclosure: Third-party books and products denoted on this page and website may be hyperlinked to the Amazon affiliate program. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Have you ever questioned whether the way you've been taught to train truly fits the horse in front of you? Most people don't. And when they do, they're often reprimanded for it, which is usually enough to make them stop asking.

We repeat the same exercises and routines because that's how we were taught, rarely questioning the system even when our horses do. This conversation challenges that pattern and asks a harder question: what happens when the system stops working for the horse?

Karen Rohlf is an FEI Grand Prix dressage rider, USDF Gold Medalist, internationally respected clinician, and the founder of Dressage Naturally. Her career spans the highest levels of the sport, but the foundation of her work traces back to her first horse. As a child, Karen watched that horse be sold and change in ways that frightened her. Same horse. Same environment. Completely different outcome under different hands. That moment led her to make a promise to herself and to every horse she would ride, a promise that still guides her work today.

In Part 1, Karen shares stories she rarely tells publicly. She explains why she stepped away from a conventional training model most professionals never question. She tells the story of a horse who flinched simply for touching something in the barn aisle, and what changed when she responded differently than she had been taught. These moments show how curiosity and confidence can return to horses who have shut down, and why what we call tension is often something we haven't learned to read.

During the conversation, lightning strikes just as Karen names three essential needs of horses, reinforcing a central theme of the episode: the system is often the problem, not the horse.

In this episode, you will hear:

• The childhood experience that shaped Karen's approach to horses
• Why curiosity is often suppressed and what happens when it returns
• How to distinguish between physical, mental, and emotional training challenges
• Why giving horses real choice builds confidence rather than resistance
• Why no two horses should ever be trained the same way
• How tension often disguises itself as dullness or resistance

In this episode, you will learn how to recognize horses as individuals and partners, and how to ground your training in responsibility and trust.

Resources & Mentions:

Karen Rohlf's Book: Dressage Naturally https://dressagenaturally.net/book/

Dressage Naturally https://dressagenaturally.net/

Episode Sponsored by:

YETI

Made for early mornings in the barn and long days in the saddle. Whether you're hauling feed, chasing daylight on the trail, or loading up for a weekend on the road, YETI coolers and drinkware are built to handle it.

No shortcuts. No compromise.

Just gear that works as hard as you do. Explore more at yeti.com.

📱 @yeti

📱 facebook.com/YETI

Have you ever felt your heart thumping and your palms sweating before a competition, only to realize it wasn't just nerves but something deeper? Riders know what it means to carry pressure long before a round begins. It often starts early. Parents want so deeply for their children to thrive, yet the fear of falling behind can blur the line between supporting and pushing. Most riders have compared themselves to people who make the hardest moments look effortless. And when some young riders rise while others quietly disappear, it forces all of us to question what truly creates long term success. In this episode, we sit down with Rodrigo Pessoa, who brings honesty and decades of legendary experience. As one of the most iconic show jumpers of our generation, his openness is a rare gift. He shares how real development comes from patience, thoughtful pressure and the courage to learn in full view of others. He also explains why young horses and young riders need almost the exact same environment to thrive. Rodrigo takes us inside the realities shaping modern sport. He talks about why wealth does not create perseverance, how the wrong coach can derail a rider faster than no coach at all, and why early pressure often shuts potential down rather than unlocking it. He reflects on the mentorship behind Baloubet du Rouet and the moment that permanently changed how he handles public scrutiny. By the end, you will understand the sport more clearly and feel steadier in your own path forward. You will learn: • How pressure really works and why timing matters more than intensity • Why perseverance and engagement outweigh access or privilege • What ruins good horses and good riders and how to prevent it • How to set goals that stretch you without overwhelming you • Why comparison derails progress and how professionals truly think about it • The core mentorship principles behind developing young horses and young athletes

Rodrigo's book that he would read to the Horse World - Six Feet Above by Peder Fredricson

Learn more about Rodrigo Pessoa on Instagram at @rodrigopessoa29

This episode is brought to you by Connaway & Associates Equine Insurance Services, Inc. The friendly and knowledgeable team at Connaway & Associates brings together more than 30 years of experience to offer a wide range of insurance services, including horse insurance, farm insurance, and liability insurance. Visit www.connaway.net to explore options, or get in touch today. instagram.com/connawayassociates www.facebook.com/people/Connaway-Associates-Equine-Insurance-Services-Inc/100063556540763/

and YETI

Made for early mornings in the barn and long days in the saddle. Whether you're hauling feed, chasing daylight on the trail, or loading up for a weekend on the road, YETI coolers and drinkware are built to handle it.

No shortcuts. No compromise.

Just gear that works as hard as you do. Explore more at yeti.com.

@yeti

facebook.com/YETI

Amazon Disclosure: Third-party books and products denoted on this page and website may be hyperlinked to the Amazon affiliate program. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

So many riders want their horses sharper, quicker, and more responsive, yet end up drilling, micromanaging, and unintentionally shutting their horses down. Hall of Fame cutting horse trainer Lindy Burch offers a wildly refreshing reframing: what if the sharpest horses are not the ones you control the most, but the ones you allow to think?

In cutting, the horse has to make decisions in real time. They must read the cow, feel the moment, and respond faster than the rider ever could. In this episode, Lindy breaks down how she develops horses who stay mentally present, balanced, and tuned in, not by force, but through short, thoughtful training bursts, strong foundations, and the power of letting the horse learn from the cow itself.

You will hear Lindy unpack the origins of cutting, what makes a great cutting horse, how to ride with more feel, why short sessions produce better learning, and why riding outside the arena creates more balanced, emotionally sound partners in any discipline.

No matter your discipline, this conversation will shift the way you think about responsiveness, contact, pressure, partnership, and how to build a horse that truly tries for you.

You will learn:

• Why micromanagement dulls horses and how to create a horse that thinks with you
• How to use short, focused sessions and the environment as your greatest training tools
• Why riding outside the arena and honoring your horse's mind leads to deeper connection
• Lindy's book that she would read to the Horse World - The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

Resources:

• Evidence Based Horsemanship by Martin Black and Stephen Peters
• The history of the National Cutting Horse Association
• The National Cowgirl Hall of Fame

Learn more about Lindy Burch

Website: https://lindyburch.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindyburchcuttinghorses Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lindyburchcutters

This episode is brought to you by:

Total Feeds

Our mission to provide quality nutrition to people and animals puts us in contact with all manner of interesting folks. Whether you're interested in our animal feed, or the people involved in the animal industry: you'll find it at Total Feeds!

Check out our line of Quality Animal Feeds here: https://totalfeeds.com

and

YETI

Made for early mornings in the barn and long days in the saddle. Whether you're hauling feed, chasing daylight on the trail, or loading up for a weekend on the road, YETI coolers and drinkware are built to handle it.

No shortcuts. No compromise.

Just gear that works as hard as you do.

Explore more at yeti.com | @yeti | facebook.com/YETI

Amazon Disclosure: Third-party books and products denoted on this page and website may be hyperlinked to the Amazon affiliate program. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Frustration is a human emotion, and it almost inevitably shows up in every rider's journey. The question is what you do when it does.

In this episode, Olympic dressage medalist Laura Graves steps in as your coach and mentor, sharing the mindset that guides her when riding feels more hard than harmonious. This clip comes from her NF+ masterclass Laura Graves Troubleshoots Common Flatwork Woes and offers a rare look into how an elite rider thinks during the private moments of training, when there are no quick answers and no one else in the arena.

Laura reflects on learning to pause instead of pushing, and on the role curiosity plays when a horse doesn't respond as expected. She speaks about developing your own internal dialogue and giving both yourself and your horse the space to figure things out without judgment.

This episode is an invitation to ride with more awareness and patience, guided by one of the most thoughtful voices in the sport.

Listen in and discover what can change when you shift from frustration to curiosity.

Watch Laura Graves Troubleshoots Common Flatwork Woes on NF+. Use the code DHW to receive 15% off an annual membership.

https://noellefloydplus.com/programs/laura-graves-troubleshoots-common-flatwork-woes?category_id=208907

Learn more about Laura Graves

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauragravesdressage/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lauragraves.dressage/

NF+ :https://noellefloydplus.com/authors/author-B6lI72KCcaM

Welcome back to No Stupid Questions, the nutrition edition with Dr. Harry Anderson. In part Part 2 we take deeper look at the physiology that drives your horse's behavior, metabolism, and overall health.

We explore the way sugar, minerals, and fiber interact inside the horse. We talk about why some horses puff up, why certain forage creates sharpness, and how small choices in the feed room can shift the entire internal environment. This is the kind of steady, clear education most of us never received but always needed.

In this episode we cover: • The horse's unique digestive design and how it works in real life • The truth about fiber and why long stem forage is not the full picture • How sugar and NSC influence behavior, energy, and metabolic health • The role of key minerals like magnesium and manganese • What causes swelling, puffiness, or digestive instability • How to approach hay, supplements, and slow feeding with clarity

Referenced Products and Resources: Total Equine Feed Total Equine LNSC Ascophyllum Nodosum Kelp Research Equine Hay Analysis Labs Dr. Harry Anderson on YouTube

This is Part 2 of a two part series, be sure to listen to Part 1 for the full foundation.

Learn more about Dr. Harry Anderson Website https://totalfeeds.com YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@totalfeeds