Send Mary a text!

What if a simple, mindful touch could improve your dog’s or horse’s movement, comfort, and even emotional well-being? In this episode, Mary Debono shares how to use your hands and your heart to do a gentle “scan”—a profoundly simple practice that awakens awareness, fosters mobility, and strengthens your bond.

You’ll learn:

• Why your hands act like a kinesthetic mirror for your animal’s body
• How curiosity (not correction) supports nervous system change
• What to feel for: structure, temperature, response, symmetry
• Why these moments of shared awareness build trust and connection
• How CLTMs (special receptors) create calm and deepen the bond
• When a quiet pause may be the most powerful part of your session

Whether you're working with a horse, dog, or cat, this episode will show you how slowing down and tuning in can help your animal move better—and feel better—without needing to “fix” them.

Resources:

Grab your FREE videos on Connected Breathing and Rhythm Circles to help your dog. 🐕 https://www.marydebono.com/lovedog 💥

Get your free videos on Connected Breathing and Rhythm Circles with your horse. 🐎https://tinyurl.com/equine-videos

Get Mary’s bestselling, award-winning book, “Grow Young with Your Dog,” for a super low price at: https://tinyurl.com/growyoungwithyourdog. Demonstration videos are included at no extra cost.

Want to sit in a more balanced, secure way? Click here for all the details on our Feldenkrais series:
Effortless, Balanced Sitting: A FeldenkraisⓇ Movement Series   

All information is for general educational purposes ONLY and does not constitute medical or veterinary advice or professional training advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare provider if you, your horse, or your dog are unwell or injured.  Always use extreme caution when interacting with horses and dogs.

Email [email protected]

Send Mary a text!

Confusion isn’t failure—it’s a signal that your brain (or your animal’s) is learning something new. In this episode, Mary Debono shares how embracing confusion can improve your movement, mindset, and connection with your horse or dog. 

Key Takeaways

• Confusion is a natural and valuable part of the learning process.
• Your nervous system—and your animal’s—needs time and space to process new information.
• Novelty and variation disrupt habitual patterns, leading to more efficient movement.
• Asking “How can this feel easier?” can guide you through confusion with grace.
• The key is not to fix but to support—whether it’s your dog, your horse, or yourself.
• Allowing for confusion builds patience, compassion, and a deeper connection.

Resources:

Grab your FREE videos on Connected Breathing and Rhythm Circles to help your dog. 🐕 https://www.marydebono.com/lovedog 💥

Get your free videos on Connected Breathing and Rhythm Circles with your horse. 🐎https://tinyurl.com/equine-videos

Get Mary’s bestselling, award-winning book, “Grow Young with Your Dog,” for a super low price at: https://tinyurl.com/growyoungwithyourdog. Demonstration videos are included at no extra cost.

Want to sit in a more balanced, secure way? Click here for all the details on our Feldenkrais series:
Effortless, Balanced Sitting: A FeldenkraisⓇ Movement Series   

All information is for general educational purposes ONLY and does not constitute medical or veterinary advice or professional training advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare provider if you, your horse, or your dog are unwell or injured.  Always use extreme caution when interacting with horses and dogs.

Email [email protected]

Send Mary a text!

Would you like to use your imagination to deepen your connection with your horse or dog? In this episode, you’ll learn how to use your imagination to not only deepen your connection with your horse or dog but also increase the effectiveness of bodywork and training sessions. 

Key Takeaways:

1. Your brain doesn't strongly distinguish between vivid imagination and physical experience—"what you imagine, you embody."
2. Visualizing a connection of light with your animal creates real physiological changes in your body that your animal can detect.
3. Animals constantly read the world through somatic and energetic cues, sensing your tension, intention, and inner state.
4. This practice creates a "connection loop"—a feedback cycle where your shifts cause your animal to respond, deepening the bond.
5. Intentionally sending loving energy increases heart coherence, which science shows can influence those nearby.
6. This approach helps bring love back to the center when worry, fear or expectations might be pushing it aside.
7. The visualization "turbocharges" hands-on work like Debono Moves, creating a synergistic effect.
8. Even just one minute of this practice can reduce your stress and invite new possibilities for both you and your animal.

Resources:

Grab your FREE videos on Connected Breathing and Rhythm Circles to help your dog. 🐕 https://www.marydebono.com/lovedog 💥

Get your free videos on Connected Breathing and Rhythm Circles with your horse. 🐎https://tinyurl.com/equine-videos

Get Mary’s bestselling, award-winning book, “Grow Young with Your Dog,” for a super low price at: https://tinyurl.com/growyoungwithyourdog. Demonstration videos are included at no extra cost.

Want to sit in a more balanced, secure way? Click here for all the details on our Feldenkrais series:
Effortless, Balanced Sitting: A FeldenkraisⓇ Movement Series   

All information is for general educational purposes ONLY and does not constitute medical or veterinary advice or professional training advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare provider if you, your horse, or your dog are unwell or injured.  Always use extreme caution when interacting with horses and dogs.

Email [email protected]

Send Mary a text!

In this episode, Mary Debono shares how cultivating resonance—a felt sense of connection between you and your animal—can profoundly transform your relationship with your horse or dog.

Whether through hands-on Debono Moves, quiet companionship, or simply breathing together, resonance helps you tune in more deeply to your animal—and yourself. Mary explains how subtle shifts in attention, gratitude, and gentle support can activate your animal’s nervous system in a healing, trust-building way.

Through real-life stories, including working with an aging Australian Shepherd and liberty play with her beloved horse Breeze, Mary reveals how resonance can become a guidepost for more meaningful interaction. 

You’ll also learn practical ways to begin cultivating this quiet, powerful connection today—and why it’s one of the most valuable things you can share with your animal.

Resources:

Grab your FREE videos on Connected Breathing and Rhythm Circles to help your dog. 🐕 https://www.marydebono.com/lovedog 💥

Get your free videos on Connected Breathing and Rhythm Circles with your horse. 🐎https://tinyurl.com/equine-videos

Get Mary’s bestselling, award-winning book, “Grow Young with Your Dog,” for a super low price at: https://tinyurl.com/growyoungwithyourdog. Demonstration videos are included at no extra cost.

Want to sit in a more balanced, secure way? Click here for all the details on our Feldenkrais series:
Effortless, Balanced Sitting: A FeldenkraisⓇ Movement Series   

All information is for general educational purposes ONLY and does not constitute medical or veterinary advice or professional training advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare provider if you, your horse, or your dog are unwell or injured.  Always use extreme caution when interacting with horses and dogs.

Email [email protected]

Send Mary a text!

Check out our Move with Your Horse Foundations group coaching program. 💥  🥳 Doors close soon! 💥

Many riders try to fix their horse’s movement challenges—stiffness, bending issues, or unevenness—by stretching, using stronger aids, or forcing a certain posture. But what if the real key to improvement isn’t about control at all?

In this episode, I’ll share how fostering connection instead of imposing control allows your horse to move with greater ease, comfort, and balance. You’ll learn why traditional fixes often fail, how the nervous system influences movement, and what you can do instead to help your horse find movement that feels good—without tension or force.

I’ll also share a personal story of overcoming severe carpal tunnel syndrome and how the principles I used to heal myself apply directly to helping horses move better.

By the end of this episode, you’ll have a new perspective on:
 ✔ Why traditional stretching and corrections often don’t work.
 ✔ How to support your horse’s movement through safety and awareness.
 ✔ The role of the horse-human system in creating lasting improvements.

If you want to enhance your horse’s movement while deepening your bond, this episode is for you!

Resources:

Want to improve movement efficiency, comfort, and connection for both you and your horse? 

Check out our Move with Your Horse Foundations group coaching program. 💥  🥳 This is a limited-time offer. 💥

💥Learn how the Feldenkrais Method can help improve your seat, position, and balance on your horse! Free rider videos masterclass: https://www.marydebono.com/rider 💥

Interested in improving movement efficiency, comfort, and connection for you and your dog? Get Mary’s bestselling, award-winning book, “Grow Young with Your Dog,” for a super low price at: https://tinyurl.com/growyoungwithyourdog. Demonstration videos are included at no extra cost. 

Grab your FREE video training to help your dog. 🐕 https://www.marydebono.com/lovedog 💥

All information is for general educational purposes ONLY and does not constitute medical or veterinary advice or professional training advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare provider if you, your horse, or your dog are unwell or injured.  Always use extreme caution when interacting with horses and dogs.

Send Mary a text!

Discover why movement efficiency is crucial for humans, horses, and dogs alike. Learn how maladaptive movement patterns create wear and tear, while efficient movement reduces joint damage, increases power, and simply feels better—leading to more vitality and range of motion for all species.

Resources:

Want freer, more comfortable hips? Check out our Smart, Supple Hips Feldenkrais series. 

Want to improve movement efficiency, comfort, and connection for both you and your horse? 

Check out our Move with Your Horse Foundations group coaching program. 💥  🥳 This is a limited-time offer. 💥

Interested in improving movement efficiency, comfort, and connection for you and your dog? Get Mary’s bestselling, award-winning book, “Grow Young with Your Dog,” for a super low price at: https://tinyurl.com/growyoungwithyourdog. Demonstration videos are included at no extra cost. 


All information is for general educational purposes ONLY and does not constitute medical or veterinary advice or professional training advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare provider if you, your horse, or your dog are unwell or injured.  Always use extreme caution when interacting with horses and dogs.

Email [email protected]

Send Mary a text!

In this episode, Mary Debono blends neuroscience, practical techniques, and compassionate understanding to give dog owners new tools for helping their anxious companions. 

By the end, you'll understand how to transform your relationship with your dog through physical and emotional connection, ultimately giving them the confidence to face challenges with calm assurance.

Learn how Connected Breathing and Rhythm Circles can reset your dog's nervous system, build confidence, and create new neural pathways – all through gentle, compassionate connection. 

Resources:

Grab your FREE videos on Connected Breathing and Rhythm Circles to help your dog. 🐕 https://www.marydebono.com/lovedog 💥

Get your free videos on Connected Breathing and Rhythm Circles with your horse. 🐎https://tinyurl.com/equine-videos

Want to learn even more? Check out our Move with Your Horse Foundations group coaching program. 💥 Use coupon code EARLYSTART to get bonus classes AND save $200 with early enrollment! 🥳 This is a limited time offer. 💥

Get Mary’s bestselling, award-winning book, “Grow Young with Your Dog,” for a super low price at: https://tinyurl.com/growyoungwithyourdog. Demonstration videos are included at no extra cost. 


All information is for general educational purposes ONLY and does not constitute medical or veterinary advice or professional training advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare provider if you, your horse, or your dog are unwell or injured.  Always use extreme caution when interacting with horses and dogs.

Email [email protected]

Send Mary a text!

Mary Debono addresses a common challenge faced by many horse owners: the herd-bound horse. Rather than using punitive methods that cause more fear, Mary shares innovative, humane, and effective ways to help horses feel secure when separated from their herd.

She emphasizes the importance of recognizing this natural behavior and working with it rather than against it.

The episode introduces several powerful practices:

1. Connected Breathing: A foundational practice where you place your hands on your horse's ribcage and sense their breathing, creating a tactile conversation that promotes relaxation and deep connection.
2. Heart-Centered Appreciation: Mary explains how focusing on feelings of love and gratitude for your horse can change your physiological state in ways your horse can detect, creating a calming effect.
3. Rhythm Circles: A specific hands-on process that provides support and relief to the horse's soft tissues, deepening the sense of connection and safety.

The episode also addresses the rider's confidence, emphasizing that your emotional state significantly impacts your horse. Mary recommends her FeldenkraisⓇ-based "Effortless Balanced Sitting Series" to help riders feel more secure in the saddle.

Whether you have a herd-bound horse or a dog with anxiety (which will be covered in the next episode), these practices offer a compassionate, effective approach to building confidence and a deeper bond with your animal companion.

Resources:
Want to sit in a more balanced, secure way? Click here for all the details on our new series: https://tinyurl.com/balanced-sitting
Effortless, Balanced Sitting: A FeldenkraisⓇ Movement Series  

Get your free videos on Connected Breathing and Rhythm Circles with your horse. 🐎https://tinyurl.com/equine-videos

Want to learn even more? Check out our Move with Your Horse Foundations group coaching program. 💥 Use coupon code EARLYSTART to get bonus classes AND save $200 with early enrollment! 🥳 This is a limited time offer. 💥

Grab your FREE videos on Connected Breathing and Rhythm Circles to help your dog. 🐕 https://www.marydebono.com/lovedog 💥

Get Mary’s bestselling, award-winning book, “Grow Young with Your Dog,” for a super low price at: https://tinyurl.com/growyoungwithyourdog. Demonstration videos are included at no extra cost. 


All information is for general educational purposes ONLY and does not constitute medical or veterinary advice or professional training advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare provider if you, your horse, or your dog are unwell or injured.  Always use extreme caution when interacting with horses and dogs.

Email [email protected]

Send Mary a text!

What if the key to helping your horse or dog move with ease wasn’t about “fixing” them but connecting with them?

In this episode, I challenge the idea of correction-based approaches and explain why true change happens through mindful support, not force. I introduce my Possibilities in Motion framework—a powerful yet simple way to connect with your animal, relieve tension, and gently guide them toward easier movement.

You’ll also hear the inspiring story of Zoey, a dog who wouldn’t use her surgically repaired leg despite all traditional rehab efforts. The breakthrough? A simple yet profound shift in connection that helped her nervous system feel safe enough to change.

This episode is for anyone who wants to deepen their bond with their animal and help them move with greater comfort, confidence, and joy—without force or frustration.

Resources:
Doors open in March! Join the waitlist for the next Move with Your Horse Foundations program and get your discount code!  https://www.marydebono.com/joinhorse. 🐎

Grab your FREE video training to help your dog. 🐕 https://www.marydebono.com/lovedog 💥

Show notes for this episode: https://www.marydebono.com/blog/111

Get Mary’s bestselling, award-winning book, “Grow Young with Your Dog,” for a super low price at: https://tinyurl.com/growyoungwithyourdog. Demonstration videos are included at no extra cost. ⬅️⬅️⬅️

Want to sit in a more balanced, secure way? Click here for all the details on our new series.
Effortless, Balanced Sitting: A FeldenkraisⓇ Movement Series  ⬅️⬅️⬅️

All information is for general educational purposes ONLY and does not constitute medical or veterinary advice or professional training advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare provider if you, your horse, or your dog are unwell or injured.  Always use extreme caution when interacting with horses and dogs.

Email [email protected]

Send Mary a text!

Discover how the Feldenkrais Method® and Debono Moves use gentle movements to help you, your horse, and your dog feel safer and more at ease. Learn how mindful movement engages the nervous system, reduces tension, and fosters confidence—without force. Tune in for simple ways to enhance well-being for all! 

Resources:
Want to sit in a more balanced, secure way? Click here for all the details on our new series.
Effortless, Balanced Sitting: A FeldenkraisⓇ Movement Series  ⬅️⬅️⬅️

💥Learn how the Feldenkrais Method can help improve your seat, position, and balance on your horse! Free rider videos: https://www.marydebono.com/rider 💥

Grab your FREE video training to help your dog. 🐕 https://www.marydebono.com/lovedog 💥

Get Mary’s bestselling, award-winning book, “Grow Young with Your Dog,” for a super low price at: https://tinyurl.com/growyoungwithyourdog. Demonstration videos are included at no extra cost. ⬅️⬅️⬅️

All information is for general educational purposes ONLY and does not constitute medical or veterinary advice or professional training advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare provider if you, your horse, or your dog are unwell or injured.  Always use extreme caution when interacting with horses and dogs.

Email [email protected]