If your horse likes to stand a little too close for comfort, you know how fast "friendly" can turn into "please step back."

In this episode of Groundwork Guys, Tik Maynard and Nick Rivera unpack what's really going on when a horse ignores your space and why calling it bad manners might be missing the point.

They dig into the difference between respect and fear, and how to build a boundary that feels fair, not forceful. The conversation moves from the science of horse behavior to the art of staying calm when things get crowded.

Here's what they explore:

• Why "manners" are taught, not instinctive

• How to hold your ground without creating a standoff

• The importance of catching the first subtle "no" from your horse

• What it means to enter a horse's space politely

• How emotional neutrality becomes your most powerful training tool

Tik and Nick bring humor and honesty to a universal challenge, reminding us that groundwork is never about control. It's about communication, timing, and the kind of calm energy your horse can trust.

Listen to Groundwork Guys: The Pushy Horse Problem wherever you get your podcasts, and explore the full series for a limited time on NF+ or inside Camp Horse World, the new equestrian learning marketplace.

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Groundwork Guys - Now streaming on NOËLLE FLOYD's new platform Camp HorseWorld" linked to https://camphorseworld.com/pages/groundwork-guys