Tea Time with Elsa

Chatting about: The Pros and Cons of Distraction…

In this episode we talk about why and when I why I teach distraction as a good choice in the relationships with horses. Trainers who have tools to keep a horse from leaving them will sometimes choose to wait through a cycle of concern in the horse, allowing it to pass naturally. Without tools we may, or may not, be able to do that successfully. Practicing distraction before we need it builds the skill, then knowing our horse well enough allows us to use that skill when it is needed. While also allowing our horse time to self regulate when that is possible.

Originally aired on: September 16th, 2025

Chatting about: Chatting about: Timing, Technique and Pressure…

In this episode we talk about the key factors horse trainers focus on and how we might think about it differently.

Originally aired on: September 9th, 2025

Chatting about: Do The Ends Justify The Means…

In this episode we talk about the dilemma that all of us face when considering the amount of pressure it might, or might not, be reasonable to put on horses toward an end goal. 

Originally aired on: August 12th, 2025

Chatting about: Tell me how you feel…

In this episode, we talk about different ways to measure progress with our horses. It is easy to measure progress by taking notice of the tasks that can be accomplished, it is more nuanced and more interesting to me to measure progress by asking horses how they feel in the pauses between activities.

Originally aired on: June 17th, 2025

Chatting about: Solving for Better…

In this episode, we talk about how we can see an issue that needs to be solved and cut it in half, and in half again until the part we are working on feels set up for success. I recently had some new revelations about how this applies to horses who struggle with the feeling of touch, as well as how it applies to horses who need greater development in either self-regulation or co-regulation. 

Originally aired on: May 27th, 2025

Chatting about: “Emotional Cycles”…

In this episode, we talk about seeing the emotional cycles of a horse from moment to moment and using that awareness to better time our active and passive moments. First we watch the horse and learn about their cycles. Then we use our active and passive moments to prove to the horse that we understand them. Then we start timing our active and passive moments better to leave the horse wanting more of the right things and less of the wrong things. (The way I think of “right things” is in general anything that makes the horse feel better and more cooperative and “wrong things” is in general anything that makes the horse feel worse and less cooperative.)

Originally aired on: May 6th, 2025

Chatting about: Fear in Horses…

In this episode, we talk about understanding a horse’s fear in a categorical way. Their responses will be in either Fight or Flight and they will tend to be in reaction to one of four elements: movement, touch, approach, or sound. Once we can see a horse’s tendencies categorically, we can more easily break down the fear into bite sized pieces that they can learn about, growing their confidence incrementally.

Originally aired on: April 30th, 2025

Chatting about: Non-Negotiables

In this episode, we talk about the Non-Negotiable factor of space between partners if either one feels unsafe. If we cannot create space between partners in the moments that challenge safety we will need to consider using, more pressure, dominant training, or the presence of a fence between horse and human. Freedom of choice comes after we can trust the basic elements of acting safe around each other.

Originally aired on: April 22nd, 2025

Chatting about: “Balanced Gratitude”…

In this episode, we talk about how powerful gratitude is in horse training when we use it in a balanced way. Is the glass half full? Half empty? Or Both. I believe that seeing both the good and the difficult aspects of training is profoundly important with our horses.

Originally aired on: April 4th, 2025

Chatting about: Pressure, Priorities, and Habits...

In this episode, we talk about the balance of priorities with horses and how the development of habits can help us manage the pressure that comes along with life and the juggling of priorities.

Originally aired on: March 26th, 2025