In this episode, I answer a listener question about a horse who has become heavy on the bit.

Topics include:

• The importance of identifying concerns as a crucial first step before implementing any training techniques.
• How to identify limiting beliefs or thoughts that could hold you back
• I offer a new belief…with a warning
• How to detect if you really believe the new belief and technique will work.
• The concept of a "teeter totter" in horse training, where horses naturally shift between states of lightness and heaviness, sensitivity and desensitization, and forward and less forward movement.

By addressing underlying beliefs, riders can learn more about themselves and be more effective training their horse.

In this podcast episode, I answer a question from a listener who is preparing to start their horse under saddle and has questions about the progression from a rope halter to bits with shanks.

Topics include:

Progression with a focus on understanding the purpose of each tool. Consideration of the horse's understanding level, motivation, and emotional state Direct and indirect cues are explained The importance of technique over the choice of equipment.

I also offer three questions you can ask yourself that will point toward your understanding of your goal, your technique, and your horse's understanding or lack of understanding.

A listener wrote in that she recently got a new trail horse, and she said, "he's supposed to be a "super finished" trail horse." But he is not acting the way she imagined a finished trail horse should…

Which brings up the question: What is a finished horse? There are many categories that can be used to evaluate a horse, and often there are different levels within each category. In addition, 'finished' in one area doesn't necessarily mean finished in other, more basic areas.

In this episode, I explain the two most common versions of 'finished' and how to define them.

I also share how my view of 'never finished' has also positively impacted my relationship with my horses.

Early in training, or early in introducing a new concept, it is an EXCELLENT idea to reward the smallest try.

But here is the question.

When do you start expecting the full answer?

This is where people often get stuck.

In this podcast, I explain the challenge that comes along with only rewarding the smallest try, ant two common thought errors that keep people from aiming for the final answer.

Subtle shouldn't mean incomplete…but if you're not careful, that's what you'll teach.

It is remarkable how well horses can learn to read a rider's seat cues.

In this podcast, I explain how I use my seat cues to communicate with my horses, including how these seat cues can naturally develop.

A seat can:

• Follow the motion
• Get ahead of the motion
• Get behind the motion
• One hip bone can be more on top of the saddle-to the left or right
• One hip bone can be leading or behind

These can be used in many combinations to communicate in detail with your horse.

In this podcast, I start at the riders' head, and talk all the way down to the seat bones. Listen first to get and idea…and the second time, sit on a chair, ball or a tolerant horse and follow along with my descriptions.

If you've been listening to the podcast for a while, you have probably heard me say, "Your horse is asking you questions."

Sometimes people will reply, "My horse isn't asking questions…he is making statements!"

In this episode, I explain how horses develop limiting beliefs, what useful beliefs are, and how viewing something as a statement vs a question matters.

Your horse asks questions with his body.

When a horse is being ridden, the questions they ask look like; break of gait, speeding up, diving in, falling out, reversing directions, getting stuck in reverse…and lots of other behaviors riders often label as 'problems'.

Your horse's questions reveal his temperament. Your horse's questions reveal his training level.

YOUR interpretation of his behavior reveals your thinking.

The questions you ask will impact the information you gather and your entire riding experience.

Often times, the question "Am I doing this right" Or "Is this correct?" is a lightly veiled, "Is this wrong?" or "This is probably wrong…" or some variation.

You'll know by the way it feels in your body.

One way to improve your rate of learning is to ask high-quality questions. High-quality questions are rarely answered with a simple 'yes' or 'no'. High-quality questions are more specific, and inside answering them, the solution is often revealed.

In this episode I outline when the question, 'Is this correct?' might be useful, and I outline clear criteria for when I ask it…and how I answer it.

I also explain why it isn't a question I ask regularly, and the method of questioning that I find much more effective for increasing awareness and creating change.

One goal when riding is an increasing consistency in your horses' response to your cues. This will only be possible when YOU are consistent with the application of, and release of, the cue. The quickest, most reliable way to develop this is by keeping things simple and repeating them: riding a pattern.

But then what? And how can you know that the cue is being strengthened...not just the horse memorizing the pattern?

In this podcast, I outline - where to go next so you can ensure the horse is, indeed, responding to your cue. - the difference between steady pressure and rhythmic pressure - groundwork examples - ridden examples - common mistakes people make

It is important to rely on repetition at first to gain consistency. This builds a solid foundation you can return to any time you need a successful ride. Then you can begin to do things with more authority. Then you can do things in different locations. Then, you can refine the communication and ask for the same thing in multiple ways.

Have you ever wondered, but how do I get him to do it for longer? Maybe you want your horse to keep loping until you tell him to stop. Maybe you want him to stand until you ask him to go. Maybe you show in western dressage, and your horse keeps popping his head up during the free walk…and you want him to keep it down until you ask him to bring it back up.

A big part of getting a horse to maintain something starts with the horse's first response.

Repeatable comes before maintainable. Repeatable is key.

In this episode, I use three examples of where teaching something to be a strong, first response is key to future success.

If you have a question about this, go to my website and either leave a voicemail message, or email me at [email protected]

Training a horse involves creating a language between horse and rider. It is very common for a horse to be somewhat guessing at the answer at times during this process. Your response to their best guess, is what helps them narrow down to the one correct answer. If you are consistent…

This language includes your cue system: how you use your legs, seat, reins, voice…and the way you show up: focused, unfocused, etc.

If your horse is unsure, he will often guess from some of the things they have most recently been rewarded for….or what he likes best.

NOTHING HAS GONE WRONG. You are refining a language with a HORSE. If you stay consistent, the horse will use a process of elimination to determine which answer is the correct one.

If the horse is CONSISTENTLY guessing the wrong answer…then they are confused, then you must change something to help them get closer to the correct answer. Listen to this episode for the full explanation.