Training Tips

Your hub for Weekly Training Tips

4.15.2026

Helping a Distracted Horse Reconnect

In this training tip, I share an exercise I return to when a horse feels mentally somewhere else—distracted, fixated, or simply not quite with me in the present moment.

Rather than trying to override that state or push through it, this approach asks something different. It invites the horse back into awareness through movement—movement that requires them to organize their body, pay attention to their feet, and begin to reconnect with what’s happening right now.

What I’ve found over time is that when a horse is given the space to find that awareness, rather than being forced into it, the change tends to be more genuine and more lasting. You’ll start to notice it in small ways: a softening through the eye, a deeper breath, or that familiar lick and chew that tells you the horse is beginning to process and settle.

This isn’t about correcting distraction. It’s about acknowledging it—and offering the horse a way back.

If you’ve ever felt like your horse’s body is present but their mind is somewhere else, this exercise can become a quiet, reliable way to bring those two things back together.

4.7.2026

Introducing the Canter with Intention

In this training tip, we continue building on the groundwork sequence by introducing the next layer of forward energy: the canter.

Rather than focusing on simply “getting” the gait, this session looks at how to thoughtfully prepare the horse for the transition, ask with clarity, and then return to a neutral place so the horse can begin to carry themselves without being held.

You’ll also start to see how the pieces we’ve been building—backup, shoulders, circle, and forward energy—come together in a more fluid way. Small details, like how we prepare the transition and how consistent we are with our cues, can make a meaningful difference in how the horse understands and responds.

This is where the work begins to feel more dynamic, while still staying grounded in clarity and communication.

3.31.2026

Adding Forward Energy While Maintaining Clarity and Connection

In this training tip, I begin to bring the groundwork sequence onto a circle with forward movement while introducing two important pieces of communication: sound cues and focus.

Rather than relying on increasing pressure, this session explores how consistent sounds and intentional body focus can help a horse understand what’s coming next—allowing them to respond with more confidence and less tension.

You’ll also start to see the next step in the progression: how to thoughtfully move a horse forward—not just at the walk, but into the trot—without losing clarity or connection. The goal isn’t more energy for the sake of it, but learning how to add it in a way the horse can understand.

This is where the pieces begin to expand into a more dynamic, forward conversation.

3.10.2026

Understanding Steady Pressure

In this training tip, I introduce a different kind of pressure than the rhythmic cues we’ve been using so far—something called steady pressure. Instead of building energy in a predictable rhythm, steady pressure asks the horse to soften and organize themselves in relation to a quiet, consistent feel.

Working with a young horse, I demonstrate how this type of pressure can encourage small but meaningful changes—like lowering the head or beginning to step backward—while keeping the focus on softness, timing, and thoughtful release.

Along the way, you’ll also see how moments of distraction or curiosity can simply become part of the learning process rather than something that needs correction.

If you’ve been following the groundwork series and are curious about how different types of pressure influence a horse’s response, this video offers an important next piece of the conversation.

3.3.2026

Using the Backup to Navigate Gates Calmly

In this training tip, I share one of the most practical—and often overlooked—uses of the backup: helping horses move calmly and thoughtfully through narrow spaces like gates.

Many horses feel pressure when approaching small openings, which can lead them to rush through. In this video, I demonstrate a different approach—one that encourages the horse to slow down, think, and stay attentive as they navigate the space.

Working step by step, you’ll see how small moments of hesitation, curiosity, and adjustment become part of the learning process, and why patience in these moments can make everyday handling much safer and more relaxed.

If you’ve ever noticed your horse speeding up around gates or tight spaces, this exercise offers a simple way to help them stay calm and thoughtful.

2.17.2026

Groundwork in Motion: Building a Smooth Change of Direction

In this training tip, I build on the groundwork sequence we’ve been practicing and begin to show how those individual pieces can be smoothly connected to create a calm, thoughtful change of direction on the circle.

Rather than rushing the turn or pulling the horse in, the focus is on balance, space, and intention—teaching the horse to reorganize their body, stay attentive, and move into the new direction without crowding or losing clarity. You’ll also see how different approaches to a change of direction create a different “feel” in the horse’s balance and understanding.

Just as importantly, this session includes real moments where things aren’t perfectly crisp, offering a look at how to quietly adjust, refine the response, and stay focused on what actually matters in the exercise.

If you’ve been following the series on circles, shoulders, and hip control, this video shows how those pieces begin to blend into a more fluid conversation.

2.3.2026

Groundwork in Motion: Connecting the Pieces

In this training tip, I bring together several groundwork pieces we’ve been building toward—backing up, positioning the shoulders, creating a circle, and using the hip cue to come back to a halt—all with an emphasis on safety, clarity, and attentiveness.

Working with a young horse in challenging conditions, this session shows how these tools start to matter most when things don’t go perfectly. The focus isn’t on making it look polished, but on staying clear in your intention, adjusting when the horse gets distracted or curious, and calmly re-establishing the distance and focus you want.

You’ll see how stringing these skills together creates a conversation where the horse stays aware of you, maintains a safe working space, and learns that clarity—not perfection—is the goal.

If you’ve been following along with the recent groundwork tips and are ready to see how they start to connect into a bigger picture, this video is a good one to watch.

1.27.2026

Intentional Horsemanship: Halter Transitions

In this short tutorial, I walk through a simple but often overlooked skill: how to smoothly switch between a regular halter and a rope halter (and positioning the rope halter correctly)—and just as importantly, how to put a rope halter away so it’s ready for the next use.

This isn’t about doing things fast; it’s about doing them thoughtfully. You’ll see how small habits around preparation, positioning, and organization can make haltering calmer for the horse and more seamless for the human. I also share a few practical tips that help keep your equipment tidy, accessible, and ready to use.

If you appreciate small refinements that make everyday horse handling more intentional and efficient, this video is a good one to add to your toolkit.

1.15.2026

Groundwork Clarity: Disengaging the Hips

In this video, I build on our last session by shifting the focus from the shoulders to the hips—an often overlooked but incredibly important piece of groundwork. Disengaging the hips isn’t just about movement; it plays a major role in both safety and suppleness, especially with green, energetic, or opinionated horses.

Rather than jumping straight into big exercises, I stay rooted in clarity: starting from neutral, setting intention, asking thoughtfully, observing, and releasing at the right moment. You’ll begin to see how subtle changes in energy—not force—can influence how your horse organizes their body.

I also touch on why this movement becomes the foundation for safely stopping a horse that’s moving with energy on a circle, and how anticipation can quietly creep in if we’re not paying attention.

If you’ve ever felt like your horse gets ahead of you, pushes into your space, or struggles with balance and flexibility, this lesson offers a new way to think about those moments.

Drawing on last weeks tip, shifting the horse's shoulders first can help set up the horse for the hip disengagement. Be sure to practice positioning your horses shoulders before moving on to hip disengagement. Practice these movements, and let me know how you're progressing.

12.30.2025

Groundwork Clarity: positioning the Shoulders

In last weeks training tip, we focused on clarifying the backup cue with your horse.

In this session, I check in on that foundation before moving on to an early but essential piece of groundwork: beginning to shift the shoulders into a position that will allow you to safely move your horse onto a circle.

This isn’t about rushing to bigger movement or higher energy. It’s about intention, timing, and noticing the thought before the step. You’ll see how subtle changes in body position and pressure can help your horse understand exactly what you’re asking—without assumptions, confusion, or loss of space.

I also touch on why breaking this skill down early matters so much for safety. Setting the shoulders correctly before adding energy can make all the difference when you begin sending your horse out on a circle, especially with horses that tend to drift in or get ahead of the question.

Watch the video and then give it a shot. Let me know how it goes—I’d love to hear what you notice.

12.11.2025

Four Basic Steps to Groundwork Clarity

This week, I want to give you four specific steps to improve your clarity on the ground, specifically in the backup.

In this video, I am breaking down how to practice clear, effective pressure, before applying it to your horse.

The focus here is understanding your own body, intention, and timing—so your horse can understand you more easily.

Rather than rushing to results, these four steps that highlight how to build pressure thoughtfully, notice the smallest change in response, and return to neutral at the right moment. It’s a reminder that clarity isn’t about being stronger—it’s about being more precise.

If you’ve ever questioned how much pressure to use, or felt inconsistent in your groundwork cues, this video offers a simple framework that can change how you communicate on the ground.

After you watch this video, practice as instructed, starting without a horse and progressing to working with your horse when you feel confident in the steps.