Josh Nichol Horsemanship

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Meanook, AB
Josh Nichol Horsemanship

Helping people build horses that work and perform through Relational Horsemanship ©. On a never-ending journey of learning called A Horseman’s Pursuit.

Training horses and people to be the best they can be.

11/12/2026

One of the things I value about recorded case studies is the opportunity to return to them.

You might notice a question, a change in the horse, or a detail in the timing that you missed the first time. As your own experience grows, what you recognize in the teaching can grow too.

Mary, a participant in the 2026 Bridge course, shared:

“I would say it is solid GOLD. Learned so much from every case study. Beautifully produced. So glad I invested in it. Will refer to it for years.”

— Mary, 2026 Bridge Participant

Inside The Bridge, we explore these case studies alongside reflection, practice and live Q&A guidance with me, giving you opportunities to consider how the ideas connect to your own horse.

The next guided cohorts begin January 5 and February 23, 2027.

Registration opens November 27, with our $50 Black Friday discount available through December 1.

What helps you most when learning, watching a demonstration, trying it yourself, or having the opportunity to ask questions?

11/11/2026

Today, we pause to remember and honour those who served, sacrificed, and gave so much for the freedoms we enjoy.

May we never take their courage, their sacrifice, or our freedom for granted.

Lest We Forget.

11/10/2026

What happens when bodywork and horsemanship begin to inform one another?

That question is at the heart of The Bridge Between Bodywork & Horsemanship, returning for two guided cohorts in 2027.

Over six weeks, we’ll explore recorded teaching, demonstrations and case studies from the Relational Horsemanship Symposium with Jim Masterson and me.

You’ll see how we approach different horses, what we notice as we work, and how understanding the horse’s mind and body can help us make more thoughtful choices.

The guided experience includes weekly recorded lessons, reflection and practice prompts, and two live Q&A sessions with me to help you connect the learning to your own horse.

Jim’s teaching is included in the recordings; I’ll host the live sessions.

Our guided cohorts begin:
January 5, 2027
February 23, 2027

Registration opens November 27, with $50 off either guided cohort during our Black Friday sale, November 27–December 1.

I’ll be sharing more about the experience over the coming weeks.

11/07/2026

Before you ask your horse for more, take a moment to notice what is
already happening.
Choose something familiar, standing together, leading, or preparing to
ride and give yourself a little time before making the next request.

Notice how your horse is standing. Where is their attention? What
changes in their body as you approach or pick up the lead rope?

Then include yourself in that observation.

Are you holding your breath? Already thinking about what needs to
happen next? Can you become more present without losing clarity about
what you are asking?

You do not need to change everything you notice. Start by becoming
more aware of the experience you are both bringing into the
conversation.

That information can help you make a more thoughtful choice about what
comes next.

What do you notice when you give yourself that moment before asking?

11/04/2026

A horse can do what we ask and still find the experience difficult.

They may follow the direction, complete the movement, or stand where
we have placed them while carrying tension we have not yet learned to
notice.

Feel your horse. Sense how your own energy changes when your horse
becomes bothered or tense, then breathe and centre yourself, and
release the tension within yourself first.

Then feel into the tension of your horse and stay with it. See if you
can help them relax. Wherever there is tension, stay with it, breathe,
and wait till it melts and help them recognize that your release was
connected to them letting their tension go.

What have you noticed about the connection between how your horse
feels and how they respond?

10/31/2026

What becomes possible when bodywork and horsemanship begin to inform one another?

The way a horse feels in their body matters to the relationship we’re building. So does the way they experience our presence, our requests, and the pressure we introduce.

When we take time to explore those connections, we give ourselves more to work with. We can notice where movement feels difficult, where uncertainty appears, and what helps the horse find greater ease.

This is a conversation I want to open up, how we bring these pieces together to better understand and support the whole horse.

I’ll be sharing more in the weeks ahead.

For now, what have you noticed about the connection between how your horse feels and how they respond to you?

10/29/2026

The October edition of THE MIDDLE GROUND is out!

Inside this issue:

• What Your Horse’s Body Might Be Telling You — I reflect on the connection between physical tension, mental and emotional well-being, and learning to look beyond behaviour.

• An introduction to The Bridge Between Bodywork & Horsemanship — the thinking behind bringing these pieces together to better understand and support the whole horse.

• November’s training focus: From Preparation to Partnership — featured videos on introducing the bridle, saddling, and mounting with understanding and confidence, plus our November 30 Live Q&A.

• A special feature: NOËLLE FLOYD: UNBRIDLED — a new documentary series exploring the horse-human relationship.

If you’re on the email list, check your inbox.

Not on the list yet? Head to JoshNichol.com to sign up for future newsletters.

10/20/2026

"The behaviour is only part of the story. Understanding what lies beneath it is where true connection begins."

10/20/2026

Special Guest on Tonights Webinar!

Michelle Davey - Barrel Racing Competitor, Mindset Coach, Energy worker, and committed student of my work. Here is what you can expect tonight!

What does it mean to truly show up as yourself, not only with your horse, but within yourself?

Tonight, Michelle will share a few important turning points from her own journey working with Josh and how those experiences deepened and shaped her Riding From Within philosophy.

From there, she’ll guide us through a series of reflective questions exploring:
Who am I when the outward layers are stripped away?
What do I genuinely value?
Where might I be showing up as someone other than myself to fit in, stay comfortable, or please others?
What changes in our presence when we become more grounded in who we truly are?
We’ll also explore how tension, fear, frustration and uncertainty can affect the way we show up and what our horses may feel from us in those moments.

Michelle will lead us through a guided body-awareness exercise designed to help identify and release tension, with time for quiet reflection and journaling along the way.

This isn’t about trying to manufacture the “right” energy or become someone different for your horse.

It’s about becoming more aware of what’s happening within us, clearing some of what gets in the way, and learning to show up with greater presence, authenticity and clarity.

Because the more congruent we become within ourselves, the clearer the conversation with our horse can become.

We hope you’ll join us tonight for this special session with Michelle.

10/15/2026

Are you being too soft with your horse? Or do you need to be firmer?

It's a question I hear from horse owners all the time.

We often think stronger leadership means being more assertive, applying more pressure, or becoming firmer with our expectations.

But what if the answer isn't about being stronger at all?

What if it's about becoming clearer?

I've learned that leadership isn't something we create through force. It's something our horses begin to recognize through our presence, awareness, feel, and timing.

And as those qualities improve, we often discover that we need less pressure, not more.

This evening, I'm hosting a FREE live webinar: Leadership Without Force.

I'll explore what leadership looks like from the horse's perspective and how we can begin developing a relationship built on clarity rather than control.

📅 Thursday, October 15 | 7 PM Mountain Time

🎥 Free Live Webinar + Q&A

Register FREE: https://joshnichol.pages.ontraport.net/register-free-webinar-2610

Can't make it live? Register anyway and I'll make sure you receive the replay!

I hope you'll join me!

Address

Meanook, AB

Website

http://www.joshnichol.com/

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