05/31/2026
You have educated yourself on sequencing your cues and reading body language, but are left unsure when to push & when to listen for your horses NO.
But what you don’t know is when it’s over threshold & when is it habitual resistance.
I trained and competed with mustangs for over 7years…this was the #1 thing I had to work through with client horses
Usually we created the no.
You (despite your best intentions!) had inconsistent, asks, expectations, and boundaries AND nagged them with pressure (it can take a lot less than you think!)
Eventually leading to resistance behaviors from the horse—- they didn’t know how to find the “yes”…so your asks became nothing more than a disturbance.
They became disengaged as learners.
The good news is, you have the power to help them find a state of enjoyment with the learning process again—-the “bad” news is, It will initially require you to learn how to work through the resistance, not avoid it.
So what is the first step ?
❕NOTE❕First, rule out any physical discomfort!
The path to move through this space is paved with consistency- EXTREME consistency of your expectations *even* in the face of resistance- allows your horse to rewire their habits, build confidence in you, and find freedom in their own movement and emotional regulation.
When you make an ask👉 know what your expectations are, move quickly through your sequence of cues, even if your horse displays resistance, as soon as they offer a response, release any pressure and reward with positive reinforcement, give them a pause and watch for their body language to make sure they are releasing any held tension before repeating.
As you are extremely clear with your boundaries and expectations your horse will learn that they can trust what to expect from YOU and that there is always an answer to be found when you’re working together. This builds her confidence and opens the door to curiosity and engagement in the learning process🌱
Come dive into the Principles of Liberty (aka the principles of good horsemanship) with me on June 8th! Comment TRAINING and I’ll send you the link to my FREE live training🦋