The Willing Equine

"Effectiveness is not enough" is something I say a lot (quoting Dr. Susan Friedman), and I mean it. R+ (positive reinforcement) is a VERY powerful and effective way to teach our horses behaviors we would like them to do and know, but it's not inherently more ethical or "morally sound" way of training. I explain why in this episode and also share some of the ways I modify my training to focus on ethical training practices.  ✦ www.TheWillingequine.com✦ Instagram.com/TheWillingEquine ✦ YouTube.com/TheWillingEquine ✦ Facebook.com/TheWillingEquine ✦ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thewillingequine/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thewillingequine/support

Bex, of Positively Together, joins me all the way from New Zealand in this podcast episode where we answer a question we received from a student. "How to find the middle ground between seeing our horses as objects for our use (machines/sports equipment) and seeing them as over romanticized magical spiritual leaders?" ✦ www.TheWillingEquine.com ✦ www.ClickerTraining.co.nz ✦ Instagram.com/TheWillingEquine ✦ YouTube.com/TheWillingEquine ✦ Facebook.com/TheWillingEquine ✦ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thewillingequine/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thewillingequine/support

In this episode I'm adding on to my previous episode about changes we can make to improve our horsemanship, improve our horse's lives, and ways we can make a world of difference in our relationships with our horses. These are practical every day application ideas that can sometimes magically cure a lot of behavioral issues. I also discuss the idea of making changes as you can, it's not an all or nothing kind of situation, and how to be okay with knowing that we are doing the best we can with what we know right now. ✦ www.TheWillingEquine.com✦ Instagram.com/TheWillingEquine ✦ YouTube.com/TheWillingEquine ✦ Facebook.com/TheWillingEquine ✦ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thewillingequine/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thewillingequine/support

In this episode I've collected together some ideas of ways we can work to have a kinder and more ethically minded approach to interacting and keeping horses. A lot of this episode is focused on training practices (R+ or not), but there are some practical husbandry ideas too. At the end I ask you guys for some help in prepping for the second part of this topic! I'd love to do a follow up with ideas from you guys. ✦ www.TheWillingEquine.com✦ Instagram.com/TheWillingEquine ✦ YouTube.com/TheWillingEquine ✦ Facebook.com/TheWillingEquine ✦ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thewillingequine/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thewillingequine/support

It's not uncommon to see horses appearing grumpy or offering behaviors seemingly out of control when the trainer is just learning to implement an R+ focused training program. This can make it look like the horse is not having a very "positive" experience and is frustrated, and at it's worst can become dangerous. Often times the cause for these issues is the human's understanding of the "Language" they are speaking with their horse, especially when it's a new one! Training with R+ is a different language than with traditional training, is not as simple as just adding a click and some food. - In this episode we dive into one reason why it's different, some changes you can make to help your horse, and briefly introduce some ideas that I recommend EVERY horse owner/trainer/and caregiver dive into further if they wish to train with R+. ✦ www.TheWillingequine.com✦ Instagram.com/TheWillingEquine ✦ YouTube.com/TheWillingEquine ✦ Facebook.com/TheWillingEquine ✦ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thewillingequine/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thewillingequine/support

Left brained, right brained, introverted, extroverted, lazy, friendly, stubborn, playful, dominant, submissive, gentle, sweet, rude, competitive, mean, sassy, funny.... Do any of these describe your horse? What's their personality type? Who are they? What are they born with and what develops over time? ✦ www.TheWillingequine.com✦ Instagram.com/TheWillingEquine ✦ YouTube.com/TheWillingEquine ✦ Facebook.com/TheWillingEquine ✦ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thewillingequine/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thewillingequine/support

In this episode I get a little more personal and talk about my journey to developing TWE. The ups, the downs, the challenges, and how I arrived here ... I hope this episode is inspiring to anyone who has their heart set on a dream but isn't sure how they are going to get there. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thewillingequine/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thewillingequine/support

Let's be real, horse ownership isn't all rainbows and butterflies. In fact, there's a LOT of responsibility and stress that goes along with caring for these beings we love so much. In this episode I answer a listener's question about being responsible for a horse during tough times ... how to prepare for those inevitable medical bills and extenuating circumstances... And what to do when you really want to have your own horse but aren't sure you can support them should anything come up. ✦ www.TheWillingequine.com✦ Instagram.com/TheWillingEquine ✦ YouTube.com/TheWillingEquine ✦ Facebook.com/TheWillingEquine ✦ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thewillingequine/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thewillingequine/support

It's a question I get a lot... How do I work safely with food rewards with a horse prone to founder, gaining weight, or that really needs to get into shape but has zero motivation to do so. Well... Here you go! This episode is all about how I help horses stay healthy and get into shape with positive reinforcement and using food rewards. ✦ www.TheWillingequine.com✦ Instagram.com/TheWillingEquine ✦ YouTube.com/TheWillingEquine ✦ Facebook.com/TheWillingEquine ✦ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thewillingequine/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thewillingequine/support

Let's talk about stress. Let's talk about "negative" and "positive" stress. Let's talk about chronic and acute stress. Let's talk about how it impacts training, and whether or not training with positive reinforcement creates less resilient horses. In this episode I cover a LOT of ground. Including how R+ doesn't automatically = ethical training, and how I help my horses be safer and more confident horses. It's definitely one of the longest episodes I've done, I apologize for that, but I think it's worth it. ;) ✦ www.TheWillingequine.com✦ Instagram.com/TheWillingEquine ✦ YouTube.com/TheWillingEquine ✦ Facebook.com/TheWillingEquine ✦ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thewillingequine/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thewillingequine/support

Story time! This episode is the recap of a real life "walk the talk" moment with one of my horses that happened all in a single day. When I'm talking about not using punishment, giving the horse the benefit of the doubt, approaching behavior issues from a whole horse perspective, how trust is built and maintained, deepening your relationship with your horse, recovering from mistakes, letting go of control, giving the horse a choice.... I mean ALL of it... This episode is my recap of me walking that talk and what that looks like on a day to day basis. And WHY it's so important. ✦ www.TheWillingEquine.com✦ Instagram.com/TheWillingEquine ✦ YouTube.com/TheWillingEquine ✦ Facebook.com/TheWillingEquine ✦ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thewillingequine/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thewillingequine/support

In this episode I answer a listener's question about how to interact with horses that aren't your own, in a positive way! I discuss four different ways you can do this, briefly address the idea of respect (not in the way it's typically talked about

Wouldn't it be nice if we could clicker train people? I mean, technically.. there's the science for it and it does work (look up TagTeach), but I don't think the other horse owners at the barn would take kindly to you clicking and giving them gummy bears haha. BUT, we can use the idea of shaping plans and reinforcing approximations of behavior with positive reinforcement for both ourselves, those around us, our students, and even the other people at the barn.. and without it being "weird" or requiring a lot of work on your part. In this episode I talk about the ways we can use positive reinforcement and shaping plans to modify our own behavior, become better trainers, enjoy our own training more, have better relationships with our human learners (students), and more! ✦ www.TheWillingEquine.com✦ Instagram.com/TheWillingEquine ✦ YouTube.com/TheWillingEquine ✦ Facebook.com/TheWillingEquine ✦ --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thewillingequine/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thewillingequine/support

Until recently, horse training has been rather localized. If you wanted to learn how to train a horse, you found a nearby trainer. If you wanted to become a horse trainer, you went to work for a local horse trainer. Unfortunately the number of R+ focused trainers is still rather limited, and so there isn't always a nearby trainer you can learn from. In this podcast I talk about how it's still possible to become a horse trainer or learn how to train your horse with an R+ focus ...even when there are no like minded trainers nearby. ✦ www.TheWillingequine.com✦ Instagram.com/TheWillingEquine ✦ YouTube.com/TheWillingEquine ✦ Facebook.com/TheWillingEquine ✦ --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thewillingequine/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thewillingequine/support

"Damage control" AKA what to do when your horse is already over their fear threshold, and losing their mind. can we keep both them and us safe without using punishment? Can we help them return to training without demanding obedience and respect through the use of aversives? What about if your horse is running scared in the pasture, how do you help them calm down? I talk about this and more in this episode. ✦ www.TheWillingEquine.com ✦ Instagram.com/TheWillingEquine ✦ YouTube.com/TheWillingEquine ✦ Facebook.com/TheWillingEquine ✦ ✦https://www.thewillingequine.com/single-post/2017/02/08/Desensitizing-The-Methods ✦https://www.thewillingequine.com/single-post/2017/01/13/What-and-Why-Fear-Thresholds ✦https://www.thewillingequine.com/single-post/2017/03/15/Desensitizing-Calm-Confident ✦https://www.thewillingequine.com/single-post/Trustworthy --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thewillingequine/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thewillingequine/support