The Horsefulness Training Podcast

In this episode, I share why space and distanceare key in horse communication, and why they’re essential in Liberty Connection Work™. In fact, it’s so important that I never work in round-pens or picadeiros (small squares of 10x10 to 15x15 meters) during liberty connection sessions. Trust, play, clear communication, and natural connection only happen when horses have room to move, choose, and expr...

This episode is about something that influences every single moment we share with our horses, even when we’re not aware of it. It’s about body awareness and self-awareness . It’s about the subtle, yet powerful language we speak through our posture , our breath , and our energy . In this episode, you’ll learn: what body and self-awareness really are a simple awareness practice to do with your horse...

In today’s episode, I’m talking about something that some trainers say: “It’s not done!” While others say: “You need it!” I’m talking about… pressure . I want to explain to you what pressure reallyis, and how you can use it with feel . You’re going to learn about: ·  The different types of pressure · Why I call it physical and driving “aids” instead of physical and driving “pressure” · The four wa...

Have you ever raised your voice at your horse… or reacted out of frustration? You’re not alone. In this episode, we’re talking about something few feel safe to talk about: punishment. Not because we want to hurt our horses, but because we’re human… and sometimes emotions take over. But what really happens when we punish a horse? And how can we shift from reaction to real connection? In this episod...

This episode is all about mindset and how it affects the way you train and connect with your horse. It is said that "your mindset shapes your reality." But what does that really mean? That’s exactly what we’re going to explore together. We’ll talk about the scientific research behind mindset, what it means to have a positive mindset (and what it doesn't mean), and how your mental att...

In this episode of the Horsefulness Training Podcast, I talk about something that surprises many horsewomen: the idea that groundwork shouldn’t come first. You’ll discover: Why groundwork exercises like leading, lunging, trailer loading or obstacle work don’t build true connection on their own What should come before groundwork and why The importance of Liberty Connection Work as a foundation What...

In this episode, I talk about what I call “The Treat Trap” ,  a common pitfall when trying to build a deep connection with your horse. You’ll learn: • What not to do when you want to build a natural, true bond • About horses' natural need for connection • Training your horse versus connecting with your horse • How I personally fell into the treat trap too, and what I learned from it I also share a...

Many horsewomen don’t realize how their own energy, affects their horse in so many ways.  Yes, most of you know you should be calm, most of you know that a horse can mirror you, but most of you don’t do enough to work with this. Horses are incredibly sensitive to energy, and even the slightest tension can create discomfort ordistance between you. And that is even more so, if you are dealing with a...

In this episode, I go deeper into the challenge of horses that are difficult to approach, difficult to catch, and difficult to halter. Maybe you've experienced this at some point in your life as a horsewoman, or perhaps right now you're dealing with a horse who’s hard to catch. If that’s the case, I have a question for you: Have you ever wondered what it would feel like if the relationship...

What if the strongest bond with your horse didn’t start with doing… but with simply being ? In this episode, I share the heartfelt story of a so-called “sour mare” that changed the way I looked at connecting with horses forever, and how that experience grew into one the powerful practice of what I came to call Bonding Time . You’ll learn: What Bonding Time really is (spoiler: it’s notjust “spendin...

In this episode, I explore a powerful question: Are you making progress with your horse, or are you making excuses? I talk about the fears that often hide behind our excuses, how they keep us stuck, and how small actions can lead to real growth. This is a loving but clear invitation to choose courage over comfort, and to show up for your horse, imperfectly, but fully present. Don't be shy to l...

In this episode I talk about something that I carry deeply in my heart. It's a message I wish every horse owner could feel with his heart,  and not just understand with their head. It’s this: “Your horse doesn't need to be fixed”. We live in a world that is very focused on problems and which is very goal orientated.  We are trained to see what’s wrong, what needs to be corrected and what n...

In this final episode of our 5-part myth-busting series, we’re tackling another harmful idea that still circulates in the horse world: “Your horse needs to know who’s boss, otherwise they’ll be difficult to train.” This dominance-based belief is rooted in a misunderstanding of how horses lead and interact within a herd. Many people still think that there is only 1 leading mare, who dominates the o...

In this episode, we continue our myth-busting journey by taking a closer look at a very persistent belief from dominance-based training methods: If you move your feet first, you act lower in rank. This idea suggests that letting your horse "move you" somehow diminishes your authority. But is that really how horses think? The answer is no , and in this episode, I explain why. What you’ll...

Among many trainers and horse owners, there is a strong belief in the dominance theory, and when a problem with the horse occurs, it is quickly claimed that the horse is dominant. When the horse is pushy, he's 'dominant'. When he bites, he’s 'dominant.' Even if the horse doesn’t follow an instruction given by a human, the horse 'is dominant,' while it is often the case...

Free training: https://horsefulnesstraining.com/from-trauma-to-trust/ In this episode, I talk about one of the most common myths in the horse world: that to be your horse's leader, you need to be higher in rank. This idea is based on the belief that horses follow a strict hierarchy, but that is simply not how it works in real life. Horses do not have a fixed ranking system, and leadership in a...

In this episode, Tom Deloof will guide you in a deep relaxation exercise in which you will transform a negative self-image into a positive one.  This will have a positive impact on you and your horse. Use headphones for the best result.

In the upcoming five episodes of the Horsefulness Training Podcast, I'll be talking about the top five myths and misconceptions in horse training. We'll also see how these misconceptions affect the relationship between horses and humans. In this episode, I take a closer look at Myth #1: the idea that you have to be your horse’s leader. This is something I hear often, but it’s based on a mi...

Because of the corona crisis, which is influencing the whole world, many people are in a state of hightend anxiety. That’s why, in this 5th episode of the Horsefulness Training Podcast, I want to guide you during the “Subtle Breathing Technique”.This simple technique will help you to de-stress and calm down and help you to deal with the situation better. But that’s not the only reason to listen to...

During my work with horses and students I identified 5 main causes why horses lose their joy and become fearful, stressed or resistant during training. If you are experiencing training problems with your horse at the moment, or you want to prevent having problems, for sure this episode will be valuable to you!

Every horse(wo)man knows that feel and timing are crucial when training horses. But how can you explain "feel" and what exactly is timing? And more important: how can you develop better feel and timing? In this third episode of the Horsefulness Training Podcast, I answer these questions for you! I also tune in on: The different levels of communication The importance of opening up to your horse The...

In this second episode of the Horsefulness Training Podcast I go deeper into what Groundwork according to the Horsefulness phylosophy is, why you should do Groundwork and I answers 5 questions that were sent in by mail. Q1: My horse is pretty anxious about tractors and big vehicles. She is also very spooky when we pass bushes and branches. Then she disconnects and only wants one thing: run off! Ho...

In this first episode Karine Vandenborre explains what Liberty Training (Liberty connection work) according to the Horsefulness philosophy is, and she answers 5 questions that were sent in by mail. Q 1: My horse ignores me, what can I do? Q 2: My horse is stubborn and impatient, he bites and kicks, pulls loose on the lunge. Any advice? Q 3: I noticed that you do involve children during Liberty Tra...