6 | Decoding Your Horse’s 'No': Why It Happens and What to Do

Have you ever wondered if embracing liberty horsemanship means giving up riding or other activities with your horse? Maybe you have wondered if starting liberty means that your horse *always* needs to be at liberty, no matter what you are doing with them… Or if involving food rewards into training means that you need to use food rewards ALL. THE. TIME…. You're not alone—these are some of the most common questions I hear! In this episode of The Essence of Liberty Podcast, we explore the relationship between liberty training and your other pursuits with your horse. Can liberty coexist with riding? How does your horse know the difference? And what happens if your current activities feel stressful or confusing for your horse? Tune in to discover how liberty training can enrich your bond without requiring you to abandon the things you and your horse already do together. Whether you're a seasoned rider or just starting your liberty journey, this episode is packed with insights that might just change the way you think about training! Don't miss this one—it might be the permission slip you've been waiting for. 🎧🐴 If you loved this episode, you will also love the free masterclass “Launch into Liberty: Where and How To Begin”. You can access it on the link below: https://www.nadinelindblom.com/masterclass-registration If you want to dive really deep, enrolments into The Essence of Liberty Online Academy are now open. Find our more here: https://www.nadinelindblom.com/academy-new Also, don’t forget to follow @nadinelindblom on Instagram for more inspiration and education: https://instagram.com/nadinelindblom

Do you ever feel like your horse is glued to you, making it tricky to ask him to give you more distance? Or do you worry that your horse will disconnect from you the moment you ask him to increase the distance? If so, this episode is for you! When your horse can give you distance and still remain connected, there is SO much more you can do together! This creates opportunities to work with playful energy safely, allowing your horse to move freely without restricting himself to stay by your side. It’s also one of the key elements for developing collection at liberty! In this episode, I’ll share:🔹 3 key reasons why creating distance is a game-changer for liberty work.🔹 5 actionable strategies to help your horse move freely yet stay connected.If you loved this episode, you will also love the free masterclass “Launch into Liberty: Where and How To Begin”. You can access it on the link below: https://www.nadinelindblom.com/masterclass-registration If you want to dive really deep, enrolments into The Essence of Liberty Online Academy are now open. Find our more here: https://www.nadinelindblom.com/academy-new Also, don’t forget to follow @nadinelindblom on Instagram for more inspiration and education: https://instagram.com/nadinelindblom

In this episode, I reveal a simple yet powerful practice that I never skip at the beginning of any liberty session—whether I'm working with a horse new to liberty or my own experienced horses. Taking a moment to do this will influence your entire session. It helps you understand your horse’s mindset, structure the session with intention, and create a positive, enjoyable experience for both of you. By incorporating this practice into your routine, you’ll strengthen your relationship and ensure that your horse remains engaged and motivated. Don’t miss this foundational step to setting you and your horse up for success!If you loved this episode, you will also love the free masterclass “Launch into Liberty: Where and How To Begin”. You can access it on the link below: https://www.nadinelindblom.com/masterclass-registration If you want to dive really deep, enrolments into The Essence of Liberty Online Academy are now open. Find our more here: https://www.nadinelindblom.com/academy-new Also, don’t forget to follow @nadinelindblom on Instagram for more inspiration and education: https://instagram.com/nadinelindblom 

In this episode, we dive into the often misunderstood behavior of so-called 'lazy' or unmotivated horses. I share a simple yet powerful technique that can spark genuine motivation, allowing your horse to engage willingly rather than feeling pressured. If you’ve ever wondered how to inspire more interest and enthusiasm in your training, this episode is for you!If you love this podcast, you will also love the free masterclass “Launch Into Liberty: Where and How To Begin”. You can access it through the link below:https://www.nadinelindblom.com/masterclass-registrationIf you want to dive really deep, enrolments into The Essence of Liberty Online Academy are now open. Find our more here: https://www.nadinelindblom.com/academy-new Also, don’t forget to follow @nadinelindblom on Instagram for more inspiration and education: https://instagram.com/nadinelindblom

There are SO many beautiful benefits of incorporating liberty into the time you spend with your horse. Not only does it do wonders for your relationship in many ways, it also helps you learn how to listen to your horse and how to communicate back in a gentle and force free way. However, one of my absolute favourite benefits of liberty is its ability to EMPOWER horses and boost their confidence, curiosity, and playfulness. It’s especially transformative for horses in a state of learned helplessness (aka "shut down"), those who are spooky, or those who have lost their love for movement. In this new episode we dive into how liberty can empower your horse and build them up into the most confident, powerful version of themselves 🔥 If you love this episode, you will also enjoy the free masterclass “Launch into Liberty: Where and How To Begin”. You can access it on the link below: https://www.nadinelindblom.com/masterclass-registration If you want to dive really deep, enrolments into The Essence of Liberty Online Academy are now open. Find our more here: https://www.nadinelindblom.com/academy-new Also, don’t forget to follow @nadinelindblom on Instagram for more inspiration and education: https://instagram.com/nadinelindblom

I'm sure you have experienced this before: You want to do liberty with your horse. You want to grow your relationship together, and you want him to WANT to participate in the training! You start by giving your horse the choice to participate or not and his choice is... to graze. Well... that's fun 🙄 Now what??In this podcast episode, we dive into the reasons why your horse chooses to graze rather than participate in the training (some of the reasons may surprise you!), and how to approach this common challenge without taking your horse’s choice away. If you’ve enjoyed this episode, you will also enjoy the free masterclass “Launch into Liberty: Where and How To Begin”. You can access it on the link below: https://www.nadinelindblom.com/masterclass-registration If you want to dive really deep, enrolments into The Essence of Liberty Online Academy are now open. Find our more here:https://www.nadinelindblom.com/academy-new Hosted by Dr Nadine Lindblom, creator of The Essence of Liberty Online Academy

"Yes" means nothing unless "No" is an option. One of the most beautiful aspects of liberty is that your horse has the freedom to choose—whether to participate or not. When your horse says “yes,” you can trust that it’s a genuine, authentic response. They’re not just tolerating the session—they’re truly engaged and willing! In this episode, we’ll explore: 🌸 What a “no” can look like from your horse 🌸 Common reasons why your horse might say no 🌸 How to respond when your horse says no If you enjoyed this episode, you will also enjoy the free masterclass “Launch into Liberty: Where and How To Begin”. You can access it on the link below: https://www.nadinelindblom.com/masterclass-registration If you want to dive really deep, enrolments into The Essence of Liberty Online Academy are now open. Find our more here: https://www.nadinelindblom.com/academy-new

In this episode, I share with you my main way of communicating with my horses at liberty. Gentle guidance begins with your mental image and inner feeling, followed by your intention and energy and then slow and gentle body language. Gentle guidance requires you to be aware of your body so that you can communicate clearly yet quietly. It does not involve threatening with escalating pressure or punishment, but rather allows the horse to process and think through the guidance to find his reward! If you enjoyed this episode, you will also enjoy the free masterclass “Launch into Liberty: Where and How To Begin”. You can access it on the link below: https://www.nadinelindblom.com/masterclass-registration If you want to dive really deep, enrolments into The Essence of Liberty Online Academy are now open. Find our more here: https://www.nadinelindblom.com/academy-new Hosted by Dr Nadine Lindblom, creator of The Essence of Liberty Online Academy

When you're training your horse with positive reinforcement, using a bridge signal is key to creating clear and consistent communication. A bridge signal acts as a marker, letting your horse know exactly when they've done something right, which speeds up learning and reduces frustration. In this episode, we explore the science behind the bridge signal and why it’s such a vital part of successful liberty and positive reinforcement training. If you’re not consciously using one, your horse may have already chosen one for you—without you even realizing it! Tune in to learn how to incorporate a bridge signal effectively and take your training to the next level. If you enjoy this episode, you will also enjoy the free masterclass “Launch into Liberty: Where and How To Begin”. You can access it on the link below: https://www.nadinelindblom.com/masterclass-registration If you want to dive really deep, enrolments into The Essence of Liberty Online Academy are now open. Find our more here: https://www.nadinelindblom.com/academy-new

Whether you are intentionally training your horse or not, your horse is constantly learning. Understanding this important concept will improve all aspects of your horsemanship and equestrian lifestyle! In this episode, we dive into operant conditioning and how it can be applied tactfully to train your horse, and we also look at how you may be using it accidentally and unintentionally teaching your horse something completely different!If you enjoy this episode, you will also enjoy the free masterclass “Launch into Liberty: Where and How To Begin”. You can access it on the link below:https://www.nadinelindblom.com/masterclass-registrationIf you want to dive really deep, enrolments into The Essence of Liberty Online Academy are now open. Find our more here: https://www.nadinelindblom.com/academy-new Hosted by Dr Nadine Lindblom, creator of The Essence of Liberty Online Academy