Horse Wise

Why Play Can Be the Fastest Way to Learn

A long time ago, before Horse Wise, before LOPE, and before I ever taught horsemanship, I said yes to teaching a class I had never taught before. It was a graphic design history class — and the students were smart, creative, and absolutely terrified of being “bad at school.” What I learned in that classroom changed the way I teach everything. In this episode, I share that story — and how it led me to stop teaching by explanation, correction, and “trying harder,” and start teaching through observation, imitation, and play. It turns out this is exactly how horses learn too. When we make learning visual, physical, and a little bit playful, fear drops away. Understanding sticks. And people — and horses — surprise themselves. This idea is at the heart of the free workshop I’m teaching next week: Impersonate Your Horse A live, online workshop where we explore how you and your horse mirror each other — and how seeing the world from your horse’s perspective can change the conversation fast. We’ll weave in equine biology, anatomy, and how horses actually experience movement and pressure — all in a light, accessible way. 📅 Tuesday, February 3, 2026 🕖 7:00 PM Central 💻 Live on Zoom 🎁 $100 gift card drawing during the live session (must attend live) You can learn more and sign up here: 👉 horsewisecoach.com/zoom If riding has started to feel heavy or effortful, this is a simple, fun place to reset.

One Simple Way to End the Year Well With Your Horse

As the year winds down, it’s easy to feel like you should be doing more with your horse — even when the weather, daylight, and holiday chaos make that unrealistic. In this short episode, I’m sharing one simple way to end the year well with your horse — without rushing, drilling, or forcing yourself into a last-minute training push. I also talk about the LOPE Virtual Horse Show, a low-pressure, fun way to support LOPE and do something meaningful with your horse before the year ends. Registration is open through December 31 at 8 PM Central, and the best part is that videos aren’t due until January 17 — so you can sign up now and film later, when the weather and schedule feel easier. It’s a gentle, horsemanship-first way to close out the year — and a great way to support retired racehorses who are now teaching kids, adults, and communities through LOPE’s programs. Learn more or register here: lopetx.org/show Sometimes ending the year well doesn’t mean doing more. It means choosing one good thing — and letting that be enough. For more information on my services, please go to horsewisecoach.com

Why Downtime Isn’t Wasted Time With Your Horse

Winter can make riders feel rushed, behind, or unsure what to do with their horse. In this short episode, I share why downtime isn’t wasted time — and how winter can actually deepen your connection. I also tell the story of the 2021 Texas snowpocalypse and what those frozen days revealed about calm, clarity, and soaking. Show Notes: This weekend’s episode is a quiet reflection on something many riders feel this time of year: the worry that winter will set them back. Short days, cold weather, muddy footing — it’s easy to feel behind or unsure how to use your horse time. In this episode, I share why downtime isn’t wasted time, for horses or humans. In good horsemanship, we talk about soaking — the quiet time after a session when the real learning takes place. Winter is the seasonal version of that. It slows things down and gives both you and your horse space to breathe and absorb. I also tell the story of the 2021 Texas snowpocalypse, when I spent twelve frozen days caring for three horses through the deep freeze. The roads were shut down and everyone was stalled — yet the horses stayed calm and handled their turnout with surprising ease. That experience taught me that winter doesn’t always set us back. Sometimes it shows us where our horses truly are — and where we are, too. You’ll hear: • why winter’s slower rhythm can help your horse • how “doing less” leads to deeper learning • why quiet time matters for riders • what those icy days revealed about calm and connection At the end, I share a small, personal Black Friday offer for riders who want a gentle reset this winter: the Stop Trying So Hard: Winter Reset — a simple, individualized way to make winter horse time feel calmer and less effortful. LINKS: • Join the Winter Reset ($97 — limited to 8 spots): https://horsewisecoach.com/reset

The Time I Put the Bit in Wrong — and What It Taught Me

In this episode of the Horse Wise podcast, I share a colt starting story about a bit that went in…sideways — and how that small moment turned into a lasting lesson about steadiness and humor around horses. If you’ve ever felt pressure to get everything just right, or worried about how you look in front of others at the barn, this one’s for you. You’ll hear how a kind filly reminded me that horses don’t need us to be perfect — they just need us to stay calm, smile often and keep going. ➕ Learn more about upcoming programs like Relax & Ride and coaching options at https://horsewisecoach.com [https://horsewisecoach.com]

Feel Rushed at the Barn? Try This Mindset Shift

In this episode of the Horse Wise podcast, we explore one simple language tweak that can transform how you handle time pressure around your horse. If you ever feel rushed, behind, or overwhelmed trying to “do it all” at the barn — this one's for you. I share how swapping “but” for “and” in your internal dialogue can unlock creativity and reduce tension — both for you and your horse. You'll hear a real-life example from my own horse life, plus a surprising connection to Navy SEAL mindset. ➕ Learn more about upcoming programs like Relax & Ride at https://horsewisecoach.com/ 🎵 Music: acoustic-western-rock-background via Pixabay