Hi everyone, I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences around motivation in horses during training. Over time, I’ve noticed a consistent difference in my horse’s attitude depending on whether I include positive reinforcement (food rewards) in a session or not. I alternate between sessions with rewards and sessions without them, so it’s not something I use all the time. When I work with food rewards, I see noticeably more willingness from my horse to explore, offer responses, and actively try to figure out what I’m asking. The learning feels more proactive, almost like the horse is engaged in solving a puzzle rather than just responding. On the other hand, when I train using only pressure–release (pressure applied, in the lighest possible way, and release when the correct response happens), I sometimes feel that the motivation drops. The horse does respond, but it feels more mechanical and less enthusiastic. A clear example for me is backing up on the halter: - With pressure–release alone, the horse might shift weight back or take a single step, but often seems less engaged. - Using rewards, I’ve been able to build this up to 4–5 relaxed, intentional steps, with much more focus and curiosity from the horse. I want to emphasize that I’m intentionally using low‑value rewards (meadow hay pellets, while my horse has access to forrage ad libitum), and I’m not seeing “cookie monster” behavior, but I am seeing more interest and participation. So my question is: - Do you see this difference in motivation as well? - How do you interpret it in terms of learning theory and emotional state? - How do you personally balance pressure, release, and reinforcement to keep horses motivated without over‑reliance on rewards? Really interested in hearing different perspectives 🙏

Sunday cuddles and cleaning up. Today again full on brushmode tied up on the wall. Even picking up his feet is getting better today. Because of the lovely whether we went for a small walk thru the trail garden. And he is so brave and handsome❤️. Sorry for the spam🫣🤭🫶🏽

I have finally made some time to write my introduction! Hello! My name is Kamila and I am from the Czech republic 🇨🇿. I have gotten into horses in a bit unconventional way. Two years ago my roommate came up with the idea of buying a horse together. At that time we both worked at this industrial area with a huge field that would be perfect for horses. I had no prior experience with horses other than a couple of riding lessons, but she is an experienced equestrian so I trusted her. So we bought a 3yo Silesian warmblood, Čízo, and a 2yo donkey, Mirek, as his companion. I was the “caretaker” and she was the trainer. Unfortuntely after a couple of months she was hospitalized and I’ve been on my own ever since. It wasn’t easy, but now in retrospect the most difficult thing was, and still is, finding the best service providers (is that the right word?) that would fit me and my family the most. In the end, it will always be up to me to provide the best care possible. Otherwise I think we’ve managed well so far 😃 Since then our family was joined by a “professsional horse companion” goat and a hucul mare Syrenka, 11yo, both absolutely lovely and wonderful teachers. I do plan to master riding eventualy, but I put much more value into communication and trust. Therefore although Čízo has been introduced to the saddle and the bit, it’s really been a fraction compared to all the work we’ve done from the ground. Which is appearently scorned upon in my region at least. I am very grateful to be a part of this community and I look forward to meeting you all and making friends and becoming a good horsewoman ☺️

Normally i wouodnt blanket my horses but she has been blanketed all her life so her winter hair is not as thick as iy should be shes fron pretoria that has dry winters im in wetsern cape with cold wet winters and snow i will blanket when needed but will observe if her winter coat grows out thick enough i will push back blanketing hopefully within a few years she can be fully adapted i will state that if completely neccisary i will for sure blanket

✨Share something that felt better this week… ▪️Maybe your horse stayed with you a bit longer? ▪️Maybe something finally clicked? ▪️Maybe you handled a moment differently than you would’ve before? ▪️Maybe you just showed up when it would’ve been easier not to? That all counts and love for you to share… 🐴✨🫶