Hi, can I just check the leading start is this using the direct rein to move off when ridden? I did have a video hunt but may have missed it. 😊Thanks

It’s Saturday - let’s share our weekly wins ✨ Your wins this week, big, small, or just something that felt a little better than before. Because those are the ones that matter. 🌍 For me…it’s my last few days here in Africa and today is the big clinic day - that in itself already feels like a win. But honestly…the days spent with @Jenny Randall and her four horses have been even more special. The time, the conversations, the progress, the moments you can’t really plan, those are the ones that stay with you. So now it’s your turn… What’s been your win this week? And what’s one thing you’re starting to get good at? I’m very curious 👇🐴✨🫶

After a break and a couple of days of groundwork, we saddled up (no issues 😀). We had a little play on line then (after what feels like forever) I got back on 😀. We chilled by the mounting block, practiced some lateral flexions, walk, halt and back up. So happy to be back behind my favourite ears 😊

Jeju’s ‘Gosari’ rainy season has been all mist and grey lately but yesterday morning, we finally caught a little pocket of sunshine. Sun’s out, jumps out! Introduced Ssemi to her baby obstacle. A little win, a little lesson, and a lot of heart. 🤍 No pressure, no stress—just vibing at Ssemi’s pace. This girl is growing more than I could’ve ever imagined.

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 🙏