THE POWER OF PLAY: CREATING A POSITIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR YOUR HORSE

Learning with your horse is a never ending journey---except when it’s not. At some point, you might encounter difficulties that cause frustration for one or both of you. There could be a disconnect, a lack of focus or sheer boredom, among other issues.

How can you rekindle your horse’s love for learning and improve your communication with him? Trainer Tessa Nicolet of Payson, Arizona, has a suggestion: Balance playfulness and curiosity with focus and clarity while remaining creative in your approach.

Nicolet draws from a variety of experiences in both the English and Western disciplines, from early lessons in Switzerland to colt-starting in Wyoming, to ventures in natural horsemanship and classical dressage in the American Southwest. The result is what she calls a “cohesive” blend of techniques with an emphasis on equine behavior and creating a positive, confidence-building environment for horses.

Here, Nicolet shares her thoughts on the elements that contribute to a positive learning