Speaking R+ with different dialects and the R+ Horse Summit
Reward-based training isn’t just one way of working with horses — it’s a whole world of ideas, techniques, and creative approaches. Here Hannah Weston, Do Groen and Angelica Hesselius talks a little bit about their views on dialect in your practical training and why that enriches the world :P We also go into our mutual project:
https://www.rplushorsesummit.com
At this summit, you’ll meet trainers from across the globe — from pioneers to fresh, emerging voices — each showing how they bring the same core principles to life in their own unique way. You’ll explore practical sessions, watch training in action, and join in theory talks that deepen your understanding. It’s not just about the horses — we’ll also explore reward-based training for us humans, alongside body awareness through Feldenkrais and Yoga. Because the way we move, think, and feel directly shapes our partnership with our horses. Whether you’re a professional or simply love spending time with horses, you’ll feel welcome here. Expect real conversations, genuine connection, and tools you can take home and use right away.
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17:10
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17:10
Starting to trot with your reward based horse
This episode is a recording from the CT Club, where I had a great conversation with Hannah Weston, followed by a Q&A for our active members.
We talk about how to set up those very first trot transitions from the saddle, and what we each focus on to make it work. A lot of it comes back to:
Checking that the trot is well-prepared from the ground
Re-training cues if you’ve previously relied on pressure and struggled with motivation
Using the environment to help build duration and decide how long we can stay in trot
It’s also important to remember that stopping and reinforcing frequently is physically demanding for our horses, and something we need to consider carefully in the training process.
👉 Want to join the Riding School?
: https://www.rewardbasedridingschool.com/
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46:35
A Reward Based Riding School
Angelica and Do talk about how the first school term, the future and why the basics are so important for the reward based trainer.
If you wanna learn more, join or read about upcoming school terms, have a look here:https://www.rewardbasedridingschool.com/
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How to structure your training (with Ulrika Andreasson)
You can find more info about Ulrika's lovely teaching and training here: https://www.ullisrudolf.se/SESSION PLANNER here: https://www.rewardbasedridingschool.com/If you have questions or thoughts around the episode, we're happy to hear them via MAIL
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42:41
3 C:s to check before riding. Connection. Confidence. Cues
Three C:s to check before riding.
-Connection
-Confidence
-Cues (aids)
This is a modified version of a horsemanship structure I learned when first starting pony clubbing. The meaning is to assess your horse (and yourself) to keep you and your horse under threshold and communicating well.
Back then the focus was more on an obedient horse, in my teaching I focus more on a horse that sees the environment as a resource and is fine communicating any uncertainty about it back to the rider. Whether the rider sits on the horse or work from the ground.
Connection: how’s your two way communication working? Is your horse an active participant in their training?
Confidence: are you calm and relaxed in the environment you work in? Do you have an exit strategy? Remember your own relaxation as well. Avoid situations where one of you feel to afraid to have connection.
Cues (aids). Is it clear what’s what? Can you communicate with different body parts. From halt and go to sidemovements, depending on your level. I meet a lot of horses who think the reins are for moving forward (!). Not ideal in most situations.
Everything doesn’t have to be perfect all the time. But a baseline of all three Cs will help you succeed and help you structure your sessions.
For more on my training and teaching, check: rewardbasedriding.com
A podcast about creating balance, using reward based training techniques with host Angelica Hesselius and guests. Coming from the view on horse training as enrichment we will look at ways to create a relaxed, gymnastically sound horse who wants to train as much as we do. Groundwork, riding, husbandry or vet care training all will work better if our horse´s is in balance. But what do different types of balance look like and how do we create it? This podcast aims to explore different ways of answering these questions as well as talking about the new tools we need to develop training with positive reinforcement techniques.
Ireland