7 Simple Things To Do This Week With Your Horse
A week of tiny moments that add up to a big bond. Horses thrive on positive experiences—mostly predictability with a little variety. You don’t need a complicated plan (or hours each day) to deepen your connection—just a few intentional minutes. Here are seven simple, horse‑friendly ideas you can try this week. Mix and match, swap […]
Positive Reinforcement Horse Training: Our Reward-Based, Playful Approach
Training your horse doesn’t have to feel serious or stressful. At Horse Tricks 101, we use reward-based training — a friendly, practical approach built mostly on positive reinforcement (+R also written R+). That means giving your horse something they love when they get it right — whether that’s a treat, a scratch, or a short […]
Boost Your Horse’s Confidence with Playful Learning
Fun and play aren’t just enjoyable—they greatly improve learning and make the experience more engaging! Research shows that both humans and animals learn faster, retain information longer, and become more confident when they’re engaged in playful activities. For horses, play not only sparks curiosity but also makes them braver in unfamiliar situations. When horses approach […]
One Simple Trick for a Braver Calmer Horse
When horses get scared, they can’t think clearly. Their main instinct is to flee! For a horse to learn well, they need to be calm. Old-school horse training often tells us to push horses towards scary things with flags and whips. But this isn’t a good idea. It can make horses more scared and be […]
Activities for Smart Horses: Fun Brain Games to Try
Engage your horse’s brain with short, joyful “puzzle” games Smart horses don’t just want exercise—they crave thinking jobs. When you give your horse simple puzzles to solve, you’ll see that lovely “I’m figuring this out!” sparkle: softer eyes, focused ears, and a calmer, more confident partner. These brain games are perfect if you don’t ride […]
7 Ways To Gain Your Horse’s Trust
Trust is key in your relationship with your horse. When a horse trusts you, they look to you for guidance, especially in unfamiliar situations. A horse that trusts its human companion is calmer, more confident, and better equipped to handle new challenges. Follow these 7 simple steps to build a strong, trust-filled relationship with your […]
15 Engaging Activities for You and Your Horse in Any Weather
Too Cold ❄️, Windy 💨, or Rainy 🌧️ to Ride? Don’t Let Bad Weather Dampen Your Spirits! Even when the weather isn’t ideal for riding, there’s a whole world of activities you can enjoy with your horse. From grooming to ground training, there are numerous ways to deepen your bond and keep your horse engaged […]
Help Your Horse To Learn New Tasks Easily
Most horses enjoy learning and working things out (just like us humans). But if a task is too difficult, the horse can become frustrated or confused. To avoid this, make learning easy and enjoyable for your horse by breaking the task down into super-simple steps.
25 Fun and Useful Things To Do With Your Horse At Home
Are you looking for activities you and your horse can do at home? There are lots of things you can do! Here’s a list of activities that are fun, useful, and will make your relationship even better!
6 Simple Ways To Pair Bond With Your Horse
You’ve seen those horses that are best friends. They are nearly always close to each other and call out if they are parted or nicker when they see each other again. They have what is called a ‘pair-bond’. While your horse will never think of you as another horse, there are ways that you can […]
Let the Games Begin: Bella’s Version of Fetch
One of the best parts about play is that it doesn’t need to follow a plan. Sometimes, the most joyful moments happen when we simply see what our horse wants to do. In this video, I was originally teaching Bella to fetch a ball. But partway through, she surprised me—she decided she’d rather throw the […]
BONDING TIP: Find a Brush Your Horse REALLY Likes
Horses that like each other, groom each other. It is one of the ways they care for each other and maintain their relationships. You can do something similar by finding a brush that your horse really likes and having regular grooming sessions. They only need to be short – just a few minutes every day.
31 Things To Do With Your Horse (other than riding)
Here are 31 fun and useful things to do with your horse – other than riding (includes bonding activities)
6 Ideas to Cure Horse Boredom
Is your horse bored? Or would you like to try something new to engage your horse and motivate them? Here are some ideas that your horse should really enjoy. 1. Teach Your Horse to Paint It seems that some horses are quite creative. Horses can be taught to pick up a paintbrush and apply paint […]