I’m curious if you had a chance to explore it in the Getting Good Here – Part 2 classroom yet? Remember: If you don’t have access to Part 2 and would like it, all you need to do is ask anywhere in the community (a comment is perfect), and I’ll arrange access for you as soon as I see it. And while we’re here - I’d love to know: What books have made a real difference in your horsemanship (or mindset)? Drop your recommendations below 📖👇 You never know which book might be exactly what someone else needs right now. 🐴✨🫶

✨ Some time back, one of the biggest realizations for me in groundwork, especially on the path to liberty was understanding that patterns, signals, and body language are a promise of communication. When we repeat a pattern, use a signal, or shape our body in a certain way, we’re making an agreement with the horse. This means this. This leads to that. When we get good at keeping that promise - not changing it halfway, not contradicting ourselves, not rushing past the answer, horses begin to truly understand us. It took me years to grasp this, and then one day… it just stuck. From that point on, things became clearer: - confusion reduced - trust deepened - responses became softer - communication felt more like a conversation than a request It's like sometimes they are in my thoughts, in my skin even... As we move towards liberty, this becomes even more important. It can feel a bit like learning to dance because your coordination, timing, and motor skills need to match your thought and your question to the horse. At liberty there’s nothing to “hold things together” for us. So clarity, consistency, focus and intention matter even more. If something feels unclear or falls apart, it’s rarely disobedience - it’s usually just information. ❓Curious to hear from you: Have you ever had a moment where something suddenly clicked in your communication with your horse? 🐴✨🫶

Hi all @Zoë Coade....I hope you don't mind, but I thought it might be nice to share some horse centred thinking tools I created as part of my own learning and the day job☺️ You all may appreciate trying to use alongside each lesson plan/goal you are working towards? It really helps me sit and reflect when I have done something... I use a white board or print some off and write in them as an on going "outcomes diary" This is one of them called the 4+1 reflection tool.... each section helps you think about what you tried, learned, pleased about, concerned about and what else you need to do next? More help from @Zoë Coade or questions you need to ask her 😊✅ There are a few so I could post a few over the next 2/3 days with an explanation. Only if you're ok with that Zoë?!

✨ Horses don’t need lots of sleep like us but they do need to lie down. Most horses only sleep around 3-5 hours in a 24-hour period, much of it standing up. But REM sleep, the deep, restorative kind can only happen when a horse lies down.💤 If a horse isn’t lying down at least once every 24 hours, something isn’t right. Environment, safety, pain, stress, herd dynamics, or physical discomfort can all prevent it. Lack of REM sleep doesn’t just affect rest, it impacts learning, emotional regulation, soundness, and overall wellbeing. In extreme cases, sleep deprivation can even cause collapse. I witnessed this once in a horse that was standing in cross ties, it was a mess and if I can be honest, preventable! Therefore seeing or knowing your horse lies down regularly is one of the clearest signs they feel safe enough to truly rest. Some questions, you don't have to answer all, is just for fun: 1. What signs do you look for to know your horse is getting enough quality rest? 2. Before today, did you know horses need to lie down for REM sleep? 3. Do you know what signs to look for with sleep deprivation? 4. Are there any factors in your horse’s environment which might affect whether they feel safe enough to lie down? For example here in certain parts of the Netherlands we now have a Wolf epidemic - quite the prooblem as you can imagine. Love to hear your thoughts, Zoë 🐴✨🫶

You can share as much or as little as feels right. Some optional prompts you can copy/paste: 🐴 Your name & where you’re based 🐴 Your horse(s) - or the horses you work with 🐴 Where you’d place yourself overall with horses right now: Begun → Getting Good → Good Enough 🐴 What drew you here / what you’d love support with 🐴 One thing you’re currently working on with horses Photos and videos are very welcome - faces and horses help us connect There’s no pressure to be polished, impressive, or “have it all figured out.” This is a learning space. Curiosity beats perfection here. 👉 Don't forget to ask here in this category for complimentary access to join - Classroom: Start Getting Good Here - Part 2. Let's get good together with the right support. Zoë🐴✨🫶