Tea Time with Elsa

Teatime with Elsa - Episode 120

Chatting about: Going slow to go faster…
In this episode I talk about leaning into more training versus leaning into more freedom depending on the speed of change we desire and the goals we have for our relationship with our horse. When we work 100% in Freedom, the faster we try to progress, the more likely we are to cause resistance and fight, flight and freeze in the relationship, which means the more likely we are to progress much slower. When we choose to go slow, accept the horse as they are and take the time that it takes to learn all about them, with less pressure and expectation for change, we progress much faster.
Originally aired on: November 23rd, 2021

Teatime with Elsa - Episode 119

Chatting about: "Aversives"…
In this episode I talk about how possible it is for us to train horses without using "aversives". Can we really train by reinforcing the behaviors we appreciate without discouraging the behaviors that we don't appreciate? Is there such thing as positive reinforcement without negative reinforcement? We talk about the reality of contrast causing "aversives" no matter what kind of training we do with our horses.
Originally aired on: November 16th, 2021

Teatime with Elsa - Episode 118

Chatting about: Yielding…
In this episode I talk about the foundations of yielding in Freedom Based Training®. When we can practice yields in freedom with feel and timing that is attuned to our horse, not only can we develop soft and supple cooperation, but we can develop a sense of enjoyment and cause the horse to actually look forward to being asked for a yield. By developing strong associations of enjoyment, we develop the intrinsic motivation to yield.
Originally aired on: November 9th, 2021
 

Teatime with Elsa - Episode 117

Chatting about: Choices…
In this episode I talk about choices creating a point of stress. Choices can be something that is difficult in our own lives, and our horses’ lives. Whether it’s having too many choices and the pressure of choosing the right one, or not having enough choice and lacking in freedom and independence. We talk about the motives and reasons for the choices that our horses make and the dynamics of choices in our relationships with our horses.
Originally aired on: November 2nd, 2021

Teatime with Elsa - Episode 116

Chatting About: Stories…
In this episode I talk about the similarities in storytelling and horse training. Whether it’s in storytelling, teaching, something that we’re learning about, or in a relationship we’re building, how can we find a balance between predictability, where there's a sense of familiarity and understanding, and novelty, where there's a sense of newness, variety and excitement? We talk about novelty and predictability on a spectrum and how the balance between the two affects the way our horses feel around us and our training and progress with them.
Originally aired on: October 27th, 2021

Teatime with Elsa - Episode 115 (With Cameron Sinclair)

Chatting about: Zohari…
In this episode, my daughter Cameron joins me to share our memories of my horse Zohari, in celebration of his life.
Originally aired on: October 20th, 2021

Teatime with Elsa - Episode 114

Chatting about: Normalizing appreciation…
In this episode I talk about appreciating our horses for who they are and what they can do. The idea of “never ending improvement” is very normalized and encouraged in today's horse culture. In Freedom Based Training™, it’s not about improving a behavior in the moment, it’s about appreciating the feedback our horses give us, gathering information about our horse and learning from those moments so we can ensure that we are in the right place at the right time and so we can slowly develop the horse’s behavior in low pressure ways in the low stress moments for the future.
Originally aired on: October 12th, 2021

Teatime with Elsa - Episode 113

Chatting about: Working on a difficult day…
In this episode I talk about whether or not we should work with our horses when we’re having a bad day. We discuss if it’s fair to expect things from our horses when we are in states of higher emotions. When we come to our horses each day, to attune to our own emotional capacity, as well as our horses we can ask the questions who am I today? Who is my horse today? What is something easy that we can do together that will be a positive experience?
Originally aired on: October 5th, 2021