The difference between a rider and a horseman? Understanding.
You love your horse. You show up, day after day, pouring your heart into training. You do your best to be patient, to be fair. You’ve read the books, watched the videos, followed the advice. And yet—some days, it feels like nothing is working.
Your horse won’t come to you in the pasture. He spooks at the same corner of the arena, over and over. He hesitates, resists, checks out completely. And that whisper of self-doubt starts creeping in.
Am I doing something wrong?
Is my horse stubborn? Unwilling? Or is it me?
Why does this feel so much harder than it should?
Maybe you’ve felt the weight of judgment from other riders—like you should be tougher, like you need to “show him who’s boss.” Maybe you’ve tried to shut out that voice inside you, the one telling you there must be another way—one that isn’t about force, but about connection.
Or maybe you’re just overwhelmed. From the pressure to get it right. From all the conflicting advice that makes you question your instincts. From feeling alone in your desire to train with kindness in a world that often prioritizes results over relationships.
This is an industry issue.
Many riders struggle—not because they lack skill, but because traditional training methods often skip over something essential: the horse’s perspective. We are taught techniques before we learn to listen. We are given tools before we are taught to observe.
But what if we approached horsemanship differently? What if we stopped trying to make our horses do things and instead learned how to create a relationship where they want to?
Tik Maynard’s Four Building Blocks to Better Horsemanship changes everything we knew about training horses. It’s about learning to see them, hear them, and understand them in a way that transforms your partnership.
It all comes down to four fundamental building blocks: Observation, Communication, Motivation, and Play. Let’s break them down—along with the challenges many riders face, and how these principles offer a way through.
1. Observation: Learning to See Before We Do
The Challenge: You show up at the barn, excited to ride, but your horse doesn’t share this viewpoint. They’re distracted, unresponsive, or tense—and you don’t know why. Is it you? Is it them? Are you missing something?
The Shift:
"There’s no limit to how good we can get at observing a horse. The moment we think we’ve learned it all, we stop seeing the subtle things that matter most." – Tik Maynard
Most of us were never taught to pause and truly see our horse before asking for anything. Yet, observation is where everything starts.
How Observation Changes the Game:
- You recognize the small, subtle signals your horse gives before they escalate into tension or resistance.
- You learn to meet them where they are, instead of expecting them to meet you where you want them to be.
- You build trust, because your horse knows they are being heard before they are being asked.
Try This:
Before you pick up a lead rope or tighten your girth, just watch. Notice their breathing, their ears, the way they shift their weight. What are they telling you about how they feel today?
2. Communication: Moving from Command to Conversation
The Challenge: You’re going through all motions you’ve been taught. You ask for a transition, a turn, a movement. Your horse does it—but it feels robotic, disconnected. Or maybe they don’t do it, and you’re left wondering, What am I doing wrong?
The Shift:
"The real skill isn’t making a horse do something—it’s knowing if they understand or if they’re just reacting from stress.”— Tik Maynard
We often think we’re communicating when we’re really just commanding. True communication isn’t about making a horse do something—it’s about creating shared understanding.
How to Build True Communication:
- Give your horse space to think and respond instead of micromanaging.
- Notice “The Look”—that moment when your horse shifts from compliance to curiosity.
- Use pressure and release in a way that fosters trust, not confusion or fear.
Try This:
Next time you ask your horse for something, ask softly first—just a thought, a shift in energy. If they don’t respond, gradually build up pressure, but notice when they understand. Do they respond to phase one? Or does it take more?
Then, refine it. Repeat the request a few times, aiming for a lighter and lighter response. Look for The Look—that moment when they’re thinking with you, not just reacting. The goal? A quiet, clear conversation where a whisper is enough.
3. Motivation: Why Your Horse Needs More Than Just Obedience
The Challenge: Your horse follows your cues, but there is no spark or enthusiasm. Their movements lack energy, their expression is dull, and they seem to be doing the bare minimum. They’re not resisting—but they’re not truly engaged either. Are they just tolerating the work instead of wanting to participate?
The Shift:
"A horse that feels safe is a horse that can learn. Fear blocks understanding—safety unlocks motivation.” – Tik Maynard
Most training relies on pressure and release, but motivation is about more than avoiding discomfort. It’s about understanding what makes your horse want to engage.
How to Create Willingness Instead of Resistance:
- Recognize the difference between tolerance and true acceptance.
- Understand how fear, curiosity, and reward shape your horse’s responses.
- Use positive reinforcement and play to shift training from an obligation into a partnership.
Try This:
Find what makes your horse’s ears perk up—scratches in a favorite spot, a moment of rest, a reward. Build that into training and notice how their enthusiasm changes.
4. Play: The Missing Ingredient in Training
The Challenge: Training feels like a routine. You go through the process, but can’t help wondering if you’ve lost the feeling of joy that made you fall in love with horses in the first place.
The Shift:
"The best sessions happen when you stop trying to be perfect and start trying to find harmony. Play lives in that space between structure and spontaneity." – Tik Maynard
We forget that horses play by nature. It’s how they bond, learn, and grow. When we bring play into training, we invite lightness, curiosity, and connection back into our work.
How to Add Play to Your Training:
- Match Your Energy: Adjust your movement and intention to engage your horse’s curiosity.
- Let Play Be Personal: Some horses love liberty, others prefer scratches—find what excites yours.
- Stop Overthinking: Be present, listen, and respond—play happens when you let go.
Try This:
Next time you work with your horse, add a moment of spontaneous play. Hide a carrot on a jump, ask them to unwind from the leadrope, have them touch a target. Watch how their whole energy shifts.
Bonus: Watch “Tik Maynard Teaches Introducing Play with Your Horse” on NF+
Partnership isn’t forced—it’s earned, one moment, one feel, one release at a time.
When it comes to creating a willing and engaged partnership, the answer isn’t found in more techniques or harsher methods. The answer is found in understanding.
Tik Maynard’s Four Building Blocks to Better Horsemanship is an invitation to shift the way we see, listen, and engage with our horses. To replace pressure with partnership. To move from control to connection.
Because the real transformation? It isn’t just in the horse—it’s in you.
Ready to Change the Way You Train?
Tik Maynard’s Four Building Blocks to Better Horsemanship is now streaming exclusively on NF+.
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