Josh Nichol: Relational Horsemanship Training on NF+

Train the Horse in Front of You

Learn how to build trust, communication, and true partnership with your horse through Josh Nichol’s Relational Horsemanship™ approach.

Meet Josh Nichol

Josh Nichol is a horseman known for his thoughtful, horse-first approach to training. His method, Relational Horsemanship™, focuses on understanding the horse’s perspective, building trust, and developing clear communication from the ground up.Rather than relying on force or repetition, Josh teaches riders how to read their horse, respond with intention, and create lasting change through connection. His work is grounded in psychology, biomechanics, and feel—helping riders of all disciplines develop a more meaningful partnership with their horse.Whether you're working with a young horse, rebuilding trust, or simply looking to improve your communication, Josh’s approach offers a clear and practical path forward.

Getting Started

Who This Training Is For

This training is designed for riders and horse owners who want more than just results, they want understanding.

If you’ve ever felt like:

Your horse isn’t listening, but you’re not sure why
You’re repeating the same exercises without real progress
Your horse feels anxious, reactive, or disconnected
You want a better relationship, not just better performance

You’re in the right place.

Individual Courses

Foundation: How to Understand Your Horse's Needs Masterclass
In the first course of "Understanding Your Horse's Needs," renowned trainer Josh Nichol introduces you to the three essential horse needs—Mind, Space, and Pressure.
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Practical: How to Understand Your Horse's Needs Masterclass
Is your horse herd-bound, stubborn, spooky, or explosive? In Part 2 of Josh Nichol's course, you'll uncover the root of these behaviors, often an unmet need...
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How to Understand Your Horse's Body Masterclass
Every horse has a story, and often that story is held in their body, stored as tension, resistance, or ‘bad’ behavior. Imagine tapping into your horse’s emotional history...
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Case Study: How to Work Through Aggression
When biting, kicking, and charging become a horse’s default response, can trust ever be rebuilt? In this powerful three-part series, Josh Nichol works with Lily...
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Case Study: How to Reframe Pressure
Hannah’s rescue mare, Xena, struggles with tension, reactivity, and fear, challenges that have left their bond fragile and uncertain. In this powerful series...
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Case Study: How to Build Confidence
Renowned horseman Josh Nichol works with Noche, a sensitive horse, to turn fear-driven reactions into calm, confident engagement. Improving confidence and...
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A Different Way to Train

Josh Nichol takes a different approach to horsemanship and training, one that really looks to the horse first. His goal is not the outcome, is the process, the relationship, and the journey.

Understand the “Why”
Learn how to read your horse’s body language and uncover the root cause of tension, resistance, or anxiety.
Build Trust That Lasts
Develop a relationship where your horse feels safe, confident, and willing,not forced.
Improve Communication
Clear, consistent cues that your horse understands, leading to better responses and less frustration.
Train with Feel, Not Force
Understand how your track, balance, and timing impact the jump before you even get there.
Solve Problems at the Source
Address common issues like spooking, rushing, or disconnection by working through the cause, not the symptom.
For All Disciplines
Whether you ride or not, this approach improves how you interact with your horse in every situation.

Relational Horsemanship™

Josh’s philosophy centers around one simple idea: your horse is always communicating.

When you learn how to listen, adjust, and respond, everything changes.

Instead of training through pressure alone, Relational Horsemanship™ focuses on:

Awareness of the horse’s mental and emotional state
Timing and feel in your responses
Building confidence through clarity
Creating a two-way conversation

This is where real progress begins.

Bundle and Save

The Groundwork Starter Pack
Better riding starts on the ground. This bundle is designed to help you build communication, trust, and responsiveness through thoughtful groundwork, giving you the tools to understand your horse, address anxiety, and create a stronger partnership before you ever get in the saddle.
What’s Included
- Two Weeks to Better Groundwork with Chelsea Canedy
- Tik Maynard Teaches Training the Spooky or Anxious Horse
- Tik Maynard Teaches Introducing Play with Your Horse
- Understanding Your Horse's Needs Part 1 with Josh Nichol
- Understanding Your Horse's Needs Part 2 with Josh Nichol
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The Spooky & Anxious Horse
When your horse feels unsure, reactive, or overwhelmed, it can be hard to know where to start. This bundle gives you a clear, horse-first approach to building confidence, reducing anxiety, and helping your horse feel safe, understood, and rideable again.
What’s Included
- Tik Maynard Teaches Training the Spooky or Anxious Horse
- Chelsea Canedy Teaches Training the Barn Sour (Herd-Bound) Horse
- Introducing Spooky Fences with Tik Maynard
- Why Does Your Horse Struggle – MasterTalk with Josh Nichol
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Getting to Know Your New Horse
Bringing a new horse into your life comes with a lot of unknowns. This bundle is designed to help you understand who your horse is, how they think, and how to build a solid foundation from day one, so you can move forward with clarity, confidence, and a plan.
What’s Included
- New Horse Starter Pack with Chelsea Canedy
- Tik Maynard Teaches Training the Young Horse
- Understanding Your Horse's Body with Josh Nichol
- Tik Maynard Teaches Understanding Horse Behaviour
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The Complete Josh Nichol Program
In this bundle you get access to Josh Nichol's masterclasses, case studies, and mastertalk. You'll be able to understand your horse's body and language, focus on addressing sticky issues, build confidence and trust, and improve the relationship you have.
Bundle Includes:
- Understanding Your Horse's Needs Part 1 and 2
- Understanding Your Horse's Body
- Case Study: From Aggression to Connection
- Case Study: Reframing Pressure
- Case Study: Building Confidence and Self-Carriage
- MasterTalk Audio Series: Why Does Your Horse Struggle
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