Dear Horse World

What if everything you've been calling a behavior problem is actually your horse asking for help? On this episode of Dear Horse World, Noëlle sits down with Jim Masterson — founder of the Masterson Method and a leading voice in equine bodywork for horse owners — to explore exactly that question. Jim has worked hands-on with an estimated 700 horses a year at peak, trained over 10,000 students worldwide, and built a method shaped entirely by what horses told him. This conversation will change how you see your horse.
Jim and Noëlle unpack how the horse nervous system moves between sympathetic arousal (guarding, bracing) and parasympathetic release (dropping the head, yawning, shifting weight). You'll understand why an agenda — even a caring one — can block that release, and how approaching your horse with quiet, clear intention changes what becomes possible. Natural horsemanship principles run through everything: you're not working on the horse. You're working with it.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN
Why the poll-atlas junction is the single most important tension point in your horse's body, and how releasing it can shift movement, behavior, and comfort throughout the entire horse — not just the neck.
How to identify when your horse's "behavior problems" — head-shyness, resistance to bridling, difficulty with one canter lead, sudden bucking — are expressions of physical tension, not disobedience.
Jim's five levels of touch (air gap, egg yolk, grape, lemon, and hard lime) and how to stay beneath your horse's bracing response so tension can actually release instead of getting blocked.
How to start the bladder meridian technique today — free, with no equipment — by following the blinks, yawns, and lick-and-chew responses your horse is already giving you.
How your horse's nervous system moves between sympathetic guarding and parasympathetic release, and what visible signs tell you a real tension release has happened.
Why approaching body work without a "fix it" agenda is essential — and how your own intention and presence either opens your horse up or causes them to shut down and block out the work entirely.
Why regular body work is one of the only things you can do with your horse that is all give and no take — and how even one bladder meridian session can begin to transform your horse's trust in you.
Jim Masterson is the creator of the Masterson Method Integrated Equine Performance Bodywork, author of Beyond Horse Massage, and former body worker for the US Endurance Team. He has certified over 650 practitioners in 20 countries and taught more than 10,000 students since 2006.
Start your equine bodywork for horse owners journey at MastersonMethod.com.
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Watch the free bladder meridian video on YouTube, and share this equestrian podcast with every horse owner in your life who has a horse they don't fully understand yet.
Chapters:
00:00:00 When Behavior Is Pain: The Lens That Changes Everything
00:01:33 Jim Masterson on 10,000 Students and a Method Born From Horses 
00:04:32 From Groom to Bodywork Pioneer: How It All Started
00:07:09 Discovering the Bladder Meridian and What Horses Were Showing Him
00:14:23 Congo, Baboons, and Learning to Read Animal Cues
00:20:09 The Three Key Tension Junctions Every Horse Owner Should Know
00:29:09 How Tension Travels Through the Body: Compensation and Connection
00:39:36 Why Releasing Tension Changes Your Horse's Performance and Well-Being
00:44:25 Body Work as the Fastest Path to Real Horse-Human Connection
00:51:45 Subtle Signs of Discomfort and How to Spot Them Before They Become Problems
00:56:03 Levels of Touch and What Makes the Masterson Method Different
01:07:15 How to Start Doing Body Work on Your Own Horse Without an Agenda

Liberty trainer and Braveheart Beasts founder Kaleigh Marie shares how training oxen, mammoth donkeys, and mules before ever seriously working with horses shaped everything she knows about connection, trust, and the nervous system.
Kaleigh Marie is a liberty trainer and performer based in the Northeast who has spent the last decade developing a nervous system-informed approach to horsemanship rooted in connection, positive reinforcement, and the foundational lessons she learned working with cattle, donkeys, and mules long before horses became her focus.
In this episode you will learn:
Why Kaleigh's foundation in training oxen and mammoth donkeys gave her a unique edge with horses
What "conversational quality" means and how it shows up in your relationship with your horse
Why donkeys ask "why should I?" — and why that's actually a gift to any trainer
How the nervous system underlies everything from leg aids to liberty work
The honest story of how clicker training almost derailed her liberty performances — and what she rebuilt from the ground up
The difference between expectation and intention when you're struggling in a session
What to do when you're not showing up as the trainer you want to be
Why dull horses are often the most sensitive ones — and how they got that way
The "backpack" concept and how co-regulation with your horse actually works
Why self-regulation — for both horse and human — matters more than connection
To find out more about Kaleigh Marie: website | instagram | facebook
This episode is sponsored by Triple Crown Feeds

The secret to raising a healthy horse begins with nutrition that goes beyond. The team at Triple Crown is dedicated to helping our customers succeed by understanding your horse's unique needs and working to develop the right feeding program for the horse you love.

www.triplecrownfeed.com | instagram.com/triplecrownfeed | facebook.com/TripleCrownFeed | youtube.com/@triplecrownfeeds
If you love honest conversations about horsemanship, trust, and the ongoing practice of becoming a better horse person, subscribe for more.
Chapters:
00:00 Meet Kaylee Marie
01:10 Road to the Horse Memories
03:38 First Meeting with Tik 
08:12 Braveheart Beasts Origins
08:31 Farm Kid to Oxen Trainer
13:07 Riding Cows and Controversy
18:39 Back to Horses and Draft Life
20:16 Mammoth Donkeys in the City
24:01 Connection and Motivation Lessons
8:05 Conversational Quality Explained
32:22 Nervous System Awakening
38:31 Rescue Rehab and Roman Story
45:18 First Q&A Reset as a Trainer
47:30 Gut Brain Connection
48:27 One Percent Better
48:55 Expectation Versus Intention
51:44 Stop And Regulate
53:28 Co Regulation Release
56:41 Leg Aid Without Fight
58:40 Sensitivity Versus Expression
01:00:46 Rehab Dull Horses
01:04:17 Clicker Training Ethics
01:09:42 Rock Bottom Without Food
01:15:47 Pressure And Resilience
01:18:53 Clicker For Quality
01:22:10 Keep Learning Through Pain
01:24:03 Rapid Fire Favorites
01:28:23 Final Thanks And Wrap

In this episode of Dear Horse World, equine veterinarian Dr. Kent Tooman breaks down the truth about equine metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, and why more horses than ever are at risk of laminitis.
Dr. Kent Tooman is an experienced equine veterinarian with over 30 years in practice, specializing in performance horses and metabolic health.
In this episode you will learn:
What's really happening inside your horse's body
Why "easy keepers" may be misunderstood
The subtle signs most owners miss (including fat deposits and barn blindness)
Breed predispositions (ponies, Arabs, draft crosses, and more)
Practical steps to reduce risk and manage weight safely
How insulin affects your horse's health

The connection between weight, metabolism, and laminitis

Why modern horse management is increasing risk

How to spot early warning signs before it's too late

If you care about better horse health, training, and management, subscribe for more expert conversations.
This episode is sponsored by Pegaus Training & Rehabilitation Center


Here at Pegasus, our mission is to run a first class horse training, rehabilitation, and conditioning facility; provide horses of all disciplines with full and complete care of the highest quality; partner with our clients to ensure that we not only meet, but exceed, their individual goals and needs; and maintain our facility and equipment with the highest level of care.



To find out more about Pegasus - website | instagram | facebook
Chapters:
0:00 – The "Easy Keeper" Myth (Why This Matters)
1:12 – Meet Dr. Kent Tooman
3:45 – Why More Horses Are Developing Metabolic Issues
6:20 – What Is Equine Metabolic Syndrome?
9:10 – Insulin Explained (Simple Breakdown)
12:30 – Where Fat Shows Up (Signs Most Owners Miss)
16:15 – Barn Blindness: Why You Don't See the Problem
20:40 – Breed Risk: Ponies, Arabs & "Thrifty" Horses
25:10 – Why Modern Horses Are Getting Overweight
30:25 – The Link Between Weight & Laminitis
35:50 – How to Reduce Risk (Practical Steps)
41:30 – Feeding, Exercise & Management Mistakes
47:10 – Can This Be Reversed?
52:00 – The Future: Ozempic for Horses?
56:30 – Final Advice for Horse Owners
⚠️ Disclaimer - This content is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for veterinary advice.

Champion cutting horse trainer Barbra Schulte joins the Dear Horse World Podcast after teaching host Noelle her first cut in Weatherford, Texas, explaining her teaching approach through mechanics and nervous system regulation.
They discuss staying in an optimal state between under-arousal and fight-or-flight, slowing down when things speed up, and building skills through fundamentals, clear sequences, repetition, and positive reinforcement (dopamine) to install neurological pathways rather than "muscle memory."
Schulte outlines beginner learning, the discouraging "messy middle," refinement, and mastery, emphasizing between-lesson work, visualization, scripts/mantras, and self-coaching tools like "what's my job?" and "what do I control?" They address negative self-talk, fear of judgment, blame vs responsibility, and self-worth, and Schulte shares how human performance training influenced her competitive success, plus retreats and book recommendations. 
To find out more about Barbra - Website | Instagram | Facebook
Barbra Schulte is hostin a Cutting Clinic September 17-20th 2026 in Pony, Montana. Click here for more info.
This episode is brought to you by Total Feeds:
Our mission to provide quality nutrition to people and animals puts us in contact with all manner of interesting folks. Whether you're interested in our animal feed, or the people involved in the animal industry: you'll find it at Total Feeds!
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What You'll Learn:
Why your nervous system — not your technique — is the real ceiling on your riding performance
How to find and stay in the sweet spot between flat and frantic, and what to do when you lose it
Why positive reinforcement creates a dopamine cycle that accelerates skill acquisition
The truth about muscle memory — and where new riding skills actually live in your body
How to navigate the messy middle of learning without losing confidence or motivation
Why nervousness is closer to peak performance than you think — and how blame moves you furthest away
How Barbra used visualization and nervous system work to win two legs of cutting's triple crown
Chapters:
00:00 Meet Barbra Schulte
01:00 Teaching With Awareness
03:40 Cutting Fundamentals Explained
07:06 When Things Speed Up 1
2:41 Dopamine And Learning Waves
19:38 Installing Skills And Practice Plans
31:41 Surviving The Messy Middle
35:48 Taming Negative Self Talk
38:46 Scripts Mantras And Regulation
42:38 Why You Ride In The First Place
43:54 No Failure In Learning
44:07 Total Equine Feed Story
47:19 Coming Home To Yourself
49:50 Visualization For Show Nerves
52:05 Do You Be You
01:00:28 Why Judgment Hurts
01:09:02 Nervous Anger Blame Rings
01:17:09 Hard Things Build Confidence
01:19:34 Why Nervous System Work
01:24:18 Retreats And Courses
01:26:37 Rapid Fire Wrap Up

NF+ is proud to present our exclusive new Masterclass, The Millar Method Complete Training System, where Ian & Amy Millar introduce their system for building winning horses.
Olympian Ian Millar returns on NF+ with Amy Millar to introduce the first of 16 episodes of the Millar Method, a consistent, repeatable system designed to develop horses that stay sound, confident, and ready to win.
They share their backgrounds—Ian's record 10 Olympic Games, role with the Canadian show jumping team, and scholarship work in Ontario; Amy's two Olympic appearances, Canadian championship, team ambitions, and efforts to improve accessibility through Can Jump. The episode explains how their method applies from trail riding to top sport, grounded in understanding the horse's nature and using tools like lunging, round penning, gymnastics, grids, and courses.
They emphasize principles that stay consistent while adapting teaching to how each horse and rider learns.
A Program Responsible for nine Olympic Horses across two Generations.
The Millar Method | Complete Training System -  Save 25% on annual memberships with code DHW25
Learn the system that has developed top-level horses for Olympians lan and Amy Millar.
Chapters:
00:00 Meet the Millar Method
01:12 Ian and Amy Introductions
02:26 Why Teaching Matters
04:44 Sharing the Method
05:28 What the Method Covers
06:47 Tools and Foundations
07:45 Principles and Adaptation
08:19 How Horses and Riders Learn
08:55 Teaching Wins
The Millar Method | Complete Training System -  Save 25% on annual memberships with code DHW25
Exclusively available on NF+, the equestrian masterclass platform for riders of all levels and disciplines.
This episode is brought to you by:
Connaway & Associates Equine Insurance Services, Inc.

The friendly and knowledgeable team at Connaway & Associates brings together more than 30 years of experience to offer a wide range of insurance services, including horse insurance, farm insurance, and liability insurance.

Visit www.connaway.net | @connawayassociates | facebook.com/connawayassociatesequine