20 | The One Gear Mistake Sabotaging Your Training
In this short but powerful episode of The Essence of Liberty Podcast, I’m talking about one of the most common mistakes I see in positive reinforcement training: using the wrong pouch or pocket for your food rewards.
It may sound simple, but the wrong bag can lead to fumbling, delayed timing, and unclear communication with your horse. I’ll share what to look for in a food reward pouch, why convenience and security matter, and how this one small choice can completely change the flow of your training.
To learn how to begin liberty with your horse, check out the free masterclass, "Launch Into Liberty: Where and How To Begin": https://www.nadinelindblom.com/masterclass-registration
To dive even deeper, enrollments in to The Essence of Liberty Online Academy are now open! Go to the link below to find out more: https://www.nadinelindblom.com/the-essence-of-liberty-online-academy-2025
Follow @nadinelindblom on Instagram for daily insights: https://www.instagram.com/nadinelindblom/
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19 | How To Make Sure It Doesn't Become All About The Treats!
Is your horse becoming hyper-fixated on food rewards? Do you ever worry liberty training might turn into nothing more than “cookie training”?
In this episode of The Essence of Liberty Podcast, Dr. Nadine Lindblom (former equine veterinarian) shares how to prevent your training from becoming all about the food. You’ll learn:
Why balance between connection time and training time matters.
How to use lower-value rewards to reduce food obsession.
The importance of clear start and end signals to keep sessions structured.
These strategies will help you keep food as a motivator, not a distraction — so your horse sees you as more than a pocket full of treats, and your relationship grows deeper, more trusting, and more joyful.To learn how to begin liberty with your horse, check out the free masterclass, "Launch Into Liberty: Where and How To Begin": https://www.nadinelindblom.com/masterclass-registration
To dive even deeper, enrollments in to The Essence of Liberty Online Academy are now open! Go to the link below to find out more: https://www.nadinelindblom.com/the-essence-of-liberty-online-academy-2025
Follow @nadinelindblom on Instagram for daily insights: https://www.instagram.com/nadinelindblom/
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18 | Why I reward my horses for doing NOTHING
In this episode of The Essence of Liberty Podcast, I dive into one of the most counterintuitive yet powerful foundations in positive reinforcement: rewarding your horse for doing absolutely nothing.
Many students are surprised when I begin by reinforcing stillness instead of action—but this small detail can make all the difference. From reducing pushiness and frustration to teaching your horse emotional self-control and helping you match each other’s energy, rewarding nothing builds the calm, patient foundation your liberty work will always rely on.
Discover how to set your horse up for success, what rewards to use, and why stillness is one of the hardest (and most important) behaviors your horse can learn.
To learn how to begin liberty with your horse, check out the free masterclass, "Launch Into Liberty: Where and How To Begin": https://www.nadinelindblom.com/masterclass-registration
To dive even deeper, enrollments in to The Essence of Liberty Online Academy are now open! Go to the link below to find out more: https://www.nadinelindblom.com/the-essence-of-liberty-online-academy-2025
Follow @nadinelindblom on Instagram for daily insights: https://www.instagram.com/nadinelindblom/
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17 | 6 Ways To Strengthen Your Relationship With Your Horse
How strong is your relationship with your horse?
In this episode of The Essence of Liberty Podcast, I share 6 powerful ways to strengthen your relationship—3 outside the training space, and 3 within it. Plus, we’ll talk about how to preserve trust when you have to do something your horse won’t enjoy (like worming, vet procedures, or trailering).
If you want to become the person your horse seeks for safety and joy—not just tolerates—this one’s for you 💛To learn how to begin liberty with your horse, check out the free masterclass, "Launch Into Liberty: Where and How To Begin": https://www.nadinelindblom.com/masterclass-registration
To dive even deeper, enrollments in to The Essence of Liberty Online Academy are now open! Go to the link below to find out more: https://www.nadinelindblom.com/the-essence-of-liberty-online-academy-2025
Follow @nadinelindblom on Instagram for daily insights: https://www.instagram.com/nadinelindblom/
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16 | 5 Ways To Avoid Frustration Around Food Rewards
In this episode, we’re diving into a topic that all R+ trainers face at some point: frustration. But here’s the twist—you don’t need to fear it. I’m sharing five powerful ways to reduce frustration in your training sessions and help your horse build emotional resilience. Whether you have a highly food-motivated horse or you’re just starting out with positive reinforcement, these strategies will help you create calmer, more connected liberty sessions.
To learn how to begin liberty with your horse, check out the free masterclass, "Launch Into Liberty: Where and How To Begin": https://www.nadinelindblom.com/masterclass-registration
To dive even deeper, enrollments in to The Essence of Liberty Online Academy are now open! Go to the link below to find out more: https://www.nadinelindblom.com/the-essence-of-liberty-online-academy-2025
Follow @nadinelindblom on Instagram for daily insights: https://www.instagram.com/nadinelindblom/
The Essence of Liberty Podcast is the horsemanship podcast where we discuss all things liberty to help you understand, connect, communicate and play with your horse in a gentle and force-free way!
Here you will find episodes about equine psychology and learning theory, as well as handy tips and tricks about how to motivate your horse, strengthen your relationship and solve common problems.
If you love this podcast, you will also love the free masterclass “Launch Into Liberty: Where and How To Begin”. You can access it through the link below:
https://www.nadinelindblom.com/masterclass-registration
Also, don’t forget to follow @nadinelindblom on Instagram for more inspiration and education:
https://instagram.com/nadinelindblom
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