Balancing The Use Of Reinforcements, And Being A Horse & Human Mum With Chloe Bailey

If you’ve ever found yourself questioning what is the most ethical way to train horses, felt like an outsider when it comes to exploring different methods, and/or you’re a mum trying to balance horses, life, and kids…then this episode is for you!

A while ago, I received a message on Facebook from Chloe Bailey, who had joined the new free Horse Mums FB group. She sent me a Google Doc in response to a question I had posted about how people navigate the use of reinforcements. Her response was so insightful that I knew it had to be shared, so here we are!

I sat down with Chloe Bailey, a welfare-concious ‘amateur’ horse trainer who has, like many of us, been asking those horse welfare questions and contemplating on how we can best navigate the use of reinforcement types in training.

We spoke about:

• Chloe’s horse journey and how she navigates the use of reinforcements in training
• What led her to explore positive reinforcement (R+)
• Overcoming guilt from past training methods and advice for others facing the same struggles
• Balancing idealism with practicality in training
• The biggest misconceptions about positive reinforcement (R+) and negative reinforcement (R-)
• Dealing with a shift in identity after moving away from traditional horse communities
• Experimenting with longer delays between the click and reward – key insights
• The future of R+ in the horse world – what changes Chloe hopes to see in the next 5–10 years
• How becoming a mother has changed her horsemanship
• The challenges of being a horse mum and human mum – and how she manages them
• Chloe’s latest horsemanship breakthrough
• Her favourite horse books and resources- including 2 authors that are completely new to me which I'm excited to read
• Her personal horse goals for the future
• Plus so much more!

🔗 LINKS MENTIONED IN TODAY’S EPISODE:

• Free Horse Mums Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/938509415066034
• Free Books & Resources List: amaliadempsey.com/booklist

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EXTRA RESOURCES TO HELP YOU AND YOUR HORSE:

📚 Book & Resource List: Get all the books & recommendations mentioned on the podcast → amaliadempsey.com/booklist

🐴 Free Mini-Course: Build a deeper connection & communication with your horse → www.amaliadempsey.com/ccmc

🏋️‍♀️ Free Rider Exercises: Improve your biomechanics with 10 unmounted exercises → amaliadempsey.com/exercises

💪 8-Week Rider Exercise Program: Transform your riding with structured, rider-specific exercises → amaliadempsey.com/8-week-rider-specific-exercise-program

🐎 Horsemanship Fundamentals Academy: Create a happy, confident, and trusting partnership with your horse on the ground and in the saddle → amaliadempsey.com/Horsemanship-Fundamentals-Academy

🚛 Trailer Loading Success: Say goodbye to stressful trailer loading with this $9 roadmap → amaliadempsey.com/trailer-loading-success-roadmap

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💕 Explore more horsemanship resources at www.amaliadempsey.com

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Keywords: Horsemanship, Rider Biomechanics, Positive Reinforcement, Horse Training, Liberty Training, Postpartum Riding Fitness, Equine Welfare, Ethical Horse Training, Groundwork Exercises, Enrichment for Horses, Clicker Training, Horse & Rider Connection, Strength & Mobility for Riders, Return to Riding Program, Balanced Riding, Harmony with Horses, Horse Behavior & Communication, Holistic Horsemanship, Ethical Riding Practices, Mindful Horsemanship, Classical Dressage, Softness & Lightness, Rider Posture & Alignment, Core Strength for Riders, Horse Agility, Bitless Riding, Bareback Riding, Young Horse Development, Confidence Building for Riders, Problem-Solving in Horse Training, R+, R-, Negative Reinforcement, Combined Reinforcement