Do you often feel like the odd one out at your stables because other horse lovers don't understand that the bond with your horse is more valuable than a ride in the arena?
In this episode, we welcome Sandra Poppema, founder of HippoLogic and creator of The Confident Clicker Trainer method. Sandra is a passionate horsewoman from the Netherlands with a unique training approach that prioritizes connection over compliance.
Sandra's mission is to help horse people enhance their friendship with their horses by teaching them to use positive reinforcement as a two-way communication system. Through her methods, you'll discover how to build mutual trust and understanding while strengthening the horse-human bond.
Join us as we explore essential questions:
How can we learn to be a good friend to our horse?
How can we use treats in clicker training without creating greedy, pushy horses?
Whether you're new to positive reinforcement or looking to deepen your practice, Sandra offers valuable insights that will transform your relationship with your equine partner.
SPECIAL OFFER FOR OUR LISTENERS
Sandra is generously offering Curious Equestrian listeners a FREE Clicker Training Assessment!
In this personal 1:1 session, you'll discover your strengths and weaknesses in training. After the assessment, you'll know exactly what your next step should be to improve your horse training skills.
This offer comes with no strings attached and is Sandra's way of giving back for being on the podcast.
Book your free assessment here: https://tidycal.com/hippologic/curious-equestrian
Episode Chapters: "Training Horses with Kindness" with Sandra Poppema
Introduction to Positive Reinforcement (00:00-02:16) Sandra's approach to training and the power of two-way communication
Early Horse Connections (02:16-04:42) How childhood experiences shaped Sandra's training philosophy
The Evolution of Training (04:42-09:29) From traditional methods to choice-based communication
Beyond Treats (09:29-15:04) Understanding motivation and building trust
Individual Horse Motivation (15:04-18:47) Food motivation across breeds and personalities
The Wild Horse Turning Point (18:47-25:58) Sandra's transformative experience with Kira
Rethinking Training Traditions (25:58-31:42) The pivotal moment that changed everything
Redefining Relationships (31:42-38:13) From owner to friend: changing how we see our horses
Values-Based Horsemanship (38:13-43:27) Letting core values guide training decisions
Food Manners & Boundaries (43:27-48:27) Addressing concerns about treat training
Healing Traumatized Horses (48:27-56:00) Rebuilding trust and confidence through choice
The Future of Training (56:00-01:03:46) Creating safer, more compassionate partnerships
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