“He needs to be more afraid of you than of what he’s spooking at,” my trainer said.

“He needs to be more afraid of you than of what he’s spooking at,” my trainer said. 

I tried to “correct” my horse Westley with a crop, thinking it would build respect. Instead, he only became more and more agitated, and our bond crumbled. No trainer was able to help us. I was told to give up on him, sell him, and even put him down . Then I tried bodywork, and discovered Westley’s issues were from pain, not disobedience. This revelation transformed our relationship. This journey inspired me to start Freely Forward Bodywork. Now, I teach others how to recognize and relieve their horses’ discomfort. My goal? To help equestrians build compassionate connections, not force compliance. Most traditional training methods  label horses as "stubborn" or "naughty" if they act out undersaddle. But I believe these behaviors are often cries for help due to physical pain.

The Freely Forward Formula focuses on 3 key steps:  

1. **Identifying pain** through body language, behavior, and palpation 

2. **Releasing tension** with gentle myofascial massage techniques and stretching 

3. **Preventing pain** with thoughtful management, both  in and out of the saddle

Spending as little as 15 minutes a week using these methods can strengthen your bond and keep your horse comfortable and happy.  I’ve taught over 1,000 horse owners these techniques. They’ve seen horses go from sour to sweet when nothing else has helped. My mission is to empower owners to help their horses themselves. Every horse deserves compassionate care, and every owner should feel capable of providing it. Let’s move toward a more empathetic approach to horsemanship—*for them, and for us.*