Transcript: Horsefulness Training podcast-episode 15

Title: What If Your diffiuclt to catch Horse Would Choose You?

Date: [31-05-25]

Host: Karine Vandenborre

Hello and welcome to the Horsefulness Training Podcast.
My name is Karine Vandenborre, I’m a professional horse trainer and instructor, and the founder of Horsefulness Training.

Today, I would like to go deeper into the challenge of horses that are difficult to approach, difficult to catch and halter. It happens a lot, I can tell you! And maybe you also experienced this at one point in your horsewoman life, or at this very moment, you also have a horse that is difficult to catch.

If that’s the case, I have a question for you:
Have you ever wondered what it would feel like if your relationship with your horse began not with you choosing your horse, but your horse choosing you?

Take a breath with me and step into this moment...

Imagine you're standing at the edge of a lush, green meadow. The morning light filters through distant trees. You inhale the fresh air of the morning.

In the distance, your horse, the one that is always difficult to catch, grazes peacefully, knowing that you are there. You see it, that he knows, because he slightly turns his body away from you and takes a bit more distance.

But you don't call out, and you don't approach with a halter hidden behind your back or carrots in your pocket, like you otherwise do to catch him.

Instead, you choose something different, something most people who have a hard-to-catch horse don’t do. You wait in stillness.

You put out a chair and settle yourself into it, somewhere in a sunny spot. You relax, you empty your head of the expectations you normally have, and you simply... wait.

Minutes go by, and a half hour passes. In the meantime, the sun climbs higher. But you stay, patient, grounded, and present. You enjoy this quiet time in the sun, in the field, knowing your horse is there too.

Then comes that magical shift.

Your horse lifts its head and watches you.
Then your horse takes one step in your direction.
Then another.

Your horse’s movements are thoughtful, and you feel that your horse wants to come closer.

Your horse keeps moving toward you. And when he reaches you, he pauses and reaches down with his head to sniff your hands that you have in your lap.

You feel his breath against your skin.
Then, very gently, your horse starts to check you out—sniffing your legs, your shoes, your arms, your head. And then he stands there, staying close to you.

A feeling of true togetherness washes over you. A feeling of connection.

It’s the first time that your hard-to-catch horse, or your emotionally distant horse, chooses to stay so close to you in total freedom.

This, my dear horsewoman, is what it’s all about.
This is the foundation of Liberty Connection Work.
This practice of being present with your horse is called “bonding time.”

It's about creating a peaceful space where your horse can be curious about you, where your horse can choose to be with you when he’s ready.

When your horse makes this choice, when your horse seeks you out not from habit or hunger or because you catch him, but because he wants to connect and make contact himself, because he is curious and wants to get to know you, then something profound shifts in your relationship.

It’s very, very powerful if you take the time to make that happen—not once, not twice, but as much as possible.

I've seen the transformation because of bonding time, numerous times in my years of working with horses and their humans. Horses who once retreated to the far corners of their field when they saw a halter now approach with soft eyes and the desire to make contact. Horses who were labeled "difficult" or "stubborn" reveal themselves to be open and friendly.

The secret? It isn’t a new training technique or a firmer hand.
It is the willingness to step back, to listen, to wait, and to trust that when given time, freedom, and trust, horses will always choose connection.

So I ask you today: What if your challenging horse, your hard-to-catch horse, would choose you?
What if, by releasing your grip on control and embracing the art of patient presence, you could discover a relationship more profound than anything you've experienced before?

If something inside you resonates with this possibility, I've created something special for you.
My Bonding Time Deep Dive is a gentle, easy-to-follow guide to develop this chosen connection with your horse.

It contains all the ins and outs of bonding time, everything I've learned through decades of sitting in fields, waiting for horses to approach, and learning how to react to the different things horses can do during this practice of bonding time.

For a limited time, I'm offering this course at 17 euros, along with some wonderful bonuses designed to support your journey into a stronger and more meaningful bond. You'll find all the details in the show notes below.

Remember, a true bond and strong connection isn't measured by how quickly your horse responds to your commands, it's measured by how willingly they seek your company when they're completely free not to.

Thank you for joining me in this podcast episode!
Until next time, and may your relationship with your horse be filled with beautiful bonding moments!

© Karine Vandenborre - Horsefulness Training.  All Rights Reserved