Can we truly be safe with positive reinforcement?

Don't we need to resort to pressure, even if light, when we go out in the so called "real world"? Is it really safe to hack outside with a horse trained with a foundation of reward based behaviors?

These are questions I hear a lot — and they make sense. The world outside the paddock can feel unpredictable. There are barking dogs, unfamiliar trails, flapping plastic, sudden noises, and everything in between. It might seem odd, even unrealistic, that we can prepare a horse for all of that by giving them food and encouraging them to make their own choices.

But. Building trust goes beyond the arena.

So here’s my answer:
Yes. I absolutely ride out and explore the world with a foundation built on reward-based training.

The core of what I love about the actual riding and trail walking part hasn't changed since I changed ways of working. I still enjoy moving together and exploring nature side by side with my horses. But the way we get there has changed.

The initial training might look different from what many are used to. I spend more time on the ground. I focus deeply on the horse’s emotional and physical balance.

But it doesn’t actually take more time in the long run. Because I invest in clarity, strong basics and choice early on, things tend to fall into place much more smoothly later.

What makes it work?

1. I teach my horse to love using their body.
That movement feels good: that my horse is supported in finding their own balance. Especially in the early riding stages, I don’t overtake the movement or ask for more than they can offer. Yes, sure I'm not perfect but if this more a rule than an exception we're gonna create a horse that doesnt want us to mount.

We build strength and stamina slowly. The goal is to help them want to move well, not just respond to my cues.

2. I don’t stretch behavior with food.
Treats are valuable — but not when they become a way to convince. If my horse hesitates or wants to turn toward home, I listen. That’s not a failure. That’s a message.
Instead of stretching them past their threshold with food, I give space. That space builds trust, and trust builds the desire to go further — when they are ready.

3. I invest deeply in foundation behaviors — and train them across environments.
The real key to feeling safe outside the arena? Fluency and generalization.
I work on a small handful of core behaviors that form the heart of our shared language:

• Free walk – calm, connected walking with or without tack

• Parking – the ability to stop and stay still from any position

• Nose targets – curiosity on cue, directed into the environment

Nose targets might be the most underestimated foundation behavior of all in this context. They give horses a clear, playful task that redirects attention without suppression. A mailbox becomes a target. A trash can becomes a game. The environment itself turns into a resource instead of a threat.

Foundation behaviors aren’t just for the arena. When practiced consistently, they become reliable anchors. They’re where I return when the unexpected happens. They give structure in moments where my horse might otherwise feel lost.

Practical tips for taking R+ out into the world

• Start with the known. Train your basics well at home. Don’t expect them to work outside just because they work inside.

• Shift one variable at a time. New place, same exercise. New time of day, same behavior. Let your horse build confidence through predictability.

• Respond to reactivity with curiosity. If your horse needs to stop and look, honor that. In the beginning, I often dismount and go explore with them. Later, I might stay in the saddle — but that’s not the goal. The goal is shared confidence.

• Keep working from different positions. Can your horse respond when you’re in front, beside, or on their back? Can they pause and reconnect no matter where you are?

• Return to your anchors. A solid park. A familiar nose target. A pause to eat grass together. These aren’t distractions — they’re glue.

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Listening is my number one safety tool

I never try to stretch a behavior or push a little further with just one more treat.
If my horse says “not today,” I listen — just like I would in the arena. That space builds a deeper connection and boosts their willingness to try again next time. I want them to stretch the behavior — not me.

I train mostly alone, and my number one investment in our safety is simple:
I listen.
My horses always know what they’re talking about.