Show Notes
In this episode of The Essence of Liberty Podcast, I dive into one of the most counterintuitive yet powerful foundations in positive reinforcement: rewarding your horse for doing absolutely nothing.
Many students are surprised when I begin by reinforcing stillness instead of action—but this small detail can make all the difference. From reducing pushiness and frustration to teaching your horse emotional self-control and helping you match each other’s energy, rewarding nothing builds the calm, patient foundation your liberty work will always rely on.
Discover how to set your horse up for success, what rewards to use, and why stillness is one of the hardest (and most important) behaviors your horse can learn.
To learn how to begin liberty with your horse, check out the free masterclass, "Launch Into Liberty: Where and How To Begin": https://www.nadinelindblom.com/masterclass-registration
To dive even deeper, enrollments in to The Essence of Liberty Online Academy are now open! Go to the link below to find out more: https://www.nadinelindblom.com/the-essence-of-liberty-online-academy-2025
Follow @nadinelindblom on Instagram for daily insights: https://www.instagram.com/nadinelindblom/
More from The Essence of Liberty Podcast
What happens when we stop trying to control every moment with our horses… and give them more space to have a voice?
What if self-carriage has very little to do with holding your horse in a frame?
Many of us touch our horses without ever stopping to ask one simple question:
Welcome to the very first episode of 2026 ✨
In this episode of The Essence of Liberty Podcast, I invite you to slow down and reflect on what progress truly means in liberty training as we move toward a new year.