Approach and retreat is just the surface. Underneath it lies the real structure: Orientation. Attention. Engagement. In this episode, Jake unpacks the hidden behavioral code that governs how horses process fear, curiosity, and uncertainty. You’ll learn why most riders misread “the try,” how to spot the difference between attention and engagement, and how to avoid unintentionally training your horse to spook, stall out, or resist. If you want your horse to confidently navigate any unfamiliar situation—not just cross a bridge—this episode shows you how to build the mindset that makes it possible.

After a long silence, Jake returns with clarity, purpose, and a warning: the old horse training game is dead. In this raw, unscripted episode, he shares why he stepped back, what he's been building behind the scenes, and how the next era of horsemanship will be shaped—not by gurus or gimmicks, but by a new structural framework he calls the “ontology.” This is the beginning of something deeper, sharper, and more honest.

In this episode you'll learn the predictable, step-by-step formula we're using to help our Non Pro clients get wildly better results with their horses — going from "foundation" to "finesse" faster than they ever thought possible. We document our process with an owner who recently hauled to our facility for an Uplevel private lesson, then committed her reining horse to 30 days training with Lundahl Performance, and took another 3-day private lesson at the end of the program to experience and practice what her horse had learned. You'll discover what steps we followed, what exercises and concepts drove the biggest breakthroughs, the philosophy behind why they work, and how to get those results for yourself.

Ready to dive deeper into our training philosophy and get to the next level? Start your journey with this free training video: The Ultimate Lead Change Formula.

Lundahl Performance Horses Website: LundahlPerformance.com

Find Us On Facebook: Facebook.com/LundahlHorses

"Making Advanced Horsemanship Accessible"

In this podcast I share two stories which serve as important examples of what can happen when you miss this critical step in the process of starting a horse under saddle.

For a free masterclass on colt starting check out the following episodes:

Day 1:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lead-change-troubleshooting-dry-work-basics/id1345025627?i=1000463522073

Day 2:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lazy-horse-motivation-flag-work-intro/id1345025627?i=1000465614836

Day 3:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/stress-free-trailering-leading-by-the-feet/id1345025627?i=1000468145180

Days 4-6:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/introducing-live-cattle-horses-that-charge-humans/id1345025627?i=1000471914333

Colt Starting Secrets online course:

https://www.coltstartingsecrets.com

Our website:

https://www.lundahlperformance.com

Jennifer Osborne is a professional firefighter and owner/operator of Fire & Ice Horses, a thoroughbred rescue based in Las Vegas, Nevada. In this interview we discuss a wide range of topics including horsemanship education, and our reactions after the Along for the Ride Symposium in February 2022.

Along For The Ride Website:

https://alongfortheride.pro/

Fire & Ice Horses on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/FireAndIceHorses

Lundahl Performance on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/LundahlHorses

Our Website (join our newsletter here):

https://www.coltstarting.com/

Colt Starting Secrets:

https://www.coltstartingsecrets.com/

Coaching call recap. Here's a voice memo I recorded after a 1-on-1 call with a client whose reined cowhorse was struggling with a sloppy, sucked-back, unbalanced spin. The primary exercise we used to get this horse confident and balanced again is the "Forward & Around" Exercise. The Forward & Around exercise is one of my favorites for teaching a horse to spin. You're working with the horse's psychology (instead of against it) by building the release of pressure into the maneuver itself, and building desire in the horse to stay in the turn and maintain their balance independently, with minimal input from the rider.

See the video:

https://youtu.be/m2JoMl5to0k

Facebook group:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/lundahl

Our Website (join our newsletter here):

https://www.coltstarting.com/

Colt Starting Secrets:

https://www.coltstartingsecrets.com/

Confusion is both a barrier and an accelerator for learning. In this voice memo, Jake answers a question from an Academy member who's experienced a communication breakdown between herself and another horseman.

ColtStartingSecrets.com