Starting Here Will Change Everything

This course introduces and explains how to perform the Backup-Forward-Yield Exercise (BFY Exercise). It is a vital starting point for training horses. 

It gets people to see a "horse's thoughts" for the first time....then see deep stuff like the horse's understanding, motivation, resistance at the microlevel....and how working at this microlevel requires you to become aware of yourself in a new way. 

When you capture a horse at this level and combine it with a new sense of awareness in yourself some really cool things happen...the horse starts following your feel (and you get to understand what this actually means!), it focuses and calms the horse, giving it clear concise messages. 

It looks innocuous but it is HOW it is trained, WHAT you are observing and WHY you are really doing it that is way deeper than just teaching a horse to back up, come forward and yield its hindquarters.

What is in the Course?

This course is organised into 5 Lessons:

Each Lesson describes a step and includes a video & summary video and demonstration. Objectives are described for each lesson.

You can also post a video of your progress in the discussion forum for the course to receive feedback. 

Change Your Awareness & Get Your Horse "With You"

Using this very simple, yet powerful exercise.

People always get blown away about how something so simple, can be so effective in such a short space of time. Once you learn to teach a horse the BFY exercise, you will be trying it on every horse you meet.
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A Course That Creates "Lightbulb" Moments

Read this story from Shelley

Hearing other people describe their discoveries can help with your own lightbulb moments.

A bit of background first.

I have my simple yet meticulous way that I transform horses (and people) documented in a program I have designed.

I have it broken down into steps that MUST be done in a certain order.

I work with people all over the world and support them through it.

A place I like people to start is what I call my Backward-Forward-Yield exercise (aka the "BFY") also known as my "Establishing a Starting Point Exercise".

It is the first thing I demonstrate at clinics as it shows two key things - What "following feel" actually is, what it looks like and how to get horses to do it....AND how to get a horse "with you" and in a "bubble".

Yesterday, I received this great report from one of my latest clients to be working through my program online (they are on the other side of the country to me).

This is what she had to report about the BFY exercise...and it contains cool things...

"I tried this exercise with my horse today and to be honest when I first listened to your video, I thought what kind of magic is this, there is no way he will back off one finger!

Anyway, to start with he responded as you had predicted, not interested and looking off. To start it took me to rocking the halter for him to take a step back but I was impressed with how quickly it went to just pressure and then to finger touch.

There was still slight pressure on the finger but for a 5 minute exercise, it was great to see how quickly he responded.

On thing it did do, it definitely made me aware even in that few minutes, how I need to be present in the moment."

That last sentence is really crucial and a tremendous insight for everyone.

You get horses following feel when they learn and are motivate to follow very light touches. You set them up to understand light touches by being incredibly consistent in how you present and teach the horse how you wish for them to respond to the signal (or cue).

The only way you can do this is by paying attention to what YOU are doing and HOW the horse is responding. You need to pay attention to this to ensure you respond consistently.

Staying present - being mindful - means paying attention to what you are doing and what is happening in the "NOW".

It is so exciting when I work with people and they get it, they experience it and a lightbulb goes off in their minds.

I love helping people put the pieces of the puzzle together. The important but hidden bits that are just not obvious.

Pricing options

This course is available for a single payment of $79.95 or 4 x Monthly payments of $22.95

FAQ

  • What other equipment will I need:?

    You will need a rope halter and a 12-14ft lead rope. A training stick and string can also be helpful, but not always necessary.

  • How long will this course take to work through?

    This course has just over 1 hours of instructions and is broken up into 5 steps. It is possible for each step to be worked through in a single session. However, I encourage people to work through each step meticulously and take their time learning to develop their timing and feel. Therefore, on average most people who take the course and who work their horse's 3-4 times per week can become proficient at the Backward-Forward-Yield exercise in a week.

  • How long do I have access to this course for?

    You have lifetime access to the course. Therefore, you can work through the course at your own pace.

  • Should I do this course or just invest in the Master Class of How to Groundwork a Horse?

    The Establishing a Starting Point course is included in the "Master Class in How to Groundwork a Horse course". My recommendation is the invest in the groundwork course; However, if you are not sure about my approach and want to get a taste of how I educate online and train horses then the "Establishing a Starting Point" is a great starting point for you!

  • What if I don't get any success from doing the course?

    If you follow the course for two weeks and engage in all the assessment and feedback opportunities and find that you have not had any improvement with your horse or discovered the reasons behind your horse's behavioural issues - your course fee will be refunded.

  • Do I get any support when I do this course?

    Yes you do. Each Step has an optional assessment that you can submit for feedback. However, you can email Dr Shelley Appleton at any time and ask for help if you have any queries.

  • I have questions that are not answered here, how can I get these queries answered?

    If you have any questions that are not answered here please email Dr Shelley Appleton via [email protected]