3L Horsemanship - Larry French

02/15/2026

If Your Horse Becomes Upset "Out of Nowhere," Read This... 🐴💔

The post below is something I shared inside Horseman Rising — my community for beginners and riders who want to feel calm, confident, and in control around horses.

If you want the deeper follow-up posts that go with this (so you know exactly what to do next), come join us free inside Horseman Rising.

Now here’s the post:

A Secret To Prevent Your Horse From Getting Upset (It Works Like Magic)

If you’re a novice rider—or you’re struggling with a horse that gets worried, upset, or reactive—this one mindset secret will change everything.

The secret:

Most people focus on the horse’s reaction… instead of preparing their own mindset first.

Experienced horsemen don’t “wait and see what happens.”
They prepare mentally before the horse ever gets emotional.

Because here’s the truth:

Your horse follows your state of mind more than your skill level.

If you feel nervous, rushed, or unsure… your horse feels that as danger.

The Power Behind This Secret: Self-Preservation

Your horse is a prey animal.

That means your horse’s brain is designed for one thing first:

Stay alive.

Self-preservation for a horse looks like this:

If something feels unsafe, they get tense.

If they don’t understand something, they worry.

If they feel trapped, they try to escape.

If they feel pressure with no clear answer, they panic.

If they sense you are uncertain, they assume you see danger they don’t.

So when your horse gets upset, most of the time he’s not “being bad.”

He’s doing what horses are built to do:
protect themselves.

Why This Matters So Much For You

Most riders accidentally stay stuck in a “survival state” too.

And when a human is in survival mode:

You hold your breath

You tighten your legs and hands

You rush

You freeze

You overreact

Your horse feels all of that… and he starts protecting himself even more.

So the goal is simple:

Don’t just train the horse.

Train your mindset first… and your horse will follow.

The #1 Thing For You To Do Starting Today

Adopt this mindset:

✅ “My horse will not automatically understand what I’m asking at first—and that’s okay.”
✅ “If he reacts, I won’t take it personally.”
✅ “I won’t let his reaction frighten me.”
✅ “I will stay calm, stay persistent, and guide him through it until we reach the outcome.”

That’s leadership.

And leadership is what makes a horse feel safe.

Is this easy?

No.

But once you know you can cope and handle situations calmly, you’ll stop feeding the horse’s fear …

… and you’ll start influencing the horse’s emotions in a good way.

That’s the mindset of confidence.

Question: What tends to trigger you first—your horse’s sudden movement, his fear, or your own thoughts about “what might happen”?

Here’s the free join link to Horseman Rising:
https://www.skool.com/love-horses-4843/about

If you comment JOIN, I’ll tag you on the deeper follow-up posts as I post them.

01/15/2026

Your Horse Isn’t “Bad”… He’s Telling You Something

Your horse’s behavior isn’t “good” or “bad” to him.

It’s information.

A horse doesn’t wake up thinking…
“Today I’m going to be stubborn.”
He’s simply responding to what he feels in that moment.

When you label behavior as “bad,” you will usually react fast…
And that reaction is what makes the moment worse.

But when you take the behavior in front of you at face value—
and handle it calmly, thoughtfully, and with purpose—
you become the leader the horse is looking for.

Not a leader who gets louder…

A leader who helps the horse feel safe again.

Questions (pick 1- 2):

What’s a behavior your horse shows that triggers you the fastest?

If your horse could talk, what do you think he’d say he’s feeling in those moments?

Stop waiting for your horse to change.
Join Us At
Horseman Rising, It's Free.

https://www.skool.com/love-horses-4843/about?ref=63885e46f83941a08884c792897ea2ba

P.S. We are starting a 3 Day Challenge Tomorrow, 1/15/2026
It's Free Also!

01/07/2026

Trying to grow as a horseperson without support is like riding with one stirrup and no reins.

You might stay on…
But it’s exhausting.
And you won’t get very far.

That’s why I created Horseman Rising —
A free online membership and community for beginners and horse lovers who want to grow in confidence, connection, and leadership.

Inside, you’ll find:
✅ Weekly Zoom get-togethers for coaching + support
✅ Courses, videos, and tools to help you learn step-by-step
✅ Workbooks, journals, and cheat sheets to keep you focused
✅ A community that gets it — and helps you keep going when it’s hard

One of our most-loved courses right now is My Horse Doesn’t Lie —
It’s all about understanding what your horse is really trying to tell you…
and how to become the kind of leader they trust without fear, force, or frustration.

And yes — it’s completely free to join.

This isn’t just about riding.
It’s about rising.

“The horse always tells the truth. The question is… are we willing to listen?”

Comment “SUPPORT” and I’ll send you the link. 🐎
Or, Click Here and Join Now.
https://www.skool.com/love-horses-4843/about?ref=63885e46f83941a08884c792897ea2ba

01/06/2026

"If your horse is nervous, spooky, or won’t listen… It’s NOT because they’re stubborn. It’s because they think you’re the problem."

But nervous horses aren’t stubborn.
Spooky horses aren’t difficult.
Horses that won’t listen aren’t disrespectful.

They’re afraid. 🐴

And in their mind, fear usually points back to one thing.

You don’t feel safe yet.

Horses don’t follow words.
They follow feel.
They follow clarity.
They follow consistency.

So when a horse spooks, rushes, or shuts down, here’s what’s really happening:

Your energy feels unsure.

Your signals feel unclear.

Your timing feels off.

To a horse, that reads as danger.

They speed up to feel safe.
They react big to protect themselves.
They stop listening because they don’t understand.

The shift that changes everything is simple.

Stop thinking, “My horse is the problem.”
Start thinking, “My horse is asking for clarity.”

When your cues get clearer, their nerves settle.
When your timing improves, their confidence grows.
When you stay calm, they feel safe. ✨

Horses don’t need control.
They need leadership they can trust.

What is the problem you are struggling with right now?
Drop it in the comments ⬇️,

Join Me Today at my Free Membership site, Horseman Rising.
https://www.skool.com/love-horses-4843/about?ref=63885e46f83941a08884c792897ea2ba

01/04/2026

The #1 Mistake People Make When Teaching Their Horse

Most people message me and say the same thing.
“My horse is stubborn.”
High head.
Heavy face.
No brakes.
No control.
But most of the time… It’s not stubborn.
It’s a timing problem. 🐴
Horses don’t learn from pressure.
Pulling
Holding
Yanking
They learn from the release.
Picture this.
You want the horse to drop its head.
You pick up the rein.
You hold for seconds.
The nose finally drops.
Most people keep holding anyway.
And the horse starts searching.
Throwing the head.
Rooting the rein.
Bumping the bit.
Your horse isn't being bad.
He's waiting on you to release the pressure.
Here’s the rule that speeds up learning.
Apply pressure like a question.
The instant there’s a try, release like an answer.
Give a loose rein fast.
Then ask again.
The horse's “try” can be tiny.
A soft jaw.
A one-inch drop.
A split-second pause.
If the release comes late, the horse learns late.
If the release comes early, the horse learns something else.
If the release changes every time, the horse guesses.
And guessing turns into nerves.
Nerves turn into rushing.
Rushing turns into “I don’t feel safe.”
Want more control?
Teach the horse where comfort lives.
Comfort lives in the release. ✨
What is the problem you are struggling with right now?
Drop it in the comments.

Join us now...
https://www.skool.com/love-horses-4843/about?ref=63885e46f83941a08884c792897ea2ba

01/02/2026

Stop reinventing the wheel 🛞

If you’re stuck, it doesn’t mean you’re failing—just means you need the next step.

Support makes progress faster.

✅ Join our FREE Horseman Rising Membership Community.

Training, support, and psychology for both horse and rider. Learn Faster, Strengthen Your Confidence, and Never Feel Stuck or Alone Again.

01/01/2026

Happy New Year! 🎉

Let’s kick it off with a simple challenge:

Today, take 5 calm minutes to spend with your horse.
No pressure. No rushing. Just leadership and connection.

Then come back and comment: “DONE” + what you noticed.
— Larry
https://www.skool.com/love-horses-4843/about?ref=63885e46f83941a08884c792897ea2ba

Need support, videos, courses, and much more?
Join Us For Free...
Click Below.

Training, support, and psychology for both horse and rider. Learn Faster, Strengthen Your Confidence, and Never Feel Stuck or Alone Again.

12/21/2025

Happy Sunday, Everyone.
“Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.”
— Proverbs 16:3

09/08/2025

This is a significant inquiry because 90% of the time, horse owners are unaware of their horse's emotional state when approaching their personal space.

Moreover, they underestimate the importance of this awareness.

When you enter your horse's space, do you think your horse feels calm, uncertain, or you don’t really know.
What do you think is the reason for this?

This could easily give you the change you have been looking for.

Leave a comment below.

09/07/2025

Good Morning…

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
​“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
• Message: God’s plans for you are always good, even when things feel uncertain. Trust in His purpose for your life.

08/31/2025

🐎 The Power of Silent Communication

Most people think communication with a horse is about the legs, hands, and seat.

But the truth is… your horse is reading you long before you get close to him.

He watches your eyes.
He feels your breathing.
He notices if your shoulders are slumped or steady.

When you approach your horse show them calmness, respect, and confidence.

This is the communication your horse is looking for before you get started .

👉 Question for you: How do you think your horse “reads” you when you step into the pen?