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March 11, 2026
In the Michelle Method, we believe this one simple truth:
The horse feels what the rider brings.
Not just through the reins or legs, but through the nervous system, the breath, and the energy behind every cue.
That means the work we do inside ourselves quietly shapes how our horse moves, learns, and trusts.
Inner work is not about fixing yourself.
It is about noticing patterns, understanding where they come from, and choosing a better response.
Just like training a horse.
There are three simple steps to this process.
You can practice them in daily life and in the barn.
Step 1: Notice the trigger (What just changed inside me?)
A trigger is anything that pulls you out of calm.
With horses, this might look like:
• Your horse spooks and you tense up
• Your horse won’t engage their topline and you feel frustrated
• A session doesn’t go as planned and you feel like a failure
The key here is awareness, not blame.
Instead of saying:
“My horse is being bad”
or
“This ride is going terribly”
You pause and ask:
• What am I feeling right now?
• What thought popped up in my head?
• What did my body just do?
Name it simply:
• “I feel anxious.”
• “I feel rushed.”
• “I feel defeated.”
Just like observing a horse without judgment, you observe yourself the same way.
You are not wrong for having the reaction. You are just noticing it.
Awareness is always the first step.
You cannot change what you do not see.
Step 2: Find the root belief (Where did this reaction come from?)
Now we get curious.
Every reaction has a deeper reason.
Just like poor movement has a deeper cause than what we see on the surface.
Ask yourself:
• Have I felt this way before?
• Does this feeling show up in other parts of my life?
• What story am I telling myself right now?
This is where we stop blaming the horse, the ride, or the situation.
The horse did not “cause” the reaction.
The reaction came from an old belief inside the rider.
Think of it like this:
You cannot fix a horse’s movement by only watching the feet.
You have to look at the whole body.
The same is true here.
Root beliefs often come from past experiences like:
• Being criticized
• Feeling unsafe
• Feeling like you had to earn approval
• Feeling behind or not good enough
Finding the root is not about shame.
It is about understanding.
Once you see the root, the grip loosens.
Step 3: Pause, release, and choose again (What do I want to practice instead?)
Between what happens and how you respond, there is a pause.
This pause is powerful.
It is the same pause we use in training:
• Before adding pressure
• Before correcting
• Before asking for more
In this pause, you get to choose:
• Do I keep the old story?
• Or do I practice a new one?
If a belief makes you tight, fearful, or small, it is not serving you or your horse.
You gently let it go and replace it with something more supportive.
This is not pretending.
This is training.
Just like building a topline takes repetition, this does too.
Over time, your body, brain, and nervous system learn the new pattern.
Your horse feels that safety and clarity immediately.
Horses learn best when they feel:
• Safe
• Clear
• Unrushed
• Supported
So do humans.
When the rider does inner work:
• The aids get quieter
• The timing improves
• The horse relaxes and moves better
• The partnership becomes softer and stronger
This work does not stop at the barn.
It spills into relationships, decisions, and daily life.
A regulated rider creates a regulated horse.
A calm nervous system teaches calm movement.
Inner work is not a one-time fix.
It is a practice.
Every ride, every reaction, every pause is another chance to choose differently.
Just like training:
• It can be gradual
• It can be messy
• It always works with consistency
When the rider changes the inside, the horse changes the outside.
That is the heart of the Michelle Method.
Stronger bodies. Calmer minds. Better partnerships.
REFLECTION QUESTION:
Examples using themes of consciousness:
1. Theme: Rejection
Trigger: Your horse avoids contact, pins ears, or disengages, and you feel hurt.
Root belief: “I’m doing something wrong. My horse doesn’t like me.”
New narrative: “My horse is communicating, not rejecting me. I can listen without taking this personally. Connection grows through patience and curiosity.”
2. Theme: Judgment
Trigger: You criticize yourself or your horse during a session.
Root belief: “If it’s not perfect, it’s not good enough.”
New narrative: “This is a learning moment, not a failure. Progress does not need to look perfect. Kindness creates better results than criticism.”
3. Theme: Overwhelm
Trigger: You feel flooded with information, cues, or expectations during training.
Root belief: “I have to do everything right or I’ll mess this up.”
New narrative: “I can slow this down. One step at a time is enough. My horse and I learn best when we feel calm.”
4. Theme: Loss
Trigger: Your horse’s body, performance, or ability changes, and sadness shows up.
Root belief: “What we had is gone forever.”
New narrative: “Our relationship is still here. It can change and still be meaningful. There is value in every season we share.”
5. Theme: Distrust
Trigger: Your horse reacts unexpectedly and fear rises.
Root belief: “I’m not safe. Something bad will happen.”
New narrative: “I can stay present right now. I trust myself to respond. This moment does not define the future.”
6. Theme: Inadequacy
Trigger: You feel like you’re not skilled enough to help your horse.
Root belief: “I’m not enough to do this right.”
New narrative: “I am learning, just like my horse. Effort and awareness matter more than perfection. I am capable of growth.”
7. Theme: Violation
Trigger: You feel pressured to push your horse or yourself past comfort.
Root belief: “My boundaries don’t matter.”
New narrative: “I am allowed to honor limits. Listening builds trust. Safety comes before performance.”
8. Theme: Insecurity
Trigger: You compare your horse or progress to others.
Root belief: “I’m behind. I don’t measure up.”
New narrative: “There is no race. Our path is our own. Growth happens at the right pace for us.”
9. Theme: Accountability
Trigger: A session doesn’t go well and frustration shows up.
Root belief: “It’s someone else’s fault.”
New narrative: “I can take responsibility without shame. I am willing to learn and adjust. Ownership creates empowerment.”
10. Theme: Ease
Trigger: You feel guilty when things feel too smooth or simple.
Root belief: “If it’s easy, I’m not working hard enough.”
New narrative: “Ease does not mean laziness. Efficiency is a sign of understanding. My horse thrives when things feel clear and light.”
11. Theme: Motivation
Trigger: You feel stuck or unmotivated to train.
Root belief: “I need pressure to move forward.”
New narrative: “I can move with purpose, not force. Small consistent actions count. I don’t need urgency to make progress.”
12. Theme: Acceptance
Trigger: You resist where your horse or training is right now.
Root belief: “This should be different.”
New narrative: “I can meet this moment as it is. Acceptance creates space for change. This is the starting point, not the end.”
13. Theme: Understanding
Trigger: Your horse does something confusing or unexpected.
Root belief: “They’re being difficult.”
New narrative: “There is a reason behind this behavior. My job is to listen, not react. Curiosity builds better communication.”
14. Theme: Love
Trigger: You feel disconnected after a tough ride.
Root belief: “Connection depends on success.”
New narrative: “Love is not earned through performance. My horse and I are bonded beyond results. Connection exists even in imperfect moments.”
15. Theme: Inner peace
Trigger: You feel rushed, tense, or mentally noisy in the saddle.
Root belief: “I need control to feel okay.”
New narrative: “I can breathe and soften. Calm starts with me. Peace supports better movement and trust.”
16. Theme: Freedom
Trigger: You feel trapped by rules, expectations, or old habits.
Root belief: “There is only one right way.”
New narrative: “I am allowed to adapt and explore. There are many paths to progress. Choice creates confidence.”
17. Theme: Happiness
Trigger: You postpone joy until goals are met.
Root belief: “I’ll be happy once we achieve more.”
New narrative: “I can enjoy the process now. Joy strengthens the partnership. Happiness is part of the journey, not the reward.”
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