Why Play Can Be the Fastest Way to Learn

A long time ago, before Horse Wise, before LOPE, and before I ever taught horsemanship, I said yes to teaching a class I had never taught before.It was a graphic design history class — and the students were smart, creative, and absolutely terrified of being “bad at school.”What I learned in that classroom changed the way I teach everything.In this episode, I share that story — and how it led me to stop teaching by explanation, correction, and “trying harder,” and start teaching through observation, imitation, and play.It turns out this is exactly how horses learn too.When we make learning visual, physical, and a little bit playful, fear drops away. Understanding sticks. And people — and horses — surprise themselves.This idea is at the heart of the free workshop I’m teaching next week:Impersonate Your HorseA live, online workshop where we explore how you and your horse mirror each other — and how seeing the world from your horse’s perspective can change the conversation fast.We’ll weave in equine biology, anatomy, and how horses actually experience movement and pressure — all in a light, accessible way.📅 Tuesday, February 3, 2026🕖 7:00 PM Central💻 Live on Zoom🎁 $100 gift card drawing during the live session (must attend live)You can learn more and sign up here:👉 horsewisecoach.com/zoomIf riding has started to feel heavy or effortful, this is a simple, fun place to reset.