10/09/2026
What if better horse training isn’t about applying more pressure, but understanding exactly when to release it?
In this Horse Chats highlight, Glenys Cox speaks with Andrew McLean, one of Australia’s leading figures in equitation science, about what research has taught us about how horses learn.
Why listen to Andrew?
Andrew is a winner of Australia’s prestigious Eureka Prize for Science, founder of the Australian Equine Behaviour Centre, author of 5 books including an international bestseller, and author of 35 peer-reviewed journal articles.
With over 30 years as an accredited coach, Andrew has competed at elite levels in Dressage, Eventing and Show Jumping, represented Australia in Horse Trials, and even trained elephants in Nepal using learning theory and punishment-free methods.
One of his most powerful lessons?
Pressure motivates, but release trains.
The timing of pressure and release helps horses understand which behaviour is correct. When the timing is unclear, we may accidentally reinforce the behaviour we want to change.
# # # Key lessons:
• Timing matters. Release can be as important as pressure.
• Every aid should have meaning. Clear signals create better communication.
• Understand how horses learn. Learning theory helps explain why training techniques work.
• Think from the horse’s perspective. Good training is about communication, not simply control.
Discover the powerful connection between science, timing and practical horsemanship in this Horse Chats highlight.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxuJBWMeDQM
www.HorseChats.com/AndrewMcLean
