Have you checked out The Millar Method yet? I finally sat down with it and… it kind of made me rethink how much is actually going on in the background of a “good round.”

One of my favorite parts was just watching Ian on the flat. I didn’t expect to be thinking about neck reining, but the level of responsiveness he gets is wild. It’s one of those things that looks simple until you realize how much is behind it.

I also liked how much they focus on everything outside of riding. Stuff in the barn, on the ground, all the little interactions that usually get overlooked. The way they use lunging to actually relax the horse—not just “get energy out”—was a bit of a lightbulb moment for me.

I haven’t even really gotten into the grids yet, but you can already see how they’re meant to build confidence instead of just testing it.

And honestly, it was refreshing hearing them talk about when things don’t go to plan. How often it changes, how much the horse decides the timeline… it just felt honest.

Curious if anyone else has watched it—what did you take away?

Have you taken our quiz to discover how confident your horse really is? It’s a great way to check in before diving into Tik’s new Confidence Course.

https://noellefloydplus.com/pages/en-confidence-course#inline-embed-iframe

Hi friends! The Groundwork Guys Office Hours webinar is now available to watch.

In this session, Tik and Nick answered questions around:
• Tension showing up as shutdown, dullness, or reactivity
• How to tell if an issue is emotional, physical, or foundational
• When a training problem isn’t a riding problem
• How groundwork builds clarity, confidence, and willingness
• The role of choice, environment, and daily handling in horse behavior
• Why labelling horses as “lazy,” “naughty,” or “difficult” often misses the root cause

Watch the replay here.

🚨 NEW Masterclass: The Confidence Advantage

Hey members! We’re so excited to share Tik Maynard’s latest masterclass with you, and it’s all about confidence. I think we all know that “fake it till you make it” doesn’t really work, especially with horses who feel everything.

This masterclass offers a real framework for how to build and develop confidence in your horses (and in yourself too), so you can step into new environments feeling prepared instead of tense.

You might notice someone familiar in this series as well. Our very own Noëlle Floyd works through herdboundness with her two horses as part of the case studies.

We hope you enjoy it and find it helpful in your own riding and training.

Stream it here: https://noellefloydplus.com/programs/the-confidence-advantage

Season 2 of Dear Horse World has launched. 🎉 Have you listened to our newest episode with upcoming NF+ Instructor, Will Coleman? 

https://noellefloydplus.com/programs/dear-horse-world?cid=4513322&permalink=an-olympians-approach-to-building-horses-not-breaking-them_-will-coleman-sponsored-by-yeti-337612

🐴 New on the Blog: Stories from the Horse World

Every rider has that story. The one that changed how you see horses, riding, or maybe even yourself. Our new blog series Stories from the Horse World is all about those moments. The breakthroughs. The belly laughs. The barn friendships that last forever.

✨ Saddle up and read the latest stories here:
noellefloyd.com/blogs/stories-from-the-herd

Got a story of your own? Share it with us here, we'd love to feature it. https://forms.gle/quYuKsTyh12euZ3Y7

You made this happen. 💛

Because of this community, your curiosity, your honesty, and your willingness to have real conversations about horses and humans, Dear Horse World just won Bronze in the Sports Category at the Signal Awards, which celebrate the podcasts redefining culture around the world.

The Signal Awards are kind of like the Nations Cup for podcasts, judged by voices like Jay Shetty and the team behind Radiolab. This isn’t just a win for us. It’s a win for every rider who believes empathy, curiosity, and emotional awareness belong at the heart of horsemanship.

This recognition means the stories we are exploring together are reaching far beyond the barn. Thank you for listening, sharing, and being part of this movement to change the conversation. We are just getting started. 💛

🌟 NF+ Limited Series: Groundwork Guys

We’re excited to introduce a brand-new limited-time series now streaming exclusively for NF+ members!

The first release, Trailer Loading, is available today, and NF+ members get early access to all five episodes one week before they’re public.

Each episode follows Tik Maynard and Nick Rivera, also known as The Groundwork Guys, as they take on real-world training challenges. You’ll see the full process, from their first conversation and plan, through hands-on groundwork, to a final debrief packed with insights and next steps.

This is authentic horsemanship in action, showing what it truly looks like to build understanding and confidence from the ground up.

Enjoy the series over the next few months, and keep an eye out for a reminder before it leaves NF+ for good. 😉

Watch episode 1 below, then catch the full series here.