Dr. Nadine Lindblom’s Essence of Liberty Online Academy
Understand your horse’s mind and subtle body language at new depths
Build a powerful connection, motivate without escalating pressure or force, and advance your liberty training beyond your wildest dreams…
All while giving your horse total choice and freedom.
Former equine veterinarian · 4 modules, 35+ hours · Lifetime access · Students in 8 countries
If you dream of…
Your horse wholeheartedly choosing you, showing up to training sessions with an enthusiastic spark, and easily ignoring distractions.
An effortlessly fluid connection where you move, and your horse moves with you. She tries something new, and you flow with her.
Your horse feeling free, autonomous, and empowered - while behaving safely, responding to subtle requests, and embracing new invitations in training.
A relationship fueled by curiosity, two-way communication, and playfulness.
Influencing your horse from across the pasture with subtle body movements - staying connected even at a distance.
Trusting that you’re safe when your horse offers powerful movement - because you’ve built clear communication and essential boundaries.
Finally discovering that one “missing piece” in your training puzzle - and experiencing the “magical” connection you’ve always dared to dream of.
Feeling soft, calm, relaxed, and open in your body whenever you’re with your horse - and sensing that she feels the same.
Understanding your horse’s subtle body language, needs, and behaviors so your two-way communication becomes crystal clear.
But, you’re struggling with…
The overwhelming sense that something in your relationship & training is just… missing, and you can’t pinpoint what it is, despite endless hours of study and practice. You’re close, but not quite there.
Feeling frustrated by advice like, “make the wrong thing hard, and the right thing easy.” but you want a genuine connection, rather than being the “less difficult option”
A horse that’s either overly excited by food rewards and becoming pushy, OR so relaxed from positive reinforcement training that now you can’t seem to get that lively energy you want… and you don’t want to resort to escalating pressure
The heartbreaking fear that if you allow your horse true choice, he’ll never fully choose you. It feels vulnerable to offer freedom when you’re not sure he’ll stay.
Finding a framework that aligns with your empathetic, horse-centered values… AND gets you actual training results.
The daily disappointment when your horse doesn’t seem to want to be with you. Whether he flees at the sight of the halter, or drifts out of connection during liberty sessions, it leaves you feeling defeated and unsure of how to move forward.
If this resonates, the Essence of Liberty Online Academy was crafted for you.
“The Essence of Liberty Online Academy has brought back the joy of working with my horses. We’ve reached a whole new level of play and connection. At the end of the course I can honestly say I developed more during the course than I have during the last two years since I’ve had my own horses.”
Nina Andersson (Sweden)
What is LIBERTY?
A horse “at liberty” has the freedom to choose whether to participate, or leave.
My philosophy and approach revolves around establishing a strong connection between horse and human, and providing the horse with choice and autonomy.
Rather than relying on escalating pressure, flooding, dominance, or force, liberty relies on a genuine connection through communication, trust, and positive reinforcement.
Liberty is about building the horse up mentally, physically, and emotionally, rather than suppressing him into submission and compliance.
A horse that feels at liberty shines differently - he has a sparkle in his eye, radiates curiosity and confidence, and his movements become free and expressive!
The communication relies on slow, gentle (non-escalating or forceful) guidance, always giving the horse time to think and the option to leave.
Horses are incredibly peaceful creatures and will always search for the path of least resistance and, therefore, it is (in most cases) easy to coerce a horse into obedience.
However, in these situations the horse will often lack the beautiful expression, motivation, play and power that comes with freedom of choice.
I incorporate trick training as a tool to enhance communication and improve the relationship. I also incorporate “power postures” and collected movements to help the horse find more confidence, balance and strength!
Rewards (positive reinforcement) are used to help motivate the horse to follow and search through the guidance!
Are you ready to liberate your horse?
Dr. Nadine Lindblom
Bachelor of Veterinary Science
Hi, I’m Nadine!
I created The Essence of Liberty Online Academy because I know the feeling of defeat that comes with having a horse who doesn’t want to connect.
I’ve devoted 16 years to learning how to build a genuine connection with horses, and I’m thrilled to share this beautiful, effective way with you.
My Journey
My journey officially began when I got my first pony, Twinkles, at 13. I was so excited to have a horse that was finally mine. I imagined her galloping to me in the field, nuzzling my shoulder and putting her head in the halter, ready to go for a ride.
Oh boy - I was so wrong! Twinkles seemed like she hated me. She would bite, kick, and run away. She hated the sight of the saddle. When we went riding, she spent the entire time trying to turn back home.
I was devastated.
I was told to “show her who’s boss.” So, I started reprimanding her behaviour, and eventually she complied.
But deep down it felt… wrong. I knew that if she had a choice, she wouldn’t do any of the things I wanted. I didn’t feel like her friend, I felt like she tolerated me - because she didn’t have any other choice.
When I discovered Natural Horsemanship (mainly based on pressure & release), I thought I had found a better way to communicate with horses. I was doing advanced “liberty”, trick training, bridleless riding - I even started teaching and running clinics. But something was still missing.
My horses lacked that sparkle in their eyes. They always gave me the bare minimum, and our “liberty” only worked in small, enclosed spaces. I realized that even with this improved method… I was using force.
It wasn’t liberty, it was obedience.
I longed for my horses to be enthusiastic, interested and playful, and I realised that escalating pressure was not going to achieve that. I began respecting my horse’s “no” and experimenting with positive reinforcement.
That’s when everything changed.
Suddenly, there was something in it for my horses. They became interested, engaged and motivated. I was able to communicate with them gently because force was no longer the motivator!
On top of that, I was a much kinder human to be around. My horses realised that they could trust me not to pressure them, and that I would always listen.
I’ve been exploring liberty and ethical horse training for over 16 years. While the horses have been my greatest teachers, I’ve also had the pleasure of learning from trainers across Europe and Australia.
In 2020, I earned my Bachelor of Veterinary Science - and after practicing as an equine veterinarian for a few years, I decided to turn my focus back to my passion of horsemanship and continue providing evidence-based and ethical training techniques to equestrians around the world.
Through The Essence of Liberty Online Academy, I share my signature framework that I’ve refined for over a decade, so that you (and your horses!) can experience the joy of liberty.
Join me, and let’s embark on this incredible journey together, transforming the way you understand, communicate and connect with your horse!
Hear it straight from our members!
When the Horse Says Yes:
“Within just a few months, I had a completely clear connection and communication with my horse - and you can actually see on his face that he wants to engage.”
True Liberty, Real Choice:
“I learned that what I thought was liberty wasn’t true liberty at all - because the animal didn’t have a real choice to walk away.”
From Resistance to Play:
“My horses didn’t want to come near me when they knew I was in work mode. Now they want to participate - and they offer everything.”
The Art of Conversation:
“Every single one of our horses has surprised us with what they’re willing to offer.”
The Essence of Liberty
ONLINE ACADEMY
The transformative self-paced online program designed to help you build a deep, trusting connection with your horse through equine psychology, positive reinforcement, attunement, play and gentle communication.
4 Modules
From setting the foundation and building the connection, to mastering communication and advancing your skills, each module is designed to help you create a deep, lasting connection with your horse. With clear, actionable lessons and real-life examples, you’ll gain the knowledge and confidence to transform your relationship with your horse.
Real-Life Examples
Each individual horse needs a slightly different approach depending on their personality and past experiences! The academy follows 3 horses with no previous experience of liberty and vastly different personalities ranging from shut down to confident and playful!
From First Contact to Collection
Whether you are a pure beginner or an advanced liberty enthusiast, the academy walks you through the very first steps all the way to more advanced exercises.
Ignite Your Horse’s Motivation
Learn what truly motivates your horse! Discover how to gently communicate and guide your horse and master the art of positive reinforcement training!
Does Nadine work with horses that are new to liberty in the academy?
Absolutely!! Throughout the above-mentioned modules, you will follow 3 horses with vastly different personalities in their first 13 sessions of liberty!
These horses were specifically chosen for the academy to ensure that students are able to relate their horse to one or more of these horses.
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Levi
Levi exudes confidence, playfulness, and sociability. Though eager to learn, he occasionally gets a bit too close when engaged in play, so setting clear and consistent boundaries while preserving his playful spirit was key!
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Billie
Billie has struggled with food anxiety & aggression in the past and demonstrated some signs of pushiness and anxiety around food rewards. Billie also carries himself in a poor posture, so towards the end of the training series, we explored a little bit of posture play!
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Nellie
Nellie is an incredibly sweet mare but has a history that has led her to become very unsure around humans and whips. She had learned that she was helpless and not in control over what happens to her. During the training, her confidence blossoms until she is even able to explore a little bit of play!
What You’ll Learn
Set Up For Success
MODULE #1 · 3 hours
In this module, I’ll show you exactly how to set your horse up for success so that she’s willing and able to say “YES” to your invitation. In this module, you will dive into:
The Essence of Liberty Training: I’ll reveal the true meaning of liberty that leads to the connected feeling you’ve been searching for… Plus, the core principles that you’ll carry with you forever.
Equine Psychology: Learn the key differences and similarities between the horse and human brain, autonomic nervous system, and emotions to revolutionize the way you handle, train, and communicate with horses.
How Training Actually Works: Get a behind the scenes look into how science has completely debunked harmful, outdated beliefs such as “dominance” or “leadership” having any place in training.
Understand Your Horse’s Needs: If you’re like most people, you may have missed some essential steps to keeping your horse healthy. Receive detailed guidance on welfare non-negotiables from a veterinarian’s perspective.
Train Your Eye: Learn how to spot pain, discomfort, or health concerns with precision, to catch issues before they get worse, and spare your horse from training through pain.
Contact & Connection
MODULE #2 · 2.5 hours
Get out with your horse and start truly connecting at liberty (possibly for the first time ever), without force, coercion, or fear.
How to select a training space that makes sessions feel relaxed and safe from the start
How to prevent and resolve separation anxiety in your horse, without “moving his feet” or using punishment
The “Initiation of Contact” exercise, which lays the foundation of two-way communication. This exercise will help your horse to gain confidence, become curious, and start to connect.
Raw, unedited videos of full training sessions with 3 completely different horses; where I explain what’s going on step by step, what mistakes I made, and how to handle any problem that may arise.
The precise building blocks I use to nurture and strengthen relationships with horses.
How to ethically and effectively establish boundaries, so you stay safe & feel confident in every session.
Rewards & Gentle Guidance
MODULE #3 · 7.5 hours
How horses learn, and what actually motivates them to enthusiastically engage in training sessions.
Become more informed than the majority of horse owners by studying the psychology of different types of learning, with a specific focus on operant conditioning.
The in-depth psychology of positive reinforcement, why it’s a fantastic training tool when used systematically, and how to prevent undesirable behaviors and emotions, like the dreaded “cookie monster.”
“Gentle Guidance,” my signature process for using “negative reinforcement” in an ethical way, emphasizing the importance of using non-escalating pressure and giving your horse time to search and discover the correct response.
Step by step processes for introducing food rewards to your horse properly, without accidentally creating mugging, biting, or pushing.
How to establish boundaries in a way that does not harm the relationship.
Real-life examples and raw video footage of introducing rewards and gentle guidance to Levi, Nellie, and Billie.
Advancing The Training
MODULE #4 · 10 hours
In this module, you’ll learn how to refine your communication and watch your horse connect & respond to you in a whole new way.
How to move together, in fluid, quiet synchronicity
Learn to maintain connection, even if your horse becomes unsure, stressed, or energetic.
Learn how to use your intention and energy to guide and influence your horse’s movement (gait, direction, and transitions).
Play with patterns and obstacles to heighten your communication to new levels
Regulate your horse’s emotions using the concept & skill of mental transitions
Discover how to teach your horse to lie down at liberty
Preserve and enhance your horse’s motivation with a few essential methods
Understand facial expressions and the reasons behind why many liberty horses lay their ears back
Understand why common problems come up, and how to solve them
Will I get support?
Yes: beautiful, genuine support.
When you join The Essence of Liberty Online Academy, you gain access to our exclusive private community, where you can ask questions, share your journey, and receive support from both Nadine and fellow members who truly understand this way of working with horses.
Every Saturday, we come together for Saturday Celebrations, a space to share wins and small glimmers from the week. These celebrations help build confidence, motivation, and awareness of progress… and despite the name, they tend to happen on most days of the week 😉
This is also where many members connect with others in their local area and build meaningful friendships.
Most importantly, the Academy community is a safe, kind, and judgment-free space, for both you and your horse.
Scroll down to see what our members are celebrating ✨
The Academy is Most Powerful for Two Kinds of People
1. You’re a Beginner/Intermediate
- This course covers the most essential topics everyone needs to know, from the ground up. You don’t need to be advanced to get the MOST out of this educational path.
- In fact, this is the perfect place to start. You have fewer traditional habits & beliefs to unravel, and you get to start your journey from a gentle, science-based, connected place. I wish I had a course exactly like this at the beginning of my journey, and I would be thrilled to be a part of yours!
2. You Have Decades of Experience
- Countless Academy students who came into the course with extensive experience (in multiple methods of training) have said that it was absolutely life-changing.
- It’ll fill gaps in your understanding of equine neurobiology, behavior, and training science, and show you how to reach more advanced levels of liberty in a gentle way.
- It’s likely your experience with liberty is either all based on pressure and release, OR food rewards, whereas this course reveals a unique blend where the horse has autonomy and freedom; and the sessions use connection and intrinsic motivation, not JUST food rewards.
What Are People Saying?
“What drew me to Dr. Nadine’s work is the way her horses LOVE TO BE WITH HER.
Most trainers I see in person and online have animals in a state of learned helplessness. Although they obey, they lack any playfulness and spark in their soul. They appear listless and machine-like.
Nadine is one of the few trainers that has found a way to PRESERVE the horse’s playful spirit rather than suppress it on the journey to make them a ridable horse. Of those few I have found, most of them have an air of mystery and “horse whisperer” aura about them that make them difficult to understand. Their methods have a haze of mythology around them that, although is certainly intriguing and something to learn from, makes it difficult to derive a technical method which you can apply at home to your own animals.
Nadine’s course neither is dressed in pretty verbal distractions or based on making the horse do something by depriving of them of any other options. Her psychological and physiological knowledge of the horse, common training methods, and how she introduces us to the method from this background knowledge, leaves no holes for ambiguity.
Nadine has no “tricks”, “magic tools”, “magic words”, or “quick fixes”. It’s all very real, bare and scientific, allowing you to clearly see what’s happening and why she does it while introducing this new training approach to the three new horses featured in the course.
Dr. Nadine’s social media, full of her adult horses performing difficult Haute Ecole elements while also playing like foals with her, is a testament that her method does work. Most excitedly, in the barely two months I’ve been applying Dr. Nadine’s material to my own horses, I’ve seen the beginning of this vivacious in my own horses! When the course ended, I was not left without many ideas on how to pursue my own unique endeavors using the material learned in the course.
If you want a horse that engages in play with you, a TRULY EQUAL partner where both parties can walk away when they feel uncomfortable (yes, including the horse), and a dream relationship most believe to be impossible, and seemingly so few have obtained, Nadine’s course will definitely give you something to add in your horse training repertoire on that journey. Thank you so much Nadine for your hard work in creating a course that are helping me shape my lifelong equine dreams!”
Maegan Hannah Thomas
Kentucky, USA
“Nadine truly makes learning fun!
Her content [in The Essence of Liberty Online Academy] is so well thought out and executed, and she puts so much effort in - and it really shows! Her way of explaining things, no matter how ‘simple’ or ‘complicated’ is clear and concise, and she makes sitting down to her course fun, engaging and so rewarding!
The use of case studies really helps to connect the theory to practice, and getting to see her work with horses that have never experienced liberty training, and follow through their sessions, really helps to cement everything you learn! I was extremely lucky to have my horse Levi (the giant grey clown one) used as one of the cases in Nadine’s foundation course. As pretty-much newbies to liberty training, the experience both myself and Levi gained was invaluable! Not only did we have so much fun on our filming afternoons (anyone that has had the pleasure of meeting Nadine knows how kind, funny and brilliant she is!), but watching the change in Levi from the first session to the last session was so rewarding - he was happier than ever and you could tell he genuinely really loved their time together! Since starting our sessions together and starting the course, I have gained a whole different mindset that I have been able to apply when working with both Levi and other horses.
I cannot recommend to people enough that if they get the chance to work with, learn from or just be around Nadine, it is truly worth your time!”
Louise Cooper
Qld, Australia
“I highly recommend The Essence of Liberty Online Academy!
The theory part of this course is giving a solid foundation on how to work with your horse, based on research and the anatomy and physiology of the horse. The practical part is built up from the beginning with the foundation exercises and with a progression that is easy to follow, as well as considering that different horses may need a different approach. This is also emphasized by the three very different horses we follow through their lessons and how the training can be adapted to suit the individual horse. It has been challenging but has also given me many more tools in my toolkit when working with my horse, and we have just begun our journey into liberty training.”
Siri Bjølseth
Bachelor of Equine Science, Equine Osteopath EDO
Norway
“Dr. Nadine’s approach is exactly what I was looking for.”
I am well experienced with horses, riding, starting and liberty work. I had been playing with mustangs who seem to need more conscious feel and connection from me. I have only just started but the foundation she presents is very thorough and not often taught in horsemanship lessons. I am very excited about becoming more attuned to my horses and encourage them to move in healthier ways when we play.
Katie N
Over 50 years of equine experience
USA
“Joining the academy has changed my whole equestrian lifestyle.
I’m eternally grateful that I decided to join! I had learned bits and pieces of the theory and practice behind the liberty/r+ training but only after joining the academy and watching Nadine’s lessons it all came together. Thank you for changing my and my horses lives for the better!”
Emmi
25 years of equine experience
Finland
The Essence of Liberty Online Academy
Core Program: 4 Modules, $1,597. From setting the foundation and building the connection, to mastering communication and advancing your skills.
When You Sign Up, You Also Get:
Bonus #1: Over 10 Hours of Additional Content
Value: $367
Explained sessions with Nadine’s own horses, new specific exercises, additional tips & tricks, clinic content AND more!
Bonus #2: Posture Play & Collection
Value: $199
Follow Billie in his introduction to posture play and collection!
Bonus #3: Lifetime Access to the Community
Value: $569
A private group exclusively reserved for course members.
Bonus #4: Exclusive discounts on online coaching calls and private lessons
Ongoing savings!
As a member of the academy, you receive exclusive discounts on one-on-one coaching with Nadine.
Bonus #5: The Liberty Herd
Value: $108 AUD / year ($9 AUD/month)
Essence of Connection, The Liberty Herd community, exclusive podcast episodes, Find Your Herd and the Liberty Herd app.
Total Value of The Essence of Liberty Academy: $2,840 AUD
Enrollments Are Currently Closed
The Essence of Liberty Academy is evolving, and we’re working on some exciting changes behind the scenes.
Want to be the first to know when enrollment opens again?
Join our email list below and we’ll let you know when the doors reopen.
14-Day Money-Back Guarantee. If in the first 14 days, you finish the first 2 modules and you decide not to continue as an Academy member, we will offer you a full refund!
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Frequently Asked Questions
While a majority of the content covers the “foundation” for liberty training, it is extremely comprehensive and includes a vast amount of information. During the testing phase, even the advanced liberty trainers felt that they gained much more new information and ideas from the course, and new tools to add to their toolkit!
The academy also touches on advanced exercises including transitions, going over obstacles, moving between high and low energy states and even some insights into posture play and collection.
As content is released each month, even more advanced topics will be covered!
Not at all! You can go through the modules at your own pace. You will have access to all material for life. However, please note that one module is released per week initially to ensure that the amount of content does not become overwhelming!
YES! The academy covers the foundation of liberty training and takes you through the very first steps all the way to more experienced exercises. You do not need any prior experience.
The recommended equipment includes:
Low value food rewards such as hay pellets
High value food rewards such as carrots
A treat pouch to carry food rewards in is very handy so you can use your body more freely
Clicker (optional)
A carriage driving whip, dressage whip or lunge whip is recommended to help extend your body for clearer communication and to help create distance between you and your horse if necessary
While this training can be done out in your horses usual paddock, it is easiest if the training space is open, flat and the surface is even (without holes or obstacles to have to walk around or step over). The fencing should be safe and easy for your horse to see. An arena, large round-yard or small paddock works well. The sessions with Levi and Nellie are in a 70x40m arena and the sessions with Billie are in a 80x60m paddock. In module 2, we discuss how to choose your training space in detail!
While Dr. Nadine is highly engaged in the Equine Connection Academy Facebook Community, providing answers to questions and actively participating in discussions, personal coaching is also available if you desire more focused guidance.
If you are interested in personalized coaching, we warmly welcome you to sign up for our online coaching sessions. You can find further details about this option by visiting the online coaching page on the website or by clicking here.
You are more than welcome to enroll in the academy even if you don’t currently have a horse. The course offers valuable theory and practical session videos that will equip you with a wealth of knowledge and valuable tools to enhance your horsemanship skills.
If you would like to share information about the course with a friend, you are most welcome!
However, we ask that you do not share your log in details or pass on the course contents. A massive amount of work and effort has gone into creating this academy and we hope that you respect this. All content is copyright and legal action will be taken if content is passed on or sold by anyone other than Dr Nadine Lindblom.
If you want to share the content with the academy with a friend, please forward them this link, they are welcome to join my masterclass and see if they are interested in more: https://www.nadinelindblom.com/masterclass-registration
As of May 2024, the academy includes over 35 hours of content.
Module 1: 3 hours
Module 2: 2.5 hours
Module 3: 7.5 hours
Module 4: 10 hours
Bonus Module (collection & posture play): 2 hours
Additional content: 10+ hours
No, all the theory and sessions with the three horses in this course is pre-recorded. However, if you have any questions feel free to post them in the community group to discuss with Nadine and other like-minded participants.
I completely understand! However, think of this program not as an expense, but as an investment in both your and your horse’s future.
Consider where you and your horse are today in your relationship and training. Is this how you would like to continue on? If you’re happy, great!
But if you want to make a change, then there will be investments along the way. You can do what I did and experiment with lots of different methods, make all of the mistakes and spend over $200,000 on different instructors, opinions, clinics, lessons and qualifications along the way... or you can skip all that and start here with evidence-based information. This program doesn’t just teach liberty; it transforms your entire approach to horsemanship and understanding of horses. It gives you a chance to dive into all the details that are often skipped in lessons and clinics due to time constraints. Also... with this program you get 30+ hours of content to go through at your own pace. How much would 30 hours of lessons cost you?
If your instructor is credible, probably a whoooole lot more than the investment into this program.
Plus, consider the value: this program and all its valuable bonuses is worth $2,760, but you can save $1,763 by signing up with a one-off payment- and you also receive your free feedback opportunity bonus if you sign up today!
Don’t forget that we also have a 14-day money back guarantee. If in the first 14 days, you complete the first 2 modules and decide not to move on to module 3, we will give you a full refund- so its completely risk free!
Are you ready to liberate your horse?
“Nadine’s course is beyond incredible! She is raw, open and honest and is always about putting the horse and the relationship first.
She explains everything very clearly with plenty of videos for examples. Nadine is always open to answer any questions and assist in anyway she can! I 10000% recommend this course!”
Kaitlin Bailey (QLD, Australia)
4 modules 35+ hours Lifetime access The Liberty Herd included
