Something that really irritates me is blaming every horse misbehavior on “ abuse”, like it behaves that way because it was abused. Well, maybe in some cases but maybe it was a victim of ignorance and never learned what it was supposed to do? Maybe its headshy because somebody whacked it upside the head, maybe its never been taught to accept movement around the face and sick of getting poked in the eye and banged in the teeth? Real NH would deal with that, not blame abuse and preach BS theory while waving a stick.
This was consistent with my experience and a major grievance I had with the program. No, I don’t know every detail of my horse’s history, but I know more than most. I was dismayed to hear this whole narrative about him being an abuse case. I mean, yes, he was definitely soured by someone/something along the way in his training, so I was willing to go along with it, if you give “abuse” a very loose interpretation. But at some point, it started to feel more like a ploy to lower any and all expectations for his training? And also a way to manipulate clients through their egos, too, like, “Aren’t you so great for rescuing this poor horse? He is so lucky he landed with you.”
It was just weird. I could never bring myself to drink the kool aid, even when it put me in a flattering light as some kind of abused horse savior. I mean, even true abuse/neglect cases can be transformed into solid citizens with skillful training, and my horse was neither! I was definitely not looking to congratulate myself over my horse’s deteriorating behavior based on the somewhat dubious claim that he was a rescue, because even if he were a rescue, I would want and expect better from/for him.
Anyway, like a few commenters mention, I have followed/watched/read/purchased or used free trials of programs from Tik Maynard, Featherlight Horsemanship, Tristan Tucker, and Warwick Schiller. It’s why I gravitated to this trainer in the first place, because she certainly sounded like she was practicing the same techniques and ideas. But whatever she was doing, and whatever her intentions, I think the problem is she just wasn’t getting through to my horse. I remember telling myself if she had even one horse, or could point me to a former client’s horse, that I could look at and say, “that’s where I want to be in 6 months,” I would stay. But I couldn’t find one, not in the barn, not on social media. Nothing but horses pushing around yoga balls and walking in a round pen if they were being ridden at all. 
I guess there is a niche for that type of trainer, who not only doesn’t shame you for not riding or competing, but who actually makes you feel like a superior horseman for doing neither. But I was not looking for that, and it didn’t do me or my horse any favors. I unfortunately can’t get my money or time back, but such is life. At least I can kvetch about it on the internet!
