What If the Problem Isn't a Problem? #145 Mar 11, 2026

In this episode, Mary Debono invites you to reconsider how you approach challenges, whether they show up in your own body, your horse, or your dog. When we label something a problem, we tend to reach for the same strategies that created it in the first place. That usually leads to temporary relief, ...

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How Movement Unlocks Learning #144 Mar 11, 2026

What if the key to better learning — for you and for your animals — was already built into the nervous system?

In this episode, Mary explores neuroplasticity: the nervous system's remarkable capacity to adapt, reorganize, and discover new possibilities. Drawing on the foundational work of Dr. Moshe...

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02-25-26_EMHL_Ep_143_-_Repetition_vs._Refinement_The_Missing
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Repetition vs. Refinement: The Missing Piece for Your Dog or Horse (and You) #143 #canine mobility #canine movement #debono moves #equinemovement #human movement feldenkrais Mar 02, 2026

We've all heard "practice makes perfect." But what if repeating the same movement is actually making things worse?

In this episode, Mary unpacks one of the most important distinctions in nervous system-based movement work: the difference between repetition and refinement. While repetition strengthe...

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When Kindness Isn't Enough: The Body-Behavior Connection #142 #behavior #brain training #canine behavior #debono moves #equine movement #feldenkrais #feline #horse cat dog Feb 21, 2026

What if the key to a more confident and social animal isn't more training, but helping them feel more at home in their own body?

In this episode, Mary shares three case studies from her decades of hands-on work: a shutdown horse, a semi-feral cat with mysterious hind leg trouble, and an anxious you...

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Mary Debono
Unnecessary Tension and How It Affects Your Horse or Dog #141
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Unnecessary Tension and How It Affects Your Horse or Dog #141 #canine movement #debono moves #feldenkrais #horsemovement #humanmovement Feb 13, 2026

Before you ever place a hand on your horse or dog, an exchange is already happening. Your animal is noticing how you breathe, how you move, and where you direct your attention. Their nervous systems are constantly gathering information, and one of the strongest sources is you.

In this episode, we e...

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Why Learning Isn't Linear (And Why That's Good News for You and Your Animal) #140 #debono moves #dogs #horses #learning feldenkrais humans Feb 06, 2026

We often expect improvement to happen step by step, like climbing stairs. You work with your horse or dog, and you think progress should be steady and visible. But that's not how the nervous system actually learns.

In this episode, Mary explains why real learning often looks like long plateaus foll...

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Who Shapes How You See Your Horse/Dog? How Perception Influences Behavior #139 #canine #equine #humanmind awareness debono moves feldenkrais Jan 31, 2026

This episode is a departure from my usual format.

I’m sharing something more personal and vulnerable, rooted in what’s happening in the world right now, because it feels too important to ignore.

At its heart, this episode is about perception. How easily we can be influenced to see what we expect t...

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Bodywork vs. Brain Work: Why Movement Patterns Shape Behavior #138 #debono moves #dogs #horses bodywork brain work feldenkrais neuroplasticity Jan 21, 2026

Many people do bodywork with their horses or dogs, and it can feel helpful in the moment. Muscles soften. Tension eases. The animal looks more comfortable.

But there is something deeper available.

In this episode, I talk about the difference between bodywork and brain work, and why that distinctio...

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A Simple Hands-On Way to Calm Your Animal’s Nervous System #137 #brain training #debonomoves #dogs #horsehumanconnection #horses canine connection nervous system regulation Jan 14, 2026
 

What if supporting your animal’s nervous system didn't require complicated techniques?

In this episode, Mary Debono shares a simple, gentle practice she calls scanning with your hands. This light, attentive way of touching your horse or dog helps calm both nervous systems at the same time wh...

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The Question That Changes Everything About Goal Setting #136 #brain training #dog training #humanmind #mindset horse training mindfulnesss Jan 06, 2026

Happy New Year! While everyone's talking about crushing goals and using willpower to achieve more, let's talk about what you're really after—and a completely different way to get there.

Here's the truth most people miss: your goals aren't really about the goal itself. When you want to compete in ag...

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Force vs Power: The Kinder, More Effective Path to Change #135 #debono moves #dogs #easier movement #feldenkrais #horses #mobility Sep 26, 2025

Discover why real improvement for your horse or dog isn’t something you can make happen. Force tries to impose change from the outside. True power creates the conditions for learning, so your animal's nervous system can discover safer, easier ways of moving and being.

This gentle, respectful proces...

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Why Even Well-Fitting Gear Can Limit Your Animal's Movement #134 #debono moves #dog #doggear #feldenkrais #girthynomore #horse #horsetack Sep 22, 2025

Learn why even well-fitting dog harnesses and horse saddles can exacerbate movement restrictions. 

 

Discover a practical two-phase approach to help your animal move comfortably with their gear on, reducing stiffness and improving mobility.

 

Resources:

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