Different Behavior Starts With a Different Experience #161 #dog training debono moves feldenkrais positive reinforcement training Jul 10, 2026

When podcaster Andrew Huberman recently interviewed Cesar Millan, it got me thinking about how differently people approach relating to their animals, and how most of those conversations stop at the wrong question.

What if the key to changing your horse's or dog's behavior isn't changing the behavio...

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Asking Questions with Your Hands #159 #dogs #equine movement animal communication canine mobility connection debono moves feldenkrais horses Jun 29, 2026

 

There's a phrase at the heart of Mary Debono's hands-on work with animals: "We ask questions with our hands. We don't make demands."

In this episode, Mary explains what that principle looks like in practice, using two clear, real-world examples. First, a senior dog whose hind legs had been getti...

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Building Trust Through Movement: Connect, Don't Correct #157 #horsehumanconnection #learning #learning to learn canine connection debono moves feldenkrais May 20, 2026

Most of us have absorbed a story about aging, one that treats decline as a foregone conclusion, for ourselves and for our horses and dogs. But that story leaves out something important.

In this episode, Mary Debono makes a compelling case that how we age is far more within our influence than our cu...

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What Do You Believe About Aging? #156 #canine movement #equine movement #human movement aging debono moves feldenkrais May 20, 2026

Most of us have absorbed a story about aging, one that treats decline as a foregone conclusion, for ourselves and for our horses and dogs. But that story leaves out something important.

In this episode, Mary Debono makes a compelling case that how we age is far more within our influence than our cu...

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Why Debono Moves Might Not Be Right for You #155 #dogs #human movement awareness awareness through movement debono moves feldenkrais horses mindfulnesss May 15, 2026

Why does improving your own movement and awareness matter when helping your horse or dog?

In this episode, I share why the human side of this work is not optional. After a conversation with a horse owner who wanted to learn “just the techniques” without exploring her own awareness or movement, I re...

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How to Support Your Aging Dog #154 #canine mobility #dogs aging canine back stiffness debono moves feldenkrais May 15, 2026

Whether your dog is aging, recovering from surgery, or simply deserves the best foundation possible, this episode explores how gentle hands-on support can help reduce tension, improve movement, and create greater ease, confidence, and well-being. 

đź’« Key Takeaways

  1. Many dogs develop habitual movem...
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Mary Debono
Repetition vs. Refinement: The Missing Piece for Your Dog or Horse (and You) #143
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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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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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Your Personal Keystone: Unlock the Power of Lasting Change #104 #brain training #humanmind #mindset equestrians feldenkrais feldenkrais method Dec 21, 2024

Discover how selecting a keystone practice like Feldenkrais can create positive chain reactions throughout your life. Learn how gentle movement sequences can improve your riding, sleep, emotional resilience, and creativity while building a foundation for lasting transformation.

Key Takeaways

  • A key...
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Why You and Your Horse Don't Need Fixing #76 #debono moves #horsehumanconnection #horsemind #horsemovement #humanmind #humanmovement feldenkrais feldenkrais method Jun 06, 2024
 

Are there things about yourself or your horse that you'd like to fix?

In this episode, I challenge the notion that you or your horse needs fixing.

Instead, we embrace a holistic approach. Drawing on my 30 years of experience as a Feldenkrais teacher specializing in horses and riders, I explain ho...

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