The Hidden Skill of Applying Release

“Just let go,” people say. But your mind is busy, and your body is stiff and tight. “You have no clue what it feels like to me, so how can you tell me to let go?” you might think.

Every horseman will speak about the importance of pressure and release, which is the fundamental form of communication. It is how horses learn and understand our demands and guidelines. In this article, I choose to take a different approach to understand the essence of pressure and release. We will step behind the craft of the greatest riders in order to understand why it is not only about how we apply pressure but also about how we must understand release—not just when, but how.

Release is not just about letting go—it is an action, a skill, a crucial component of pressure. There is no release without pressure, and there is no pressure without release. Release is not the opposite of pressure; it is what completes it.

If you are still with me, let’s take this to the next level. Here’s a statement: Everyone will teach you how to apply pressure, but very few can teach you how to apply release. It’s not just about how you apply them, but about finding your personal balance between them.

There are fifty shades of applying release, yet we are taught only a few. The hustle is much more attractive to the observer—the motion of grit, accuracy, obedience, mastering, and controlling. We all pull, kick, and squeeze as accurately as we can, but often, it is not enough. And that’s no accident—it reflects an unbalanced being.

Understanding Release

Understanding release begins with realizing that it has little to do with resting or relieving. Release is movement in the opposite direction of pressure. It has nuances—it can be heavy or light, fast or slow. Applying release is not about letting go but about creating space so other things can move in the space between you and them. It forces them to act, to talk, to move, to be—even without them asking.

All my life, I’ve heard that horses “learn” through pressure and release—that they always seek release every time we apply pressure. Sounds right, doesn’t it? But when I look at horses in nature, I see something different. Horses communicate in many ways: through sound, smell, body language, and more. Yes, they do apply dominance in some cases, but their interactions are far more complex than just pressure and release.

So maybe, just maybe, pressure and release isn’t about the horses—it’s about us. Maybe this method is not how horses naturally communicate but rather how we, as humans, can influence them and get them to work with us. Maybe pressure and release is more of a tool for people than a tool for horses.

It’s not just the horse that craves release when pressure is applied—we crave applying pressure. I know that sounds strange, but think about it: horses want release, and we want to apply pressure. Why? Because we love to talk, to give instructions. We tend to believe we know what we’re doing, so we think, “Stand aside and watch me do my thing.”

This mindset isn’t necessarily a good thing. In fact, it can be an obstacle to high-level horsemanship. This is what separates the good from the great. I’ve watched some of the best horsemen in the industry, and I’ve come to a simple realization: it’s not just about the timing of pressure and release. It’s about how the method is used at its purest level.

Fight or Flight

Imagine a lion and a horse. The lion is the fighter, and the horse is the flight animal. Now, which behavior do you think is more similar to applying pressure—fight or flight? Most people believe fight is more like applying pressure, while flight relates more to release. I agree.

If we observe it this way, I’m curious not only about the animal itself but about the “space” each behavior creates. A fight animal—like a lion—closes the space between itself and its prey, making the space smaller and smaller. A flight animal—like a horse—does the opposite. It constantly tries to create more space between itself and what it perceives as a threat.

If we apply this analogy to pressure and release, we see that applying pressure is about closing the space between us and the horse, while applying release is about creating space for the horse to be in.

Speaking and Listening

Same question here—what do you think relates more to applying pressure, speaking or listening? Most people believe applying pressure is more like speaking, while applying release is more like listening. Looking at this analogy, we can understand that every time we apply pressure to the horse, we are actually “speaking” to it. We are expressing through pressure what we want the horse to do. However, when we apply release, we are not necessarily only rewarding the horse for cooperating but also stepping back and listening to how he is reacting to the pressure we applied. We are “listening” and “observing” the horse's behavior.

---

Exercise – “The Stand-Still Challenge”

When it comes to finding the balance between pressure and release, it’s all about practice. A simple exercise you can try every time you ride is the stand-still challenge. This exercise encourages you to practice the skill of applying release at the beginning of every ride, allowing you to tune in and observe both your horse and yourself prior to starting your practice.

Every time you step onto your horse, I want you to stand still with your horse for three minutes. During these three minutes, do not touch your phone or get distracted by anything else. Just observe—watch what your horse is doing and pay attention to your own mind.

After three minutes, you can go ahead and start working.

Do this for at least fifteen rides, then ask yourself: What has changed between you and your horse? How did it affect the tempo and intensity of your riding session? Did you learn something new about your riding or your horse?

---

Conclusion: The Art of Balance

Mastering pressure and release is not about applying force and then stepping away—it is about creating a dynamic conversation between you and the horse. The true essence of horsemanship lies in understanding that pressure and release are not separate forces but complementary elements of communication.

When you apply pressure, you initiate action. When you apply release, you create space for response. A great horseman does not just control the horse; they guide the horse’s ability to think, feel, and move freely within the space they create.

So the next time you ride, ask yourself: Are you only focused on applying pressure, or are you equally invested in the art of release? Because the best riders, the best athletes, and the best leaders are not the ones who push the hardest—they are the ones who know exactly when to step back and listen.

For more exercises related to pressure and release and improving your communication with your horse, check out the Practice Ugly Mindset Method, where you’ll get access to hours of online learning, exercises, and other resources to continue sharpening your mental approach to riding.