The Big Three

Posted by Rick Gore
Category: General

Wow, talk about big topics.  I call this "The Big Three”.  These are sometime mystical terms that are used often and most people never really understand them, never know their importance or never experience them.  These things come from "Time".  Time handling horses, time working horses, time riding horses, time watching horses, time making mistakes, time seeing others do it right, time seeing others do it wrong, time listening to the horse and time reflecting on all of this. "If you take the time it takes - it takes less time.

A lot of my videos on Youtube explain this in more detail: www.youtube.com/user/horseawareness:

Sounds like double talk.  Sounds like old horse whisperer stuff.  Are these things really real or is it something that old timer’s just talk about to intrigue others.  Let’s talk about each one of these since I think they are all connected and all affect each other.  So I will try and discuss them individually.

-- Release: Anyone can pull or yank a horse, but it takes someone who understands how to release, and how to release with timing and feel to really get results.  Release is that exact moment where learning takes place in the horse.  The second a horse gets release, he connects that release to the right answer.  So if a horse is pressured by a person and it rears and as soon as it rears, it scares the person putting on the pressure, so the person backs away in fear of their safety, the horse sees this as release.  So the person gives release, but with bad timing.  The horse does not know this, it only knows, it got release when it reared, so rearing gets him release, therefore, rearing must be the right answer.  This is an example of bad release but since release teaches, the horse always sees release as good. 

Good release teaches the right thing.  So if a person tries to get a horse to back up and puts pressure to back up and as soon as the horse takes one step back, the person releases, and then the horse learns that backing up is the right answer.  If the person stops pressure when the horse turns away, rears, or tries to bite them, then the horse thinks and learns that is the right answer.  So knowing release only works if the person knows how and when to release pressure.  Almost everything a horse learns is by pressure and release. An example of a horse learning something without pressure and release is more "classical conditioning".  You break a carrot in half, the horse hears this, knows what this is and comes over to get the carrot and you give the carrot to the horse.  However, this could be seen by the horse as pressure and release if you are not careful.  If done wrong, the horse can see him coming over to you as putting pressure on you and then you giving the carrot is release from his pressure on you.  Everything with a horse is how they see it.  This is a Key Point....  it does not matter what you intended to do, what you do or what you think you did, it only matters how the horse sees it.  Too often I see people teaching things they do not know they are teaching and then wonder why the horse does it. I have a couple of videos that explain Classical condioning on youtube: www.youtube.com/watch

So understanding release is very important so you can know what you are teaching, when you are teaching it and when you did it wrong.  And remember, once you understand release, if you do it with bad feel and timing, it means nothing and you will be teaching something you did not intend to teach.  Confused yet?  We are just getting started.

-- Timing: Sounds like a clock thing; if you can tell time you can have timing?  If you can hit a baseball, drive a car or play any sport you should have some sort of timing.  So having timing with a horse should not be that difficult.  Well, timing could be a horse book in itself.  Timing comes from doing wrong, experience (good and bad) and many other lessons from many horses.  Pull on a horse at the wrong time and you get a fight, pull too early and you create the horse to pull, pull too late and you get behind the leverage point and you get dragged or get the rope pulled out of your hands.  Of course pulling requires release, so if you time it right and don't release right, you blow it. 

On the other hand if you have timing, you can get a horse to do things twice as fast, twice as easy and twice as good.  Wow, this sounds pretty important, why are so many people so confused about it?  It takes time and practice to learn it, develop it, perfect it and refine it.  Every horse requires it to be done differently, maybe just a little but each one responds to timing with different feel.  So having good timing with bad feel does not work, having good timing with bad release, does not work.  All three are required, all three have to be constantly adjusted and all three need to be refined depending on what the horse does and how the horse responds.

-- Feel:  This is putting timing and release together with constant adjustments.  So, lets look at this like kissing a girl (girls apply this to guys), a kiss is a kiss right?  Kiss your wife good morning is different than kissing her goodbye.  Kissing her after not seeing her for a month is different than kissing her after a hard day of work.  Kissing her after giving birth to your child is different than kissing her for getting you socks for your birthday.  Kissing her after she is in a car wreck is different than kissing her after you broke her favorite silly glass thingy collection special piece.  Kissing her after you say "I do" is different than after she says "No you can't".  And lastly kissing her after or during that special private time is also very different.  So if someone said how many ways can you kiss, your first response may be a kiss is a kiss, but if you think about it and break it down, very little changes in timing and situation changes the feel and way you kiss.  And of course, I kiss my horse differently than I kiss my girl.  :)

So just applying feel to a kiss you can see it has many variables.  Now lets apply feel to how you handle a rope, how you put on a head stall, how you catch a horse, how you saddle a  horse, how you pick a horse's feet, how you handle a horse in general, how you ride a horse, how you handle the reins, how you move towards a horse (pressure), how you move away from a horse (release), how you look at a horse, how your body is used to influence a horse and understanding a horse can feel and shake a fly off his hip.  If you are thinking how can anyone know all this, welcome to the world of horsemanship.  No matter how long you do it, you are always learning from each and every horse.  You never know it all and the journey is never-ending.

Then how can anyone claim to teach this?  I have not seen too many that try and teach feel.  Tough subject and not easy to learn.  This would explain why so many people have so called "problem horses".  You may hear things like, soft hands make soft horses.  You can't pull a horse to softness, but if you don't know timing and release, feel will not matter.

I mentioned handling the reins earlier. Feel is so important here.  Too rough, too loud, too soft, too easy or too inconsistent will all result in confusion to the horse.  When a horse is confused for too long it will stop trying to learn and stop searching for the right answer.  Then they look at other cues as picking or harassment and then they can become upset or they feel (different kind of feel) that there is no right answer and they can't find release so they go into fight mode if they cannot flee.  So feel on the reins can very helpful or can teach bad lessons.  Being soft at the right time, firm at the right time and consistent will teach a horse how to be soft.  But all this needs to be with timing and release.
Let’s see if I can tie these together now.  A good example of using all three of these would be catching a horse.  How many times do I hear the same old story, "my horse won't let me catch him", "my horse is hard to catch", "my horse just runs away when I try and catch him", and my first answer to this is "STOP trying to catch him". 

In order to catch a horse you need release, timing and feel.  You need to know how to release pressure when the horse looks at you or faces you.  You need to release this pressure with timing so the horse connects the release with the looking or facing you.  You need feel to read the horse on how to put just enough pressure to create movement and just enough release to draw or stop movement.  So when catching a hard to catch horse, a person with understanding of release, timing and feel can catch most any horse.  And since a very common complaint is how do I catch my horse, this tells me that most do not have a clue about the big three.  Can I teach you this?  Can anyone teach you this?  My answer is the best teacher of the big three is the Horse.  Listen, watch, and learn from the horse and stop trying to teach, train and improve the horse.  Always remembering, "The best teacher of the horse - is the horse."

You can read more about this on my web site:  www.thinklikeahorse.org/

Happy Trails,

Rick

Training Methods

I am a NH trainer. I use a combination of methods, an array of things that work for the individual horse I am working on. The comment I want to make is directed at the backing discussions. When training a horse to do something, anything, he has to fgure out what you are asking. He will choose the wrong or incorrect response sometimes often, before finding the correct answer. When the correct response happens, the trainer rewards by releasing pressure. In this case the jiggling of the rope stops. Some learn it faster than others. I teach this to EVREY horse I ride or train. It is an invaluable tool. Sometimes you are just not close enough to pull the rope toward his chest to ask for a back up. Using this technique I can ask from anywhere. My horses are so light with it it just takes a little wiggle of the rope and back they go. So the only real crazy waving involved is usually the first time teaching them.







Do I think the big name trainers have gotten out of hand? Yes. I also they they brought to light a lot about horsemnanship that main stream folks were not aware of. Things they should have been aweare of, but weren't.






My 17.3h sensitive draft cross and I have a great relationship. We preactically read each others minds. One day going to a trail he spooked. I could feel the m oment that he thought, OMG I'm going to die and Loretta is asking me to move forward. Someone has to save my life and if it's not going to be her it's going to be me. Really, I felt him close me out. Know what I did? I got down. And we walked back and forth in front of the scary yellow do not enter tape for the next hour. He was side passing at a trot to try and not get close but keep his eye on it, right next to the road. But if he had freaked and pulled away, I'd be alive even if he got hit by a car. I've had many folks tell me I did the wrong thing. I will never be convicned of that. For that horse under tose circumstances, I did the right thing.






So I applaud those who realize not every way works with every horse. Just like our children. Each have unique qualities that I beleive should be taken into consideration while training.

Training Astro

This time last year I had a broken ankle.  Prior to that I had been working on training Astro under saddle with the help of my trainer, Yvonne Lucas.  I didn't ride for several months after the break, and when I did Astro repeatedly tried to shake me off.  This went on for some time and when the vet took a look she found significant back pain.  Astro needed at least 3 months rest.  3 months turned into 5.  It was fall, I was busy, bought Stryker,  Stryker got hurt and then the SNOW came.  Astro's original 3 months off turned into almost a year of not being ridden.


I have a sweet little student who rides Astro on the lead line.  He is perfect in every way.  However, when he is ridden off lead and away from his paddock he has been a little nutso.  I really want some other experienced young riders to ride him, so I've been working on him during this last week. 


I have been doing ground work with him in the front field.  Here's how he has progressed:

• Day 1  He responded well to what I asked, until I asked him to trot.  Every time a car went by he did his little boy spook.   He kicked the pole he was trotting over every time, and it was on the ground!
• Day 2  He no longer spooked while trotting, yeah!  I had him keep trotting until a car went by and he did not react.  Then I let him stop and munch grass.  He figured out the plan very quickly!
• Day 3 He no longer kicked the pole he was trotting over.   I used the same approach.  Trotting over the pole, without stopping, until he no longer kicked it.  Then, time to munch the grass.  I raised the pole and he did kick it a bit, but we worked on that the next day.
• Day 4 He no longer kicked the raised pole.  Now it looked like a small jump.  He trotted over it, back and forth, without stopping, or kicking it.  What a smart pony!  I had him trot over other small jumps and he was a dream.
• Day 5 I raised the pole to 15 inches and he trotted over it, and a few times actually jumped it.  A very quiet, calm and relaxed jump.  I asked him to canter on the lead and he did.  We went around to all the jumps and he jumped them lovely.  

I am so pleased and proud of him.  I will continue showing him new things and changing things up for him.  It seems the unexpected is what gets him the most, so training near the road is good for him.  I will ride him again in a few days and expect his behavior under saddle to be improved as well.  Ground work and saddle work go hand in hand.

Loretta the natural horseman clear communication/visible results

Training Astro

This time last year I had a broken ankle.  Prior to that I had been working on training Astro under saddle with the help of my trainer, Yvonne Lucas.  I didn't ride for several months after the break, and when I did Astro repeatedly tried to shake me off.  This went on for some time and when the vet took a look she found significant back pain.  Astro needed at least 3 months rest.  3 months turned into 5.  It was fall, I was busy, bought Stryker,  Stryker got hurt and then the SNOW came.  Astro's original 3 months off turned into almost a year of not being ridden.


I have a sweet little student who rides Astro on the lead line.  He is perfect in every way.  However, when he is ridden off lead and away from his paddock he has been a little nutso.  I really want some other experienced young riders to ride him, so I've been working on him during this last week. 


I have been doing ground work with him in the front field.  Here's how he has progressed:

• Day 1  He responded well to what I asked, until I asked him to trot.  Every time a car went by he did his little boy spook.   He kicked the pole he was trotting over every time, and it was on the ground!
• Day 2  He no longer spooked while trotting, yeah!  I had him keep trotting until a car went by and he did not react.  Then I let him stop and munch grass.  He figured out the plan very quickly!
• Day 3 He no longer kicked the pole he was trotting over.   I used the same approach.  Trotting over the pole, without stopping, until he no longer kicked it.  Then, time to munch the grass.  I raised the pole and he did kick it a bit, but we worked on that the next day.
• Day 4 He no longer kicked the raised pole.  Now it looked like a small jump.  He trotted over it, back and forth, without stopping, or kicking it.  What a smart pony!  I had him trot over other small jumps and he was a dream.
• Day 5 I raised the pole to 15 inches and he trotted over it, and a few times actually jumped it.  A very quiet, calm and relaxed jump.  I asked him to canter on the lead and he did.  We went around to all the jumps and he jumped them lovely.  

I am so pleased and proud of him.  I will continue showing him new things and changing things up for him.  It seems the unexpected is what gets him the most, so training near the road is good for him.  I will ride him again in a few days and expect his behavior under saddle to be improved as well.  Ground work and saddle work go hand in hand.

Loretta the natural horseman clear communication/visible results

Understanding the Subtleties

What many folks fail to appreciate is, the technique can only take you so far, you need to have the understanding and balance to use it correctly. That balance and understanding is what Parelli means when they refer to "Savvy", knowing when to be, where to be, how to be - knowing WHEN to do things and knowing when to STOP doing things.


I apologize for not remembering who wrote it, but it is PERFECT!

This often comes up for me while working with owners. They watch me working with their horse and I do explain to them what I am doing. However there is definitely a certain amount of knowing (especially) regarding timing of releases, amount of pressure etc... that just cannot be explained. I am very intuitive, which helps for sure, but sometimes I have difficulty articulating because of this 'knowing' or 'Savvy' and intuition, or a combination of them.

I see owners becoming frustrated because they do not achieve the same results as I do after working with me for only a few sessions, sometimes even just one or two. It takes time, patience, practice and more time, patience and practice!




the natural horseman
clear communication/visible results

Understanding the Subtleties

What many folks fail to appreciate is, the technique can only take you so far, you need to have the understanding and balance to use it correctly. That balance and understanding is what Parelli means when they refer to "Savvy", knowing when to be, where to be, how to be - knowing WHEN to do things and knowing when to STOP doing things.


I apologize for not remembering who wrote it, but it is PERFECT!

This often comes up for me while working with owners. They watch me working with their horse and I do explain to them what I am doing. However there is definitely a certain amount of knowing (especially) regarding timing of releases, amount of pressure etc... that just cannot be explained. I am very intuitive, which helps for sure, but sometimes I have difficulty articulating because of this 'knowing' or 'Savvy' and intuition, or a combination of them.

I see owners becoming frustrated because they do not achieve the same results as I do after working with me for only a few sessions, sometimes even just one or two. It takes time, patience, practice and more time, patience and practice!




the natural horseman
clear communication/visible results

Stories from Scottie

The weather has been great and I'm really eager to go out more with Loretta.  She's got all these ponies keeping her busy now and we need some time to hit the trails.  So yesterday we headed out. I was a bit surprised that we only did about 10 minutes of playing before she brushed and tacked me up.  Anyway, we were headed out, same ole path.  Then up ahead I noticed something moving.  That's when everything changed.

We kept walking down the path, we were still close to home.  I soon realized that there was something VERY scary at a neighbor's house.  It was long, moving all around and making funny noises.  And it covered their whole driveway.  My first thought was to run.  But I heard Loretta telling me to relax and that it would be ok.  But as we got closer it got scarier.  The noise got louder and I really feared for our safety.  I made the executive decision to leave.  The easiest way out was to run up the hill I was next to.  That would give us some distance and a good opportunity to watch for an attack.  Loretta asked me really hard to stop.  I know I should listen to her, so I did stop, but really didn't want to.  If she's not going to protect us, then I have to!  I was trembling all over and thought I could hear her telling me to calm down and that it would be ok.  

It went something like this:

L:  calm down boy, it's ok. easy.

S:  wwwwhat?  did you say something?  do you see that THING over there?!

L:  yes Scottie, I see it.  But it's ok.  It's tape to keep cars out.  It can't move, it's not alive.

S:  But look!!! It IS  moving!  And it sounds like its crawling closer and closer to us!

L:  ssshhhhh boy, relax.  It really will be ok.  we're fine, see?  it's just blowing in the wind.

S:  But it's never been there before.  we pass here all the time.  and it's never, i say never been there before.

L:  The home owner just put it there.  Let's just walk on quietly by.

S:  I can't take it anymore.  I want to please you, but I have to make a decision and I'm choosing our lives!  Let's GO!

I couldn't hear anything Loretta said after that and she ended up getting down.  She asked me to walk down the hill which I did not want to do.  She then asked me to walk back and forth in front of that thing for like half an hour!  She must be crazy.  How can she not see that thing is terrifying?  And why isn't she scared of it?

Finally she brought me home.  I was sweating up a storm and real nervous.  I was so happy to be back at the barn with hay to munch on.  Home sweet home.

Loretta

the natural horseman
clear communication/visible results

Stories from Scottie

The weather has been great and I'm really eager to go out more with Loretta.  She's got all these ponies keeping her busy now and we need some time to hit the trails.  So yesterday we headed out. I was a bit surprised that we only did about 10 minutes of playing before she brushed and tacked me up.  Anyway, we were headed out, same ole path.  Then up ahead I noticed something moving.  That's when everything changed.

We kept walking down the path, we were still close to home.  I soon realized that there was something VERY scary at a neighbor's house.  It was long, moving all around and making funny noises.  And it covered their whole driveway.  My first thought was to run.  But I heard Loretta telling me to relax and that it would be ok.  But as we got closer it got scarier.  The noise got louder and I really feared for our safety.  I made the executive decision to leave.  The easiest way out was to run up the hill I was next to.  That would give us some distance and a good opportunity to watch for an attack.  Loretta asked me really hard to stop.  I know I should listen to her, so I did stop, but really didn't want to.  If she's not going to protect us, then I have to!  I was trembling all over and thought I could hear her telling me to calm down and that it would be ok.  

It went something like this:

L:  calm down boy, it's ok. easy.

S:  wwwwhat?  did you say something?  do you see that THING over there?!

L:  yes Scottie, I see it.  But it's ok.  It's tape to keep cars out.  It can't move, it's not alive.

S:  But look!!! It IS  moving!  And it sounds like its crawling closer and closer to us!

L:  ssshhhhh boy, relax.  It really will be ok.  we're fine, see?  it's just blowing in the wind.

S:  But it's never been there before.  we pass here all the time.  and it's never, i say never been there before.

L:  The home owner just put it there.  Let's just walk on quietly by.

S:  I can't take it anymore.  I want to please you, but I have to make a decision and I'm choosing our lives!  Let's GO!

I couldn't hear anything Loretta said after that and she ended up getting down.  She asked me to walk down the hill which I did not want to do.  She then asked me to walk back and forth in front of that thing for like half an hour!  She must be crazy.  How can she not see that thing is terrifying?  And why isn't she scared of it?

Finally she brought me home.  I was sweating up a storm and real nervous.  I was so happy to be back at the barn with hay to munch on.  Home sweet home.

Loretta

the natural horseman
clear communication/visible results

Take the time it takes

Ah, what a beautiful spring day. The sky was so blue and the air had a new crispness in it. The perfect day!

I spent a lot of quality time with Scottie today. We did 30 minutes of ground work and at least another 30 of grooming time before heading out on the trail. Scottie was beautifully behaved, and considering it has been so long since he's been out, that's pretty good! Of course, if he had been acting up I would have done more ground work with him and/or decided not to ride him. This leads me to one of my favorite ground work/pre flight check topics.

Picture this scenario. You are excited and anticipating a fun ride with your best (equine) friend. It's the first really nice day and the ground is pretty dry. You go to catch your horse and he runs off when he sees you coming with the halter. You finally catch him and are feeling a bit annoyed by this. While grooming he can't seem to keep still. He is very antsy and startling at almost anything. Since you are so excited to ride, you continue getting him ready.

I'll stop there because that usually only goes from bad to worse. You can get lucky. Maybe nothing will happen. So next time, you behave the same way. But I can assure you, one day will come when something unfortunate WILL happen while you are on that horses' back. The actions highlighted in red are clear warning signs. You can choose to ignore them or to heed their advice. It takes longer, but it is worth it.

Doing a pre-ride check can:

• Alert you to the state of your horse's mind
• Give you a chance to reclaim his mind
• Allow you to get to know him better
• Help form a closer bond

A wise horseman I know says, "It takes the time it takes". Sometimes that might not fit into our schedule. But our horses don't run on our schedule. Trust me, you are better off physically and mentally to take that time. You will benefit in the long run, even if you don't 'see' it on a daily basis.

Happy trails,

Loretta

the natural horseman
clear communication/visible results

Take the time it takes

Ah, what a beautiful spring day. The sky was so blue and the air had a new crispness in it. The perfect day!

I spent a lot of quality time with Scottie today. We did 30 minutes of ground work and at least another 30 of grooming time before heading out on the trail. Scottie was beautifully behaved, and considering it has been so long since he's been out, that's pretty good! Of course, if he had been acting up I would have done more ground work with him and/or decided not to ride him. This leads me to one of my favorite ground work/pre flight check topics.

Picture this scenario. You are excited and anticipating a fun ride with your best (equine) friend. It's the first really nice day and the ground is pretty dry. You go to catch your horse and he runs off when he sees you coming with the halter. You finally catch him and are feeling a bit annoyed by this. While grooming he can't seem to keep still. He is very antsy and startling at almost anything. Since you are so excited to ride, you continue getting him ready.

I'll stop there because that usually only goes from bad to worse. You can get lucky. Maybe nothing will happen. So next time, you behave the same way. But I can assure you, one day will come when something unfortunate WILL happen while you are on that horses' back. The actions highlighted in red are clear warning signs. You can choose to ignore them or to heed their advice. It takes longer, but it is worth it.

Doing a pre-ride check can:

• Alert you to the state of your horse's mind
• Give you a chance to reclaim his mind
• Allow you to get to know him better
• Help form a closer bond

A wise horseman I know says, "It takes the time it takes". Sometimes that might not fit into our schedule. But our horses don't run on our schedule. Trust me, you are better off physically and mentally to take that time. You will benefit in the long run, even if you don't 'see' it on a daily basis.

Happy trails,

Loretta

the natural horseman
clear communication/visible results

Piero's first trail ride!

I've only ridden twice since my fall in April. Both were very short rides on Astro. So, I'm feeling better and decided Piero needed work and this was as good a time as any. Then, to add to that I figured, what the heck, I might as well go for it. I'm feelig pretty good and I eventually need to see what he is like wiht a real rider not in a ring setting.

I mounted him outside of my ring and preceeded to the front yard. I was nervous and he knew it. I was taking very deep breaths and sitting very deeply. I could sense that he was excited, and feeling my nervousness. Several times I sensed him thinking about bucking. Now I actually mean thinking about it. He did not kick out. He did not stop moving forward. I just felt him, well, think about it. I wonder if it's my intuition at play, or if it's some sense I've gained as a rider within my seat. Perhaps it is both. I guess it doesn't matter what IT is, as long as I pay attention to IT, and IT is correct! LOL

I pretended as if I had a ring there and rode around for several minutes like this. A horse and neighbor, Susan & Mo, rode by and invited us to come along for a short walk down the road.

Piero was EXCEPTIONAL. He just looked ahead and walked forward. Please note, this pony has never been on this road before. Never walked down this path, never into these trails. None, nada, nilch. Didn't even turn his head looking out of each eye, side to side. Susan could see his eyes moving, but his head was dead pointing straight ahead.

We took a short loop, in and out. We led and Piero kept a very forward, steady pace. Even walking faster than his new friend, and Irish Sport Horse. Oh, Piero is only 12.2 hands, all a registered Dartmoor can be.

We came home safe and sound which was the plan. And very happy I might add. Now I know I have a great little show pony who is also a great little trail pony, not to mention he is as CUTE as can be.


Loretta

the natural horseman
clear communication/visible results

Piero's first trail ride!

I've only ridden twice since my fall in April. Both were very short rides on Astro. So, I'm feeling better and decided Piero needed work and this was as good a time as any. Then, to add to that I figured, what the heck, I might as well go for it. I'm feelig pretty good and I eventually need to see what he is like wiht a real rider not in a ring setting.

I mounted him outside of my ring and preceeded to the front yard. I was nervous and he knew it. I was taking very deep breaths and sitting very deeply. I could sense that he was excited, and feeling my nervousness. Several times I sensed him thinking about bucking. Now I actually mean thinking about it. He did not kick out. He did not stop moving forward. I just felt him, well, think about it. I wonder if it's my intuition at play, or if it's some sense I've gained as a rider within my seat. Perhaps it is both. I guess it doesn't matter what IT is, as long as I pay attention to IT, and IT is correct! LOL

I pretended as if I had a ring there and rode around for several minutes like this. A horse and neighbor, Susan & Mo, rode by and invited us to come along for a short walk down the road.

Piero was EXCEPTIONAL. He just looked ahead and walked forward. Please note, this pony has never been on this road before. Never walked down this path, never into these trails. None, nada, nilch. Didn't even turn his head looking out of each eye, side to side. Susan could see his eyes moving, but his head was dead pointing straight ahead.

We took a short loop, in and out. We led and Piero kept a very forward, steady pace. Even walking faster than his new friend, and Irish Sport Horse. Oh, Piero is only 12.2 hands, all a registered Dartmoor can be.

We came home safe and sound which was the plan. And very happy I might add. Now I know I have a great little show pony who is also a great little trail pony, not to mention he is as CUTE as can be.


Loretta

the natural horseman
clear communication/visible results

Training Tip G-Ground Work

Today's training tip begins with Ground Work. It is vitally important, and yet sadly it is also very overlooked. The busy rider just doesn't have the time to spend with their horse, especially if they board, doing anything but riding. I hope after reading this, you will feel differently about that, even if that means instead of going riding one day, you do some ground work instead.

This training tip also applies to those who say, "But my horse is well behaved, he doesn't need training on the ground." I have three things to say to that remark. 1. You are lucky that nothing has fallen apart yet, but don't be surprised if it does. 2. Ground work is not just about the training of the horse. It is training for you too. Realize that we are always teaching our horse, every time we are around him. 3. Doing the kind of ground work I'm going to discuss can not only be considered training, but it WILL enhance your relationship, increase the horse's respect for you, and make you all around better partners.

If you are not familiar with how to use our body language with the horse, please read this article now which touches on the basics. However, there are even more very subtle signals that we are
sending our equine friends.

Horses being prey animals view life in a way that helps ensure their very lives. A predator attacking will typically go for the neck/head. This is why looking directly at the horse, with our two eyes in front, is threatening. Take this a step further, and notice how you stand. Your center is your belly. If your center is directed toward his head, he will likely toss his head up in response to your 'rudeness.' You can bend or turn slightly and his reaction will be more relaxed.

I find that when there seems to be a behavior problem with the horse, it can usually be traced back to the way he is handled. And many times it is something so subtle, the owner has no idea what is going on. The horse is actually REacting to signals you sent. He is not misbehaving, he is acting like a horse. He is reading you like he reads his herd. He has no other way. We, however, do. We can learn the best way to 'talk' to them, since they can not learn our verbal language, nor do they have the ability to think or act like a predator.

Think about what you've just read the next time you greet your horse. If you go right up to him, look at him and kiss, or hug him, don't be surprised if that head goes flying up. (By the way, horses don't really 'get' kissing and hugging. They'd rather have a good scratch on the withers or have you blow in their nostril.)

I will continue writing about this topic, there is a lot to cover!

If you are in Fairfax County, VA, I am now teaching people how to have a better relationship with their horses using these techniques.


Loretta

The Horse Speaks

Training Tip G-Ground Work

Today's training tip begins with Ground Work. It is vitally important, and yet sadly it is also very overlooked. The busy rider just doesn't have the time to spend with their horse, especially if they board, doing anything but riding. I hope after reading this, you will feel differently about that, even if that means instead of going riding one day, you do some ground work instead.

This training tip also applies to those who say, "But my horse is well behaved, he doesn't need training on the ground." I have three things to say to that remark. 1. You are lucky that nothing has fallen apart yet, but don't be surprised if it does. 2. Ground work is not just about the training of the horse. It is training for you too. Realize that we are always teaching our horse, every time we are around him. 3. Doing the kind of ground work I'm going to discuss can not only be considered training, but it WILL enhance your relationship, increase the horse's respect for you, and make you all around better partners.

If you are not familiar with how to use our body language with the horse, please read this article now which touches on the basics. However, there are even more very subtle signals that we are
sending our equine friends.

Horses being prey animals view life in a way that helps ensure their very lives. A predator attacking will typically go for the neck/head. This is why looking directly at the horse, with our two eyes in front, is threatening. Take this a step further, and notice how you stand. Your center is your belly. If your center is directed toward his head, he will likely toss his head up in response to your 'rudeness.' You can bend or turn slightly and his reaction will be more relaxed.

I find that when there seems to be a behavior problem with the horse, it can usually be traced back to the way he is handled. And many times it is something so subtle, the owner has no idea what is going on. The horse is actually REacting to signals you sent. He is not misbehaving, he is acting like a horse. He is reading you like he reads his herd. He has no other way. We, however, do. We can learn the best way to 'talk' to them, since they can not learn our verbal language, nor do they have the ability to think or act like a predator.

Think about what you've just read the next time you greet your horse. If you go right up to him, look at him and kiss, or hug him, don't be surprised if that head goes flying up. (By the way, horses don't really 'get' kissing and hugging. They'd rather have a good scratch on the withers or have you blow in their nostril.)

I will continue writing about this topic, there is a lot to cover!

If you are in Fairfax County, VA, I am now teaching people how to have a better relationship with their horses using these techniques.


Loretta

The Horse Speaks

Piero Training day 5

These days you can't wipe the smile off of my face! I did some more ground work yesterday with Piero. We played the catching game and got some pretty descent video of it. I'll be posting it as soon as I figure out how! I had him moving around the open field, keeping his attention on me, before I caught him. After I put the halter/lead rope on him I asked him to do some flexing which he is consistently improving on. I am very pleased with the way he recalls and wants to please me.

Today he did some running around. Wow, that little guy is FAST! He out ran Scottie! It was a pretty amazing sight to see.

Yesterday under saddle Piero was terrific. We walked, halted, and trotted around for about 15 minutes. I have not asked anyhting too difficult of him. I had him halting very square and on a dime with not much more than a 'halting thought' on my part. I can't wait to ask him to canter. I'm a little puzzled by the change in him, can't quite figure it out yet. He is much more relaxed and happy now than even a week or 2 ago. Perhaps he simply feels like he belongs here, maybe more wanted? I took my feet out of the stirrups and was bumping my legs all over him, nothing. No reaction at all. I even patted his rump while on him, and still nothing. (I had been told that that sent him to the moon and back.)

This picture was taken yesterday. I will take a better pic and load it next time. My daughter took this, among others.

Anyone have any ideas on his behavior change? I'd love to hear your comments.

Loretta

Piero Training day 5

These days you can't wipe the smile off of my face! I did some more ground work yesterday with Piero. We played the catching game and got some pretty descent video of it. I'll be posting it as soon as I figure out how! I had him moving around the open field, keeping his attention on me, before I caught him. After I put the halter/lead rope on him I asked him to do some flexing which he is consistently improving on. I am very pleased with the way he recalls and wants to please me.

Today he did some running around. Wow, that little guy is FAST! He out ran Scottie! It was a pretty amazing sight to see.

Yesterday under saddle Piero was terrific. We walked, halted, and trotted around for about 15 minutes. I have not asked anyhting too difficult of him. I had him halting very square and on a dime with not much more than a 'halting thought' on my part. I can't wait to ask him to canter. I'm a little puzzled by the change in him, can't quite figure it out yet. He is much more relaxed and happy now than even a week or 2 ago. Perhaps he simply feels like he belongs here, maybe more wanted? I took my feet out of the stirrups and was bumping my legs all over him, nothing. No reaction at all. I even patted his rump while on him, and still nothing. (I had been told that that sent him to the moon and back.)

This picture was taken yesterday. I will take a better pic and load it next time. My daughter took this, among others.

Anyone have any ideas on his behavior change? I'd love to hear your comments.

Loretta

Piero's Training Day 4

Wow. I am so excited! I worked with Piero yesterday, and he was super! He is really catching on to the ground work and understanding that I am the herd leader-all the time!

So, yesterday after a short round of ground work, I groomed him and tacked him up. We did a little more ground work, sending back, halting and following, then I got on him. Wow. I was so surprised. When I went to visit him before he came to live with me, I was told that when he was under saddle he was very full of it. They couldn't touch him behind the leg or on his rump. And had to ride with their legs away from his side because of his sensitivity. I knew I felt from the beginning that he was misunderstood, and I guess I was right on there. He was perfect under saddle. It's been two weeks since he arrived and I've not asked much of him except for the little bits of ground work that we've been doing.

He was calm, quite, just wonderful. I had my legs flapping all around him, and took my feet out of the stirrups, put them back in, and he was fine. I turned around and patted his rump, no problem. We trotted and I got an immediate halt when I asked. All this with very light contact. I almost felt like he was saying thank you and that he was very greatful that I took this approach.


I am confident that he will have no further issues and will be quite easy to sell. He has been to shows at Upperville and Frying Pan!

My theory on Piero's previous misbehavior: When the owner let her friend borrow him, they started using him within a couple of days for lessons. I believe that he did not have a human herd leader, and that was the main problem. Do all horses need that in order to behave properly? No. Not all do. However, some do. And maybe that's a good thing. Maybe those are the ones that still have theior original horse spirit in them. They are, after all, herd animals that look for leadership. I read an article written by the dog whisperer and he said that dogs need 1. discipline/direction 2. exercise 3. affection IN THAT ORDER.
I believe it is the same for equines. We want to be loving and doting on them, but that is not really what they are looking for. These things are human desires that we put onto our equine friends. Now that we know better, we can not only better communicate, but better coexist with one another.

More on that thought tomorrow!

clear communication
visible results

Piero's Training Day 4

Wow. I am so excited! I worked with Piero yesterday, and he was super! He is really catching on to the ground work and understanding that I am the herd leader-all the time!

So, yesterday after a short round of ground work, I groomed him and tacked him up. We did a little more ground work, sending back, halting and following, then I got on him. Wow. I was so surprised. When I went to visit him before he came to live with me, I was told that when he was under saddle he was very full of it. They couldn't touch him behind the leg or on his rump. And had to ride with their legs away from his side because of his sensitivity. I knew I felt from the beginning that he was misunderstood, and I guess I was right on there. He was perfect under saddle. It's been two weeks since he arrived and I've not asked much of him except for the little bits of ground work that we've been doing.

He was calm, quite, just wonderful. I had my legs flapping all around him, and took my feet out of the stirrups, put them back in, and he was fine. I turned around and patted his rump, no problem. We trotted and I got an immediate halt when I asked. All this with very light contact. I almost felt like he was saying thank you and that he was very greatful that I took this approach.


I am confident that he will have no further issues and will be quite easy to sell. He has been to shows at Upperville and Frying Pan!

My theory on Piero's previous misbehavior: When the owner let her friend borrow him, they started using him within a couple of days for lessons. I believe that he did not have a human herd leader, and that was the main problem. Do all horses need that in order to behave properly? No. Not all do. However, some do. And maybe that's a good thing. Maybe those are the ones that still have theior original horse spirit in them. They are, after all, herd animals that look for leadership. I read an article written by the dog whisperer and he said that dogs need 1. discipline/direction 2. exercise 3. affection IN THAT ORDER.
I believe it is the same for equines. We want to be loving and doting on them, but that is not really what they are looking for. These things are human desires that we put onto our equine friends. Now that we know better, we can not only better communicate, but better coexist with one another.

More on that thought tomorrow!

clear communication
visible results

Teaching Piero Ground Work Day 3

It always fascinates me to watch horses interact with one another. My established herd understands that I am the lead mare when I am around. Piero on the other hand, has yet to figure that out. He has asserted his position above Astro, and understands he falls beneath Tango. Yet when Scottie runs toward the fence where Piero is located on the other side, Piero stands his ground, pawing and flinging his head around. He was attempting to behave this way with me too.

When I approached him today, he turned and walked away from me. I then told him he had to keep moving, and moving. After about ten minutes of cantering around, and me running along, he finally stopped and faced me. Yippee. I immediately turned my shoulder toward him, and lowered my head. If he attempted to look away or graze, I slapped my thigh, made noise, whatever it took to keep his attention. It was either that, or he'd be moved again.

Piero is working hard to understand what I am asking of him. He steps back when I shake the lead rope a few times now. We'll keep working on that to improve the timing. When I lead him he is following at a nice position behind my shoulder, and he stops when I stop, and does not attempt to get ahead of me. He is learning to yield his haunches to me and to be driven forward. He is clearly accustomed to being lunged. I am striving for him to understand the difference between lunging and being driven. I point right, and he does go to the right, so I am very pleased with that. The next nice weather day we have I will tack him up for his ground work, in preparation to be ridden again.


Loretta

Teaching Piero Ground Work Day 3

It always fascinates me to watch horses interact with one another. My established herd understands that I am the lead mare when I am around. Piero on the other hand, has yet to figure that out. He has asserted his position above Astro, and understands he falls beneath Tango. Yet when Scottie runs toward the fence where Piero is located on the other side, Piero stands his ground, pawing and flinging his head around. He was attempting to behave this way with me too.

When I approached him today, he turned and walked away from me. I then told him he had to keep moving, and moving. After about ten minutes of cantering around, and me running along, he finally stopped and faced me. Yippee. I immediately turned my shoulder toward him, and lowered my head. If he attempted to look away or graze, I slapped my thigh, made noise, whatever it took to keep his attention. It was either that, or he'd be moved again.

Piero is working hard to understand what I am asking of him. He steps back when I shake the lead rope a few times now. We'll keep working on that to improve the timing. When I lead him he is following at a nice position behind my shoulder, and he stops when I stop, and does not attempt to get ahead of me. He is learning to yield his haunches to me and to be driven forward. He is clearly accustomed to being lunged. I am striving for him to understand the difference between lunging and being driven. I point right, and he does go to the right, so I am very pleased with that. The next nice weather day we have I will tack him up for his ground work, in preparation to be ridden again.


Loretta