What is REAL training? Someone wrote me yesterday, saying some quite hurtful things. In particular that I didnt really know what I was doing, that I dont do any REAL training and that I only frolic around. So like everyone, at first that just really hurt my feelings, but than after that wore off (ok it hasnt) , I started thinking about what they said. As I walked thru the pasture today, I really had that going thru my mind. I actually think , as the saying goes, you are always teaching your horse something, either good or bad, but always teaching. So when I went to feed Jonesey today walked into his pasture w his bucket of feed, he didnt rush the gate, crowd my space, or try to jam his head in the bucket. He walked up, I pointed to his feed bowl in the pasture, we walked over together, and he waited while I put his feed in there and took a step away. So maybe that doesnt sound like much, but I think it is, on a very fundamental scope. It is not that I taught him that particular task, it is that I taught him something about me and how we work together. He had behavior which I didnt find acceptable, we worked on it, I showed him what was acceptable, he learned that, and I have been consistent with it ever since. So he is starting to know me. That I will teach him, with patience and kindness, but also w consistency and if I say we are doing it this way, that means we are actually doing it this way. It doesnt mean sometimes he can crowd me and sometimes he has to do what I ask. This will translate into riding, or anything I do with this particular horse. I think this is the most basic building block when dealing w a new horse. If he doesnt understand the rules how can we move forward? Start at the beginning. Work up to more. That is my view. I have not had as much experience as some others when it comes to riding, but my goal is to be safe, and learn together. Learn about each other. If I say, Whoa, Whoa MEANS Whoa, not Whoa maybe or Whoa 5 steps later. I learned from Lara Powell Simonsen (local Naples trainer) to be so particular about things, that was almost 2 years ago! So now I am particular about what I ask for and what I get in a response. I learned from Melanie Fields and Jimmy And-Dimitra Arneson about being slow and kind and gentle and to really pay attention to the horse. And of course, I learn from each and every horse that I work with. TONS! I do know some really fabulous professionals, but I also know and see a lot of really bad training. Too much, to fast, not taking into account the individual horse and that horses needs. In all disciplines. I do realize that I go slow, slower than almost anyone I know. But that is my pace, at which I feel comfortable and what I feel, keeps me safe and starts a whole program of learning for an OTTBs civilian life. I think if a horse has solid parameters, there isnt anything you cant teach him. Trust and respect, from the ground up. If you dont have that, how can you have the rest? Thats my opinion, anyway...
Posted on: Mon, 08 Sep 2014 12:30:58 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015