Archive for October, 2009
What it Takes to Become a Truly Great Horseman
To become a truly great horseman you have to do three things, timing, feel and experience. They are all very similar which learning them is so difficult. teaching them is even harder to do. Timing is the ability to release pressure at the exact moment the horse does the right thing he has been asked to do. When I taught Baylee to put his head down from the poll at first he didn’t understand at all what I wanted from him. The more we practiced he eventually found the answer, and at that second I had to release the reins. If I didn’t pitch the reins away instantly each time Baylee would still be backing up because at first that’s what he thought I wanted from him. Timing comes with more and more practice, and you apply more pressure until the horse finds the right answer. Then the horse understands the cue and he learns to do what you want.
At that point you you ask the horse to respond immediately and appropriately, and because of timing you release the pressure right a way. Horses learn by repetition and release of pressure.
You release the pressure not just because of timing but also you can have a feel for his understanding. You are sure he will respond as he has been responding over and over again. It is knowing before it happens that is feeling.
Both timing and feeling take the third part of the equation experience. No one can teach you experience you have to do that with your horse yourself. There is no person that can fill in for you if you truly want to become a great horseman or horsewoman. Practice makes perfect is a wise saying for horse people. You may never be perfect but with a light touch, practice, timing, feel, and experience your relationship with your horse will be so much more rewarding.
Don't do Everything You See On Television Even The Professionals Make Mistakes.
For quite some time now I’ve been mulling this over in my mind. Should I make mention of the mistakes and bad advice I’ve seen some very competent trainers on their shows. I will not mention names, but I will remind you not to believe everything you see on television. Most of the errors get cut out, but some manage to get through. When you’re starting out the professionals as a group are like gods and goddesses and then the longer ride the easier it is to see the mistakes.
I bring this up for only one reason and that is safety. I’m pretty handy with a stick and string and twirling the end of a lead rope. That doesn’t mean I don’t make mistakes , I do we all do.
When I see national trainers allow a horse to come into their space after only a few minutes of training, the wrong signal is being sent to the viewing audience. I do realize that there is a lot done behind the scenes, but those kind of mistakes should be left on the cutting floor.
I’ve seen and heard dangerous training on the ground and under saddle, but there must be a point when each trainer says, ” wait leave that in and let me tell the audience what I did wrong. No one expects perfection but it’s starting to look that way on the various shows.
The trainers some of your audience are coming back from serious injury, some are young and will believe what you say as gospel. Whoever is in charge of editing these shows needs to take a closer look at what is aired.
The audience also has a responsibility to not attempt everything they see on a video, or everything they read in books. How I trained Baylee is my own method of training based on a pool of knowledge. All professionals and non professionals alike want you and themselves to ride safely. Safety must always come first. I paid a huge price for not concentrating on what was going on in the other ring and a new youngster got so close to Baylee he attempted to kick the other horse’s head off. I can’t remember any of it except watching the barn owner carrying me for some odd reason and I could hear my husband in the background.
This had nothing to do with listening to the wrong trainer, It had to do with the girl not following the rules and being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Starting back was a little scary for both of us. The first surgery fell apart in 24 hours and every time I moved I could feel the nails rubbing into my skin. Then in December I got a various hip infection and two more surgeries. I was allergic to the drug they were giving to me in the hospital but the doctor’s refused to believe me. I refused the medication but put it in IV while I slept and during the surgery. On New Years day at 3:00 A.M. my temperature climbed to 105.7. It was a reaction with the first medication and my infectious disease doctor got me out in four days on a pic line for 12 weeks of vancomycin. I am on oral antibiotics and will be for at least another year.
As soon as I got the word from the orthopedist I went to the barn and trained Baylee for almost a month and then it took all my determination to get up on his back and ride. I’m still riding and I have to say I have great husband and 6 sons and grand kids.
Learn from my experience when ever you are with your horse pay attention to everything around you. Some pros make mistakes, learn from them and watch videos and read books while always thinking is that the safest way to that.
