Training Your Horse the Way You Want

Tweaking the methods for each horse...
 
Choosing the right methods for your specific horse is very important.
Different horses will always respond differently to every method. So, that's why we tweak methods for each horse.
I prefer natural horsemanship, mostly because it's easiest for me and the horse to learn.
If you can't learn something, how are you supposed to teach it? Now I know not every way to each persons method (Say, Craig Cameron) will work exactly for you. You're definitely going to want to do things a mite differently for you. Now that doesn't mean if the trainer says to put pressure on the hindquarters a certain way, but that's too hard, that you put the pressure in the middle. Just because its hard don't change it, change something so your horse and you are learning better.
 And as well, just because you change something doesn't mean you are suddenly an awesome horse person. You'll still get caught in the lead line, drop the whip or give the wrong cue sometime. 
Find a happy medium with you're tweaks. 




How do I choose a trainer to go by?

 I prefer natural horsemanship[as briefly mentioned above]. 
And there are just a handful of natural horsemanship professional level trainers.
Clinton Anderson is by far my favorite, along with Ken Mcnabb and Craig Cameron.
Anderson focuses on just you and the horse. His methods are simple and easy for you and your horse to learn. It took me only a number of sessions to get my horse fully responding and willing when I tried him.
I've done very little of Cameron's methods, and some of Ken Mcnabb's.
I found Mcnabb at Equi-fest 2010. He did a sort of short clinic with a lady's horse that was always rushing things. He'd try to 'Take you across country', as Mcnabb put it.
He worked on taking and giving, giving and taking. Making you're ideas for the ride, his[the horse's] idea as well.
Instead of just jerking on the reins and holding all of that bottled energy in, Mcnabb showed us how to help him listen to you, but then once he was listening, let him have a little of what he was wanting.
If we always take take take, he'll quit giving, and then where will we be? Smack dab on our behinds, watching your horse do what he was asking for-running away.
But if we ask for something, then we take it, use it, and give something back.
Is it confusing? 


How do I 'give' and 'take' from my horse?
  
Easy. Ok, lets take the scenario Mcnabb had at the Equi-fest. His horse wanted to go, and now!
This horse, when trying to pull back on the reins, would get 'behind the bit'. [i.e tucking in his chin to get away with pressure, not slowing down at all]
It doesn't much help 'yelling' at the horse with your bit. Thats why I call it when people try to yank and pull on their horses mouths. They try to demand respect, and the horse just say's 'Huh uh!'
You have to earn respect. How you ask? From giving and taking.
Nice is nice when its nice.
Huh?
Being nice is great when your horse is being nice. But when your horse is getting nasty, we bust down a bit on them.
Ok, so lets run back up that rabbit trail to where we started.
So your horse is behind the bit. Some would say just use a one rein stop. Those are great for young horses just learning, or a spooked run away, but an already green broke or broke horse needs to learn the proper cues without being forced away from what he wants.
Instead of using a one rein stop or just yanking back, start circling him. Keep him at a nice, even working[Medium] trot. 
Work work work!
He wanted to go faster? Give him faster!
Once he's starting to actually listen, ride him out in a straight line, then back him down to a walk.
He speeds up again? 
Yay! Lets do that again!
Now, this is where I kind of mix methods.
One of Clinton Anderson's sayings is, "Make the right things easy and the wrong thing hard".
You want your horse to walk? Ask him for the walk and he speeds? Whoopee! We get to go fast for a really long time. 
Now I'm not necessarily trying to tire the horse out, a horse in top condition could run all day and not care what you're doing up there.
We're trying to get it in him that when he's asking for something that we don't want right now, its going to get tough for him if he pushes.
Then, once again, pull him down to a loose rein walk. 
Keep doing this, once he realizes that he has to listen to you, things will get better.


If we just run him, doesn't that give him what he was asking for?

Not entirely. He wanted to go for a little jaunt across the pasture, right? 
Now he has to do an all out endurance ride in circles, which is hardly any fun, seeing the same scenery buzzing past every three seconds.




Right thing is easy, wrong thing is hard!

Ingrain this into your brain and his! This plays a huge part in riding every day!


 


As always, have fun riding, and if you have any questions, leave them in the comments box. 
If you have any suggestions on articals to write, I will take them in your comments as well.

Your Horse and You-Creating a Good Bond

When it comes to bonding with your horse, don't cut corners.
It's like a good foundation. If you start building on a solid, stable foundation, your house is going to be solid and stable as well. But if you cut corners, the next wind storm you have your house is going to blow over!
When you get a new horse, or even just keeping a strong bond with an old one, spend a little time just hanging out. Go lay on his hay bale. Sit in his stall. Brush him off. Take a day off from your showing and training and take him some extra treats to munch on, I'm certain he'll appreciate it.
Horses are dependent on their humans. If your not there but an hour a week for a lesson and then you go home, he's going to start second guessing your relationship. You'll get wobbly, and your house will crumble.
If you never have time for your steed, you may consider loaning him out to a single person during the week. It's not fair to keep a horse locked up in a paddock or stall all day and night and never get attention just because you don't have time.
You see, horses don't know the little thing we humans call time. They have it all! So consider your horse, is he standing out in a pen alone? Is your bond suffering?
Make certain you are doing whats best for you and them. They are just as important in this relationship as you are!

 So in conclusion, build a strong foundation, and your bond will be as healthy and happy as the two of you are

Stuck in a Rut?

I find myself stuck in a rut occasionally.
Brush off.
Tack up.
Warm up.
Ride on road.
Canter in fields.
Return home.
Cool off.
And the list goes on! I do the same thing each time. I'm trying to get out of this RUT! 
So I'm going to give a few tips right now.

• Ride a Different Discipline.

I always ride western. Western. Western. Western! I'm a cowgirl all the way :)
Try riding english if you always ride western. Enlist in a trainer, or, be self taught. Try Jumping, Dressage, Hunters, or just trails in a different saddle! 

• Go Bareback and Bridle-less!

Forget the saddle! Forget the bridle! Throw on a halter, hop on and hit the road ;)
Its also easy and quick this way, no heavy tack to lug around, and it takes less time to cool your horse, since he didn't have a saddle and pad on his back.

• Pack a lunch!

Get a sandwich, chips and a drink, throw 'em in the saddle bags and go! Stop on a grassy lane or nearby pasture and let your horse eat while you do too! It takes off any tension and lets you relax and talk to your horse. 

• Talk to him!

Silly? Not in the least bit! Converse with your horse. About what you did that day, barn drama, something new you learned about horses, anything. He will listen and understand, even if you don't think so.
Horses are very good listeners, and will never tell your secrets!! Just don't forget to ask them to promise ;)

• Take Some Time To Relax!

Forget that weekend show for a second. Forget the fact that you have to train for those barrels for an hour everyday. Forget those jumps for just a second. Just relax.
Brush your horse down, talk to him, take him for a simple walk. Do something out of the ordinary to make him feel extra special, instead of the training he's doing.

• Have FUN!

Whoop it up a little! Take some friends with you, hold a race, set up a funny costume party for you and your friends horses. Just be silly for a day and do something fun!





Always try to mix things up and do things different for a change.
Remember, have fun with it!
Your Horse and You, signing out!