Discipline timing..was Re: helmets

[Sue Brown <sbrown@wamedes.com>]

>
> Sheila writes:
> >I then go find a very steep hill
> and ride it up and down until my gelding gets the
> message that spooking at birds is NOT O.K.<

Pat writes:
>I have always believed that with a horse, a correction must be almost
>instantaneous in order for it to be effective. Having fallen off, picked
>yourself up collected your horse and remounted, and then managed to "go find
>a very steep hill", how in the world is your horse supposed to know why he
>is traveling up and down and how does he even get a clue as to the desired
>behavior you are looking for? I would ask you to think about whether you are
>really teaching him a lesson or taking out your frustration for having been
>so ungracefully dismounted? Food for thought.
>Pat Super
>


This is a good factor to always consider.  There's that "3 second
rule"...after
about 3 seconds, the horse won't really understand the purpose of the
correction...and if he's standing still or doing what he's being told at the
time, he will think the correction is for what's happening at that moment.  

Sue 

sbrown@wamedes.com
Tyee Farm
Marysville, Wa.