In a message dated 9/6/02 10:37:41 AM Mountain Daylight Time, heidi@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx writes:
There's something about outside that lends itself much better to the idea of going forward, and you can utilize that later in the arena off and on to fine-tune as you need to.
What Heidi says here is so important, i.e., "going forward".
When a horse goes forward a rider can influence (through proper use of aids and understanding) and direct the horse in a calm and reassuring manner.
Once a horse learns about sharing the "threat assessment" stuff with the rider, the horse can then relax and start understanding the nature of its relationship with the rider when going down the trail......that TEAM thing.
What Ed says about keeping the horse at a walk, even if it takes 10-20 rides, is just as important. If a horses can handle, emotionally and physically, what awaits them on them on the trail AT THE WALK, d e e p understanding happens. When in the natural "fleeing gaits", trot or canter or gallop, it takes much, much longer for that understanding to happen, as the horse (when in that mode) does not have to understand much, other than to continue to "flee".
Once the horse "gets it" at the walk, the trot (and staying in a trot through the same evolution) is next....and so on.
Using this method will make the horse you will be happy to ride.....responsibility for the horse begins with giving them the opportunity to learn without fearing for their well-being while they are learning.
When a horse realizes that the rider is compassionate, understanding and forgiving when he/she makes an honest mistake, (usually due to lack of effective communication on the part of the human), a positive and effective team relationship is formed that only ignorance and lack of compassion on the part of human can undo.
Frank.
|
