RE: [RC] de spooking/trainers - Mary Ann Spencer - Tracey Lomax
What I have a problem with is the fact that
these clinicians advocate “one” approach which will fix all
horses.I’m no expert, haven’t
owned many, but I do have in my yard at this minute four TBs
who are about as bombproof as you get.Two of them raced A LOT and VERY successfully, one had two starts, one
broke down with knee chips at four.They’re all schooled along the same principles but the mental
approach with each one is completely different because each one is an
individual.
In fact, that’s part of what I like
about training horses, finding what works for each horse.I’ve taught a number of very
difficult horses to load in a box, and I didn’t use the same approach
twice in a row.You approach a
frightened horse differently than one who’s just being stubborn and bolshy.
Tracey
PS When I say bombproof I mean
bombproof.My horses are expected
to go with me on Pony Club Easter Egg hunts, to shopping centres,
hack down the main road past trucks, Front end loaders, Harley Davidsons.They’re
expected to cope on a hunt, at a show, at an event, in any strange
environment.I make allowances for
fear and the fact that two of them are, by nature VERY HOT, but I certainly do
not expect them to toss their toys at the slightest provocation.Getting startled is allowed, spooking is
not.Having fun is allowed, being a
tosser is not.The rules are simple and they don’t change.
And nothing grates my cheese more than the
old saying “dippy TB”.They’re only dippy if you allow it.
