ridecamp@endurance.net: Re: sacking out

Re: sacking out

Kimberly Price (PLOUGH1@ix.netcom.com)
Mon, 06 Oct 1997 17:29:58 -0700

>
> Date: Mon, 06 Oct 1997 11:14:09 -0700
> From: Katja Halfmeyer <Halfmeyer@cc.ucsf.edu>

> Hi all,
>
> I'm wondering if anyone else read the book of Monty Roberts' horse-language?!
>
no. But I expect I will soon (IF my good friend and riding partner
will lend it to me!) ;-)

> Why can't humans just study the horse's language first and then help the
> horse to understand theirs?? Who is the brain in this game??

Thats very true and part of the "generic" natural horsemanship is
interpreting the horse's interpretations....
>
> Sorry if this is a little provocative and maybe on the irrealistic side,
> but in all those years it made me sooo angry to hear people talking about
> what THE HORSE did wrong, did not co-operate etc.. As if they do it on
> purpose.....
>
But Katja...they are doing it on purpose! And they will stomp you to
death too if you are not nice...... <g>

> Horses are flight-animals and humans are fight-animals <Monty Roberts> and
> we, as the thinking-part, have to find a way to overcome this great
> discrepancy. Best is, get to know horses' natural behavior and their
> language of the body!
>
> I cannot believe that sacking-out is still common, it seems more than
> mediaeval to me!!!!

Now here the definition of "sacking out" should be taken into
consideration. John Lyon's flavor of NH is a form of sacking out. So
much stimuli is given to the horse he no longer cares and is no longer
spooked. But at the same time, the horse has an escape from the
stress...which is the handler...you. The horse is given an open door in
alleviating the stress caused by the sacking out. The sacking out is
not tying or entrapment or any of the traditional cowboy methods, it is
only producing scary stimuli but giving the horse to respond in a way it
is no longer scary. Confusing? Not when you see it for real.

Ok Steph, I know this isn't all endurance related, although I think
training is, but I will cease and resist this trend unless posted
privately.

Happy riding and see you on the trails (usually from behind...)
Kimberly (&Mystery the Morab..."oh yeah...I can keep up with Jihan!")
Pt. Reyes, CA

> Katja
> <Monty Roberts' book is a "must" for every horseperson>

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