TRAINING CONCEPTS
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TRAINING CONCEPTS
MOMMAS, BUDDIES, & LEADERS
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This is not so much a list of tips or methods, as it is a list of training concepts. Basic ideas with little explanation or instruction to go with them. This list may cause you look at equine training in a different light,  remind you of what you already know, or get you to investigate a "new-to-you" concept a little further.

INSIDE EACH HORSE'S BRAIN, THERE ARE 8 MINDS WHICH NEED TRAINING.

A HORSE HAS TWO SIDES TO IT'S BRAIN, RIGHT SIDE & LEFT SIDE.  EACH SIDE IS CONNECTED TO ONE EYE.  EACH SIDE MUST BE TAUGHT SEPARATELY.  (That’s two minds, so far.)   EACH SIDE MUST ALSO BE TRAINED AT EACH GAIT:  STANDING, WALKING, TROTTING, AND CANTERING.  (Makes 8.)

 

A HORSE HAS TWO THOUGHT REALMS - LOGIC & INSTINCT.  LOGIC IS LEARNED.  INSTINCT IS NATURALLY BUILT IN.  BOTH ARE USEFUL.

 

A HORSE HAS NO CONCEPT OF THE AMOUNT OF EFFORT YOU EXPEND TO TRAIN HIM.   A LOT OR A LITTLE.

 

A HORSE CAN ONLY CONCENTRATE ON ONE THING AT A TIME.

 

A HORSE WON’T TRUST YOU AS HIS BUDDY.  HE WILL ONLY TRUST YOU AS HIS LEADER.  THE “MOVER OF THE OTHER’S FEET” IS THE LEADER.

 

CHANGE A HORSE’S VIEW OF OBJECTS, SPACES, AND PLACES, FROM BEING HARMFUL, TO BEING A HAVEN.

 

IT’S ALWAYS EASIER TO CATCH A HORSE THAT’S TRAINED TO FACE YOU.   IT’S EASIER YET TO CATCH A HORSE TRAINED TO CATCH YOU.

 

YOU INITIATE A REACTION BY ADDING PRESSURE.

 

YOU TEACH THE SPECIFIC REACTION BY IMMEDIATELY RELEASING PRESSURE.

 

TO SENSITIZE:  HOLD OR INCREASE THE PRESSURE LEVEL UNTIL GIVEN THE CORRECT RESPONSE.  (THE CORRECT RESPONSE IS A SPECIFIC MOVEMENT TO ESCAPE FROM PRESSURE.)

 

TO DESENSITIZE:  HOLD PRESSURE LEVEL UNTIL GIVEN THE CORRECT RESPONSE.  (THE CORRECT RESPONSE IS RELAXATION AND IGNORING PRESSURE.)

 

BREAK DOWN TRAINING INTO VERY SMALL STEPS.  REWARD THE SMALLEST CORRECT RESPONSE WITH A RELEASE OF PRESSURE.

 

A HORSE CAN’T RESPOND TO A LIGHT REQUEST, IF A LIGHT REQUEST ISN’T FIRST GIVEN EACH TIME.  START WITH LIGHT PRESSURE, GIVING THE HORSE A CHANCE TO RESPOND.

 

DON’T LIGHTLY NAG.  FOLLOW THROUGH ON COMMANDS.  DO NOT CONTINUE TO COMMAND WHILE THEY ARE DOING WHAT YOU WANT.

 

LOOK BEYOND THE OBSTACLE YOU’RE CROSSING/PASSING.  NEVER LOOK AT IT.  LOOK WHERE YOU WANT TO GO, NOT AT WHAT YOU WANT TO CROSS/PASS.

 

LEAD ON A LOOSE LEAD ROPE.  NEVER EVER PULL STEADY ON A HORSE'S LEAD ROPE WHILE YOUR FEET ARE MOVING.

 

DURING A “SPOOK” IT IS OFTEN BEST TO “FLOW WITH THE LIFE OF YOUR HORSE”.  INSTEAD OF FIGHTING HIM, TURN THIS “FLOW” INTO  A "ONE-REIN-SAFETY- CIRCLE" UNTIL THE SITUATION HAS PASSED AND THEN  COME TO A STAND STILL WITH A "ONE-REIN-SAFETY-STOP".

 

LATERAL & VERTICAL FLEXION IS THE KEY TO A CALM HORSE.

 

A HORSE HAS NO CONCEPT OF YOUR FEAR THAT HIS ACTIONS MAY HURT YOU.  HE SENSES YOUR FEAR AND MISTAKES IT AS YOUR FEAR OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES.   HE THEN BECOMES FEARFUL HIMSELF.  IF YOU SHOW FEAR, HE’S AFRAID.

 

WHEN A PROBLEM ARISES, STOP.  WORK ON FIXING IT RIGHT THEN & THERE.

 

THE PROBLEM WE WANT TO FIX IS SELDOM REALLY "THE PROBLEM".  WE OFTEN SEE SYMPTOMS OF "THE PROBLEM" AS THE PROBLEM.  FIX THE TRUE PROBLEM AND THE SYMPTOMS WILL GO AWAY.  99% OF THE TIME THE "REAL PROBLEM" IS THE HORSE HAS TOO MUCH FEAR AND TO LITTLE TRUST.

 

BASIC GROUNDWORK CONSISTS OF YIELDING, SENDING AWAY, FACING, INSIDE TURNS, STOPPING, STANDING, COMING TO, BACKING AWAY, GAIT TRANSITIONS INCLUDING "WHOA",  NECK FLEXION, SIDEPASSING, AND LEADING ON A SLACK LEAD ROPE.

 

YOU CAN BOND AS A MOMMA, OR AS A BUDDY, OR AS A LEADER.  “JOIN UP” WORKS WONDERS TO HELP YOU BOND AS A LEADER. 

 

YOU MAKE THE RULES OF HOW YOU INTEND FOR YOUR HORSE TO ACT AND REACT.  YOU MAKE THE EXCUSES OF WHY HE DOESN'T OR SHOULDN'T HAVE TO ACT AS YOU WOULD REALLY WISH HE WOULD.