Since my fall, I've been thinking a lot about this subject. I knew that Scottie did not buck me off just because he didn't want me on his back. I also knew he did not spook. Everyone thought he got stung, but I wasn't sure I thought that was it either. So what else could it be, not much left to pick from.
I've been noticing for the last couple of months that he's been showing signs of the 'old' Scottie. A bit more on alert, head up, snorting more, that kind of thing. I began to think I needed to do more ground work with him, that I was slacking with it. Then it dawned on me. Since I broke my ankle, I can't ride. But I can do ground work. (And I have been.) Hmmm, maybe this happened to GROUND me, so I would have no choice but to work him on the ground.
Additionally, I spoke to two trainers about his behavior. They both said that most likely he is in pain. They asked whether or not he'd had any accident or fall. A few months ago he fell going up a muddy hill. The timing is just about right. Since he's been resisting flexing through his poll, it also makes sense. The pieces are starting to come together now. After long discussions with both trainers, they both are fairly certain he is out in his poll and withers.
I am relieved to (hopefully) have an answer. But what about the ground work theory? I still think it holds true. At least it gave me a heads up that I needed to modify my behavior. And, I'll stay on the ground with Scottie until we figure out if something is going on in his poll and withers.
In this instance, he was not acting as a mirror for me, but was telling me or teaching me something that I really needed to pay attention to. Had a been a different kind of person, I might have whopped him with a crop and just got mad at him. Maybe I'd have even thought he was being willfull.
When our horses behave in strange ways we need to remember to look outside of the situation. Aside from always having a horse reason for what they do, they also are sending us very strong messages. Truly, they are amazing creatures.
Loretta
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Training Tip G-Ground Work
Today's training tip begins with Ground Work. It is vitally important, and yet sadly it is also very overlooked. The busy rider just doesn't have the time to spend with their horse, especially if they board, doing anything but riding. I hope after reading this, you will feel differently about that, even if that means instead of going riding one day, you do some ground work instead.
This training tip also applies to those who say, "But my horse is well behaved, he doesn't need training on the ground." I have three things to say to that remark. 1. You are lucky that nothing has fallen apart yet, but don't be surprised if it does. 2. Ground work is not just about the training of the horse. It is training for you too. Realize that we are always teaching our horse, every time we are around him. 3. Doing the kind of ground work I'm going to discuss can not only be considered training, but it WILL enhance your relationship, increase the horse's respect for you, and make you all around better partners.
If you are not familiar with how to use our body language with the horse, please read this article now which touches on the basics. However, there are even more very subtle signals that we are
sending our equine friends.
Horses being prey animals view life in a way that helps ensure their very lives. A predator attacking will typically go for the neck/head. This is why looking directly at the horse, with our two eyes in front, is threatening. Take this a step further, and notice how you stand. Your center is your belly. If your center is directed toward his head, he will likely toss his head up in response to your 'rudeness.' You can bend or turn slightly and his reaction will be more relaxed.
I find that when there seems to be a behavior problem with the horse, it can usually be traced back to the way he is handled. And many times it is something so subtle, the owner has no idea what is going on. The horse is actually REacting to signals you sent. He is not misbehaving, he is acting like a horse. He is reading you like he reads his herd. He has no other way. We, however, do. We can learn the best way to 'talk' to them, since they can not learn our verbal language, nor do they have the ability to think or act like a predator.
Think about what you've just read the next time you greet your horse. If you go right up to him, look at him and kiss, or hug him, don't be surprised if that head goes flying up. (By the way, horses don't really 'get' kissing and hugging. They'd rather have a good scratch on the withers or have you blow in their nostril.)
I will continue writing about this topic, there is a lot to cover!
If you are in Fairfax County, VA, I am now teaching people how to have a better relationship with their horses using these techniques.
Loretta
The Horse Speaks
This training tip also applies to those who say, "But my horse is well behaved, he doesn't need training on the ground." I have three things to say to that remark. 1. You are lucky that nothing has fallen apart yet, but don't be surprised if it does. 2. Ground work is not just about the training of the horse. It is training for you too. Realize that we are always teaching our horse, every time we are around him. 3. Doing the kind of ground work I'm going to discuss can not only be considered training, but it WILL enhance your relationship, increase the horse's respect for you, and make you all around better partners.
If you are not familiar with how to use our body language with the horse, please read this article now which touches on the basics. However, there are even more very subtle signals that we are
sending our equine friends.
Horses being prey animals view life in a way that helps ensure their very lives. A predator attacking will typically go for the neck/head. This is why looking directly at the horse, with our two eyes in front, is threatening. Take this a step further, and notice how you stand. Your center is your belly. If your center is directed toward his head, he will likely toss his head up in response to your 'rudeness.' You can bend or turn slightly and his reaction will be more relaxed.
I find that when there seems to be a behavior problem with the horse, it can usually be traced back to the way he is handled. And many times it is something so subtle, the owner has no idea what is going on. The horse is actually REacting to signals you sent. He is not misbehaving, he is acting like a horse. He is reading you like he reads his herd. He has no other way. We, however, do. We can learn the best way to 'talk' to them, since they can not learn our verbal language, nor do they have the ability to think or act like a predator.
Think about what you've just read the next time you greet your horse. If you go right up to him, look at him and kiss, or hug him, don't be surprised if that head goes flying up. (By the way, horses don't really 'get' kissing and hugging. They'd rather have a good scratch on the withers or have you blow in their nostril.)
I will continue writing about this topic, there is a lot to cover!
If you are in Fairfax County, VA, I am now teaching people how to have a better relationship with their horses using these techniques.
Loretta
The Horse Speaks
Monday, May 4, 2009
Training Tip F = FEEL
If you've ever talked to someone about natural horsemanship, you may have heard them mention feel. The word feel, used in this way, represents not just something you touch, but an intuitive touch. It also is similar to energy. Confusing? You betcha.
I can say my good lead rope has a great 'feel' to it. I am not talking about how it feels in my hand, although that is good too. :O) It is heavy, so when I use it communicate with my horse, it sends more energy from me, to him, through it.
I would also use feel to describe when you know to give a release from pressure. Say you are teaching him to flex through the poll. His head is bent around. Now, as soon as he gives a tiny release of that pressure, you remove that pressure. You will learn the timing on that partly by paying attention, and partly by starting to understand feel.
Bill Dorrance wrote a wonderful book called, True Horsemanship Through Feel. It gives countless ways to understand the concept, and is great reference book.
Another thing to keep in mind is how things feel intuitively. Say I'm working with my horse and he's done ok, and it's been about 30 minutes. I'll check in with my intuition, and see how it feels to continue. It might feel right to keep going for another 10-15 minutes. Or perhaps, it doesn't feel right, and I'll find a good note to end on. In this case, it doesn't matter WHY it feels one way or another. Sometimes it seems we will try to analyze our intuition. I think that is the logical brain trying to take over. Just go with your first feeling. You will find as you practice this, using intuition in this way is rather simple. Nothing bad is going to happen either way. So it makes for great intuitive training. Once you do this for a while, try it on other things. I check in with my intuition all the time. If something doesn't feel right, I really take notice.
You will see that the more you do this, the stronger things will either feel right, or wrong.
Let me know how it works, and tell us your stories about how you used your intuition.
L
My Other Blog
20/20 Horsemanship
the natural horseman
clear communication/visible results
I can say my good lead rope has a great 'feel' to it. I am not talking about how it feels in my hand, although that is good too. :O) It is heavy, so when I use it communicate with my horse, it sends more energy from me, to him, through it.
I would also use feel to describe when you know to give a release from pressure. Say you are teaching him to flex through the poll. His head is bent around. Now, as soon as he gives a tiny release of that pressure, you remove that pressure. You will learn the timing on that partly by paying attention, and partly by starting to understand feel.
Bill Dorrance wrote a wonderful book called, True Horsemanship Through Feel. It gives countless ways to understand the concept, and is great reference book.
Another thing to keep in mind is how things feel intuitively. Say I'm working with my horse and he's done ok, and it's been about 30 minutes. I'll check in with my intuition, and see how it feels to continue. It might feel right to keep going for another 10-15 minutes. Or perhaps, it doesn't feel right, and I'll find a good note to end on. In this case, it doesn't matter WHY it feels one way or another. Sometimes it seems we will try to analyze our intuition. I think that is the logical brain trying to take over. Just go with your first feeling. You will find as you practice this, using intuition in this way is rather simple. Nothing bad is going to happen either way. So it makes for great intuitive training. Once you do this for a while, try it on other things. I check in with my intuition all the time. If something doesn't feel right, I really take notice.
You will see that the more you do this, the stronger things will either feel right, or wrong.
Let me know how it works, and tell us your stories about how you used your intuition.
L
My Other Blog
20/20 Horsemanship
the natural horseman
clear communication/visible results
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Your horse is a mirror
I just had a rather interesting conversation with a friend. We were discussing how our horses really reflect our personalities. Sometimes this is good, sometimes it shows us things about us we need to change, and sometimes we are too distracted to notice. Here's a few examples:
As you can see, some of these traits are not quite desirable. When we 'see' things in our horse that reflect on us, we know we don't like or appreciate that behavior in him, but often fail to see that we are acting or being the same. It is always a humbling moment to see that the least favorite thing your horse does, is something you also do.
This happened to me for the first time a few years ago. I was training my draft horse when my trainer said he needed more consistency and dependability from me. That he even needed a commitment and a schedule. I will never forget that moment. I wanted to run for the hills! You see, I was not consistent with anything in my life. I'd been a stay at home mom for about 8 years and had gotten into some bad habits. I didn't even have a lot of consistency when it came to my kids, and forget a schedule. What schedule? I thought, "I'm supposed to do these things for my horse and I don't do them for my kids?" I had to realize that I had to BE those things, not just for certain moments, but I had to actually become them. It was tough. It was scary.
I learned a lot from that horse, and continue looking for ways, in him, to improve myself.
Let me know if you've had an interesting moment learning about yourself, from a horse.
L
Loretta
the natural horseman
clear communication/visible results
- Your horse is skittish and can't stand still
- Your horse is pushy and disrespectful
- Your horse barges into your space uninvited
- Your horse makes his own decisions without regard to your desires
- You are stressed out about work and are feeling a bit (or a lot) of anxiety.
- You have a very dominant personality and maybe are a bit pushy, Perhaps you feel the need to have your own way.
- You like to be in control of others in your life and have an aggressive personality.
- Again, you are very dominant, maybe even aggressive in nature. Perhaps you are quick to make decisions that effect others in your life without consulting them first.
As you can see, some of these traits are not quite desirable. When we 'see' things in our horse that reflect on us, we know we don't like or appreciate that behavior in him, but often fail to see that we are acting or being the same. It is always a humbling moment to see that the least favorite thing your horse does, is something you also do.
This happened to me for the first time a few years ago. I was training my draft horse when my trainer said he needed more consistency and dependability from me. That he even needed a commitment and a schedule. I will never forget that moment. I wanted to run for the hills! You see, I was not consistent with anything in my life. I'd been a stay at home mom for about 8 years and had gotten into some bad habits. I didn't even have a lot of consistency when it came to my kids, and forget a schedule. What schedule? I thought, "I'm supposed to do these things for my horse and I don't do them for my kids?" I had to realize that I had to BE those things, not just for certain moments, but I had to actually become them. It was tough. It was scary.
I learned a lot from that horse, and continue looking for ways, in him, to improve myself.
Let me know if you've had an interesting moment learning about yourself, from a horse.
L
Loretta
the natural horseman
clear communication/visible results
Sunday, March 22, 2009
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