This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
condition—backing up one step—he finds the answer. You need this information to effectively teach your horse.


THE ABSENCE OF PEACE When a horse cannot find peace, he feels help-


less and frustrated. For instance, if a horse yields to bit pressure and the pressure is not released, the motivator is lost. One of the most difficult things to do when train-


ing a young horse is to let go. However, it is through the absence of pressure that the horse learns. Te teaching pressure is important and must be gauged correctly, but without a release of pressure, the lesson is lost. In this reader’s situation, the horse “does not like” going backward. I’m guessing the horse was met with more bit pressure. To improve a response, continue showing him


that he is correct by releasing/rewarding oſten, in small teaching steps. Your horse cannot be drawn to peace if it doesn’t exist. A horse that actually does take a few steps and then rears tells us he is trying to get away from the pressure, but he becomes frus-


continued next page WWW.TRAILBLAZERMAGAZINE.US • November 2012 | 15


When the rider’s body is braced and the hands are pulling, the natural reaction from the horse is to brace as well, causing a defensive posture. Back-up steps may happen, but the quality of response is poor and fails to set the horse up for a relaxed “give.”


“MY HORSE DOESN’T LIKE TO BACK UP.


WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO GET HIM OVER THIS?


WHEN WE BACK MORE THAN A FEW STEPS HE STARTS REARING UP.”


B Y S E A N PA T R I C K • P H O T O S BY A L I S H A PA T R I C K


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100