“A rider pushes buttons and wonders why the horse doesn’t respond. A horseman recognizes where the horse is at, and makes requests in a way that helps the horse fi nd the answer at his own level. The requests are made in a way that begin lightly and only escalate as needed. This allows the horse to fi nd answers and improve with each handling. To be the best rider you can be, help your horse fi nd the answer with each request and help him further his education by rewarding him...with peace.”
sure application and a full release as soon as the horse performed. It worked. We did it once more. It worked again. Without meaning to, the rider was asking for something numerous times and not rewarding the correct response. By asking clearly once and rewarding that eff ort, she achieved the desired response. Repetition of this process will improve the quality and consistency of the response. Once you decide to ask for something, whether it’s lateral movement, forward steps or backing up, you must get it before you release. T e trick is to never ask for more than the horse can do.
ADDING TO HIS REPERTOIRE Your horse only learns what you teach him. When there are just a few
simple answers taught to him, responding to new or infrequent cues is challenging. When your horse is continually being taught correctly, he will learn to seek the answer. As the various responses add up, his ability to fi nd an answer that works—fi nding him peace—will be much easier. Avoid only teaching your horse forward, leſt and right. Your trail
horse does not have to spend hours handling high-level requests in a multitude of shapes. But the benefi ts of isolating a control point— shoulders, hips and nose—and teaching a basic lesson that helps both the horse and rider to communicate bet er is never wasted. You will fi nd his relaxation will be a benefi t enough.
GOOD HORSEMANSHIP A rider pushes but ons and wonders why the horse doesn’t respond.
A horseman recognizes where the horse is at, and makes requests in a way that helps the horse fi nd the answer at his own level. T e requests are made in a way that begin lightly and only escalate as needed. T is allows the horse to fi nd answers and improve with each handling.
To be the best rider you can be, help your horse fi nd the answer with each request and help him further his education by rewarding him... with peace.
TAKE-HOME MESSAGE With your horse at home, begin at a standstill and pick up the reins,
feeling the corners of the horse’s mouth lightly. Close your hands and wait for your horse to take a step backward. T e moment he does, release your hands fully and immediately. T at’s the exercise. We can make it as complicated as we want to, but it really is that simple. Start small and build on what your horse can do. If he stalls out, motivate with your legs. Don’t pull on his face. Keep your hands still and strong. Ask him to yield and get off the bit pressure. As soon as he does, and he will, let go! If dangerous behavior begins to happen, ask a professional for help.
Horsemanship is a team eff ort and someone else might help you see or learn something that you could not on your own. Your timing and feel will improve, but only if you apply the knowledge you already have and grow from there. Have a wonderful month and safe riding!
As a professional horseman, Sean Patrick spent much of his career in British Columbia as a mountain guide and packer. Sean continues to use his backcountry knowledge and experience while training in Florida with his wife Alisha at Pioneer Trail Reserve. Sean’s book and DVD
set, “T e Modern Horseman’s Countdown to Broke,” is avail- able from
horseandriderbooks.com. Visit Sean on the web at
www.seanpatricktraining.com
“When the horse offers a soft nose by bringing the muzzle off the bit pressure and breaking slightly at the poll, as he is completing a couple of steps, offer your release. The challenge is not in getting the response, but rather in holding back and only asking for a reasonable amount. When you jump ahead and ask for six steps with a soft nose, your horse may stop, brace, then start up again, and since you cannot release on an incorrect answer, you must start over and wait for the right feel again. However, when you release early and often, the rhythm, relaxation and response improve.”
20 | November 2012 •
WWW.TRAILBLAZERMAGAZINE.US
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