Willing (to perform any simple exercise, in particu-
lar to move forward), Ready (to obey now), Relaxed (as the exercise permits), Rounded (in his topline in order to carry the
weight effectively), Symmetrical (in his response to your aids, so as to
perform well and stay sound), Self-carrying (so as not
to run away with you), Self-propelled (so as not
to need your constant nagging to go down the road).
In reality it is a tall order
to implement such a train- ing program in a day, but it is quite possible to get it done in 30 days. One of the very simple principles that comprises my
“One of the very simple principles that comprises my list of training rules reads: ‘Do not expect your horse to know how to do whatever you haven’t taught him yet.’ ”
list of training rules reads: “Do not expect your horse to know how to do whatever you haven’t taught him yet.” For each of the little lessons we give our youngster, it only means that he has learned literally that action and no other piece of training we brainlessly assume/wish/ expect to be included in the lesson package. When the miracle trainer gets to ride a young horse
for the first time in under a day, it only means that the horse has learned to put up with the weight of that guy, in that arena, without any other extraneous stimulus. Anybody more nervous than the original rider, any dog more exalted than the one who was there, any sensation other than the ones the horse was introduced to dur- ing the original experience, will not be tolerated by the
horse without some degree of surprise, evasion or resis- tance. The horse may behave very well when his imme- diate world appears under control but may later jump out from under you if something different occurs. This can happen three days later, when the surprise effect has disappeared, as I have often seen. Now consider the “Training by Principles Method” that prepares horses for all contingencies. If you don’t have the inclination or the ability to ride like a young, athletic (and able) cow- boy, then you need to train the horse and achieve the results mentioned in the checklist above. Principles of training fol-
lowed to the letter will get your horse prepared for all the contingencies of life before you get on him, so he will be more oblivious to your lack of balance, nervousness and assorted mistakes. Instead of getting on the horse the first day and spending the next 30 days (or longer, or even his entire life in some cases) working to erase the bad impression you may have created on your first ride, I suggest you spend the first 30 days systematically modi- fying and improving his natural response to contact (through relaxation work) and his instinctual behavior through a series of progressive exercises demanding his compliance one small step at a time. This tedious work will create a new set of safe and pleasant responses that will make your first day on his back—and many of the days to come—reasonably easy.
Warmbloods Today 63
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