Training Spotlights
One Step At A Time For Trail Control
Horses move in four basic directions: forward, backward, left and right. And since their bodies have two distinct halves (front end and back end), there are addition- al directional movements, but not so many as to not learn to control each one. On the trail, there is not a single obstacle or obstruction that cannot be traversed by mov- ing all, or some part, of the horse forward, backward, left or right. Sounds simple enough. But controlling that movement one step at a time is the key to safety at all times, and the path to success in a judged trail competition. A horse that rushes or charges downhill, uphill, across water or deadfall, or through a gate is a danger to him- self, his rider and his trail compan- ions.
Teaching a horse to move one step at a time begins on the ground as does all training. The cues can be whatever is consistently used
When out on the trail, step one foot across some dead- fall and stop.
and clear to the horse. There is no magical word or wand to get a horse to back one step and stand, just patience and prac- tice. For example, every time a horse is brought in to the barn for handling, he can be asked to back one step and stop. Back another step and stop. Lav- ish praise follows a correct response.
Begin with standing still while mounting, and then take only one step in the direction requested.
walk off.
The same for moving forward one step, or to the left or right. Eventually ask the horse to back along something solid and stable, such as the side of the barn, or ask him to move sideways to- ward the gate one step at a time with heaps of praise when accom- plished, or treats if you use them. This effort
on the ground will then trans- late to the sad- dle. Begin with standing still while mount- ing,
and then
take only one step in the di- rection request- ed. It is very helpful to not always move forward for that first step. Back one step, move left one step, or move right. This
helps re-
inforce that the horse needs to wait for direc- tion and not just
16 SouthWest Horse Trader July 2018
When out on the trail, step one foot across some deadfall and stop, or step one hoof into the water and stop before pro- ceeding. This kind of control may prevent an encounter with a snake, or may avoid an un- seen hole or hidden wire. Certainly every obstruc- tion will not require such care- ful consideration, and the one step at a time method of negotiating ob- structions even- tually becomes a smooth, effortless maneuver with the horse listening carefully for the cue to stop and stand.
And while it may take many minutes to suc- cessfully open and close a gate one step at a time, the cows won’t get out when you keep control of the horse and the gate! w
Meet Elaine
Elaine Swiss in an amateur/ owner who competes in a variety of equine disciplines with her Polish and Russian Arabians. From Round Mountain, Texas, Swiss has earned national and regional recognition in competitive trail from the North American Trail Ride Conference (NATRC), most recently winning the 2014 National High Point Ara- bian. She has served on the NATRC Board of Directors as Treasurer for the past six years, and currently manages the annual NATRC Way- farer CTR. Swiss also competes in dressage at Training Level and in Limited Distance with the Ameri- can Endurance Rider Conference (AERC). She has more than 4,000 competitive miles between NATRC and AERC events.
This kind of con- trol may prevent an encounter with a snake, or may avoid an unseen hole or hidden wire.
Optical Harmonics
Optical Harmonics
Optical Harmonics
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