As you all know I have a program on RFD TV that Premiers this Tuesday the 6th of September. The title of the episode is Develop a Try Through Building Confidence.
The show will demonstrate how the horse learns best by slow and soft movements and how we need to reward the TRY not the end result if we want them to learn and retain the information that we are introducing. This is not any different then how we learn! If someone was rushing you, pushing you, or standing over you with a crop or stick or spurs how well would you learn? I ask you this not because I do not think there is a place for those things, but those AIDS should be used to reinforce what you have already taught them. If they do not know what you are asking of them then spurs, a crop, or a bigger bit is only going to confuse them and/or scare them, and nobody learns that way, not we as humans or animals. Think about how you were in school and that one teacher or tutor that you had that you learned SO much from, we all had one. How did they make you feel when you were with them and they were showing you how to solve a problem or remember a time in history. That is the feeling you need to get with your horse. Now some of you may say that I'm not a trainer, that is why I pay a professional to train my horse. That is fine, and to get the horse to a level that is easier for you to work with that is the best option, but remember we are always learning and teaching. The horse may do everything that the trainer asks of him but then when you get on or work with him on the ground he doesn't respond as well. That is because even if you do the exact same thing as the trainer you are different so you move different, your thoughts are different that all is relayed to your horse. Even though the horse may know how to do grand movements with other people doesn't mean they know what you are asking of them. Slow down back up get a line of communication between the two of you. Make sure that you both understand what you are asking and what the end result should be and then start working toward that.
Don't take things for granted LIFE is to SHORT.
Revel in the Relationship,
Michael Richardson
