Re: RC: Re: there's more to 'condition' than just cardiovascular

[DESERTRYDR1@aol.com]

In a message dated 1/31/2001 8:01:41 AM Pacific Standard Time, 
amandaperez@ureach.com writes:

<< 5.  'attitude' (manners, willingness, fearlessness) >>

Any tips on exefcises for the non-cardio items
(espec #5)?>>

Do everything with 'em.  Take them out alone and in company, ride in front, 
in the middle, in back, play leapfrog,  Take them anywhere that will allow 
horses, and give them time to think things over, but always expect and demand 
obedience.  (Not with whips and chains--but with good training techniques)  
Take them to show grounds, maybe even enter a class, so they will get used to 
crowds.  Take them up into the mountains for a ride or two if you can.  Take 
them somewhere with entirely different terrain and footing.  Take them to a 
junkyard or something.  Take them out with an experienced, foolproof trail 
horse until they decide that sagebrush will not eat them and a puddle will 
not dissolve them (or whatever it is that makes them afraid of stuff) 
Ideally, they should not see anything at a ride for the first time.  Of 
course this is impossible, but you get the drift.  Also, teach them to stand 
tied without fussing and whining about it.  Take them to a friend's house 
when you go to visit for a couple hours or overnight, and just tie them to 
the trailer in a safe place with water and food.  Or put up their corral if 
your lucky enough to use that kind of containment.

And when they are good, or brave or willing to look at strange stuff or 
whatever your trying to get across to them that day, praise the HECK out of 
them, right there, when they do it.  My young mare is convinced she is the 
bravest, smartest horse in the whole world, because I tell her she is every 
time she does something at my request that she REALLY didn't want to do.  She 
just eats up praise.  It's ALMOST better than food.  jeri