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FW: [RC] Hard Headed Horses / Giving In to Effort - Mike Sherrell

You are totally right. I think the hardest thing to learn and almost the hardest thing to explain about handling horses is how to make constant readjustments of what you do based on how the horse is responding to what you just did. It's painful watching some trainers telling inexperienced riders what to do and seeing the rider focused on trying to follow their instructions but failing to manage the horse because the only thing that works is getting into a feedback loop with the horse, not the trainer.
 
Regards,
 
Mike Sherrell
Grizzly Analytical (USA)
707 887 2919; fax = 707 887 9834
 

From: ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Michelle Aquilino
Sent: Tuesday, October 21, 2008 7:58 AM
To: ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [RC] Hard Headed Horses / Giving In to Effort

I will repeat that every horse is different, and needs something different to get them to "cooperate"...  But I thought I'd mention, upon the discussion of releasing pressure / tension when the horse gives effort...  When I was working with my horse yesterday, the few times she was like "whoa, wait, I don't want to do this", and backed up, I gave pressure and was "upset" only until she stopped.  As soon as she stopped and calmed down, essentially on her own (as I wasn't pulling / constant tension, was simply giving repeated short little yanks), I gave her a second to think, stand there, relax, and then I asked her to move forward.  I've seen her become a lunatic, so for me, her stopping and giving me her calm attention, that's effort. Then when I ask her to move forward, a step (or even a lean) is an effort.  Even with these small requests, no tugging, and rewarding her for stopping after backing up 5-10 feet, she self-loaded (eventually) the once immediately after coming out of the field, and the once before being turned back out (my routine I want to get her into is loading upon coming out of the field, and loading after our "work", whether that be a friendly graze and groom or a full ride).  And I was at the barn for a mere short hour.  I know for a fact that if I had been tugging on her, and yelling, and smacking with the "friendly" stick, I would have been there PLENTY longer, lol.  Hopefully lots of work this way, and eventually work with even closing her into the trailer ;-), she'll fall into the routine, and I'll see some of you at endurance rides in the spring!!!  One step / day at a time...

--
"Don't breed or buy while shelter animals die"