ridecamp@endurance.net: mental training ....(long)

mental training ....(long)

Laney Humphrey (laneyh@mbay.net)
Tue, 14 Oct 1997 08:33:34 -0700

Kimberly - What a great question! I'm sure each of us struggles to deal
with some aspect of our horse's (& our own) mind-set. The horse in my life
is much more assertive and competitive than I had in mind. He came into my
life to teach me that there is more to riding the trails than going from
point A to point B and back again in a straight line.
In the process of learning how to deal with him, I am finally becoming a
rider instead of a passenger. I am learning to riding is both a physical
and mental skill. I have to be physically fit enough to stay with him no
matter what he does and mentally alert enough to think ahead of him so that
I can head off some of his undesireable behaviors (like trying to rush back
to the barn).
For years, I believed that endurance horses only needed to know how to go
down the trail with some degree of willingness to have their speed rated
and without tripping too often. I have seen too many good horses lamed
because of this attitude so I started looking for a different approach
(especially after I realized that, with my present horse, it was more
likely to be me than him that would be lamed!).
The Wise People on this list have been saying that endurance horses need
good basic training just as much as horses in any other performance sport,
but I'm only know coming to understand how true that is! Dudley and I are
working with a superb practioner of Natural Horsemanship techniques who is
also skilled at teaching "riding." In a month, Dudley has learned to stand
still while I mount, to back willingly, to open and close gates in all
sorts of ways. He is learning to balance himself in all gaits (hard going
to the left); he is developing a nice canter which is also helping his
trot. My seat improves daily and my skills at teaching him what is wanted
also improve. Even though he tried all his old tricks on the trail
recently, he and I now have the beginings of a common language. Also,
suppling is a large part of our work - sort of dressage like.
Sorry this is getting long, just one more point. I've also come to
believe that riders as well as horses need to learn "good manners." Last
weekend's trail ride turned into a disaster because my friend insisted that
her horse had to be first all the time. I didn't have the sense to explain
that that is very bad trail manners and bad training for both her horse as
well as mine and to insist that we take turns. (I finally encouraged her
to ride on, leaving me to deal with my horse without their distraction.)
In future, when I ride with someone, I plan to explain clearly what my
objectives for the ride are and enlist their cooperation. If they have
different plans, not riding together may save a friendship rather than
ruining a ride.
Let's have more discussions like this - as well as the great practical,
nitty gritty stuff like vests with pockets!
Happy trails (ours are getting happier every day!) Laney and Dudley,Who
Wants to Do Right And Is Now Learning How

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