The Balance Between Desensitizing and Sensitizing.

I have heard the phrase, "people who practice 'Natural Horsemanship' have lifeless or dead horses because of all of the desensitizing" too many times to count.  This results from an unbalanced ratio of desensitizing to sensitizing.  It comes from someone who wants a "fearless" horse, and figures that the more objects that they can get the horse used to the better.  So, this person spends countless hours desensitizing the horse to whatever they can dream of, but next to no time sensitizing the horse to ques.  The result is a horse that shows no physical reaction to anything, including what it is supposed to.  Sounds like a fun horse to ride, right?  I personally don't think so, but if that is your cup of tea then get after it.

The purpose of desensitizing a horse is not to teach them to react to nothing.  It is to teach them to look to you for the appropriate response.  It's to show them, that if you stay relaxed and calm; so should they.  That is why when you start the process in ground work, you are supposed to keep your body language neutral and relaxed.

The purpose of sensitizing is to get them to respond to light pressure, like a change in your seat position, versus a heavy direct rein because that is what it takes to stop the horse on its best day..

The biggest issue with using desensitizing/sensitizing in training horses is finding the proper balance between the two.  Wouldn't the world be perfect if it was 50-50 on every horse that you ever worked with?  (I hope you can see the sarcasm dripping from that question.)  Every horse, just like every human, is different and requires different ways of training.  If you start with a horse that is laid back and quite frankly lazy, you will want to focus more on the sensitizing.  Doing this will get the horse where it responds to your ques to move off your leg, or to simply move faster.  If you were to start with a horse that is very reactive to everything, you would want to focus more on the desensitizing.  This would help calm the horse down and probably slow it down.  If you worked this horse on a 50-50 ratio, you would quickly turn it into a complete and total idiot that spooks at everything and bolts when you ask it to move off your leg.  Whereas, if you done a 50-50 ratio with the laid back, lazy horse, it might not move at all for you, or it might have the energy and response of a fence post.

Neither desensitizing nor sensitizing is a complete training program by itself.  They have to be used together and in balance for each particular horse for them to develop the proper results.  This is what most people miss, and just to the desensitizing exercises.  Find the balance for your horse, and you will end up with a horse that ignores what you want it to, but still responds lightly and quickly to your ques.

Good luck, happy trails, stay safe, and God bless you and yours.

Until next time,
Lisa

Ah Ha Moments

If you have spent anytime at all working with, or around horses, you are probably well aware of what I am talking about.  You are probably also aware that both you and the horse have them, but it's usually for the opposite reason.  The horse has them when they figure out what it is you are asking them to do; you on the other hand have them when you realize why the horse is not responding in the correct way to what you are asking for.  I much prefer for the horse to have way more of these moments than me, because if I'm having more than the horse, I am doing a whole lot of something wrong.

I try to train horses using baby steps or the K-I-S-S (Keep It Simple Stupid) method, which ever you prefer to call it.  I try to break everything down into the simplest steps, regardless of how many it takes, and not move tot he next step until the current step is nearly perfect. (I know that perfection is an illusion, but it conveys the message better.)  And by nearly perfect, I mean instant and light.  I'll use getting a horse used to being saddled as an example.  For the sake of keeping this post on subject, I'll state up front that I've already had this horse long enough to do most of it's ground work, so it knows that in the center with me is where it gets to chill out and rest.  So, what all is involved in getting a horse saddled and ready to ride?  First is the saddle blanket or pad, second placing the saddle on the back, third letting the girths down, fourth reaching under to get the front girth, fifth tightening the front girth, sixth reaching under to get the back girth, seventh adjusting the back girth, eighth getting the breast collar around the chest, ninth adjusting the breast collar, tenth attaching the breast collar between the front legs to the front girth, eleventh checking the front girth for proper tightness.  And all of that is just to get the saddle on, we're not really worried about getting in the saddle right now.

So ok, first thing first get the horse used to having a saddle blanket on them.  I like to use a thin Navajo blanket, because it can be folded up to be pretty small.  I start with letting the horse see and smell it with it folded up as small as possible.  I do not have the horse restrained in anyway.  If the horse chooses to leave, it can within the confines of the round pen.  I work the horse for a few minutes, then allow them to come back to the center, and repeat the first step.  Once the horse will calmly sniff and look at the blanket, with it still folded up, I start to rub it all over their body.  Again, if it wants to leave it can, it will be worked shortly then invited back to the center and I will start with the first step of seeing and smelling again, because I know that the horse is good at that step.  I again try rubbing the blanket all over the horse's body, not moving forward in the process until the current step is rock solid.

Now, for the sake of this, time wise, I am going to write this out in a step by step list, but keep in mind that you do not move on to the next step until the current step is basically set in concrete.  There will be some notes to describe the current step.  I do this process in a round pen with no halter or lead rope, but if you are not comfortable with that you can use them.  Now, on to the list.

Getting a horse used to being saddled:

1. Let the horse see and smell the blanket with it folded as small as possible.
1. A navajo blanket is usually used folded in half.  I can usually get about three more folds in it before it gets too thick for me to hold with one hand.  So, I can get it down to about 1/16th of its full size.
2. Rub the horse down with the blanket, all over its body.
3. Remove one fold & repeat step 1.
4. Repeat step 2, with one fold removed.
5. Remove the second fold & repeat step 1.
6. Repeat step 2 with two folds removed.
7. Remove the third fold & repeat step 1.
8. Repeat step 2 with the third fold removed.
1. At this point you should have the blanket at the size that it will be used on a regular basis.
9. Take your lead rope and wrap it around your horse's heart girth.
10. Pull the lead rope snug with only your hands, and then release the pressure.
1. This is to get the horse used to pressure in that area gradually.
11. Put a surcingle on the horse, and adjust it snugly.
1. If you do not have a surcingle or access to one, you can make a temporary one using two girths, an off billet, and a cinch.  It doesn't have to be spectacular to serve the purpose intended.
12. Remove the surcingle.
13. Let the horse see and smell the saddle.
1. Depending on your saddle size and weight, rubbing the horse down with it is out of the question.
14. Set the saddle on the horse's back, but do not let go of it.
1. Leave all of your normal equipment on the saddle, but have it tied up, like how you store it.  Let the off side stirrup hand just like you normally go.
15. Remove the saddle.
16. Repeat steps 14 & 15 until the horse stands calm and relaxed for it.
17. Pull the front girth under, and cinch it up, just enough to keep the saddle in place.
1. Cinch the girth slowly, allowing the horse to adjust.
18. Pull the back girth under, and adjust it properly.
19. Pull the breast collar around and secure it properly.
20. Secure the breast collar to the front girth, between the front legs.
21. Tighten the front girth, slowly allowing the horse time to adjust to the new pressure.
22. Ask the horse to move off.
1. The first time the horse moves with the saddle, its reaction can range from explosive bucking to just walking off calmly.  Either way, be prepared for it.
23. Repeat steps 18-22, until the horse stands relaxed until you ask it to move, and then it moves off in a calm manner.

The reason that I wrote all of this out is to try to explain how I try to avoid my Ah Ha moments.  Whoever said that you can not plan out how to train a horse was wrong, except for one aspect, the time.  It takes however long it takes.  But you can plan out the steps to get there, in an attempt to prevent your Ah Ha moments and increase the horse's Ah Ha moments, which come from them getting what you are asking for.  In the example above, we want the horse to stand, quietly and accept being saddled and then move off when told to do so.

The process that I described above actually takes less time to do that it took me to write it out; and possibly less time than it took you to read it, depending on your reading speed.  The key for it to work is to keep repeating the entire process until the horse no longer resists any part of it; and to not move on until the horse has its Ah Ha moment about each step of the process.  You may not be able to plan this out to the minute, but you can plan out the steps required.  Then you will have measurable results, regardless of if it took you one minute or one hour, just be prepared to spend whatever amount of time it requires.  Just remember to increase the horse's Ah Ha moments and decrease yours.

Good luck, happy trails, stay safe, and God bless you and yours.

Until next time, 

Lisa

Is there a Difference between Discipline and Physical Abuse?

Yes, there is a difference between discipline and physical abuse.  There is actually a fine line between the two, where once crossed discipline can actually become physical abuse.  The problem comes from the fact that nearly everyone draws that line at different positions.  Some people view any type of discipline as abuse; while others don't see tying a horse and beating it mercilessly as abuse.  I am somewhere in between those two extremes.

Horses understand discipline, they have to.  Since the day they were born, they were taught the rules of herd life, and breaking those rules resulted in being disciplined by a member of that herd.  In the beginning the discipline is simply being expelled from the safety of the herd for a short period of time.  As the foal matures it is expected to remain respectful of the horses above it in the pecking order, and it it doesn't it will be punished by whatever means the higher ranking horse sees fit.  I have never personally seen one horse that just beat on another for no reason.  I'm not saying that it doesn't happen, just that I've never seen it.  I have read about and heard about horses that could not be turned out with other horses because of aggression issues though.  This however is not the norm, or horses would not be herd animals.

I think of abuse as excessive force administered for extended periods of time.  I think of discipline as anything that happens within 3 seconds of the unwanted behavior, that lasts no longer than 3 seconds, and utilized anything that you currently have on your person.  Short of keeping an arsenal with you at all times, you can not physically abuse a horse within those three rules.  If you stay within those rules, you can not physically abuse a horse with anything short of carrying a gun with you at all times.  Even following my rules, there are some people that would consider it as abuse because I struck the horse with anything to begin with.  There is really nothing that I can do about how someone else views what I do as a whole, just like they can not do anything about how I view what they do with their horses.  But that is a completely different story anyway, so I shall move on.

Again discipline is something that horses understand, if you do this I will do that.  Just for a simple example; if you come into my space without being invited, I will make you leave.  Abuse is completely foreign to them.  Like, if you come into my space without being invited, I will tie you up and hit you with a whip until you no longer think about doing that.  See the difference?  Now, granted those are overly simplified examples, but they get the point across.

I also mentioned that discipline can cross the line into abuse, and it usually happens when our frustration grows and grows, because of what ever reason.  This to me, is the only time that it is acceptable to just walk away for a little while (just make sure to leave your horse in a safe situation) and calm down, because chances are, if you are frustrated your horse is confused.  Take a break, long enough for you to collect your wits about you, and try again.  This time in smaller steps, and as soon as the horse does anything right, end on a good note and stop for the day.  That is how to avoid discipline becoming abuse.

Training horses can be simple or as frustrating as we make it, add in the pressure of someone else watching and judging every little move that you make, and it can be overwhelming.  Do what works for you and your horse and let the other people do the same.  Unless they ask for your help directly, or you ask for theirs, there is no reason to worry about someone else thinks.  Even with that being said, if you see someone truly abusing a horse, please turn them into the proper authorities, as no horse deserves that.

Good luck, happy trails, stay safe, and God less you and yours.

Until next time,
Lisa

Come to Jesus Meeting

Yesterday I wrote about how your body language effects your relationship with your horse, or any horse for that matter.  In that blog post, I mentioned a "Come to Jesus Meeting" between my paint mare Lady and myself.  I had a friend read the blog before I posted it, because I felt that I was missing something, she assured me that I hadn't, but said that I might want to write a blog explaining what a "Come to Jesus Meeting" was.  So, here I am, going to try to explain it, as best I can.

On a few occasions, Lady will decide that she is in charge of the pasture, whether I am there or not.  She usually tells me this with the usual body language they use when a lower ranking herd member tries to over-step their position.  Glaring, pinning her ears, the usual, which I reciprocate as best I can, and depending on how much conviction she has, maybe a charge when I don't back down when "told" to.  This, is usually handled easily with stepping in her direction, clapping and saying, "NO" in a stern voice.  But on the rare instance where she really wants to push the issue, it comes down to having a "Come to Jesus Meeting" either in the round pen or on a lead rope.  There is nothing really different than regular ground work, then the fact that I push her a little harder because she is pushing back.  As long as she is showing any signs of defiance, raised head, swishing tail, ears on anything but me, charging when coming in or changing directions, anything I continue to push her to move her feet quickly and frequently change directions both toward and away from me in the round pen and just toward me on a lead rope.  As soon as she starts to show any signs of submission, I back off and allow her to rethink her position in our herd.  If she can come to me right, and like she is supposed to, the meeting is over.  However, if she shows any signs of being defiant, the process continues with increasing pressure to move quickly and even more turns with her hustling through them as well.  Again, as soon as she shows any signs of submission, I back off and allow her to think about it.  If she wants to settle down into her role, as subserviant to me, we are done.  But as long as she is being defiant the process continues.

This whole process usually takes anywhere from five to thirty minutes, and that time is tied directly to her conviction for being the lead mare.  Most times it's a five minute meeting, but it is what it is.  With any horse, a "Come to Jesus Meeting" can be beneficial under the right circumstances, but only if the person conducting them is absolutely confident that they can win the argument, so to speak.  If you are new to horses, and your horse has gotten where it is really pushy and disrespectful towards you, you will require the help of a more knowledgeable and confident person to do this process, as you watch.  Then, once the horse is a little more compliant, you might attempt it with the other person assisting you, to make sure you are doing it correctly.  Once you know, when to apply and release pressure, and to what extent, you might try it with the other person watching, much like you did the first time.  After you are absolutely sure that you have the method down, you can do it on your own.

Now, the draw back of the "Come to Jesus Meeting".  If you lose the argument, even once, you will cement in the horse's mind that it is the leader, and that you are to follow his/her lead.  This is why you have to be absolutely certain that you are going to win the "argument" before you ever start it, if you are not, get help, period.  This is not something that you can start, then in the middle of it decide that you are in over your head and quit, because, if you do, the horse wins and it will be harder next time.  It really becomes a vicious cycle.

Now, if you have read and paid attention to what I have written, you noticed that I never said anything about actually touching the horse to apply pressure.  That is because for me, I do not find it necessary, I can successfully complete this with just my body language, but I still keep a whip or stick in my hand just to in case I need it.  If I need it, it is usually as an extension of my arm to extend my reach, but I'm not against using it on the horse, in the proper manner of course.  I am not telling anyone to abuse or beat them, but you may have to get a little harsher to get this job done.  So, with that being said, here's hoping that you never have to utilize the "Come to Jesus Meeting", but if you do, that everything goes as it should.

Good luck, happy trails, stay safe, and God bless you and yours.

Until next time,
Lisa

How Your Body Language Effects Your Relationship with Horses.

If you've ever watched a herd of horses out in the pasture; or had the pleasure of watching Mustangs in the wild; you probably noticed that the majority of their communication is done via body language.  The majority of your communication with your horse takes place without a word ever passing your lips.  Just like they read the body language of their herd mates, they also read your body language just as well.  When you stop to think about it, it makes perfect sense.  Ever notice that when you spend time at the barn, around your horse, when you are happy, sad, angry, whatever your horse behaves differently depending on  your mood? Ever wonder why?  It's because your horse is reading you, much like you are reading this blot. (Thanks, by the way.)

To horses, reading body language is easy, and just part of everyday life.  People however have gotten out of the habit of paying attention to the subtle details that make up body language.  For the most part, when we communicate with each other, it is verbal, and because we are taught to look as whomever is speaking, our focus is usually on their face.  We have spent so much time looking people in the eyes when we talk to them that we can easily read the emotions on their face, but what about the rest of their body?  Can you easily read how someone feels about themselves by simply watching them?  If you can't, you can bet that your horse can.  Ever notice that your horse is a really good judge of character?

Horses notice and read (quite well, I might add) the very subtle ques of body language, including the body language of humans.  Before, you ever get close to them, they know if you are confident or scared, happy or sad, calm or anxious, and anything else you may be at the time.  As your mood and body language changes, so does your horse.  Where the relationship between a horse and a human is concerned, we are operating at a huge learning curve compared to them.  They live their lives day-to-day reading body language; and we live ours day-to-day listening to tone of voice and watching facial expressions.  Because of this, we have to learn to read their body language, while they have us pegged from a mile away.

So, what do you do?  Well, being as every person is truly unique in how they handle different situations, this is a nearly impossible question to answer in a way that will cover everyone.  I consider myself a very stable person (pun intended), that's not saying that I don't have the stresses, worries, or anything else that any other person has.  I just know how to deal with them in a way that suits me.  For me, the way that my place is set-up, I have to go through a gate to even get to the barn, and that is the way that I like it.  Before I walk through the gate, I stand up straight, square my shoulders, and hold my head high, then walk into the pasture like I own the joint.  I have two horses, both mares, the paint mare, Lady, is the Alpha mare, and the chestnut mare, Fancy follows her lead.  Lady knows that when I'm not there she is in charge, and takes that role very seriously.  But she also knows that the second that I step into the pasture, the role of Alpha mare switches from her to me; and for the most part she follows it willingly.  Every once in a while she'll decide that she wants to be Alpha regardless of if I am there or not.  That action from her demands a "Come to Jesus" meeting, and at the end of it, she's good with following me again.  After it is all said and done, I try to figure out what made her try it.  I do not dwell on it while in the pasture, but I will sit in the truck and think about it.  It usually boils down to me losing my concentration on the task at hand, and my body language changing as a result of it.  She views it as a weakness, and tries to take advantage.  She is very quick to remind me to pay attention to my own body language.  As a result of this, I have learned to also pay attention to other people's body language, and gotten quite good at it, I think.  I actually enjoy going to public places, and watching people, just to read their body language.  Give it a try, you will be amazed at what you will see when you are looking for it.

Good luck, happy trails, stay safe, and God bless you and yours.

Until next time,
Lisa

The Worst Behavior that You Allow, is the Best Behavior that You can Expect.

Today's title comes directly from a Horse Forum member named Cheri.  It is the most honest statement about training that I have ever heard.  She also has a great thread on that website titles, "Every person IS a horse trainer..." and she states that any person that is around a horse, is in fact training that horse.  And for whatever reason, this obvious statement is completely overlooked, or missed altogether.  Training horses is not hard work, especially training them for bad habits, of any kind.  That is actually quite simple, and is the reas that most beginner horse owners, buy a perfectly mannered horses, and a few months later have an ill-mannered brat.  The beginner unknowingly trains the horse to be the brat, and never even realize it.  The hard work in straining comes when someone, or the beginner decides that enough is enough and tries to untrain the bad habits that the horse has learned.  This is one reason that if you would like to own a horse in the future, riding lessons are a good idea now.  They give a beginner a chance to be around horses under the supervision o a knowledgeable horse person.

If riding lessons are out of the question for whatever reason, make an attempt to find someone in your area that knows something about horses.  Most horse people will gladly share their knowledge about horses. You may go through several mentors over the ears as your knowledge increases, but they will be the best investment in time and money that you will ever spend.

If you don't want to find a mentor, or can't find one, you have a couple of choices.  Books, are a good start, especially if you are someone that is good at reading a book and then applying that knowledge.  There are also videos that you can buy or rent.  There is a website that is like Netflix, which you can stream videos like the ones you buy from people like Clinton Anderson, Pat Parelli, and the like.  There are also thousands of training videos on youtube, but be careful because there are some videos on there that will quickly lead you down the wrong road.  Depending on your location and monitary situation, going to clinics is also a way to get access to knowledgeable horse people, I know that all of the ones that I've checked into, spectators are only charged like $25.00/day, and you can still ask question and get answers. They are a good way to be introduced to the world of horse training without having to buy a horse.  And there is a huge variety of chilcians to choose from.  I've seen a few of Clinton Anderson's videos, and he is brilliant at explaining how to do something, but I've also heard that he can be quite harsh and crass at those clinics.  But that can also be because he tends to not sugar coat things, if someone is doing something wrong, he will quickly point it out.  I personally would love to go watch Buck Brennamen, especially after watching his movie, "Buck" he seems to be a sincerely genuine person.  And that seems to be a rarity these days.

Regardless of what route you choose to gain knowledge from; Trainer/Instructor, mentor, books, videos, or clinics; horse knowledge is something that never stops coming in, especially where training is concerned.  And, since we are all trainers, we should never stop learning, ever.  When we stop learning, we stop progressing in our relationship with our horses, and when you stop progressing, you might as well just sell out and move on.

Good luck, happy trails, stay safe, and God bless you and yours.

Until next time,
Lisa

Are Horse Shows as Evil as Some Would have You Believe?

My History with Horse Shows.


I Started showing just a couple of weeks after I got my first horse.  That was twenty-two years ago.  I showed nearly every weekend from the time I was thirteen until I was nineteen.  I did not quit because of some moral dilemma with it.  Quite simply put, I quit because I was burnt out on it.  I loved training barrel and pole horses to compete, but I was tired of competing myself. The late Friday nights preparing, followed by the early Saturday mornings feeding and finishing up the preparing, getting the horse(s) ready for the haul, and the haul itself.

By the time I was old enough to drive, I was more than proficient at pulling a loaded trailer, pretty much anywhere on my own.  Actually, the day that I went to take the driven part of my driver's license test, I had to unhook the trailer from the truck.  I went just about everywhere with that trailer hooked up.

OK, back to the subject at hand.  While I only showed in open shows, in associations that most people have never heard of, I spent a fair portion of my youth at them.  Our shows were governed by the A.Q.H.A. rules and regulations, with the exception that we also had pony classes in addition to the Pee Wee, Buckaroo, Junior, and Senior classes.  As for what actual classes we had, there was Western Pleasure, Reining, Gaited, Performance, and English Pleasure, so we had a pretty well rounded list with a total of about 34 classes or so.

In the years that I have showed and rodeoed, I have only ever seen one instance of any horse abuse, and I put a stop to it, well technically my horse did, after I stepped off of him.  He chased the guy that was doing it back to his horse trailer and into it.  I took the other horse to the officials and reported the guy.  They followed me and the horse back to the guy's trailer and asked him to leave.  Which he promptly did, after I retrieved my gelding who had him pinned inside his own trailer. (I told you that the nightmare ended up being a pretty good horse.)

I've never seen any of the training torture that some people would have you believe goes on at every single horse show, with no regards to the level of the show.

Does it Actually Happen?


I have no doubt that it actually happens at all levels of competition, but I do not believe that it runs rampant at every horse show/rodeo.  Despite what any business, person, or organization posts on Youtube.com, or any other public forum, it is not as present as what they want you to believe.

I have always been aware of what was going on around me, and usually notice details that others completely miss.  That being said, most horse people that I know would not stand idly by while a horse was being mistreated in any form.  Some of them would personally intervene, while others would promptly report them to he officials at the show or the local authorities.

When in Doubt, Check it Out.


Instead of taking my word or any one else's word for it; check it out for yourself.  And, I'm not talking about over the Internet, actually find a horse show, or rodeo in your area, and go check it out for yourself.  You will find the people nice and willing to talk to you, if they are not in the middle of preparing for their next class, or getting one of their kids ready.

You could spend an entire day going from trailer to trailer, or stall to stall, which ever the case may be, and probably make several new horse friends.  If horse showing or rodeoing is not for you, fine.  Just don't decide not to give it fair consideration because some one told you that horse shows/rodeo people are jerks and all horse shows/rodeos are over run with abuse.

Are Horse Shows Bad for Kids?


I personally think that horse shows and/or rodeos offer great benefits for kids.  The fellowship of other kids with similar interests, they teach good sportsmanship, and they keep kids out of trouble on weekend nights.  Especially, if you live in a small town where there is not much for kids to do outside of school,  and school related activities.  Some schools even have horse related clubs, but others sadly do not.

I personally think that if a kid is going to show a horse (or any animal for that fact), they should have to be responsible for caring for that horse, muck, buck, and barrel(lock, stock, and barrel for the non-horsey people who may be reading this).  Which means that the kid will learn even more from horse showing.

The only negative part of kids showing, are the parents who force their kids to show.  This will take all of the fun out of it for the kid, and if it is not fun then what's the point.  Another little thing that sucks the fun out of it for the kids are parents that constantly push them to win and frequently yell at them if they don't.

I can attest to the last one personally, while it was not a parent, it was an uncle that would frequently yell at me and did not care who was watching.  I could win, and I would still get yelled at that I should have done better!  Doesn't that sound like a blast for a kid?  That's one reason why as soon as I got my license I switched associations and got away from him.

Who can Benefit from Horse Shows?


I would say everybody can benefit from horse shows and rodeos, but if you decide that it is not for you, that is fine.  You can make friends with similar interests, and learn from them and teach them as well.  If you are wanting to be a trainer, you will need a show record of some sort, I would chose a consistent trainer over one who wins sometimes and didn't even place other times, but there is no way to determine this if the person does not have a show record, preferably on several horses.

There are horse shows that cover every aspect of riding horses, from trail riding (think A.C.T.H.A.) to dressage, and everything in between.  And most have different levels from Beginners to Professionals, there is a place for everyone.  There are local open shows, which will be closer to home (depending on where you live) than most of the bigger associations.  It all depends on what you want and how far you're willing to go to get it.

What if I Decide that Horse Showing is not for Me?


It is perfectly OK to decide that horse showing is not for you.  If you don't think that showing is something that you would enjoy doing with your horse, stay at home with him/her and enjoy doing whatever it is that you do.  You may enjoy long trail rides out through the woods that are just the two of you, or with a few of your closest friends and family.  I too enjoy going on a good trail ride, even if I have to haul fifty miles or so to get to it.  There is nothing wrong with enjoying your horse without competing with it.

What if I Decide that Horse Showing is for Me?


Well, then my first piece of advise to you would be to have fun with it, and good luck.  Anything beyond that would have to be discipline specific, and I could only comment on the barrel/pole horse aspect of it.

Conclusion.


I personally enjoyed competing, until I burnt out on it.  It's not for everyone, but only you can decide if it's right for you, no one else can make that decision for you.  Weigh you options carefully before you make your final decision, and if you're concerned about the abuse of the horses at shows, go check it out for yourself.  Boycotting shows will not change how people think about them, whether it's for or against them.  The only way to eliminate any abuse is for people to go to shows that are brave enough to stand up for what is right, and to educate the ones that lack knowledge.  Change starts one person at a time.

Dealing with Flighty or Wary Horses Dealing with Flighty or Wary Horses

The idea

The idea for this post came after a comment on one of my other hubs, titles Natural Horsemanship Fact or Fiction.http://paintedlady2000.hubpages.com/hub/Natural-Horsemanship-Fact-or-FictionThe person said that of all of the animals that we have domesticated, this is the one that baffles them because it is so wary and jumpy. (I hope I quoted that correctly) So, JKenny, this one is for you.

The Wary or Jumpy Horse.

There are many adjectives that can be placed in front of the word horse, especially to describe a horse that does not stand quietly for anything to take place, including the simplest of tasks. Let's name a few; wary, jumpy, nervous, untrained, head strong, hot blooded, the list could go on and on. For the sake of getting to my point, I will digress and move on. For the sake of this conversation, I'm going to use the adjective nervous.

We've all seen the horses, either at shows or at trail rides, some even at their own homes who are always looking for the proverbial monster that they are sure is going to jump out and eat them at any moment. I know that I've seen and dealt with my fair share of them. And through those experiences have come to the conclusion that this condition shall we call it, is usually the result of 1 of 3 things.

Want to know what those three things are? Read on.

Three Conditions that cause a Nervous Horse.

I'll start this list with the easiest to explain of the three:

Breeding: The temperment of breeding stock is very important. Bad tempered or unfavorable tempered horses should never be used as breeding stock. Now granted, some breeds are known for being hotter than others, like Thoroughbred and Arabians as a couple of examples. Does that mean that every horse of those breeds are nervous horses? Of course it doesn't, they are just more know for the nervous ones than the calm one.

Mishandling in the Horses Past: I am not strictly talking about a horse being physically abused, but that can result in a very nervous horse. I'm talking about a horse that has been around people, and had never been taught to follow them.

Lack of Knowledge: Here I'm talking about a horse that has never been handles period. Granted, you're not likely to see one of these at a horse show or on a trail ride, but we all know that they exist.

The biggest problem we face in trying to train them is figuring out which one of these fields they fit in.

Which Field is My Horse in?

Luckily, with experience and a watchful eye you can figure out which why your horse is nervous. A lot of nervous horses can learn to relax and trust their leader. Nervous horses can actually be good horses in the end, though it will take work. Sometimes, it's as obvious as the nose on their face.

So, I'll so through the fields one by one and give you some of what to look for.

Breeding: If you are buying the horse from the breeder, ask to see the horse's parents. If both of them act like complete nervous idiots, chances are it's breeding. If you get the horse later on from someone else, simply ask what the horse's temperment is. If the horse is registered, a little digging around can often uncover if breeding is the issue. Never write off a horse's nervousness as breeding strictly because of it's breed.

Mishandling in the Horse's Past: If it was a case of physical abuse the horse will bear physical scars from it. That is one dead give away, the horse will also not want anything to do with you, it just wants to be away from you. If it's just a case of not being taught any better the horse will usually be pushy, and if it spooks will often jump right on top of you, because it is less scared of you then whatever has spooked it. Teaching it to respect your space should be a major concern with the later case.

Lack of Knowledge: Usually if you get one of these, you knew it when you bought it. If not, you found out when you picked it up or it was delivered. It's the one that requires a loading shoot to get into the trailer, or is the one that is unloaded directly into whatever enclosure you want it kept in, which for your sake I hope was a small paddock or round pen. But, it's OK, these are usually the nervous horses that come around the quickest.

What equipment will I need?

This is a pretty simple question to answer. You'll need the following things; a good, quality halter, a lead rope(at least 12 foot long), a round pen or small pen(if you don't have one of these, you can do this with the halter and lead and that's fine), a whip, and various items to desensitize the horse with. I personally suggest plastic bags, as I have seen even the calmest horses come unglued at the sight and sound of a plastic bag blowing in the breeze.

Pretty simple list, huh?

OK, now what?

Ground work. Nervous horses are trained like any other horse, from the ground up. No, you can not run the nervousness out of a horse. You can however redirect his attention to you, which is where you want it to be.

Note: If you are not confident in you body language with horses, you may need to carry a whip to use as on extension of your arm.

At first, all that may be required to send him off around the round pen or small paddock; which ever you have access to, is simply your presence. His instincts tell him run first, think later.

Note: If your horse is trying or thinking about jumping out of what ever you are using back off, because if they feel too much pressure, they will try it. I'm not saying leave the enclose, simply back out of the center to one side, where he has more room to get away from you. What ever slice of the pen you are in is your territory, keep him out of it, but honestly if he was thinking about jumping out, you simply being there should change his direction.

Let him make a trip or a trip and an half around the pen, then move to cut him off and change his direction. It does not matter if he turns into the pen or into the fence as long as he leaves going in the opposite direction. I don't even care how fast he leaves in the opposite direction as long as he leaves. The horse that you are watching is probably running around the pen with his head up in the air, his ears twitching every direction, you can probably see the whites of his eyes very clearly, his lips are pulled back tight. Some horses will even grind their teeth when stressed or afraid. As you continue to work him back and forth around the pen, you should start to see a change in his body language. His head will lower to a natural carriage, his inside ear should be directed at you, his eyes will relax, and his lips will relax.

This point is where you simply turn your back on the horse, and give it the opportunity to come to you, or at the very least catch it's breathe for a moment while facing you. If he takes a step in your direction, let him rest some more. If the horse stops and faces away from you, send it straight back to work. This may take five minutes for some horses, and an hour for others. Every horse is different.

Desensitizing.

I know that some popular clinicians say that there are four horses that you train in this stage, left side, right side, in front of (not directly, for you safety), and behind (Again, not directly, for your safety.). Personally I have found that there are six, the original four, plus below and above. Always keep your body language very relaxed when doing desensitizing exercises, and start with gentle movement then work your way gradually up to more abrupt movements.

By the time you get to this point of training, you should know which of the fields you horse truly belongs in. If he belongs in the lack of knowledge field, Desensitizing and Sensitizing should be carried out like you should with any normal horse. If he belongs to either of the other two fields, you need to spend more time on the desensitizing than you normally would. Always start with your equipment, halter, lead rope, whip, etc. Remember to start away from the horse and gradually work in closer to the horse, approach and retreat. If he wants to leave, that's OK, let him. Send him straight back to work. (The object is to back off before he gets to the point of leaving.) It should not take as long for him to ask to come back in and stand in the middle with you. When he asks, push his just a little longer, then tell him it's OK to come in.

If you know that you can get an object as close as 10 feet way from him before he tenses up and leaves, stop at 10 and an half feet. Don't try to force these exercises on him, let him kind of come to them. If you try to force the issue you can make him more nervous.

Desensitize him to your equipment very well before you even thing about doing any sensitizing exercises.

Sensitizing

Nervous horses will usually require very little sensitizing, and too much time or energy expended in this stage, can actually make him more nervous. (I'm sticking with the male gender, let's assume it's a gelding, because I started it in the last area, and wish to avoid confusion. Of me, not necessarily you!) When working on this section, I agree that you are training four different direction, forward, backwards, left and right. Granted a horse can move forward and to the left at the same time, but he has to learn each maneuver individually first.

This is the area where your body language and posture will actually help drive him away from you. If you focus your energy behind his drive line (imagine a line running vertical to the ground right behind the horses withers.) it should drive the horse forward. There are a few decisions that you need to make before you start this work. The first is, what ques you want to use. Do you want to point in whatever direction you want him to go and have him go that way, or do you want to use words like left or right, or what ever as long as you are consistent. Understand that you will start with the que only, if that does not work you will left the whip as you repeat the que. For most nervous horses this is enough, but if it is not, you may have to touch him with the whip while you repeat the que yet again. He needs to associate the que with moving in what ever direction you are wanting.

If the horse starts to get nervous, go back to something that you know he can do, even if it is a desensitizing exercise that he excelled at.

What about the Nervous horse that isn't Nervous until you put a halter on it?

I know this sounds strange, but they do exist. I have seen horses that seem fine being around stuff and people, up until you put a halter and lead rope on them. You effectively take away their just leave if you get spooked option, and they feel trapped, so now they are a completely different horse.

This is no big deal, you just do the ground work, desensitizing and sensitizing with a halter and lead, instead of free lounging in a round pen. Make sure to wear gloves and if the horse spooks, do not try to stop the spook just go with it.

Now, this is where if I was a big time clinician, I would try to sell you my handy dandy halter and lead rope set for $49.99, or what ever price I thought someone would pay for it. But I'm not, so I'll just say use what ever halter and lead rope you have around, just make sure that it is in good condition. I will suggest using a lead that is at least 12 feet long. That way you can allow rope to slide through your hand, if you can't keep up with the horse spooking. This is why you need to wear gloves, because even if you relax your hand (which you won't, it's human nature to try to stop it, and your hand will tense some) the rope being pulled through it will burn you hands.

Knowing when to Quit

I'm not talking about quitting on the horse, but quitting for the day. It can be difficult to stop, especially if the horse is doing really well, but eventually the horse is going to get bored or his attention span is going to go out. You need to quit before either of these happen. If the horse is starting to get bored or his attention seems to be wondering, go back to something that you know he can do really well. Have him do that, then stop for the day on a good note.

If at any time you feel your frustration growing, again go back to something that you know that he does really well, and end the day on a good note.

Losing your temper with any horse can undo all the work that you have just done. If you feel that you have to, and the horse is in a safe place just drop the rope and walk off for a while. Return, and end on a good note after you have had a few minutes to compose your self. It is far better to just walk off, then risk totally losing it on the horse. It's also better for you, it will eventually teach you more control of yourself.

So, what's next?

After the ground work, desensitizing, and sensitizing you will go on with the same ground work that you would do with any other horse. Always backing up to something the horse can go well when he gets nervous. Redirect his attention from what ever, and give him something to do that he can do.

Take his training slow and steady, and his trust in you will grow. Every horse in training needs to be worked daily, even if you can only squeeze in a few minutes. Always start with something that you know he can do and build off of that.

When nervous horses spook

As you work with your horse, you will begin to know when a spook is coming. You will need to learn to relax in these situations arise. Now I'll tell you why. Say you're out on the trail, and you feel your horse tense up, getting ready for a spook, in response to him tensing up, you tense up, collect your reins, even though you may not realize it, your seat tightens, your legs tighten, and you hold your breathe, all getting ready for the ride that you are fixing to have. Whether it's a jump to the side, a spin and run off in the opposite direction or a bolt, buck or rear, your body is getting ready for it, because you mind is saying, here we go again. Your horse interprets this as what he is thinking about spooking as is a real threat, because his leader is also getting ready to spook at it. Do you see how this is a chain reaction, getting ready to explode?

All the work that you have done with him, has been to teach him to trust you. If you stay relaxed, he should walk right by what ever it was that he was thinking about spooking at. The key to staying relaxed? Keep breathing, even if you have to tell yourself breathe in, breathe out, just keep breathing. Holding our breathe is usually our body's first physical response to a stressful situation, and it is often the reason why we can not recall all of the details of the situation, but that's another blog all by itself.

The horse looks to you for leadership, and if you remain relaxed and not spooked, so will he.

Will my horse ever be where he doesn't spook at everything?

Yes, he will get to where he will not spook at everything. But the chances of him ever getting where he will not spook at anything are not very good. There is no way that you can expose him to everything that could ever possibly spook him during training. The good news is that he will get to where he spooks more quietly, and less explosively than he does now. He will learn to rely on you for input, and trust your judgement. But only time and training can build this relationship.

Gimmics

Most of the big time clinicians, sell their information at a premium price, and they tell you that you have to use their equipment for it to work. When in fact, you can use a good condition halter and lead rope you already have and what ever whip you already have as well. If not, you can buy a few of them for what these clinicians charge.

Now, can I sell you a halter and lead rope set?  You bet I can, for the price of $24.00 for the set, plus shipping and handling. But I can guarantee you that I'm not making a killing on them either. For each set, I would make a grand total of $6.60, all the rest is the cost of materials. It doesn't even figure in that it takes me five to six hours to braid the lead rope. I make them because I use them, not because I tell everyone else that they have to use, or this training won't work.

You'll never convince me that CA's halter is any better than mine, and mine only costs me a dollar and a few minutes of my time to make.

Natural Horsemanship - Fact or Fiction

Is Natural Horsemanship actually natural?

To be completely honest, there is nothing natural about our relationship with horses. They are prey animals, and we are predatory animals. They rely on thousands of years of inherited instincts to rule their daily life. Even the selected breeding of generations of horses, has not, and will not change this fact.

Some people keep their horses in stables, 24/7 with exercise daily if they are lucky. Some people like me, keep their horses in a pasture to live as close to nature as we can manage. But the fact still remains that horses were made by God to roam great areas in a day in the constant search of food stuffs and water. A wild horse can travel upwards of 20 miles a day in this search.

Now, is there a way to interact with horses that is more natural to them? Absolutely. If you've ever spent much time watching the horses in your pasture, you know that they communicate primarily through body language; the glare of an eye, the pinning back of ears, the picking up of a hind leg, etc, etc...

Granted, we can not imitate some of these behaviors. I don't know about you, but I can't pin my ears back, no matter how hard I try. I can however glare at them, and if I'm positioned correctly, drive them out of my personal space in a safe manner.

So, the answer to this question is simply, no! There is nothing natural about a prey animal allowing a predatory animal on it back to cart it around for hours on end.

What exactly is natural horsemanship about?

Simply put, it's about becoming the leader of the herd. Whether it's a herd of two or a herd of many. It is a position that has to be constantly enforced, and held. Granted, it can be enforce with reason, as it should be.

Being the leader of the herd, has many benefits. It keeps you safe, if you want a horse to move, often a simple look will get it to move. It often makes catching horses, for whatever reason, easier. It makes feeding time easier and safer, as you are the leader and the horse does not get the feed until you tell him/her that they can have it. Those are just a few of the benefits.

Is there a difference between being a leader and being a partner?

To answer this question, I have to explain the difference between being a leader, and a partner. Or at least the difference to me.

A partner is someone or something that has equal say in what is going on. Say a 50/50 division of power. Like a husband and wife. My husband and I are partners, we each have a say in everything that goes on in our household, including everything with the horses; even though he has little or nothing to actually do with them. Do you really want to give your horse that kind of power in your relationship? I don't want a 1,100 pound animal that can tell me no, I don't really want to go riding today, or whatever the case may be.

A leader, is the person that makes the decisions, and everyone follows their directions. Between you and your horse, who do you really want to be the leader? You, who can reason things out, or the horse who reacts first and thinks later? I want to be the leader in my herd, because I can think on my feet so to speak.

What steps are there in Natural Horsemanship?

The following are steps in the process of training with Natural Horsemanship:

1. Ground work - get the horses feet moving
2. Desensitizing
3. Sensitizing

I will explain each in the following areas, though not in depth, just a general explaination of what they are.

How important is ground work in "Natural Horsemanship"?

Groundwork is very important in terms of natural horsemanship. It is were the foundations for your leadership are laid. There are two options for how you can accomplish this.

The first option is round penning, or free lounging. No halter or lead rope on the horse, but instead it is turned into a small paddock with few or no corners for the horse to freeze up in, or an actual round pen if you have one. Keep in mind that horses are different in personality, and some respond better to this option, and some respond better to the second option. I have two horses, and one prefers this method to the second option.

The second option is lounging the horse with a halter and lounge line. My other horse prefers this method of working.

I have a round pen and use it judiciously. Work in the round pen should not be over done. They do come in handy when first getting to know a horse, and when training a horse to work on a lounge line alike. They are also great for the first few rides, but after that, you need to move out of them and into larger spaces. Now, keep in mind that I'm not saying that this applies to every horse that you will encounter, but you should move out of it as soon as you feel confident that you can safely ride and stop the horse. For some horses that may be three or four rides, for others it may take several.

Always keep in mind that no two horses are the same and that is always to be taken into account when working with a horse.

Desensitizing/Sensitizing

Desensitizing and sensitizing are two things that require balance to work properly. You do not want you horse to react hastily to your regular equipment, like your halter and lead rope. You should be able to toss your lead rope over your horses back without it reacting at all. But chances are the first time you do it, the horse is going to react unless it has been trained by someone else.

The more time you spend desensitizing the horse, the more it will learn to completely ignore and have no reaction to what ever it is presented with. If you spend too much time doing this, the horse will get to where it does not react to anything, including what you want it to react to.

On the other side of the coin, you have the sensitizing exercises. Teaching the horse to move off of pressure, as light as possible but as firm as necessary to get the desired result. Spend too much time on this and you'll end up with a hot horse that reacts to everything.

So balancing these two training techniques is crucial to have a horse that is well rounded and well behaved.

Just how many horses am I training, exactly?

Well, in terms of desensitizing there are six, and in sensitizing there are four. Let me explain further.

In desensitizing, the six horses are: to the horse's left, to the horse's right, in front of the horse, behind the horse, below the horse, and above the horse.

Most people work the first four areas, and ignore the last two. Then they wonder why the first time they ride under a limb on a tree and it barely touches the horse or makes a noise because the rider had to move it, the horse flips out. The same goes for a horse that has something blown below it that makes noise, it's not used to it, so it flips out.

In sensitizing, the four horses are: forward, backwards, left and right. Now, a horse can move forward and to the right at the same time, but they need to be taught one at a time.

Again, balance between the two is key.

Can "Natural Horsemanship" actually build a bond between me and my horse?

You bet it can. I get proof of that every time I go to the barn. If I don't feed immediately when I get there the horses will often go about their daily lives as if I was not there, especially if I am busy doing something else. But if I just walk out into the pasture, either with a chair to sit in or just stand around, my horses will gradually make their way over to just hang out.

You will find that after you have established yourself as the leader, that your horse will actually want to be around you, and look for you.

Conclusion

Is "Natural Horsemanship" fact or fiction?

To me, it's fiction, because like I stated earlier there is nothing natural about our relationship with horses. Now, do I believe that there is a better way of training horses? Yes I do, and the type of training that has been coined "Natural Horsemanship" is probably it. It works on the horses' natural means of communication, and is gentler than traditional methods.

That being said, I subscribe to no one trainer's methods. Anybody that says that their way is the only way, is full of you know what!

There are clinicians that are better at training people than others. Clinton Anderson is a prime example of this. He explains things in almost an idiot proof way, his biggest downfall is he often plugs his own merchandise. But the truth be told, whether you spend the $40+ for his halter and lead combination or buy a rope halter for $5 at your local tack shop or feed store, his methods are still pretty solid. He's also one of the few mainstream clinicians that actually has a show record on horses that he has trained himself.

Before I follow any clinician, I look at what his background and outlook are. Other clinicians that I like, are John Lyons, Craig Cameron, Dennis Reis, and I'm sure that there are others too, but they are escaping me right now.

There are only a couple that I absolutely not stand, one is a mainstream clinician, the other is a youtube sensation.

One is Pat Parelli, because I've seen too many clips of him and his wife losing their temper with horses that did not immediately come around to their way of thinking. And because they both think that their way is the only way. This is not to say that they do not offer some good information, because they do. I like the horse personality test that you can find on their website, it's very informative about how your horse thinks.

The other is Rick Gore, because if you can find a video of him riding you will see why. He uses the same two horses for all of his videos, and even those don't behave all of the time. When you see him riding, you notice that he has made no attempt to collect his horse to help them carry him. He also preaches one thing while his horses show that he doesn't even practice what he preaches. If you contradict him in anyway, via the comments below his videos, he will delete the comment and block you from making further comments. That just screams professionalism to me, doesn't it to you. And he makes comments that are laughable to say the least. Watch some of his videos and see for yourself.

The biggest message that I can pass on about "Natural Horsemanship" is to find what works for you and your horse, whether it is from one trainer or many. Everybody is different, and so is every horse.

Thoughts running through my head

Last night I sat up thinking about everything that I could cover on this blog, and I ended up with a list that is three, maybe four pages long; but I skipped lines between each subject, so it really isn't that bad.  I am a big planner of things to come, for every thing from home life to barn life.  It's the only way that I can manage my time accordingly.  I'm tempted to publish the list, in the order that I thought of them, not the actual order that I will cover each subject.  I guess it would be a good idea to solicit feedback of what I should cover first, or in addition to each subject.

So, here is my list of topics that I would love to cover on here:

1. Leg protection
2. Importance of saddle fit, for horse and rider
3. Proper bit use, and proper bitting techniques
4. How horses were intended to live
5. The importance of nutrition in performance
6. The importance of variety in training
7. How to get a truly shiny coat
8. Barefoot vs. shod
9. Rain Rot, how to prevent and treat
10. How to grow out manes and tails
11. The importance of grooming
12. Toxic Plants (possibly a weekly posts)
13. Ground work techniques
14. Proud flesh, how to prevent and treat
15. Fly control
16. Rehabbing the physically abused horse
17. Putting weight on a neglected horse
18. Cheap feed vs. expensive feed, is cheap feed actually cheaper?
19. The true cost of a free horse
20. Horse slaughter in the US
21. Are horses companion animals or livestock?
22. Horse meat for human consumption.
23. Supplements
24. Natural Horsemanship
25. Can I really afford to buy a horse?
26. Best fencing for your needs
27. Hay, how important is it?
28. Complete feeds vs. regular feeds plus supplements
29. Importance of rider fitness
30. Stall kept vs pasture kept
31. How important is stall size
32. Wild horses vs domesticated horses
33. Why horses founder
34. Why horses colic
35. Products that I personally use
36. How I groom the way I do
37. Horse people, a breed all their own
38. Knowing when to quit, for the day
39. Cribbing
40. Weaving
41. Wood chewing
42. Automatic waterers
43. Automatic feeders
44. Stall mats
45. Manure management
46. Your two best friends, where your horses are concerned

Well, it turned out to be only three pages, but I'm really considering doing number 46 as the first one.