I just had an incredible session with Moose. Like I said in the last post, I haven't been able to see him very often lately, so this was quite a pleasant surprise.
I decided to try to emphasize feel today, because I really want to have a light horse if I'm going to be doing liberty and higher level 3/4 things eventually. It turned out incredible. I rarely had to go to phase 3/4, but if I did, I was very clear about it, and then didn't need to again. Moose was really responding well to the lead rope. I tryed to be as subtle, but clear as possible, so his brain got involved. He had a great expression when we were done and was really LBI. I was really happy with our progress.
And it came to me today, hey, if you can ride your horse with just a string around his neck, why can't I play with my horse with just a string for a line, too? So, I think that's going to be something to aim for in the future. I want to see if I can play with my horse with just a binder twine around his neck, or something of that sort. Now that's a test of a light horse!
Besides, Moose was a lot happier today, too. I really felt like he was himself. And it was incredible how slowly we went! I really felt present with him, because I was trying so hard to go slow as to have hands that open quickly and close slowly, so I didn't want to miss his try. And he really hooked on to that.
Overall, a very neat day. I can see now why feel is so fascinating. Very cool.
Showing posts with label Horsemanship. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Horsemanship. Show all posts
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Deb Bennett's Horse Training Commandments
THOU SHALT NOT SCARE THY HORSE TO DEATH
Neither because you're mad, nor by the force of your aids, nor by the force of your personal energy. When your horse makes a mistake, it is not your business to punish, but to teach - and re-teach.
THOU SHALT NOT GET THY HORSE IN TROUBLE
So that he loses his perfect inner comfort; nay, not even because you yourself are brave. Your main aim is to help your horse stay 100% OK 100% of the time. For your bravery does not help him; what he needs is help finding courage within himself. Nor does he understand your "performance requirements." For truly, no amount of performance nor degree of obedience is justified when it is not the horse's idea as much as yours.
THOU SHALT NOT REST AT THE BARN
Neither should you always get off your horse there. Instead, either tie your horse up at the barn, or find some busy work to do there. Don't ride him away from the barn in order to work him - ride him away from the barn in order to rest him!
THOU SHALT NOT WORK THY HORSE HARD
Without thorough warm-up, nor ask of him more work far away from the barn than at the barn, nor overmuch at any time. Remember that your horse learns only upon release and reflection. Blessed is the time of quiet unity which often comes at the end of a ride; blessed is him who would rather play with his horse's tail. And blessed are the little children, for they know not the meaning of hardness and contest.
THOU SHALT NOT RENDER THY HORSE'S BODY HARD
Nay, not even in quest of "fitness." Remember that the horse's heart is already created bigger and his muscles stronger than those of any other creature. Hardness of muscle deprives your horse's joints of range of motion. O vain human! Your plans for fitness are no more than legs upon a snake, and your failures in competition are the result of your own errors.
THOU SHALT NOT PUT THY PETTY AMBITIONS AHEAD OF THY HORSE'S WELFARE
For truly, no horse knows the cut of your saddle, the style of your hat, the color of your ribbon, the time on your watch, nor the smell of your money.
THOU SHALT NOT HANG UPON THE REINS
Neither through thoughtlessness nor because some "authority" has taught you that this is necessary. Never pick up the rein unless you intend to wait at the same pressure until there is a change in the neck and a change in the feet. And when there is a change - then you shall release!
THOU SHALT NOT PULL
You shall not turn your horse's head and neck away from the direction of his attention. For truly where his eyeballs point, there also shall his feet be pointing -- no matter how hard you drag on his head. Horses do not steer from the head; they steer from the brain. Therefore shalt thou call the birdie.
THOU SHALT LEARN TO USE THE OUTSIDE REIN WELL
You shall not steer; but instead, you shall prevent the horse from turning away. You shall call the birdie into the turn, knowing this will turn the feet as well as shaping up the body. You shall guide the inside forefoot by connecting that rein to it, and you shall anchor the outside hind foot by feeling of it. And to stop you shall stop the feet, not the face. And when thus for a time you shall have turned and stopped, so that the horse's body and postural habits shall have developed, truly will you call that collection.
THOU SHALT LEARN TO WAIT FOR THE HORSE TO RELEASE
And if he does not release, you shall continue to wait at the same pressure. And while waiting you shall not move your hand forward, neither shall you move it back, nor yet shall you repeat your first request, but you shall simply wait!
THOU SHALT NOT TRY TO OBTAIN COLLECTION BY "CAPTURING THE FACE" OR MERELY BENDING THE NECK
Nor through a "head set," nor by means of a "frame," neither by "pushing the horse forward from the seat and leg into a fixed hand," nor yet by leaning back to "weight the hindquarters." For these are the dictates of ignorance. Thou shalt remember that a horse is "on the bit" when every change in the rein creates an equivalent change in the hindquarters. This saying is correct, and implies humane and intelligent technique; but even technique shall pass away. Yet unto those that live all these commandments, collection shall be given: for the truth is, the horse collects from his innermost self, out of the joy of his being; he teaches people what collection is, and for this he needs no help from you.
THOU SHALT MAKE THE WRONG THING DIFFICULT AND THE RIGHT THING EASY - BUT THOU SHALT EMPHASIZE MAKING THE RIGHT THING EASY
How easy it is for us to make it tough on the horse when he makes a mistake! How difficult to create ways to make doing the right thing easy and obvious!
THOU SHALT STRIVE TO GET YOUR HORSE TO WHERE HE WANTS TO BE WITH YOU MORE THAN HE WANTS TO BE ANYWHERE ELSE
Neither because you're mad, nor by the force of your aids, nor by the force of your personal energy. When your horse makes a mistake, it is not your business to punish, but to teach - and re-teach.
THOU SHALT NOT GET THY HORSE IN TROUBLE
So that he loses his perfect inner comfort; nay, not even because you yourself are brave. Your main aim is to help your horse stay 100% OK 100% of the time. For your bravery does not help him; what he needs is help finding courage within himself. Nor does he understand your "performance requirements." For truly, no amount of performance nor degree of obedience is justified when it is not the horse's idea as much as yours.
THOU SHALT NOT REST AT THE BARN
Neither should you always get off your horse there. Instead, either tie your horse up at the barn, or find some busy work to do there. Don't ride him away from the barn in order to work him - ride him away from the barn in order to rest him!
THOU SHALT NOT WORK THY HORSE HARD
Without thorough warm-up, nor ask of him more work far away from the barn than at the barn, nor overmuch at any time. Remember that your horse learns only upon release and reflection. Blessed is the time of quiet unity which often comes at the end of a ride; blessed is him who would rather play with his horse's tail. And blessed are the little children, for they know not the meaning of hardness and contest.
THOU SHALT NOT RENDER THY HORSE'S BODY HARD
Nay, not even in quest of "fitness." Remember that the horse's heart is already created bigger and his muscles stronger than those of any other creature. Hardness of muscle deprives your horse's joints of range of motion. O vain human! Your plans for fitness are no more than legs upon a snake, and your failures in competition are the result of your own errors.
THOU SHALT NOT PUT THY PETTY AMBITIONS AHEAD OF THY HORSE'S WELFARE
For truly, no horse knows the cut of your saddle, the style of your hat, the color of your ribbon, the time on your watch, nor the smell of your money.
THOU SHALT NOT HANG UPON THE REINS
Neither through thoughtlessness nor because some "authority" has taught you that this is necessary. Never pick up the rein unless you intend to wait at the same pressure until there is a change in the neck and a change in the feet. And when there is a change - then you shall release!
THOU SHALT NOT PULL
You shall not turn your horse's head and neck away from the direction of his attention. For truly where his eyeballs point, there also shall his feet be pointing -- no matter how hard you drag on his head. Horses do not steer from the head; they steer from the brain. Therefore shalt thou call the birdie.
THOU SHALT LEARN TO USE THE OUTSIDE REIN WELL
You shall not steer; but instead, you shall prevent the horse from turning away. You shall call the birdie into the turn, knowing this will turn the feet as well as shaping up the body. You shall guide the inside forefoot by connecting that rein to it, and you shall anchor the outside hind foot by feeling of it. And to stop you shall stop the feet, not the face. And when thus for a time you shall have turned and stopped, so that the horse's body and postural habits shall have developed, truly will you call that collection.
THOU SHALT LEARN TO WAIT FOR THE HORSE TO RELEASE
And if he does not release, you shall continue to wait at the same pressure. And while waiting you shall not move your hand forward, neither shall you move it back, nor yet shall you repeat your first request, but you shall simply wait!
THOU SHALT NOT TRY TO OBTAIN COLLECTION BY "CAPTURING THE FACE" OR MERELY BENDING THE NECK
Nor through a "head set," nor by means of a "frame," neither by "pushing the horse forward from the seat and leg into a fixed hand," nor yet by leaning back to "weight the hindquarters." For these are the dictates of ignorance. Thou shalt remember that a horse is "on the bit" when every change in the rein creates an equivalent change in the hindquarters. This saying is correct, and implies humane and intelligent technique; but even technique shall pass away. Yet unto those that live all these commandments, collection shall be given: for the truth is, the horse collects from his innermost self, out of the joy of his being; he teaches people what collection is, and for this he needs no help from you.
THOU SHALT MAKE THE WRONG THING DIFFICULT AND THE RIGHT THING EASY - BUT THOU SHALT EMPHASIZE MAKING THE RIGHT THING EASY
How easy it is for us to make it tough on the horse when he makes a mistake! How difficult to create ways to make doing the right thing easy and obvious!
THOU SHALT STRIVE TO GET YOUR HORSE TO WHERE HE WANTS TO BE WITH YOU MORE THAN HE WANTS TO BE ANYWHERE ELSE
For truly, your ability to create ways to do this is the measure of your intelligence, and this shall be the measure by which results are measured out to you.
©1999 by Deb Bennett, resposted on internet with permission
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