Good Memories

     I've got a closet full of show clothes that I'll probably never wear again.  For various reasons I do not show personally any more but I just can't let go of these hats, chaps, shirts, etc. 
     I still remember getting my first pair of chaps when I was just a kid and how excited I was.  I remember my first good western hat with the perfect shape and crease, done by hand of course! 
     In my early days, I didn't have a lot of money so I saved and saved.  I always bought the highest quality I could possibly afford.  I did this because I was proud to be a horseman and because I came from a tradition where proper quality attire reflected your seriousness about horses and horsemanship. It wasn't about bling, though we did want to catch the judges' eye, it was about style and class, which is as important today as it ever was.  Yeah, the styles may be different, but you can still spot the class acts every time.
     Along with chaps and hats, and boots and shirts, I always paid attention to all my equipment.  I invested in quality bits and saddles.  I may not have had nice furniture at home but I always had good tack!  I wanted my horses to look their best and perform their best too.  I believed and still do, that all this makes a difference.  It tells the world that you care about your horses and your horsemanship.
     So, when I open that closet door it brings back so many good memories.  A lifetime with horses and I have no regrets.  Being a horseman is a journey that I will continue going on until my life is over.  I know no other path, nor would I want one.  It's true:  Old horsemen never die, they just ride off into the sunset!   I hope you are building your own good memories!  Talk to you next week.  JD

Horses are Horses

     Sounds obvious doesn't it?  But, in reality, I constantly see people who don't seem to have the least bit of awareness of who and what horses are.   If you acknowledge the uniqueness of the species it makes everything else so much easier to understand.  But trying to put human thoughts and values to a horse just doesn't make any good sense.
     For horses to excel in our world, we must accept them for who they are.  Among what they are is an athlete who runs or shys whenever they feel at risk.  This is basic survival for a horse!  They are not being stupid they're just being survivors as a species.
     Horses also have another survival trait: a very good long term memory.  They also have good powers of association which makes them trainable, but they are not logical thinkers by nature.  They have all of the basic emotions but in a thousand pound body. 
     Horses do not however "love" -  it's just not part of their make-up.  They are not capable of it, it's only we humans that can give our love.  Horses are though, very capable of definite likes and dislikes, and sometimes very intensely so.  I've had horses that formed very strong friendships with other horses and showed signs of depression when their equine friends departed.  I'm not talking about "herd bound" syndrome but friendship does make sense if you put it in context of getting along in a herd.
     Being herd animals really helps us as trainers and owners etc. because all herds have a hierarchical system.  Herds that I've watched not only have a lead horse but also a second-in-command.  And, make no mistake that there are definitely horses at the bottom of the chain, use this to your advantage.  If a horse respects you and you respond in kind, you have a better basis for a great relationship.
     Never forget that every horse is born wild and we tame each and every foal that is born, it doesn't matter that it's born in a stable or not.  Horses are so capable of learning and adjusting to domesticity that they can become willing partners.
     Horses that understand what is expected of them are potentially content or "happy" (not a good term).  It sets them up for success but to achieve this, we must train and treat them as horses, not as  human buddies.
     So yes, groom your horse to you heart's content, it's part of the herd's behavior, but for example: don't over do the treat thing because that's human behavior and just causes horses to get pushy and rude.  Instead, reward your horse with a pat (I do) but remember that the best reward of all for him is for you to just get off and loosen the cinch.  Treat and understand your horse as a horse and he'll give you back so much.
     I could go on but that's enough for now.  I hope these thoughts help you build a great relationship with your horse!  Talk to you next week, JD.
    

Making Friends

  Ok, I may be biased, but I think horse people are some of the best people on earth!  They work hard, play hard (if they ever get the time!), love their horses, are crazy about their dogs, are competitive but are always willing to help when needed.  No pulling on face masks here, if you get my drift, horse people are just horse people at their core.
     I've made long lasting friendships on the show circuit just by sharing a cup of coffee on a cold morning or sipping a glass of wine with someone after a long day.  I've made friends by loaning out something simple to someone in need - like a crop or a longe line or some tail wrap.  I've made friends by helping someone with a pattern or just by holding a horse.  Sometimes it's the little things that can bring people together and really make such a difference.
     I've shown a lot of breeds and I think what makes Arabian shows so nice is the camaraderie.  People mingle between disciplines and mingle between barns.  While I'm walking the dogs, people often stop to ask about them and it's a nice way to start a conversation that builds beyond what we show.  Almost anybody at the show will help you when asked.  If you forgot something, someone will probably be able to help you out and they do it so gladly! 
     These examples are among the reasons why I became an Arabian enthusiast.  It's not just the horses I love, it's the people too!  Talk to you next week, JD.
    

Movement

     Movement is such an important quality in a horse so I'd like to briefly address this subject.  In short and in fact, the horses with the better conformation generally move much better.  That said, keep in mind though that halter horses are bred for the breed ideal and are not bred for performance so rarely are they the best movers, often they do move nicely but not greatly.
     We evaluate a horse's movement depending on the standards of the breed and the type of work the horse will be doing.  Horses that are good movers within their breed and discipline standard make the job look easy and effortless.  Often, these horses find their respective jobs less demanding than their less talented stablemates.
     A good moving horse is not only a joy to watch, he is also easy to ride and nice to train.  If (for instance) you have found that the jog is difficult to sit, you most certainly have not ridden a horse that has a natural easy jog.  If you are having trouble teaching a horse to lope, it is probably due in part to the horse's lack of natural ability and comfort at the lope, and so on....
     Now yes, we can improve a horse's gate through training.  Supplying excercise also helps all horses.  Teaching horses good collection always improves a horse.  The work of a good shoer is also a "must" in my opinion.  But, you cannot make a bad mover into a good mover with shoes, nor can you make a mediocre mover into a very good mover with shoes.  The horse either has it or he doesn't.  Now, I certainly believe you can enhance a good horse through good training and shoeing - just as you want the proper running shoes on an Olympic miler.
     So, when you're evaluating your next horse, be sure to look for good movement!  Talk to you next week, JD.

Uniqueness

     Unique = of which there is only one; unequaled; having no like, equal or parallel. 

     I've been training horses for a very long time.  I've thrown my leg across many, many horses and,  I've found that each and every one is a unique individual.
     In general, people like to categorize things and trainers like to categorize horses.  I do it as well.  It helps clients understand their horses in a broad sense and it also helps them realize their problems are shared by other horse people.  But, every time I use categorization as an aid to teaching or in a discussion, I'm aware that there is more left unsaid than said.  Sometimes its so hard to really express or describe what I want to say so I fall into broad categories.
     But, every horse is unique, like no other horse has been and like no other horse will be.  They are individuals and when we forget this we never do the horse justice.  Sure, there are lazy horses and overachievers.  There are worriers and fuss-budgets.  There are stubborn horses, sullen horses, fearful horses, confident horses and horses with no confidence whatsoever.  But, each one has his own personality and deserves to be treated as a unique individual.
     When we remember to do this, we give the horse the respect it deserves and a greater chance to succeed at whatever task we are teaching it and, we are no longer just mass producing horsees for the show ring or cow pen or whatever.  We become better horsemen and our horses are just so much more fun and interesting to be around.  The whole process of training and developing a horse to it's full - and unique - potential is so rewarding!  Talk to you next week, JD.
   

Conversations

     Over coffee recently, with a long-time friend who's also a professional horseman, we got to discussing why some people seem to always be having trouble with their horses being resistant or "heavy".  It was an interesting conversation that could have gone on all day but I want to relate one small but useful gem from what we talked about, or - truth be told - what I was thinking while we talked.
     I think most people understand the concept that you can't make a heavy mouthed horse (or heavy sided horse for that matter) soft by just being soft.  The opposite is quite true.  If you meet resistance in the mouth, you must create what I call a soft wall with your hands, then bump your horse forward into that wall until the horse softens and gives to the bit.  (For more tips on how to create that soft wall, see my January 27, 2014 blog.)
     So far so good - right?  But here's where the problems start......  You must release (or "soften") just as soon as the horse gives and yields to your hands.  If you do not soften your aids - in this case, your hands - then the resistance comes.  If the rider fails repeatedly to soften or "give back" when the horse gives, you often see horses just "give up" and then they can get really heavy, really quickly.
     My good friend agreed with me that there is so much more to this subject and we could have talked all day.  Instead, we mutually agreed to leave some of the topic for a later conversation but I hope this thought helps during your next ride!  Talk to you next week, JD.
    

Efficiency

     Definition:  Efficient = Productive with minimum of waste or effort.

     One thing I take a small amount of pride in, is that over the years I have learned to be an efficient trainer.  Now, this does not mean that I rush things or work in a hurry because that is most definitely not the case.
     What I mean is that I don't waste time on things that have proven to not get the results I want.  I have learned to let my horses tell me when to move onward, or add a level of complexity.  I have carefully honed my skills so that the techniques I use get results, and, of course results are the
ultimate key to success in anything you do. 
     I'm constantly assessing and re-assessing every ride to make sure there is real progress.  I am quite happy with slow progress but progress none-the-less.  I believe the turtle most often wins over the hare and that if you hurry and rush, often you must go backwards to "fix" a problem that has arisen.  I see this happening frequently to people.
     To be truly efficient, you cannot try to teach a horse something he is not yet ready to learn.  For example, don't begin trying to teach a side-pass if the horse isn't yet willing to move his rib cage off your leg. Or, don't start to teach a horse to spin before your horse easily crosses over in front.  Don't try to teach a horse to back between poles before he backs readily and straight without poles.  I think you get my point....
     I hope these thoughts help you consider how you might make your program more efficient and get results!  Talk to you next week, JD