Good Practice Sessions

I like to emulate other good coaching and successful player strategies in my own teaching and training so let’s consider what sports like basketball and football teach us about practice sessions.  As I work through my March Madness brackets (go Huskies!) I can’t help but think of all the practice, practice, practice those players have worked through to get where they are.  They’ve honed their game and built their confidence. They’ve practiced wisely and listened to their coaches.

Just like other sports, good practice riding sessions should increase a rider’s level of confidence in themselves as well as in their horse.  Practice should also allow riders to achieve a mental attitude that is conducive of winning.  But, one of the pitfalls many riders can fall into is a lack of confidence, which often goes back to their practice sessions.  Reality is, many riders practice by themselves and often they do this rather blindly, without guidance or a plan and they often practice incorrectly and fall into bad habits.

To have a good practice session (and I'm not talking about just an exercise ride), you must ride with a goal in mind.  You need to thoroughly understand what you are attempting to do and you and your horse must also have the necessary skills to do it properly.  It is absolutely counter-productive to practice “wrong” – and often when things are going wrong, riders will just practice longer which can quickly eat into their confidence, not to mention “untrain” their horse.

Often my students will ask me for “home work”, exercises they can do between lessons.  I love this, it means they’re thinking about their progress and are enjoying their work but I take care to only give them exercises that are right for their own and their horse’s level of experience and ability and that are unlikely to go "wrong".

During solo practice sessions riders must constantly assess their riding and how their horse is responding.  Riders practicing alone must be extra vigilant and critical of their riding, trying to find ways to improve.  Riders practicing alone must ask themselves: did I use my aids correctly?  Was my timing good?  Did I feel with my hands?  How was my seat and balance?  Did I help or interfere with my horse?  And most importantly: how did my horse respond?  Horses will always show us the way, they will never lie and will teach is to be better horsemen if we listen to them.  Your horse is a great teacher but only when you “listen”, feel and work as a team.

Sometimes good practice will mean taking a step back in the level of difficulty you’re trying to work through.  For example, if an exercise of multiple lope-overs is not improving, go back to a single lope-over or some less complicated maneuver.  Don’t ever make the mistake of thinking that grinding away at the problem will fix it.  Back down to something you both do well, then talk through your problems with your trainer during your next lesson.  Only good "practice makes perfect”, practicing "wrong" can eat into your confidence and and undo your progress.

Work with your coach or trainer to decide what exercises are best for you and your horse to ensure your practice sessions take you and your horse where you want to go!   Talk to you later, JD.

Venus, Mars and Pluto

Mares, stallions and geldings that is; yes, mares are from Venus, stallions from Mars and the geldings must be big boys from Pluto.  What I mean is, mares and stallions have very different behaviors and geldings live in a slightly different world unto themselves.   I love the old adage that goes “you tell a gelding, ask a mare and suggest to a stallion”.  There is so much truth in that old statement!

Horses are each very unique individuals but often I find that geldings are usually pretty easy to deal with because they are not as complicated as mares and stallions and they aren’t dealing with raging hormones.  Not all geldings are easy of course.  Their temperament can be affected by many factors such as prior handling and how old they were when they were castrated.  Some geldings will retain much of their stallion aggressiveness but most geldings show little or none of that aggression.

A down side that I’ve found to geldings is that they don’t usually have that extra “try” when the going gets tough.  Things like a late, late evening class or a minor discomfort might put off a gelding where a mare or stallion will usually “tough it out”.  I find that generally, geldings just don’t have the heart of a mare of stallion but they do retain the playfulness of “the guys”.  In their play geldings usually really like to face-fight, rear, and pretend to strike.  For this reason, some geldings do not do well if turned out with mares.  I personally like to keep geldings and mares separated.

Now mares: apart from estrous cycles, they too exhibit their own behavior.  They can definitely be opinionated.  Mares are more likely to kick when expressing themselves.  Mares will kick up their heels when turned out, for the pure joy of it all.  They’ll also kick as a defense behavior or when they’re just plain mad.  There are more problems grouping mares together than grouping geldings.  Finding a single dominant mare that will nicely rule and manage the herd is definitely an advantage.  Most herds of mares (anything more than two should be considered a herd) also consist of a second-in-command, a lieutenant so to speak and there are very definitely pecking orders in a herd of mares: top tier, middle tier and bottom of the herd.

And as for stallions, of course it’s always about getting the girls!  So often I see people either being too lax and letting their stallion get into dangerous behavior or they over discipline their stallion which can make them angry and frustrated.  Frankly, I don’t believe that most people should handle stallions but all stallions are different, just like all mares and geldings are unique.  The trick is to know the horse.  It also makes a big difference if the stallion is being bred and how frequently.  What is allowed in the breeding shed should never be allowed outside that area.  Stallions “talk”; they nicker and neigh to mares and geldings and this can quickly lead to more aggressive behavior.  The girl smiles and the guy flirts harder….  Allowing a stallion to talk can be the beginning of a very dangerous escalation.  Stallions are always fighting primal urges and can quickly start fighting with their teeth and front legs. 

Stallions also want to control mares.  During breeding they control the mare by biting a nerve in the neck so biting is part of a stallion’s natural behavior.  Biting towards humans must never be tolerated as it can very quickly get out of hand.  Stallions also play aggressively with their head and neck so when disciplining a stallion from the ground it’s important to make sure the horse doesn’t think you’re just playing with him.  All that said, stallions can have long and loyal relationships with their  humans when there is respect and the right amount of control and discipline.  I think too that they will give more “heart” when asked, if you have a good relationship with them.

All horses are their own individuals but stallions are even more pronounced in their proclivities.  Stallions must have regular work and exercise.  It helps release their sexual tension and is a great aid in getting them to relax and then focus on whatever it is you need them to do.

It’s all about individuals – both in the horses and the people who handle them.  Some of the worst “mares” I’ve known were geldings, some of the strongest hearts I’ve seen were in mares and one of the most affectionate horses I’ve known is a stallion.  So whether you like Venusians, Martians or the boys from Pluto, get to know your horse and celebrate him or her as a unique individual but never forget the indelible traits that he or she carries.  Talk to you later!  JD

It's a Process

To quote Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson "it's a process".  Oh, how true. You must respect "the process" and go through each and every step of that same progression with your horse, showing patience all the way through.  This is how champions are made!

Too often, people want to rush their horse's progress and, just like a quarterback who's unsure of himself runs out of the pocket before letting the play develop, the results are usually not great.  Just like that play, horses take time to develop - sometimes, a lot of time.  But, the discipline it takes to give a horse the opportunity to develop properly will yield many benefits, not the least of which are dependability and longevity.

This philosophy goes along with another Seahawks axiom: "learn the fundamentals and do them as well as you  possibly can".  Strong fundamentals are so important for both horse, and rider.  It can be tempting to jump ahead and start doing things you see others doing but, without understanding the fundamentals that the technique is based on you have no foundation to build upon.  The better you are at the fundamentals then the more solid everything you build onto them will be. You and your horse will make true forward progress.

In short, there really are no short cuts in horsemanship.  It's taken Russell Wilson a lifetime of play and four years with the team to develop into the quarterback he is today.  Don't rush, respect "the process", go through the steps and use your own off season to improve both your and your horse's fundamentals!  Talk to you soon, JD

Merry Christmas to all!

As I take a break today between baking pies, roasting peppers and starting the prime rib for tonight's feast, it makes me think what a wonderful time of year this can be if you break your routine and make time to enjoy friends and family and everything else that makes the season great.

I like to break the routine at the barn too this time of year.  The horses all know their jobs, there aren't any pressing shows for a month or two and clients are busy with their own families so I love to let the horses take a break too.  We still work them and make sure to get them out but rides are shorter, courses are less complex and we definitely just take some days off (especially "Seahawks Sundays!").  I think the break in routine is good for them mentally.  We all recharge our batteries a little before the new year starts. 

I hope you can take a break to enjoy the season too and from my family to yours - both two legged and four legged - Merry Christmas!  Talk to you soon, JD.

Why it Pays to Think Like a Horse.

I find that it’s really helpful in day-to-day interactions with horses, as well as in my training regimen, to understand how a horse “thinks”.  This understanding is not only an aid in training but often can alleviate or head-off situations that might otherwise lead to frustration or even anger for all concerned, including the horse.

First, it is always dangerous to put human rationale into a horse’s behavior.  Horses are absolutely not rational beings; they do not have the capacity to function that way.  Horses are prey animals who survive by living in herds and by instinct.  They are what are sometimes called “fear/flight animals” and their very survival in the wild depends on instinct, not rational thought. 

Every foal is born as an essentially wild creature.  The training process often begins the day they are born as we humans begin to build their trust.  This is why many people believe in handling foals at birth and why it’s so important that you work with the mare so she is trusting too, of the people who will handle her foal.  It just makes everything so much easier!

Horses definitely respond to the herd leader.  They instinctively follow the lead mare so, when handling horses, we should aspire to be perceived as the “lead mare” or lead horse).  In other words: aspire to be the dominant one in the relationship.  This is why keeping a horse thinking about you when you’re riding rather than say, a spooky corner in the arena, so often works. 

Each time you reverse a horse or change directions, it’s good to remember that the horse often sees things as being completely different.  Maybe everything is going A-ok but then you reverse and suddenly the horse is spooky, well, this is the reason:  Horses have fantastic memories.  They may remember where you are but it looks different, the light is different, the shadows different, it’s just not quite the same (as it might look to you and me) and that difference will usually be perceived initially as “bad”.  Again, this is how they survive in the wild.  They must remember where the winter grass is or where the water is or even, where it’s safest to graze.  This works often to our advantage but if a horse has a bad experience it can also be very difficult for the horse to forget and learn that things are now safe. 

Horses also have very strong powers of association.  They can associate one action with a reaction for a good 6 seconds but after that they have no idea what relates to what.  So, if they’re being disciplined or rewarded, you need to be quick about it or your action might just cause frustration or be moot.

All training is based on a horse’s ability to remember and associate and on a horse’s need to rely on a herd leader.  A leader the horse can trust and respect.  With trust and respect comes the will to accept training and be an enjoyable companion for humans!  I hope this encourages you to “think like your horse” more often.  Talk to you soon!  JD

How Tight Can You Go?

Or......use your space wisely!  For years, I have been teaching my students that making elliptical or oval figures is more difficult for a horse and rider than just riding an arc that follows a circular path.

Recently, I was giving a clinic and a hunter-jumper friend of mine expressed the concept this way: don't go big to go small.  I thought "bingo!" that's it in an easy to understand statement.  In other words, don't go wide - or out in an elipse - when what you need is a tight arc. 
   
Most people understand the concept of attempting to make circles that are truely circular, not ovals or egg shapes etc.  But, when you put Trail obstacles in front of riders and ask them to ride a tight pattern, often they start widening. Then they're struggling to put the horse back on track to go over or through the obstacle. and it simply does not work.  Instead, they end up with impossible right angle turns and approaches that are off to one side.

So, in short, keep it simple.  Don't over think the course, ride arcs the way they naturally flow.  Don't ride like you're trying to get the trailer into a tight gas station, instead, arc your horse's rib cage around your leg and see how tight you can go - don't go big to go small!   Talk to you next week.  JD 

Confinement and Containment

I heard an interesting comment from a fellow trainer the other day and the subject just keeps coming up in various forms so I thought I’d start to ponder it with you today.   The comment was:  “I don’t believe in confinement”.

Well, hmm…… that’s an interesting comment because at its most basic: all training is based on confinement.  The very idea of collection is confinement between the hands and legs of the rider.  Asking a horse to load in a trailer, go into a wash rack or even to be stalled is asking a horse to accept confinement.

The process of accepting confinement starts when most horses are babies and we halter them for the very first time and when we first turn them out in fenced areas.  And certainly no horse is born knowing how to be tied, bridled or saddled, that all has to be taught. Confinement allows a horse to live with and alongside humans and not only be safe for people to be around, but to keep from getting hurt by us and our things as well.

For a horseman, confinement and containment are interrelated.  A horse that accepts the confinement of being a domesticated animal has taken a big step towards accepting the containment that is “collection”.  Collection is really containment that puts a horse in balance by asking for momentum while using hands to keep that momentum from just going forward.  So, the horse that “collects up” is containing or “compressing” his body.

Another aspect of all this is the mental component of containment.  Horses must accept all these changes in their life, which is quite unnatural in their natural state.  But, in doing so, it allows us to care for them and most horses now live without hunger or thirst, fear from predators or suffering from the extremes of weather.  It will never cease to amaze me how the horses I’ve turned out during the day in their pastures cry to be let back in as the day goes on.  They know their stall means food, water, blankets and generally: a safe place to spend their night.

I guess what I’m really saying is that there is a trade-off between horses and humans, a bargain if you will.  We use horses for work and pleasure and by doing so; horses get a different level of care and attention than they would in the wild.  The trade cannot happen though, without some confinement.

I’ll talk more about this in a future blog.  Talk to you next week, JD