Horsemanship: A simple misunderstanding...
Although I teach throughout the USA, because of the rural location where I am based for the summer, there tends to be limited interaction
of horse owners here in the inland northwest.
Often people are living on larger properties and are able to keep their
equine partners at home rather than boarded at a facility, and most people only
have a few “nice months” to enjoy quality time with their horse without weather
being an issue. As nice as it is for
owners to look out the window and see their horse happily munching in the field,
the lack of interaction with other horsey folks often creates an isolated feel. Although most people would prefer riding with
other equine enthusiasts, they end up working/riding their horse alone. Or all too commonly a horse owner ends up
riding with a group of horse people because they are the “only” option of
people to ride with. The group may not be
respectful or sensitive to someone else’s (or their horse’s) ability, needs,
etc., and can often over face a member of their group in how (speed, etc.) or
where the ride occurs.
Alternative Horsemanship™ with Samantha Harvey the Remote Horse Coach teaches horse behavior, horse training, and coaches horseback riders of all experience levels. Offering horsemanship clinics worldwide, distance horse coaching instruction, horse video learning catalog, equine consultations, equine re-education and rehabilitation, colt starting, and lessons. Follow her #alternativehorsemanship on all social media platforms.
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Keeping it simple...
Letting go of “stuff” in order to find clear communication.
Recently I’ve had a few horses come in for training or
an assessment that all share a common theme in their background. All of their owners had ridden years ago, and
then after an absence from the sport, re-immersed themselves in the last year
by buying a horse. None of the owners
had ever “done” ground work in their previous equine experiences, and each
owner had recently been taught a different “method” for doing ground work. The one common factor being that each owner
had been encouraged to buy DVDs, books, and “equipment” to learn work with
their horse on the ground.
In each scenario, the new owner felt confidence and believed
that they had a “connection” with their new horse while at lessons, clinics,
etc., until they brought their horse home and had unexpected scenarios arise. Then things started to fall apart.
I don’t believe there is a “right or wrong” way to teach
horses or people, my personal style is to try and keep things as simple and
straight forward as possible, using a simplistic train of thought in how, what
and why we “do” something, so that when owners are home alone with their
horses, they can “think through” how to help their horse even when I’m not
around.
In fact I constantly adapt how and what I present depending
on who is on the receiving end. I just
got done teaching a clinic few weeks back where one of the students on day four
of the clinic asked, “What are we going to do today?,” and was shocked when I
explained that each group of riders and their horses dictated during each
session what “we accomplished” or learned for the day.
When a horse comes in for training, I offer the horse a
clean slate, with no assumptions no matter the age, experience, etc. of the
horse. As I’ve mentioned in many of my
other blogs, there are usually some major holes in the initial education of the
horse.
So back to the recent horses that came in for training. I could basically quickly distinguish what “method”
each horse had been taught by their conditioned, non-thinking responses and
brainless movement when I asked something of them. They each had to re-learn with me what they
thought they knew, and rather than offering me a movement first, I wanted to
see their thought BEFORE they moved.
See their thought? Yes. I wanted to see their eyes and ears focused
towards wherever I directed, I wanted to see a relaxed physical state, I wanted
to see consistent breathing, and only then, would I believe the horse was
mentally available to “hear” what I was physically going to ask of him.
I have found that the simpler I keep my communication with horses
the easier it is for the horse to trust, believe and try. I am only 5’2” and have worked everything
from heavy draft horses to Warmbloods, from Arabians to ponies to mules. I CANNOT “manhandle” any animal into doing
what I want. But I CAN “talk” to his
brain, but first I must get the animal’s brain willing to “hear” me.
Going through what may seem to some people as very
simplistic ways of communication through either spatial pressure or physical
pressure using just a lead rope, the initial “conversation” with the horse is
to establish concepts such as yielding to pressure, following pressure, being
able to clearly offer a left, right, forward and back- with any of the animal’s
four feet, establishing “personal space”, desensitizing the horse from being
defensive when something new is presented, and last but not least, teaching the
horse how to “search” for what I am asking of him, rather than trying one or
two things and then mentally shutting down if he didn’t figure out what I wanted.
Instead of lots of movement from either me or the horse, “driving”,
micromanaging, repetition, patternized routines, etc. my goal is to simply be able to ask the horse’s
brain to focus on something specific, then depending on how much “energy” I
offer using the lead (NOT swinging the
end of it- that is driving,) to have the horse move mimicking the energy I’ve
offered. From lining up to the mounting
block, crossing a tarp or puddle, or stepping into a horse trailer, it is not
about the “task” at hand, but rather for the conversation to begin with the
horse being mentally present and ready to “hear” where I direct his brain, and
then for his body to gently respond.
So as a recent owner went to load up her horse the “old” way
with attempting to put pressure on the horse’s hindquarters, never noticing the
fact that the horse wasn’t even looking at the horse trailer he was supposed to
be getting into, I offered instead to stand to the side of the trailer, and
through being able to help narrow down the horse’s thoughts from looking at everything
EXCEPT the trailer to directing them to thinking into the trailer. After the horse
quietly and thinking into the trailer, I asked that he offer first one foot, then pause, then the second front
foot, and then to stand half way in the trailer, which is when he took a deep breath, dropped his head and emotionally let down. We stood, we breathed, and we relaxed. He stepped out, then I asked him to “think in
the trailer” and again he gently loaded his front end, paused, then when I
asked him to think “further” into the trailer, he loaded all four feet, quietly
waited for me to ask him to move up to the front and stood nicely while
tied.
The horse’s owner was sort of shocked. I simply explained how adding “gas” or “driving”
the hind end of the horse with more and more pressure, without having a “steering
wheel” was just going to create chaos to the horse’s brain and body in an insecure
animal. Instead, ask him to slow down
his thoughts until he focused on just one simple, attainable task, such as “think
straight.” Then add, “think straight,
take one step.” And to slowly increase
in increments what you want, you remove the “scariness” of the task.
I explained it wasn’t about the horse loading, lining up for
the mounting block, or crossing the tarp, it was about the horse learning to be
available to “hear” what I was asking, and to learn, that I would SUPPORT him
through ever physical step I asked, that every time he tried, I'd acknowledge his effort, rather than take advantage of it, and that afterwards he would feel more
confident for trying.
I think back over the years as to the many
scenarios when I’ve gently taken away lunge lines, whips, “training aids,” and
other gadgets that people truly believed would help improve their horsemanship
and help their horse “overcome” a problem. The shock from the owners of how they accomplished more with doing less, using less stuff, and being more clear what exactly they wanted, are the "light bulb" moments that keep me inspired to teach humans.
In the end I hope
that through teaching both human and horse students to literally think
through a scenario first, rather than react, and to teach them simple tools in
how to communicate effectively and clearly that both can come away
from each scenario with a calmer, safer and more satisfying experience.
Here is to keeping it simple…
Sam
Jump Starting your Riding Season
Spring is here, now what?
For those who are not competition motivated, or who have to
address “obvious” advancement with their horse, such as working with a baby and
teaching them ground manners, I find often find pleasure horse owners reach a
plateau with their equine partner, and often lack a direction, which in turn
can create patternized routines and rides, lack of motivation, lace of mental
presence from human towards their horse.
Up here in the pacific northwest, many horse owners are
lucky enough to keep their horses at home, and have the opportunity to “just
ride” whenever; though the ease of accessibility is awesome, it can often
become a “lonely” experience without another equine enthusiast to share ideas,
thoughts or experiences with.
Of course then there are sometimes the horror stories of
folks trying to expand their equine associated friends, but large groups of all
levels and mentalities in varies levels of dangerous scenarios can often turn
someone off from participating in group gatherings.
So what can you do?
Here are a few ideas…
1.) Every two
weeks “add” one small new concept, idea, or thought to YOUR knowledge base
regarding any equine related. This can
be read, watched, heard. You don’t have
to either “totally get it, understand it or want to use it.” But it will be something new to think
about. It often can take a long time of “mulling
something over” before you can have an opinion about it.
In this day and age media allows us a lot of opportunity to
see, hear and read things we would have never had access to in the past. Take advantage of it. Even if you just sit back and watch all of the
amateur horse lover videos on YouTube, audit a local competition or other horse
related gathering.
2.) Go take a
lesson or audit a lesson. Even the “top”
horse people in the world take lessons or continue to expand their knowledge
through learning from others. Lessons
often can be associated with “having a problem,” but really they may just be a
way to get another person’s assessment of “where” you and your horse are at,
with some ideas and suggestions for future improvement. To get the “most” for your money, if you can
find someone to video you (to film in close proximity to the instructor so you
can hear what they are saying), you’ll be able to watch the video in the future,
and some of the things you may have missed while riding, you might be able to
address after watching yourself in the lesson and reminded of the instruction
offered.
3.) Find a
riding buddy. I don’t mean someone who you
will brainlessly gossip with when you ride out on the trail, but rather someone
with similar horse related interests who might share and/or motivate you. There are always notice boards at the local
feed store, and often online there are plenty of websites (horse and non horse
related) where people can freely advertise or search for other people with the
same similar interest. It might take a
little time, you may have some “misses” but eventually you’ll find at least one
person who you can share you appreciation for the sport with.
I was reminded yet again just a week ago, how clients who
live quite far apart, but who met at one of my clinics a year ago, are still in
touch and have on several occasions done horse activities together.
There are plenty more ideas but, these few can offer you an affordable
jump start to your riding season.
Because I offer training by the week, I find many folks who
come for a week or two as a “spring tune up” to get them and their horse on the
“same page” in order to go home with some realistic and plausible future goals
and ideas.
Good Luck,
Sam
TEC's Spring Hoofprints & Happenings Newsletter
Please enjoy the latest copy of our newsletter! http://www.learnhorses.com/newsletter/Spring%202013%20H%20&%20H.pdf
The "Foreign" Horse
Several times now in the past few weeks a topic has come up in regards to the misconception people have about horses and their expectations and disappointments due to their totally unfounded preconceived notions.
I was having a conversation with one of the country’s top ropers the other day, and as I was giving my quick "run down" and assessments of a few horses we were sending with him to promote in the competition arena, I casually commented as to my disbelief of how many Texas horses were "missing" major portions of what I’d consider a basic education.
He laughed and quickly listed off the same major gray areas that I’d noticed as I was assessing the ranch’s "proven" show horses. And that was the spark of inspiration for this blog.
As I began to think back over the years I’ve spent involved in all aspects of the horse industry, I started realizing how many people I’d encountered that had "gotten into trouble" because of their belief that "foreign is better."
It does not seem to matter what equine discipline you are involved with, each one over time has acquired certain "assumptions" or "idealisms" in regards to stereotyping horses from certain places on the planet! Not to be cliché but, the grass does seem greener for a majority of equine enthusiasts as for the opportunity to pick that "perfect" horse for their sport from some far off land.
For show jumping, South America has been a huge hotspot; for Dressage, Germany still holds the "golden ticket" horse that will offer the perfect passage riders are striving for. In Three Day Eventing New Zealand long ago was put on a pedestal for producing bold, safe, sane and sound horses that would carry their riders to the top of the sport. Those in the south or southwest USA have long let their imaginations carry them away with romantic images flashing through their mind when imagining that perfect "ranch horse" that was smart enough to carry their rider safely, sturdy enough to navigate the most treacherous terrain and had the old time "authentic" working horse look; if you were anywhere else in the USA, Montana hands down carried that "romantic concept" of a person working cattle, covering vast amounts of land, and camping out under the stars with their trusty steed.
But then there is reality… And the reality in my opinion is there are multiple factors that are proving "wrong" the preconceived notions.
NOTE: My opinions are based on my experiences and although I will use generalizations, I know there are always exceptions to every "general" statement I may make.
First let’s just look at the quality of horses these days. I believe there are really only a handful of places nowadays producing mentally, physically and emotionally durable horses; most of these have "let nature take its course" and allow their broodmare bands and babies to be raised in "real" country, realizing that keeping the horse’s natural instincts intact will only help produce a better riding partner in the future.
But just as with most other things man has attempted to "improve" (i.e. look at the dog breeding situation) horses nowadays don’t even resemble what they once looked like. If you ever have the opportunity, try and find some pictures of breeds such as Morgans, Walkers, Thoroughbreds, and Quarter Horses, from the 1950s, then the 1970s, the 1990s and then present day to compare the general physical features.
In most cases, I don’t think that we have improved the breeds, and just as we have diminished bone quality and hoof size, I believe too we have decreased the production of "thinking" horses, by ignoring mental genetics and prioritizing breeding genetically for whatever the popular "look of the moment" may be without considering what sort of "brain" our horses were passing on to their babies.
Next, lifestyle has obviously changed from WWII on to diminish the percentage of our demand for working horses and replaced a majority of those with "pleasure" horses. As our lifestyles changed and agriculture became increasingly reliant on mechanized equipment, horses had less and less time spent with them.
Nowadays, a majority of horse owners in the US have their horse as a "hobby", which sadly and all too often causes the horse to be low on the list of priorities for the time spent with it. This also means that with less time with the human, there is less exposure to "the real world."
So in the past the plough horse was also commonly a family’s only mode of transportation whether it be hitched to a wagon or ridden by all family members. Irrelevant of the quality of what it’s owners taught it, the horse had miles and miles of exposure and therefor had better chances of becoming that "take anywhere, do anything with" kind of equine.
Fast forward even to just twenty or thirty years ago, folks who were die hard equine enthusiasts but without supportive parents, had to figure out "how to make it work." By the time they finally found someone’s leftover, half broke, goofy looking equine, they were so obsessed and committed, it didn’t matter how many times the "crazy" animal unseated them, mashed them against the trees, bit, kick or stomped on them… Eventually they and that same mount were the ones who would ride three miles to the local horse show, compete in every single class irrelevant of their knowledge, lack of proper equipment or training, and then ride home at the end of the day.
Society today has for one become so built up, that it is almost impossible to ride from point A to point B without serious planning and permission from private property owners, and second, people these days just don’t have the same level of "die hard commitment" in their horse endeavors. I believe a lot of the "instant gratification" our westernized society promotes is a huge problem in how we approach our horsemanship and riding.
When I lived in Europe 16 years ago, riding under two Gold Medal Olympians, their early successes (one was from the land down under) was mostly due to their perseverance, the fact that he rode a Kiwi horse had nothing to do with winning the Olympics, rather back then, Eventers were certifiable insane (click the Bromont Three Day Event from 1970s on YouTube and your heart will be in your mouth every moment watching the cross country rides). They crashed, they got beat up, they had many, many mishaps, but through sheer perseverance and the horse managing to stay sound, 10 years later, he was an Olympic champion.
In the Dressage world too, for decades it was a "known fact" that if you were real about following your Olympic dream, you had to go and be "slave labor" in Germany where for the first six months you would ride on a lunge line after a long day of grueling labor and "abuse". It was sort of like a "survival" challenge and if you made it through the first six months, then maybe, just maybe you’d get some real instruction.
Obviously Europe due to historical reasons will have a lot more variation and longer lineage of horses they produce, but I truly believe it is not the horse that "makes" the rider, but rather the rider that "makes the horse."
What I mean is that in the example above, part of where the Germans excel in "self-discipline" will obviously affect their level of commitment to their horses, and although it may seem like a far reach in comparison, that die hard kid with the backyard pony who rides every moment of every day, has to some degree the same perseverance as the classically trained rider from Europe.
Let’s also look at the Texas or Montana romanticized ranch horse. Obviously stories, legends and folk lore over the years associated with certain "looks" or dress codes, mannerism and adventures of the "Wild, Wild West," have caught the imagination of even the most deeply rooted city folk.
Hollywood has attempted to offer its version, though often I find they are totally missing the most basic foundation for their characters. Through the various folks I’ve met, worked with and had the opportunity to just "sit on the fence and watch", it is not about the location or "unspoken codes" or traditions of the Wild West. It is more about the simple truth that if a person is relying on a horse for their survival and livelihood, if they do not take the time to thoroughly offer a quality education to their horse, they are greatly decreasing the chances of their success and well-being. It is as simple as that.
Those true horsemen and horsewomen have nothing to prove, no one watching them, no statements about making statements whether it be through fancy gear or attire, but who do it because they know it is the "right" way to create a lasting and rewarding partnership with their horses.
Somehow once in a while an "outsider" may see one of these folks riding one of their finished horses, and it makes the outsider almost salivate! The horseman and their horse work as one, the communication is subtle, their work with livestock is efficient and effective. And thus, the legend of the "ranch horse" is born, and spreads like wild fire.
So just as I myself have "suffered" from believing the clichés different sports carry, I have realized over the years that although you can obviously find a more quality horse mentally, physically and emotionally over another, what it really all comes down to is YOU!
What do you offer the horse? How available are you to "growing" with your horse? How committed are you to your horsemanship and riding? Every answer will be reflected in your horse’s performance and learning.
Good Luck,
Sam
I was having a conversation with one of the country’s top ropers the other day, and as I was giving my quick "run down" and assessments of a few horses we were sending with him to promote in the competition arena, I casually commented as to my disbelief of how many Texas horses were "missing" major portions of what I’d consider a basic education.
He laughed and quickly listed off the same major gray areas that I’d noticed as I was assessing the ranch’s "proven" show horses. And that was the spark of inspiration for this blog.
As I began to think back over the years I’ve spent involved in all aspects of the horse industry, I started realizing how many people I’d encountered that had "gotten into trouble" because of their belief that "foreign is better."
It does not seem to matter what equine discipline you are involved with, each one over time has acquired certain "assumptions" or "idealisms" in regards to stereotyping horses from certain places on the planet! Not to be cliché but, the grass does seem greener for a majority of equine enthusiasts as for the opportunity to pick that "perfect" horse for their sport from some far off land.
For show jumping, South America has been a huge hotspot; for Dressage, Germany still holds the "golden ticket" horse that will offer the perfect passage riders are striving for. In Three Day Eventing New Zealand long ago was put on a pedestal for producing bold, safe, sane and sound horses that would carry their riders to the top of the sport. Those in the south or southwest USA have long let their imaginations carry them away with romantic images flashing through their mind when imagining that perfect "ranch horse" that was smart enough to carry their rider safely, sturdy enough to navigate the most treacherous terrain and had the old time "authentic" working horse look; if you were anywhere else in the USA, Montana hands down carried that "romantic concept" of a person working cattle, covering vast amounts of land, and camping out under the stars with their trusty steed.
But then there is reality… And the reality in my opinion is there are multiple factors that are proving "wrong" the preconceived notions.
NOTE: My opinions are based on my experiences and although I will use generalizations, I know there are always exceptions to every "general" statement I may make.
First let’s just look at the quality of horses these days. I believe there are really only a handful of places nowadays producing mentally, physically and emotionally durable horses; most of these have "let nature take its course" and allow their broodmare bands and babies to be raised in "real" country, realizing that keeping the horse’s natural instincts intact will only help produce a better riding partner in the future.
But just as with most other things man has attempted to "improve" (i.e. look at the dog breeding situation) horses nowadays don’t even resemble what they once looked like. If you ever have the opportunity, try and find some pictures of breeds such as Morgans, Walkers, Thoroughbreds, and Quarter Horses, from the 1950s, then the 1970s, the 1990s and then present day to compare the general physical features.
In most cases, I don’t think that we have improved the breeds, and just as we have diminished bone quality and hoof size, I believe too we have decreased the production of "thinking" horses, by ignoring mental genetics and prioritizing breeding genetically for whatever the popular "look of the moment" may be without considering what sort of "brain" our horses were passing on to their babies.
Next, lifestyle has obviously changed from WWII on to diminish the percentage of our demand for working horses and replaced a majority of those with "pleasure" horses. As our lifestyles changed and agriculture became increasingly reliant on mechanized equipment, horses had less and less time spent with them.
Nowadays, a majority of horse owners in the US have their horse as a "hobby", which sadly and all too often causes the horse to be low on the list of priorities for the time spent with it. This also means that with less time with the human, there is less exposure to "the real world."
So in the past the plough horse was also commonly a family’s only mode of transportation whether it be hitched to a wagon or ridden by all family members. Irrelevant of the quality of what it’s owners taught it, the horse had miles and miles of exposure and therefor had better chances of becoming that "take anywhere, do anything with" kind of equine.
Fast forward even to just twenty or thirty years ago, folks who were die hard equine enthusiasts but without supportive parents, had to figure out "how to make it work." By the time they finally found someone’s leftover, half broke, goofy looking equine, they were so obsessed and committed, it didn’t matter how many times the "crazy" animal unseated them, mashed them against the trees, bit, kick or stomped on them… Eventually they and that same mount were the ones who would ride three miles to the local horse show, compete in every single class irrelevant of their knowledge, lack of proper equipment or training, and then ride home at the end of the day.
Society today has for one become so built up, that it is almost impossible to ride from point A to point B without serious planning and permission from private property owners, and second, people these days just don’t have the same level of "die hard commitment" in their horse endeavors. I believe a lot of the "instant gratification" our westernized society promotes is a huge problem in how we approach our horsemanship and riding.
When I lived in Europe 16 years ago, riding under two Gold Medal Olympians, their early successes (one was from the land down under) was mostly due to their perseverance, the fact that he rode a Kiwi horse had nothing to do with winning the Olympics, rather back then, Eventers were certifiable insane (click the Bromont Three Day Event from 1970s on YouTube and your heart will be in your mouth every moment watching the cross country rides). They crashed, they got beat up, they had many, many mishaps, but through sheer perseverance and the horse managing to stay sound, 10 years later, he was an Olympic champion.
In the Dressage world too, for decades it was a "known fact" that if you were real about following your Olympic dream, you had to go and be "slave labor" in Germany where for the first six months you would ride on a lunge line after a long day of grueling labor and "abuse". It was sort of like a "survival" challenge and if you made it through the first six months, then maybe, just maybe you’d get some real instruction.
Obviously Europe due to historical reasons will have a lot more variation and longer lineage of horses they produce, but I truly believe it is not the horse that "makes" the rider, but rather the rider that "makes the horse."
What I mean is that in the example above, part of where the Germans excel in "self-discipline" will obviously affect their level of commitment to their horses, and although it may seem like a far reach in comparison, that die hard kid with the backyard pony who rides every moment of every day, has to some degree the same perseverance as the classically trained rider from Europe.
Let’s also look at the Texas or Montana romanticized ranch horse. Obviously stories, legends and folk lore over the years associated with certain "looks" or dress codes, mannerism and adventures of the "Wild, Wild West," have caught the imagination of even the most deeply rooted city folk.
Hollywood has attempted to offer its version, though often I find they are totally missing the most basic foundation for their characters. Through the various folks I’ve met, worked with and had the opportunity to just "sit on the fence and watch", it is not about the location or "unspoken codes" or traditions of the Wild West. It is more about the simple truth that if a person is relying on a horse for their survival and livelihood, if they do not take the time to thoroughly offer a quality education to their horse, they are greatly decreasing the chances of their success and well-being. It is as simple as that.
Those true horsemen and horsewomen have nothing to prove, no one watching them, no statements about making statements whether it be through fancy gear or attire, but who do it because they know it is the "right" way to create a lasting and rewarding partnership with their horses.
Somehow once in a while an "outsider" may see one of these folks riding one of their finished horses, and it makes the outsider almost salivate! The horseman and their horse work as one, the communication is subtle, their work with livestock is efficient and effective. And thus, the legend of the "ranch horse" is born, and spreads like wild fire.
So just as I myself have "suffered" from believing the clichés different sports carry, I have realized over the years that although you can obviously find a more quality horse mentally, physically and emotionally over another, what it really all comes down to is YOU!
What do you offer the horse? How available are you to "growing" with your horse? How committed are you to your horsemanship and riding? Every answer will be reflected in your horse’s performance and learning.
Good Luck,
Sam
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