Post by Calaminty Jane on Jan 31, 2010 10:42:48 GMT -5
Ah Ha…. New thought! What is pressure??? When you teach your horse something new, how do you set things up for him so he can find it? When you ask your horse to go forward, how does he know that is what you want? The very first time he was asked to go forward with someone on his back, how did he know what to do?
When you first went to work, someone explained to you what the job was. They did this with words I assume. Once you knew the job, because you have a good work ethic and you wanted the please those around you and you have pride in everything you do, you did your very best. The only way you knew you were on track was because of the feed back you got, the pay check you got and the fact that you still have a job.
But why did you go to work in the first place? Pressure??? So what is pressure? Does it have to be something physical …? A touch???
I vividly remember watching a student with Mark Rashid. She closed your eyes as she sat on her horse. She held the rein as Mark held the other end. With no visible movement, she felt the energy from Mark. That was a very emotional moment for many of us that were watching as we realized how much unnecessary pressure we were putting on our horses. What I learned in that moment is the most important reason I’ve had some success with my very introverted horse Jones. He would be described by most as dull, obstinate, unresponsive, heavy and stubborn and so on. When in fact he is super sensitive, easily scared, very slow to trust but has more try than any horse I have ever had. He is the type of horse that seems quiet and will temp someone to do more instead of offering the lightest of pressure he needs to motivate him. I love the way I’ve learned to offer an opening and let him find it. When I can ask him to speed up and slow down by pretty much just thinking. But for sure, none of us started there. I guess the simplest way to describe my interpretation of the pressure I now put on my horse is to ask in the softest way I can and then try to do less next time.
Carol
I never met a horse that says "No".
I've met lots of horses that say "I don't know"
ourlifeonthefarm.blogspot.com/
When you first went to work, someone explained to you what the job was. They did this with words I assume. Once you knew the job, because you have a good work ethic and you wanted the please those around you and you have pride in everything you do, you did your very best. The only way you knew you were on track was because of the feed back you got, the pay check you got and the fact that you still have a job.
But why did you go to work in the first place? Pressure??? So what is pressure? Does it have to be something physical …? A touch???
I vividly remember watching a student with Mark Rashid. She closed your eyes as she sat on her horse. She held the rein as Mark held the other end. With no visible movement, she felt the energy from Mark. That was a very emotional moment for many of us that were watching as we realized how much unnecessary pressure we were putting on our horses. What I learned in that moment is the most important reason I’ve had some success with my very introverted horse Jones. He would be described by most as dull, obstinate, unresponsive, heavy and stubborn and so on. When in fact he is super sensitive, easily scared, very slow to trust but has more try than any horse I have ever had. He is the type of horse that seems quiet and will temp someone to do more instead of offering the lightest of pressure he needs to motivate him. I love the way I’ve learned to offer an opening and let him find it. When I can ask him to speed up and slow down by pretty much just thinking. But for sure, none of us started there. I guess the simplest way to describe my interpretation of the pressure I now put on my horse is to ask in the softest way I can and then try to do less next time.
Carol
I never met a horse that says "No".
I've met lots of horses that say "I don't know"
ourlifeonthefarm.blogspot.com/