Post by Calaminty Jane on Apr 18, 2011 12:57:23 GMT -5
How do you interpret these phases? These are quotes from great horsemen ...... some that have influenced Dennis and others. I keep a copy and re-read it from time to time. I'm amazed how the meanings deepen and become more clear as time goes by. Will some become your favorites??
Natural horsemanship, to me, is to understand what is natural to the horse and use this information to help us... help the horse understand what we want him to do for us..
This is a list of thoughts and quotes that have become important to me and help me communicate with a horse. They are reminders of how horses learn and what motivates them. They help identify problems.
How to think like a horse!
Learn what is Natural to the horse …. Why does he act like that?
Crowding (get to the center of the herd), pushing into pressure, pair bonding, gregarious nature, protects his hind quarters, adrenalin rush, endorphin release.
Why Punishment doesn’t work with a horse.
What is the difference between correction and punishment……. in the horses mind?
Correction is when he thinks about it. Punishment is after he did it.
Is it reaction or response? Is he thinking?
Prey/ Predator Relationship …….. Motivation for horse & human
Humans like praise, recognition and material things.
Horses like safety comfort and play ….. then food
Are you sensitizing or desensitizing? Which did you intend?.
Desensitizing- Find a starting point-Approach and retreat
Sensitizing- Start with the lightest possible request. Use phases until you are affective. Add rhythm.
Partnership- Horse and human learn to do the opposite of what is natural to each. Horse learns to give to pressure and not push into it. Human learns to put pressure on slowly and release quickly.
Learn when it’s safe to ride. Is he bending? Is he listening? Should I spend more time on the ground?
Are you teaching your horse to be heavy and brace? No release
Be careful what you think for your thoughts become your words and then your words become your deeds so be careful what you think!
Learn the power of FOCUS
Pressure motivates- Release teaches
Motivate your horse with comfort
Look for ways to praise.
Learn to do less sooner instead of more later
Match their energy
Isolate. Separate and Recombine.
Remember to think first (imagine it in your mind)
If it falls apart, just stop and start again
The more the horse feels right, the harder he’ll try.
Don’t correct him… just re-direct him.
Trust he’ll respond but be ready to correct, not one more than the other
Quit when it’s good!
If you are quick your horse feels punished.
How little does it take?
Believe you are doing it for the horse…. not to him
Expect a lot … except a little … and reward often.
Make the wrong thing difficult and the right thing easy
Don’t lie to your horse
Go back to where it was good.
Your horse can only be as brave as you are
Your horse is your mirror
Horses teach people and people teach horses (in that order)
Slow and right beats fast and wrong
Little pieces make the best foundation
If you close a door, open another.
Feel, Timing and Balance
Fix it up and let him find it
Observe, Remember and Compare
Adjust to fit the situation
Confidence is knowing you are prepared
If the horse is right on his feet, he’ll be right in his head
Recognize the smallest change, the slightest try.
Believe in your horse so your horse can believe in you
The horse is a reflection of the rider’s ability
Thought with purpose gives the horse direction
It’s the little things that make a big difference
It’s amazing what the horse can do in spite of the rider
The human has an opinion, the horse is the fact
Let your idea become the horse’s idea
What happens before what happened, happened
You need to have a picture in your mind of what you want your horse to do.
Prepare to a position for the transition.
If it doesn’t work, you are either asking the wrong question or asking it wrong.
It’s a feel following a feel
If you haven't got his attention, you don't try to direct it.
You're not working on the horse; you're working on yourself.
Your feet and your legs are as important or more important than your arms and hands
The slower you go, the faster you will learn
Don’t go through something bad and try to come out good, stop and start over
Don’t ride the saddle, ride the horse
Don’t sell your problem horse…. Sell your problem horse on you.
Don’t make your horse less herd bound… be more important than the herd.
Work with your horse, not against him
Always listen to what the horse is trying to tell you
Always think for yourself
Practice a way of being with horses.
Everything counts
Don’t quit riding. Stay mentally engaged
Ride with your horse
Keep a Leg on each side and your mind in the middle: stay centered
Have a quiet mind
Give the horse the benefit of the doubt that they will try and do things right for you, and not constantly reprimanding them for things done wrong.” [/font][/size]
Offer to him whatever you seek from your horse.
Offer lightness…trust….confidence…..love
How you catch you horse, halter your horse and lead your horse..... will tell him how much you know and how much you care. It is where learning begins every day. Most important is how you leave your horse... for that is exactly where he will be when you next see him.
The horse will teach you if you will listen........
Natural horsemanship, to me, is to understand what is natural to the horse and use this information to help us... help the horse understand what we want him to do for us..
This is a list of thoughts and quotes that have become important to me and help me communicate with a horse. They are reminders of how horses learn and what motivates them. They help identify problems.
How to think like a horse!
Learn what is Natural to the horse …. Why does he act like that?
Crowding (get to the center of the herd), pushing into pressure, pair bonding, gregarious nature, protects his hind quarters, adrenalin rush, endorphin release.
Why Punishment doesn’t work with a horse.
What is the difference between correction and punishment……. in the horses mind?
Correction is when he thinks about it. Punishment is after he did it.
Is it reaction or response? Is he thinking?
Prey/ Predator Relationship …….. Motivation for horse & human
Humans like praise, recognition and material things.
Horses like safety comfort and play ….. then food
Are you sensitizing or desensitizing? Which did you intend?.
Desensitizing- Find a starting point-Approach and retreat
Sensitizing- Start with the lightest possible request. Use phases until you are affective. Add rhythm.
Partnership- Horse and human learn to do the opposite of what is natural to each. Horse learns to give to pressure and not push into it. Human learns to put pressure on slowly and release quickly.
Learn when it’s safe to ride. Is he bending? Is he listening? Should I spend more time on the ground?
Are you teaching your horse to be heavy and brace? No release
Be careful what you think for your thoughts become your words and then your words become your deeds so be careful what you think!
Learn the power of FOCUS
Pressure motivates- Release teaches
Motivate your horse with comfort
Look for ways to praise.
Learn to do less sooner instead of more later
Match their energy
Isolate. Separate and Recombine.
Remember to think first (imagine it in your mind)
If it falls apart, just stop and start again
The more the horse feels right, the harder he’ll try.
Don’t correct him… just re-direct him.
Trust he’ll respond but be ready to correct, not one more than the other
Quit when it’s good!
If you are quick your horse feels punished.
How little does it take?
Believe you are doing it for the horse…. not to him
Expect a lot … except a little … and reward often.
Make the wrong thing difficult and the right thing easy
Don’t lie to your horse
Go back to where it was good.
Your horse can only be as brave as you are
Your horse is your mirror
Horses teach people and people teach horses (in that order)
Slow and right beats fast and wrong
Little pieces make the best foundation
If you close a door, open another.
Feel, Timing and Balance
Fix it up and let him find it
Observe, Remember and Compare
Adjust to fit the situation
Confidence is knowing you are prepared
If the horse is right on his feet, he’ll be right in his head
Recognize the smallest change, the slightest try.
Believe in your horse so your horse can believe in you
The horse is a reflection of the rider’s ability
Thought with purpose gives the horse direction
It’s the little things that make a big difference
It’s amazing what the horse can do in spite of the rider
The human has an opinion, the horse is the fact
Let your idea become the horse’s idea
What happens before what happened, happened
You need to have a picture in your mind of what you want your horse to do.
Prepare to a position for the transition.
If it doesn’t work, you are either asking the wrong question or asking it wrong.
It’s a feel following a feel
If you haven't got his attention, you don't try to direct it.
You're not working on the horse; you're working on yourself.
Your feet and your legs are as important or more important than your arms and hands
The slower you go, the faster you will learn
Don’t go through something bad and try to come out good, stop and start over
Don’t ride the saddle, ride the horse
Don’t sell your problem horse…. Sell your problem horse on you.
Don’t make your horse less herd bound… be more important than the herd.
Work with your horse, not against him
Always listen to what the horse is trying to tell you
Always think for yourself
Practice a way of being with horses.
Everything counts
Don’t quit riding. Stay mentally engaged
Ride with your horse
Keep a Leg on each side and your mind in the middle: stay centered
Have a quiet mind
Give the horse the benefit of the doubt that they will try and do things right for you, and not constantly reprimanding them for things done wrong.” [/font][/size]
Offer to him whatever you seek from your horse.
Offer lightness…trust….confidence…..love
How you catch you horse, halter your horse and lead your horse..... will tell him how much you know and how much you care. It is where learning begins every day. Most important is how you leave your horse... for that is exactly where he will be when you next see him.
The horse will teach you if you will listen........