The best way to get to the pub for lunch π΄
The most wonderful magic in the world is hidden within little moments like these.
Sometimes it's easy to get swept away in the day-to-day rush. Be careful not to miss the little moments β€οΈ
Bridleless flying lead change and canter-to-stop with the amazing Siren π
There's nothing quite like sunshine and blue skies π
Join us for a canter in the sun π΄
This is rescue horse Caesar, a previously unhandled colt who was rescued from slaughter in Feb, and due to the floods and subsequent workload, remained unhandled until I was able to start working with him about 2 months ago.
The initial connection work I did with Caesar was simply being around. I would be walking by his yard all day, I would sit in the yard when I had some spare time and allow him to see me from a distance, and I would feed him a few times a day and eventually would be able to stand nearby while he ate.
When we started the 'handling' process, I began with establishing positive reinforcement training with him, walk and stop with me at liberty, and then trained him, without any pressure or touch, to put his own head in the halter. This is a process that requires a lot of patience, good timing and emotional control on the humans behalf, but the result of starting this way, I find, is a surprising amount of cognitive development and trust building.
Leading is a very easy thing to learn next, as the horse has already been walking with you at liberty, so when light pressure is introduced, it is easy for them to figure out and respond to the cues.
With +R established, I can tell Caesar the very moment he makes a step in the right direction towards our goal (picking up hooves, grooming, accepting a rug, float loading, and will go on to every other aspect of training).
Those initial training sessions may seem tedious, but if stuck out, the horse will have the mental capacity to figure out new stimuli and self regulate their emotions because they know that they always have the option to say 'no', and so don't feel the need to switch to the self-preserving fight or flight mode so easily. They also have the trust to follow your lead, and the incentive to explore and try new behaviours, which will develop a curious and intelligent mind.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have been filming all training sessions with Caesar, and they will eventually be available
You can't ask your horse to trust you if you aren't trusting them.
If you're standing on the mounting block looking at the saddle, and apprehension and nerves are swelling up inside you, you need to listen to that just as much as you should listen if it were your horse's feelings. If you had a relaxed demeanour but your horse was moving around anxiously, wound up like a tight spring, you wouldn't just get on (or at least, you really shouldn't). You would go back several steps until before he was uncomfortable and you would work on every little step from there to pin-point the problem and be able to work it out. By the time you're mounting up, your horse is standing calmly and relaxed at the mounting block with a loose rein as you mount.
But what about you?
I usually make analogies between horse training and training focussed at kids or other people, because it helps you understand what im saying from a more familiar perspective. However with this situation, it's easier to compare what *you* need to work on for yourself, with horse training.
Think of it this way, repairing your own trauma or insecurities is no different from repairing them in a horse. You essentially need to 'train' yourself, one baby step at a time. To do this, do for yourself exactly what you would do for your horse. Liberty ground work and establishing a 'language' based on positive reinforcement techniques is an ideal place to start. Work on simple things together first, haltering, walking at liberty, stopping together, picking up hooves, grooming, and eventually teach your horse to be saddled up while completely relaxed, (these things may seem like they're training the horse and not yourself, but believe me, they are training you just as well). Every tiny step not only increases the horse's trust and confidence in you, but also increases the trust and confidence you have towards your horse. If something creates nervousness in either party, take a step back and return to that place of relaxa
This is Duke's third ever 'ride'. His first ride was like this, but first he learnt to accept a bareback pad while standing still and relaxed at liberty, and then to accept and stand beside the ladder. His second ride was introducing a halter with reins to begin learning flexion undersaddle.
Duke was halter broken and handled when younger but unstarted undersaddle and hadn't had much to do with people for years. He was gentle and kind, but also wary and skittish.
After his arrival, we spent a long time just getting to know one another, allowing him to accept me into his space and into his life.
Eventually, he trusted me enough to eat out of my hand which opened the door to learning the foundations of positive reinforcement training, whilst learning liberty basics. After various ground work sessions to create a bond and really get to know one another, and after learning +R fundamentals which created our 'language' to help him figure out cues, we practiced simply standing still.
I can't express enough how much of an important aspect that is when it comes to setting the foundation on which a horses entire education will build on. A horse should be happy to stand still, at liberty, while being tacked up and eventually while being mounted. If he is standing with no restraint, relaxed, focussed, comfortable with that next step, then he is ready. If not, he is not ready. It makes no sense pulling his head around in a circle to get on.. Ignoring that a horse doesn't want you there is the beginning of many a rider's problems undersaddle.
Standing still and relaxed is the first tiny step on the path to developing a balanced mind. These steps that seem too simple to be of much importance, are actually the most important of all.
Jasmine decided to help out her boyfriend Banjo on his ride today. She checked his tack, groomed him and made herself the camera lady. Thanks Jas β€
A little compilation of Topaz. Patience, relaxation and enjoyment are the main focus, using low-pressure, at liberty techniques to build a confident mind. No rush.
First clip is about a week in, then his first session with me, then a speed video of some halter training in session 3, where he was offering various behaviours around the halter and would be rewarded for correct attempts, and lastly is a video of catching him in his paddock today.
He is now coming in with the herd each day to learn to stand tied for relatively short periods of time, getting used to grooming and having his legs touched. Can't wait to trim his poor hooves so that is the main focus now that we have a bit of trust.
Love this little man. He is a gem, true to his name π β€
I finally got around to designing a logo! Thanks to Tornac for being my lovely silhouette model
It's like learning to ride all over again π
Bridleless training with Apollo. We still have a long way to go but Apollo is learning very fast and we are bonding more every day.
The best thing about this session for me was that he chose to come to me after I walked away. Usually he won't follow without a halter unless I specifically ask him to, but I feel he is finally opening up to me.
