βοΈβοΈDid you knowβοΈβοΈ
βͺοΈFailure to load onto a trailer is a deficit in the Go response
βͺοΈRushing on or off a trailer is a deficit in the Stop response
Correct training allows us to gain control of each individual leg 𦡠so we can put them forwards, backwards or sideways with trained cues βοΈβοΈ
By going back to basics and training the Go response to Obedience level we can teach the horse to go anywhere we ask, moving forwards from a light pressure, including into a trailer or horsebox π»π
This is why alot of horses I work with who have problems elsewhere in their training, seem to recover spontaneously when their owners come to load them! Quite often described as magic π© β¨οΈ it's really not, it's simply clearing up confusions with correct training π
Here are Mac and I practicing our Park response on the trailer. He loads on from a lovely light pressure but I want him to remain calm once in the trailer so we practice Park hereπ¦
One of my favourite ridden techniques is the "Long Walk". This exercise teaches the horse to step more underneath with their hind legs, which helps to activate the core, lift the back and lower the head π΄
It is an excellent relaxation exercise and I begin all of my schooling sessions with my horses in this walk πΆββοΈ
This exercise not only teaches the horse to take longer steps, it teaches them to keep their head and neck straight which encourages a lower head carriage. The head will not lower if the spine is not perfectly straight π¦΄
This is a great exercise for any horse but in particular for anxious, spooky, nervous horses. If you think about these horses they tend to have a high head carriage, hollow back, look in all directions and take short choppy steps ππ»
This video shows one of my lovely clients learning the long walk. This is early stages of the training and will improve week after week but already you can see her horse is more relaxed with a lower head carriage π€πββοΈ
Sometimes, you've just got to get on with it, no matter what challenges may face you!
This boy is star pupil this week π
He is going through the backing process with me and for this week's session we were faced with the farmer and a crop of hay πΎ and when a job's got to be done, a job's got to be done! π
For those of you who train with me, you know I'm all for changing only one variable at a time during training. Well this was quite a big variable to add into the mix, but he was absolutely outstanding! I tested his basic responses as always, and deemed it perfectly safe to carry on with our session as normal, and here we are!
This is a definite first for me! Backing a horse right next to a bale wrapper machine!
Clever lad! π΄π€ππ
This horse used to be described as "lazy" π΄
He was a "kick along" ride. You couldn't hack him out without carrying a stick and I rode him in spurs to get him to move forwards, especially in the arena.
That was all before I found Equitation Science and learnt that horses aren't actually "lazy". That is an anthropomorphic term us humans use to describe animals. Think about it π ...a horse in the wild would be dead if it were "lazy" ππ and I bet your lazy horse can move when he/she wants to!
A better way to describe this is that they are not responsive to the leg aid to go forwards. They don't know how to release the leg aid pressure from their sides and so do nothing/move backwards/switch off to it.
This is easily retrained using correct timing of pressure/release techniques. It makes life so much easier for us, you're not constantly on at them to move forwards or keep moving forwards π₯΅ and it's way nicer for them ππ΄
Woohoo is it finally summer? πβ±π
The hot weather and sunshine means we have to protect those little pink noses π
Is applying suncream to your horse one of those jobs you dread? Do they lift their head high or just won't let you anywhere near them at all?
This is easily resolved using correct negative reinforcement methods in the form of touch (the pressure) and release (the reward). It's actually how they train us in the first place to not be able to get suncream on their faces!
It's the same principle used when worming too! π
I have to admit I took this video because I thought it would be a great before and after! However, because of his correct groundwork training he actually really wasn't bothered about the whole suncream application thing π§΄
He was ready to go get his tan on π€£ππ
Little Mr Blue Sky demonstrating the mounting process π Such a good boy!
He is newly backed.
I broke the mounting process down;
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Taught to stand still
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Taught to stand still at the mounting block
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Backed bareback
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Habituated to saddle and girth
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Backed with saddle (this is different for them due to the added pressure from the girth)
Is your horse easy to mount? Will they not stand still at the mounting block? Move away from the block? Snatch the reins? Move off before you have your feet in the stirrups? Buck or bronch when you get on? Bolt?
There is no reason why they shouldn't stand like this with correct training.
Get in touch to have this behaviour resolved and make the mounting process calm and relaxed for both of you πππ΄
π΄ Backing π΄
I offer a unique backing service where I take horse and owner through the whole process together in their home environment π‘
This is nice for the horse as they stay in familiar surroundings, and nice for you as you get to see the whole process from start to finish, and are involved in all of the training π₯°π©βπ«
I love taking owners through the backing process with their horse and watching them learn together. This means that everything I teach the horse, the owner understands how, and the reasons why, making the training clear for everyone.
It is a step by step process with weekly lessons and homework to practice in between π
I've had lovely feedback from many owners who have thoroughly enjoyed being involved.
For more information drop me an email π§ [email protected]
This week I had the pleasure of working with this lovely pair who had been having problems when mounting. This horse would not stand at the mounting block and bolted when his rider got in the saddle, unfortunately causing injury and a big confidence knock π
We went back to basics and re-taught mounting from the beginning, layering each level and ensuring the horse was nice and calm before we moved on to the next step π€
I like to think of it like constructing some scaffolding. You can't build the next section if the previous level isn't solid and sturdy π§π©
We taught him Park and worked round his anxieties at each stage of the mounting process. By the end of the session his owner was mounting safely by herself, and her horse was nice and calm - the way I like them π€
This is not a quick fix, it's a behaviour transformation. I received this video yesterday of them doing this all by themselves π I really do love helping people and solving the problems they are having.
"I wasn't expecting this outcome, and this quickly, to see him that relaxed and happy is just lovely"
Equitation Science really is the BEST thing! I felt the relief as she got back in the saddle. And it's that feeling, and seeing smiles on faces as to why I love what I do ππ₯°
When you can train two horses in one ππ€£
A lovely ride out in the forest this morning π₯°π² for the horse that used to be terrified of bikes π΅ββοΈ spin 180Β° and bolt ππ¨ to this is lovely to see. There were lots and lots of bikes in big groups, in all directions, and they didn't bother him in the slightest. This just shows how successful correct overshadowing techniques can be ππ
When you've trained all of your animals to come on command π€£π
Using these lighter nights to walk around the bright lights of Tow Law practicing our Stop and Go.
When changing the training environment it is normal for the basic responses to deteriorate back to basic attempt. The first day I did this he couldn't stand for more than 5 seconds with his eyes on stalks π
Second day he was better, third day he could stand for 30 seconds + π
Apparently he also knows the Green Cross Code ππΈ
