08/20/2024
I can't believe I wrote this 8 years ago because I honestly feel like I'm still learning these lessons but I stand behind these thoughts 100%. If it feels wrong - fix it asap!!
"For you horse people: some thoughts I've been batting around for a few days.
Let's talk about collection and unity. I've had several other people riding my horses lately and they are all good hands but when I get my ponies back I can feel the difference. The main thing I know that I do that they don't is put a ton of focus on collection and unity. Let's define terms real quick. Softness (I.e. longitudinal flexion) is the beginning of collection (soft mouth, gathered body, ready mind) and collection is a tool to achieve unity. Most people would say unity is being "one with the horse" which sounds very Zen, but what does it feel like? For me it means that every little thing I ask for is done. No more. No less. His feet move to the same rhythm I'm setting. If he stumbles with his left hind and gets a little left with his hip I ask for collection and set things right. If he speeds up going through a draw I ask for collection and slow him down. If he slows down I speed him up and then get collected and move off. I use collection to achieve unity. I don't ask him to be collected all the time but I ask him to be in unity. If his head is up and he is moving out but it feels like a jackhammer because his back is hollow, you can bet I'm about to get him collected. When I turn, I ask for collection, then the turn. Do I lose all this in a high pressure situation? Sometimes yes, you bet, but it's the first thing I do when things calm down. Unity means if his ribs are stiff, his hinds are out, or any foot gets off beat I feel it and fix it. It helps to be so OCD that you can't ignore even the littlest resistance in any part of the horse. Fixing it doesn't have to be be a big deal if the softness and collection are there. It takes me about 20 minutes to get my horses back the way I like them after I've loaned them out, and you probably wouldn't see much if you watched it. Softness, a lot of leg yields, maybe some slow spins and moving the hinds around. No fight needed (if my mind and attitude are right). Truth be told this starts from the first ride. I start out hunting unity and slowly increase how much I ask of the horse. That's about all I have to to say about that."
