Schrock's Horse Training

06/19/2024

A day in the saddle is a good day!

06/12/2024

Our backyard/horse pasture is covered in wildflowers!

02/18/2024

This wicking blanket works wonders!
https://amzn.to/3Uvl1Wi

01/30/2024

I had a guy tell me about this method to get a horse to collect up and not be high headed, thought I'd give it a try and I can honestly say that I'm impressed by the results!

Don't fight the horse, let the horse fight himself!

If you put a horse in a situation where he's confused about what you're asking him, try putting him in a situation where he can answer himself.

01/22/2024

This is why I work at the horse's speed. It might take me 60 days to get 30 rides on him but I refuse to push horses through training because it creates problems!

01/20/2024

People and horses can both struggle with being present in the moment.

You see it with people all the time.

Interacting with technology and not engaged with the other people at the table or in the room.

But we can also be disengaged with our horses.

If we’re too busy thinking about what could happen, or happen again, or happening across the arena, we miss the value of what’s happening underneath us right now.

A horse isn’t so worried about the past or future, but their minds might be on the barn or their buddy or the tarp blowing in the wind, instead of on you.

They aren’t present in the moment.

And until they are, your training efforts will fail to produce the results they potentially could.

So one of the first essentials to get established in any horse is the habit of paying attention.

Everyone knows that.

But where people can easily go astray is when they fail to apply that concept to every single interaction they have with their horse.

Catching, haltering, grooming, saddling, leading, mounting, and riding…..everything.

In all these interactions, your #1 priority should be to have your horse mentally present with you.

So stay aware of his thoughts --- what his eyes, ears, and body language are telling you.

If his thoughts begin to wander, do something immediately to get them back on what is presently happening.

Never ignore these small pieces.

You’ll be amazed at how being aware of your horse's thoughts, and keeping them on you at all times, will translate to your horse’s behavior in general.

01/05/2024

Those who believe they have mastered the art of riding have not yet begun to understand the horse!

12/30/2023

09/27/2023

She's learning every day!

09/25/2023

09/23/2023

Love it!

https://carsonjames.com

09/15/2023

He's taught me a lot. Can't believe it's already been a year!

05/11/2023

The last time I was brave enough—or stupid enough—to post something about hobbling my horses, the outrage was such that I vowed never to do so, again.

I’ve stood by my word, until this morning.

I’ve got a road trip planned and as I walked out into the white winter wonderland—for it snowed again last night—to feed in the early dawn, I knew something wasn’t right. Tee was missing. I chucked out some hay for the others who are travelling with me and went in search of my old friend.

There he was, in a tight spot, where it seems he had discovered a coil of old wire in a hedgerow that is next to the yard. It’s a reality when one lives in an once-abandoned farmstead with decades and generations of old stuff. We clean up continually, but still. Like rocks in the fields, some forgotten treasure is always working its way up. The wire had slipped and bound his front pastern with two wraps, so tightly that I couldn’t at first see where he was caught.

Tee was standing, worried and shaking but sure that I would come and help. I eased in, said the W-word quietly and got to work. The manure pile behind my horse told the tale of a long and uncomfortable night, spent in stillness in the teeth of the storm. Thank goodness I was moved to go out unusually early and begin to get ready for my journey. Thank goodness none of the other horses had chased my submissive friend while he was caught by the front leg.

Thank goodness Tee knows how to hobble.

This is one of the skills he rocks, despite loud voices braying about learned helplessness and the cruelty of outdated methodology. Despite their knowing best, today, I am still going on a fun road trip with my horse and not, in a panic, hauling him to the vet.

In this time of all or nothing thinking—of absolutely knowing what's right and what's wrong—more than ever, I am seeking that beautiful thing called balance.

05/10/2023

It was a beautiful day to sort out pairs!!

10/10/2022

Training Through Trust..

This horse has taught me more than I taught him I think .... patience and trust is #1

10/10/2022

09/26/2022

Gotta love the young ones