11/23/2024
Fresh vs not Fresh
I've started a lots of c**ts and worked with lots of problem horses from ALL different breeds, disciplines, backgrounds and philosophies. There's one important thing in common... there's a Huge difference in working with a horse that's Fresh (no handling), vs a horse that's already got preconceived concepts and/or training.
On the subject of c**t starting, it is a common thing for trainers to want something unhandled, untouched or "fresh", and owners to want to handle their young horse and get things going before they send their youngster to be started... they believe it helps speed things up.
On the contrary, most times (most, not all) it drastically slows things down. The horse's natural openness and curiosity about the process is gone. They may be disinterested in the movements of the human or worse yet, dull and sluggish.
It is way easier to pet and reassure the horse, than it is to wake them up to their natural subtlety, and ability to "feel a fly land," once again. Once a horse learns that he can push, lean, hang, and drag on the human (halter, bridle, legs, reins, the human's body when leading around)... it can never be unlearned, it is always there, and available to them as a strategy.
Training is not easy, not even for the best of professionals. Some horses keep us up at night trying to figure out a different way, a different approach, a different strategy, a different tool that might make things "click" easier, faster, smoother.
The most important thing we can do is to keep the natural sensitivity intact. The natural heightened awareness to movement and slightest of pressure is what gives us the "no better kept secret than that between the horse and his rider. "
When everyone can see everything, the subtlety is gone.
Again, not an easy thing to do, it is way easier to allow heaviness in, let the horse drag or push us (even in the smallest of ways)...because that is natural for the horse as well! They want to see who's who in the zoo. They are run by the laws of nature, "the strong survive", not civilized human society's rules.
Pet and love on them, then move them (and keep it effortless!), then pet and love on them once again. This is how to build confidence yet maintain the horse's natural sensitivity...keeping them "fresh" their entire life.
- I borrowed this excellent article from Kaley. Annonymous. She nailed it right in the head!
