09/03/2023
The Rubber Band Effect in Horse Training:
Let me compare horse training to a rubber band.
When you rush horse training and try to obtain a certain result on your timeline and not the horses, you stretch the elastic band.
You can stretch and stretch that elastic band and for a time, it’ll seem like you’re getting further ahead.
And for a time, it’ll actually be true.
But, as you push on, the tension will build and eventually, it will become too much and that elastic band may snap, rebounding back with much more of a sting than what would’ve otherwise have existed if tension was relived earlier.
If you had just relaxed and slowed down, allowing the horse to build the flexibility, fitness and understanding for the work being asked.
If the horse’s fear and tension was honoured and sought to be relieved instead of punished and pressured on for a result…
If there had just been a little more patience, result could’ve been different. The fall out that is a snapped rubber band, a broken or traumatized horse, need not exist. The damage may be mental, emotional or physical, but the damage is still apparent.
When we push and we push, eventually, the horse will hit a breaking point and once you get to that point, the physical and mental damage the horse sustained in the process can come rebounding back in a manner much more severe than what would have been had the time been taken in the beginning.
Trying to fix something that is damaged or broken is a lot more difficult than not damaging it in the first place.
If you’re interested in more training help, tutorials on reading equine behaviour or other learning resources, I have several options:
Free learning resources: http://milestoneequestrian.ca/resources
Purchase behaviour webinars:
http://milestoneequestrian.ca/shop-milestone
Subscribe to Patreon: http://Patreon.com/sdequus
