Thoroughbred Training for Horse and Rider

30/07/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/Rho3fo9hrYctY8xE/?mibextid=WC7FNe

“The basic techniques, or what they call the basics, are more difficult then what comes later. This is the trap of dressage. Correct basics are more difficult then the piaffe or passage.” -Conrad Schumacher

But what are the basics?

It depends who you ask.

If you ask a horseman, someone who spends their career putting a solid foundation on a horse they will give you one set of answers. If you ask a dressage professional, they will likely give you another sub-category of answers. And neither are necessarily wrong.

One is talking about the education of a grade school student, the other is likely talking about the education of a high school, or possibly even college level student.

They are both equally important, but one does come before another.

Everyone needs a grade school education no matter what their profession becomes, and many horses are missing a good grade school foundation before being educated in a highschool or college level conversations.

In my opinion, the basics are the ingredients; the fundamental and individual pieces that go into said movement, exercise, or issue. For me, the key to basics are isolations, understanding, and relaxation.

Everything is made up of something. So it’s always helpful to ask, what are the BASIC parts to the movement I am trying to achieve?

The basics of a horseman:

• Walk, trot, canter, on the buckle, the horse stays relaxed and can come down just off your seat.

• The horse understands how to follow the soft feel of a single rein.

• How to move to the side off each leg independently.
• Halt and back up with lightness.

• Find forward in all gaits softly and easily.

• Has excellent ground control of all its basic body parts in hand, and online.

• The horse is mentally and emotionally relaxed and confident in all these conversations and working environments.

I consider this a very brief overview of a grade school education that each horse should have before entering any discipline.

The dressage professional might talk about the training scale. (Despite some differences of opinion, its still a universally well known guideline for the sake of conversation).

#1 Rhythm/Relaxation
#2 Suppleness
#3 Contact
#4 Impulsion
#5 Straightness
#6 collection

The training scale is basic high-school guidelines, but still far from basics themselves. Each one of these categories has a large context of understanding, that is largely produced FROM a grade school education.

Here are some of the gradeschool basics that are required to produce the basics of the training scale.

#1 RELAXATION

• Can you put your horse on the buckle and walk, trot, canter in a relaxed consistent stretch, and come down off the seat alone?

• Can they hack out on a loose rein? Are they confident and comfortable in contact? In the environment you work in?

A horse who is responsive and relaxed is naturally rhythmic. A loss of rhythm or erratic rhythm is almost always a sign of tension, pain, or emotion. You can’t force rhythm, it is organic to relaxation.

#2 SUPPLENESS

• Does your horse understand isolations of the aids, in a relaxed yet responsive way?

• Can you pick up a single rein and your horse softly and easily follows the feel? Is their jaw clenched, grinding, or chomping?

• Can your horse yield softly to the leg on a loose rein and maintain a soft back?

• Can your horse easily follow the seat into lateral movements at the walk without holding anything in your hands?

• Does your horse maintain a stretch on a loose rein in all gaits?

• Can you pick up contact and there is no brace, tension, or change in throughness or rhythm of the gait?

#3 CONTACT

• What is the quality if your contact in all gaits and maneuvers? Is it heavy?

• Can you halt with just your seat at any given moment without brace in the hand?

• Can you reinback with ease and softness?

• If not, you’re likely using your contact for control instead of communication.

• What does your school halt look like? Can you talk to your horses balance at the halt, in all 4 feet?

• Is there always a quality stretch to the buckle that lives inside your contact at any given moment? If not, your likely holding your horse in inversion.

#4 IMPULSION

• How is your horses forward off the seat and leg on a loose rein?

• Is the leg or seat aid almost invisible to someone one the ground?

• How well does the horse engage in all gaits on a loose rein?

• How well does the horse maintain engagement, are you begging with the leg?

• Does the quality change when you pick up contact?

• Does the horse understand how to step up to hand with a hind leg and not brace in the jaw or rein? If not, slow down. Don't push a lack of understanding or ability into the hand.

#5 STRAIGHTNESS

The quality of the lateral maneuvers determine Straightness. Lateral maneuvers correct imbalances and release a horse into straightness if done correctly.

• Can all the lateral maneuvers be produced in balance, self carriage, and lightness at the WALK first? Does the balance, self carriage, or suppleness change in the trot?

#6 COLLECTION

• How is your halt? At any moment, from any gait? Was hand needed?

• How is your reinback?

If your horse is unable to do this well, no amount of half halts in the world will fix heaviness, collectability, or balance issues.

• How are your transitions?

MINDFULL transitions teach balance and collection, IF they are done well and off your center of gravity.

• Is your center of gravity connected to your horses center of gravity, through the seat alone?

If your contact gets heavy in transitions there is a loss of balance.

• If your horse struggles with engagement in collection go back to the basics in principles #3 and #4.

To understand basics there has to be a core understanding of how to ACHIEVE basic principles. The rest does (as annoying as it sounds) fall into place.

GYMNASTICISING movements in sequence is many times a COLLEGE level conversation.

Movements are only gymnaticized upon the self carriage, balance, and understanding of the maneuver.
Which is directly based on the quality of the gradeschool and highschool education.

It is a common approach to try and ride a horse excessively forward through a sequence of movements to gain improvement in a multitude of things.

But more times then not the horse isn’t educated enough for that level of conversation and it becomes a pushing, bracing, struggle of tension that lacks quality, understanding, relaxation, suppleness, balance, proper engagement, or biomechanics.

A horse cannot catch its balance, "come over its back", find relaxation, or understanding by being chased more and more forward, or if too many aids are talking at the same time. This approach breaks down the body and the mind.

It is amazing that taking the time to SLOW DOWN and teach the horse step by step, that in just a matter of days the horse can understand a lateral movement, position, or posture, and is able to carry themselves down a long side or in a figure with balance, lightness, and relaxation, simply because you took the time to break it down.

From that level of understanding it is then far easier to develop, build strength, or carrying power of that maneuver, posture, or balance point.

If the horse struggles as you progress (and they will) you simply slow down to clarify as needed.

The point is people are usually doing WAY to much to fix issues or produce results.

Have you asked your horse if they understand your aids in isolation first? You might be surprised what you find.

If you're getting stuck or struggling…..congratulations, your being called to a higher level, the master level of revisiting and polishing the basics. And you will keep getting called back, over and over.

Until one day, you may find that your basics effortlessly produced a glimmer of piaffe hiding under the surface, and you will be blown away because you didn’t even try… you just had really good basics.

And the best basic of all…..slow down.

05/07/2024

Haha!

05/07/2024

This is so important to understand

22/05/2024

Not everything is an emergency but these are

01/05/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/d6nxkMo8HaTERZNV/?mibextid=WC7FNe

ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ELEMENTS OF TRAINING

I was asked what I thought was the hardest thing for people to achieve in getting changes in their horses. I had to consider this for a moment. Then it struck me.

I think effective training of a horse is limited by two things.

The first is a person’s ability to read the inside of a horse and to present ideas to a horse with absolute clarity. Clarity in our conversation with a horse is paramount. Without being able to present an idea clearly, we are destined to leave a horse confused and troubled. I discuss clarity in great detail in my many posts and in my book, The Essence of Good Horsemanship.

But the second vital aspect of training I don’t talk about much. I believe time is an essential element in the training of any horse. We must commit to putting in enough time to the work. This is no less important than clarity and may even be more important.

We all have busy lives and for most of us, working our horses is something we fit in between all the other things we have to do in a day. Even many trainers, teachers, and clinicians experience difficulty finding the time to work their horses because they are busy working other people’s horses. I am very guilty of this. I travel a lot for clinics and when I am home there are 150 acres that need my attention. My horses get cared for, but not worked.

No horse gets better without our efforts to put in the time to work with it. If we are coached by the best coaches or our horse is in training with the best trainers, but we fail to put in the hours, days, and years of work, progress will be at a snail’s pace.

If you can't commit to the time to work with your horse then improving your skills is still achievable through lessons on school horses, etc. However, learning better skills without making enough time with your horse will leave your horse’s education stagnant.

Good skills are important, but I believe time is vital.

Photo: Saving time by working 2 horses at the same time.

21/04/2024

Blood or blue. If you are a dressage rider- how do you feel about the way the sport and competition/judging is effecting the way people see it? How is it for the horse? What needs to change?

21/04/2024

06/04/2024

Just what we e been discussing
https://www.facebook.com/share/TUJwgURGXBTdW87t/?mibextid=WC7FNe

Over the years I don't think I've ever had anyone ask me what I DO with the dogs or cats (or even the pet pig) in my life. Nor do people question whether the costs and/or daily care requirements associated with owning most pets (other than horses) are "worth it".

It seems to simply be a given, generally speaking, that the reason people choose to have pets is because we ENJOY sharing our lives with them. And, in most cases (other than with horses), it's understood that the financial responsibility and time commitments related to the daily care of pets are well worth the investment because these animals quickly become our "best friends" and beloved members of our family.

But perhaps most importantly, no one ever believes that the pets we choose to share our lives with (other than horses) need to be able to do specific "jobs" in order to "earn their keep". Or that when our beloved pets grow old, get injured or start to fail physically, they become value-less liabilities we can feel justified abandoning emotionally (or physically).

It's time for the self-proclaimed "horse lovers" of the world to get serious about questioning why we've allowed ourselves to be conditioned to believe that it's not just "okay" but "responsible" to treat horses with far less compassion, empathy and gratitude than we do the many other species who, all together, have contributed far less to humanity's "success" or "rise to power" than the horse.

If the day ever comes that humanity is held accountable for paying reparations to the animals... horses will be richly rewarded.

But there's nothing stopping us from deciding for ourselves that the time to repay horses with the unconditional love they deserve, is now. 💜

02/04/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/ezfxAgWSwpUL95om/?mibextid=WC7FNe

I have a dangerous job.

I start young horses, work with horses with a range of behavioral problems, bend over under fractious horses to trim them, and teach people and horses of all kinds.

Do you know when I feel the least safe? It’s not on my first rides, or when a nervous horse scoots, or when I’m teaching a green one to be trimmed, or when I’m near the hind end of a horse in training-

It’s when I’m near the head of horses who I’ve just met.

Many, many horses have very dangerous heads. They either crowd, sling their head, pull or push, dance around while shouldering into you, and any number of dangerous behaviors. When I’m teaching a new student and have to help them handle their horse near their head, that is when I’m at risk the most.

I think people really underestimate just how heavy and powerful a horses head is. If you’re like me and have had a few concussions from a horse simply whacking you with their head, you come to realize that teaching them basic handling is no joke- it’s not just an elitist practice, it’s not rude or mean to them, it is basic safety for them and for every human involved.

The ability to follow a feel on the lead rope: ie, the ability to lead without pulling or pushing, to understand the pressures of life and respond softly and calmly, is the human responsibility to teach. If they’re heavy at home, they can be downright dangerous in a new environment, because you’ve amplified stressors without the skill set needed to deal with it. You have a horse who is not habituated to communication with you in any subtle way, and when their tension escalates, you can’t communicate - their brain is on overdrive. This is not the time to try to teach them about subtlety. This is where people are apt to get after their horse for bad manners without realizing that humans have failed to prepare him.

Handle your horses head with care and respect. Give them the space they need and don’t crowd them, don’t pull on them, and teach them well. That’s really all it takes to prevent a horse from ultimately using their head as a weapon. A horse doesn’t behave like this without cause - and the cause is usually on the other end of the lead rope.

02/04/2024

https://www.mdpi.com/2627672

An owner-completed questionnaire was designed to monitor the level of chronic pain and impact on quality of life in horses with osteoarthritis (OA). A standardized approach to develop and validate subjective-state scales for clinical use was followed. Scale items were generated through literature re...

02/04/2024

Great article on trauma

https://www.facebook.com/share/qSH4auS7sVZ1PVBi/?mibextid=WC7FNe

The way horses respond to trauma and the lasting impact of a bad experience in early life have been highlighted by experts

25/02/2024

25/02/2024

I always find very hard to understand why horses are still considered so differently from the other animals we decide to share our life with.... Yes, understandably they once were just working animals used for the transport too, but nowadays things are obviously very different as we don't really need animals anymore for working purposes, with the only rare exception of some particular environments and circumstances. So why are horses generally still valued so differently from any other pets? Why aren't they considered as pets too? In fact normally a good animal owner would never accept for a dog so many things that are instead seen as simply normal for horses instead.....No good owners would think it's ok to keep their dogs always closed inside a cage making them leave only when they want to use them for something, no good owners would think it's necessary to use on their dogs many strict constriction tools, often causing pain or big discomforts too, just to make them perform something against their will, no good owners would think it's right to whip or hit their dogs in order to make them obey them, no good owners would think their dogs must work and be forced into any kind of human activity they may not want to do at all and no good owners would even ever consider the idea to give away or put to sleep their dogs when they cannot be somehow useful anymore. So why are horses supposed to live all of this as their normality instead? How can so many people be so hypocritical when saying to love them while they only want to use them for their own human benefits, not caring at all about how they may feel? What does give them the right to say that their dogs or any other pets deserve to be loved and respected for their animal nature too, wanting to get their friendship with a relationship of mutual affection, while their horses first of all have to work, wanting to get only their obedience in a relationship of dominance and submission instead? Yes, a horse can surely become very dangerous for a person but the truth is that a dog too can easily become so if being mistreated or handled by someone incompetent, as it all always depends just on the human's experience and handling, while it has nothing to do with the specie of belonging.
So I really will never understand what's the big difference in so many people's mind, what can make them lovingly care for their home pets while at the same time feeling perfectly right about the way they mistreat their own "loved horses" instead 💔

25/02/2024

Bit blindness

It’s not about hating bits but so often this is what you see. And at top levels. Why do we instantly recognize pain and anxiety in dogs but fail to see it in horses

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/GS5QzNAeDBQpBcZa/?mibextid=WC7FNe

23/02/2024

https://tracktotrailthoroughbreds.org/2024/02/23/horse-behavior-how-to-fix-the-undesirable/

09/01/2024

📸 Look at this post on Facebook https://www.jecballou.com/trainingtips/how-to-keep-you-horse-fit-without-riding?fbclid=IwAR11wpN1j8Hyl5UkyqMCrWsvpX2hWEC9lhM61cFu4k2g7wgM65YWkHlGDAc_aem_AYKCIlPipKk6qhhGbXjtYJGLa4ziiAYAtKyUZX3qRsxgBws1gKyMya8Y6L0QG4R_4AM

25/12/2023

How do you turn?

▶️ Watch this reel https://www.facebook.com/share/r/t8uWXtRER1uzBNrB/?mibextid=LTILV2

24/12/2023

It turns out the old adage about horses being able to smell your fear might actually hold some truth. But it is not just fear; horses can also pick up on your happiness. I’ve included one research study and two articles inspired by other such studies below, with the piece from the Paulick Report being particularly interesting because of its interview.

One thing this had me thinking about is the fact that traditionally, it is believed among some of the equestrian population that a horse sensing human fear will either become fearful themselves or try to take advantage of a fearful rider or handler. This viewpoint seldom considers the possibility of a horse expressing empathy. Yet, many of us have seen instances where horses behave gently and protectively, especially towards vulnerable children and adults.

This raises an interesting question about the nature of a horse’s emotional intelligence and their ability to not just sense, but also interpret and respond to, human emotions.

As we continue to research this fascinating aspect of equine behavior, it is worth considering how our understanding of, and response to, their emotional reactions can enhance the way we train, care for, and interact with horses. Their reactions to our emotions are likely as varied and complex as horses themselves, reflecting a depth of sensitivity that deserves our attention and respect.

I am not sure how researchers can go about measuring depth, range and nuances in emotions vs things like fear and happiness but I am interested to see them try.

https://paulickreport.com/horse-care-category/can-horses-really-smell-fear-yes-and-thats-not-all/

https://equimanagement.com/research-medical/equine-discrimination-of-human-body-odors-fear-and-joy/

The study:

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-30119-8

Another really interesting study which explains amongst other things how horses use their olfactory (smell), audio (hearing) and visual (sight) senses to channel positive or negative stimuli to the specific brain hemisphere most proficient at processing that particular emotional content. Recognizing which ear, nostril or eye a horse uses in any given situation can help a horseperson get a better read on how the horse feels and respond accordingly.

https://theses.hal.science/tel-02360897v1/document

©️𝘾𝙖𝙧𝙤𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙇𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙝, 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙙𝙃𝙤𝙧𝙨𝙚 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨,2023

11/12/2023

This exactly. If you have anxiety in the horse you can’t move forward in a sustaining way. Cool calm and consistency is the key. But many people can’t tell which is which. The harsh trainers often have explanations that seem to make sense. It’s easy to have your horse with the wrong person

Training Styles----(Defining “trainer” as one who influences the behavior of the horse, for good or bad---)

There are probably dozens of training styles, but to make it super simple, let’s say that there are just three, with all sorts of shades of grey between and among them.

1. The best is the calm, kind and well educated trainer who can create a partnership with a horse.

2. The worst is an impatient, angry and domineering trainer who uses forceful methods to subjugate the horse.

3. Then there’s the “Let the horse walk all over me” trainer.

The best ones are good because they have a handle on their own emotions, know lots of non adversarial methods and techniques, and want a willing partner, not a slave.

The worst ones are the opposite of the good ones.

The problem is that the less experienced horse people so often don’t know enough to be able to tell the difference, especially if the domination oriented trainer wins lots of blue ribbons.

It is blind luck for a horse to get into the hands of a good trainer, just as it is blind misfortune for the horse who gets into the hands of the bad ones. However, if you or someone you know CAN tell the difference, but chooses the bad one despite that, for whatever reasons, then that’s as bad as doing the abusive stuff yourself.

09/12/2023

Spot on!

Everyone learns at a different pace. And that’s ok! Dont compare yourself to others. Simply focus on the learning and enjoying your time w the horse

Often we put too much pressure on ourselves or others to reach a certain bar.

We know kids all learn at a different pace in math class. But then it’s assumed they should all learn at the same pace w horses. It’s just not possible. How we learn, it’s different for every one of us

Adults or kids. And how we show up is a huge factor. Are we stressed? Struggle w anxiety? Well rested? Have a physical or medical issue? Those all can alter how a student is learning.

And the class does not ensure learning. It’s taking a class. Reviewing and reflecting, then trying again. If you have a math class once a week, or every other week, think how long it would take you to learn w no homework or practice in between classes. And math is usually every day! Without review much of what’s learned in class is forgotten. So the next class is mostly spent catching up

One of the issues w horses is that unless there’s a class, there’s not a way to review. 30 years ago - or more- many kids had their own horses. That’s not the case now.

Leaning the violin? Guitar? You go to class then practice during the week. W horses that’s just not possible. Unless you pay for multiple classes a week. And that’s expensive. Not as expensive as owning your own horse though?

We are all challenged to learn as prices rise and horse ownership decreases.

That’s the idea behind our Sat classes. They are three hours instead of one. They come every week and learn and practice and review. It’s not just riding. It’s everything. We offer adult classes on Saturdays - generally 3-5 hours each class - as well. Learning everything.

It takes a long time to get good at horses for most people. Like anything sometimes you see someone who is a real natural. But that’s not as common as for the rest of us, it’s hard work. But w huge rewards.

As far as welfare, learning the slow way is kindest to the horse. They do not enjoy the kicking and bouncing on their back and harsh pulling on their mouths . Many new riders don’t know that’s a thing. But it’s a huge thing for the horse.

Learning to understand and communicate w a horse is so essential. It should be part of any riders education. And the grest thing about this as a human is that once you learn this, everything you do going forward is easier!

If you are interested in our Sat programs check out our website. Lots of opportunities

We also offer homeschool options and multi day clinics during the week!

Picture of a Sat student w Summation

Happiness and partnership!
Notice no halter. Can you say TEAM!

https://tracktotrailthoroughbreds.org/education/

04/12/2023

COMMON TRAPS

Running a successful natural boarding facility is not an easy nut to crack.

I am observing a rise in traditional livery spaces being offered as well as increasing number of people looking for boarding facilities that offer a more natural lifestyle. Herd life 24/7 throughout the year, and an environment free from metabolic disorders such as Laminitis.

What may happen in the coming years is that more progressive yard owners will diversify their services, open up to an idea of a natural boarding system. Which will increase the quality of service, so they remain competitive.

Natural Horse Care is a paradigm shift in horse management, from human centred horse keeping to horse centred one. It does not mean that we are at a disadvantage. It means that potentially we can enjoy watching our horses thrive, and save in the long run.

But just like with traditional yards there will be a spectrum of natural boarding facilities that offer outstanding services, which will be reflected in their practices and pricing; and those just getting by.

Not all horses do well on track system set up. Not all horses can transition into barefoot. Why is it so? Instead of attacking the owners for giving up we must look at the environment that has been created by the NHC proponents. Is the track surfaced? What is the constitutional value of forage? Is grass present in their diet? What kind of supplements horses receive, and are the stress rings present? How honestly are hooves evaluated? How knowledgeable the yard owner really is? Is it generic knowledge sourced through social media, or through books and practical experience?

Some of these questions must be answered to build the bigger picture when it comes to successful transition.

The reality of running a Paddock Paradise (aka natural boarding facility) is that the further away we are from the adaptive environment the more financial investment is required to make everything work.

In a dry, arid climate with rugged ground there is no need to surface the track. Nor is there any need to worry about the kind of mud temperate climate and soft ground entails. The same goes for flora; availability of quality hay and products that can be safely used.

The challenge is real. Not everyone is geared up to spend countless hours of researching, studying, and hard physical labour. Often interwoven with sweat and tears; or financial investment that leads to sacrificing short-term pleasures.

And yet, the potential of creating truly sustainable living conditions is always there.

I believe that this potential can only be fulfilled when the person follows a vision bigger than themselves. Not just in the name of horses. Not for recognition, status or power. Purely because of the kind of obsession that is required to succeed. Passion, that allows for mistakes and failure. Ability not to judge others, for where they are in their understanding of horses and life.

I used to use slow feeding nets, now I know it's a trap. Same goes for the “hay only” diet. Without all essential amino acids horses cannot build muscle tissues. Without correct surfacing horses will end up in mud and wet. Something they are not designed to endure in the long run. An understanding that ANY amount of grass in a non-adaptive environment is a laminitis trap. That “standing hay” is not hay, it is another Laminitis trap. Poorly set up tracks also contribute to reduced movement. Poor livery management leads to stress and exacerbating underlying health conditions. All of the above strongly depends on individuals’ level of awareness. Their motivation, and their limitations. Be it financial, or intellectual. Humans live in a realm of concepts. Reducing the complexity of nature into digestible chunks. Sometimes to their own detriment.

This is a plea to all land owners. Those with equestrian licence to convert their traditional set up. They have the strategic advantage to create the correct environment. In fact this is what is taking place right now. Small number of land owners leaped into the world of NHC. Beginnings can be harsh. That's why it's crucial to dig deep for Truth. Not to settle for good advice, but strive to analyse everything with diligence. To remain true to the original NHC model if one has captured a glimpse of it.

There is a market for natural horse boarding. But the best seats are reserved only to those geared up to do it right.

Photo featuring an unsurfaced track in former living quarters where my horses were boarded.