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Newsletter # 33 February 2012

31st January, 2012

lessons learnt, whats up

Newsletter # 33 February 2012

"Feel what the horse is feeling, and operate from where the horse is."

                                                               Tom Dorrance

What's Up;

Horsemanship Clinic. Blenheim. 3 - 4 March. Contact Jenny on 5727412 or Bob on 021709775

Horsemanship Clinic. Nelson. 26^th February. Contact Kirsten and Gordon on 5419145 or Bob on 021709775

Clinics

I'm presenting clinics a little differently to try to make a better fit for people. As always my priority is in coaching horse and human; developing communication and working at building a empathetic and effective relationship together with the horse.

Morning session will be 3 hours of Ground School and Foundation Ridden Work; suitable for green horses and riders and those wanting to build knowledge and refinement in these areas. This session will also deal with issues arising!

The 3 hour Afternoon session will be focused on ridden work, and will depend to some degree on the participants as to where it goes…the first exercise will be the "Foundation Test" which will indicate direction for participants.

Participants are encouraged to attend both sessions but either/or is fine.

Lessons learned from Colt Starting

Mid January we ran a 5 day Colt Starting Clinic, great experience for both the riders and the horses. All human participants went home intact and smiling. As always every youngster has their own idiosyncrasies and challenges which is as it should be. For me I learn something from each colt that I am involved with and feel that a starting clinic is a great way to really learn and get in place some of the basic concepts that will be used throughout the horses life, all good for horse and human. It is also a fine reminder; we seem to have more empathy and compassion for a youngster so we tend to give more time and assistance, so it's great to take that back to a more seasoned horse. The other part of course; that seasoned horse feels so different, confident and balanced…it's easy to appreciate them and what they do know!

I'd like to cover a few basic concepts and practical things that are pertinent to any horse which I saw used effectively throughout the clinic.

Day one we spent on ground school and obstacles; the focus was building the youngsters confidence, helping them deal with a new environment and to help them feel confident in themselves as they were presented with challenges, Bridges, Tarps, Curtains, Poles, Drums , Flags and more. It was a great place to practice pressure and release and the application of zero pressure. Keeping them curious by moving on, and not just battering away at them. Getting a small change or try and moving on. The Go forward was critical, in building this in for the human early, so we avoid the possible sticky bits once we get on the horse. Free forward movement makes life for the horse comfortable.

Working from the Round Yard; day two and subsequent days saw steady progress,. The saddling was a non event and moving out with riders a melee of forward. With uneventful rides out into the wide world on the youngsters, plenty of smiles and not too much worry all round.

The lessons apparent were

• learn to keep out of the horses way
• leave an opening for the horse to take
• be flexible, change your focus or plan if it's going to help the horse
• adapt to different needs of the different horses, they are all individuals
• try to understand what the horse was feeling about what was offered
• look for ways to help the horse cope and understand, have a willingness to try different ways to present ideas so the horse understands better
• encourage the horse to get confident and brave and sure of himself in  scary situations
• learn how to wait and work at the horses pace
• the importance of movement
• trust the horse; to try, to change, and to do his best once he understands the task
• the importance of timing especially in relation to release
• do less
• take a break
• Wait

All of the above are as true for a older horse as for a youngster. It's interesting how our attitude changes when we think a horse should be able to do, or should know something.  It's too easy to get harder and more demanding as we get frustrated or our ego gets involved, when probably we need to soften and take a step back and think! Of course there's always an exception, sometimes we have to work through an undesirable behavior or reaction, and we can only know the different response required through understanding the feel offered by the horse.Recognising what the horse is offering and how his worries are being expressed is critical.

Bob Gilkison | phone 03 5239750 | mobile 021 709 775