Issue 5 Be the best you can be for your horse June 2014

Versatile
Equines
Success At Shows-
beyond just winning
ribbons
In horses, nothing
is forever
Building rapport
with your horse
Why you should
train on the trail
Do you expect
enough from your
horse?
The MAGIC
tool to stop
your horse
pulling back!!!
Contents
Editors Note
We want your ideas
Book Review
Building Rapport
You Tube Clip
Homeopathy
Nothing is Forever
The Magic Tool
Success At Shows
Clinician Review
Train on the Trail
DVD Review
Expectations
Editors Note
The f ur t her I embar k on my
Horsemanship journey, the more I
realise that there are so many
different ways of doing things with
horses. Through exploring it further, I
have come to the conclusion that I
need to ensure I am open to all of
these options, but at the end of the
day, do what feels right for my horse
and I. In doing this I need to ensure I
do not allow the judgements and
criticisms of others impact negatively
on what I do. I also need to be aware;
aware of whether or not I am doing
something in the best way for my
horse and if not, be willing to change.
Horsemanship, and getting better at
it, is a constant balancing act. You
need even doses of allowing others to
have a say in what you do, actively
seeking others to support you in your
journey and also just stepping back
and doing your own thing, allowing
the horse and your intuition to guide
you.
I wish you well on your journey,
where ever you are up to with it!
Be the best you can be for your horse,
thanks for reading Issue 5!!
Cheryl
WE WANT
YOUR
IDEAS
We would love
anything that you have
to offer, here are a few
ideas.......
*Before and Afters
*Inspirational Stories
*One in a Million
*Photos
*Training articles
*Informative pieces
*Clinic Reviews
*Book/DVD Reviews
*Advertising
*Product Reviews
*Health Tips
I have much to thank Clinton Anderson for in my
Horsemanship journey so far. He is such a fabulous
teacher, he is easy to understand and breaks things down
into the tiniest of details. It is because of the knowledge I
gained from Clinton Anderson, that I am able to understand
the works of other fantastic horsemen. Many of the greatest
horsemen are so great, they do not always remember to
articulate exactly what they are doing at each part of the
process. Clinton on the other hand does, he says his
Horsemanship approach is Idiot Proof, because even an
idiot should be able to follow the method! ~Cheryl
This particular book is an excellent reference book for
understanding his fundamental ground work maneuvers. All of
the exercises covered in this book are thoroughly explained, with
useful pictures also. Each exercise is explained through Clintons
8 Steps to Success approach.
1- Goal
2- Why
3- Teaching Stage
4- Handler/Rider Mistakes
Establishing
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5- Horse Problems
6- Trouble Shooting
7- Success Tips
8- Practical Purpose
Control
BOOK REVIEW
Respect and
Rapport: A
close and harmonious
relationship in which the people
or groups concerned
understand each other's
feelings or ideas and
communicate well.
Building Rapport
As the denition suggests, rapport with a horse
is the ability to have a close and harmonious
relationship, whereby the human understands
the horses feelings/needs and the horse and
human communicate well.
For me, many of the key ingredients for
developing a strong or positive rapport with a
horse are as follows:
-Having a good understanding of the
psychology of the horse (esp. predator/prey)
-Rewarding the slightest try and making a
winner out of the horse
-Appreciating the value of time
-Continually up-skilling
-Being aware of your self
-Knowing what motivates your horse
Throughout the course of this article, I hope to
shed further light on these ingredients, so you too
can build the strongest rapport possible with your
horse, and any other horses lucky enough to be in
your presence!
Throughout this article I will make reference to
many concepts and I encourage you to further
research these for yourself to deepen your
understanding of what a good rapport
looks like in your own Horsemanship.
The Predator/Prey Theory
I have covered this concept in detail in
Issue 3, I encourage you to revisit this
article to deepen your understanding of
what this concept means.
In a nut shell, we want to build rapport
with our horses by convincing them that
we are not going to act in a predatory
way around them. We cannot convince
them we are not predators, because lets
face it, by nature we are.
We prove to our horses we are not going
to act in a predatory way by managing
our emotions and energy levels, being predictable, giving them the time they need and seeing things
from their point of view (and not expecting this to work the other way round!). Even more importantly,
we manage these things in every single moment we are with our horses.
Understanding Horse
Psychology
The depth and breadth of understanding
horse psychology far exceeds what can be
explained in this article! Understanding
horse psychology is a book in itself. This is an
area of Horsemanship that is well worth
investing a lot of your time in!
Simply put Horse Psychology is the study of
the horses mi nd and i ts functi ons.
Encompassing the mental characteristics or
attitude of the species. Understanding Horse
Psychology encompasses so much, the
predator/prey theory, pressure and release,
understanding the horse in the herd,
knowing what makes different horses tick,
ght/ight response, hierarchy, leadership,
safety vs comfort + play, plus a whole lot
more.
The more you know about why your horse
does certain things, the more likely it is that
you will respond appropriately to your horses
behaviours, thus deepening the strength of
bond you have with them, aka rapport.
Reward The Slightest
Try
To keep the rapport between
yourself and your horse strong,
you need to make sure they
always feel like a winner. This
comes often from rewarding the
slightest try.
For example in the picture on
the right Jordan invited this pony
(Pepe) to walk into him. Pepe
only had the condence to turn
and face Jordan, so he released
the pressure (turning his body on
the side, averting his eyes, having
passive body language) and rewarded her for doing this. Ideally she would have walked up to him, but
he does not yet have the rapport built up with Pepe to get this done, so instead he rewards her try,
helping Pepe to feel safe and successful.
It is a crazy notion, but the small things you reward, eventually turn into the big things. Often people
can push like crazy and not reward the slightest try and yes they get results, but it is most often at the
expense of the rapport you do or do not have with the horse. When trying to teach your horse
something new, make sure you have it clear in your own mind what the slightest try might look like.
Often it is far more subtle than meets the eye, it can be as subtle as an ear turn, a lessening of tension
or a slight lowering of the head. These are all signs the horse is trying to connect with you and
understand. At some points in time a head lower may be all the horse will offer you, so reward that!
As you progress with your horse and your rapport strengthens you can begin to ask for more, because
you have a basis in which to do this (a growing relationship with your horse). But until you have a
basic connection with your horse, you need to work at his pace and put your own desires for
achievement to the side- rest assured when you have the horses heart they will give you everything!!!!
The Value of Time
Time, this one word is such a crucial one with
horses. It most often refers to time from the horses
perceptive though.
It is important to remember when strengthening
the rapport you have with your horse, that the
horse has no real concept of time- well not in the
way we do anyway. Yes horses can be conditioned
to know when feeding time is, but they denitely
do not strive to learn new things within a
particular amount of time- which is a perspective
people often take when trying to teach their horses
something new.
Continually Up-Skilling
This concept refers not only to you, but to the
horse too. The more you both learn and the
different experiences you have together, the deeper
your bond will get and trust of each other.
Through the process of up-skilling you should test
the limits of your bond with your horse by
working/playing in different environments and on
different lengths of lead rope/distances away.
I like to make sure that I take time to spend with my horse with no agenda. What I mean by this is
that I may go to see them and do nothing, simply sit in their paddock and marvel at their
magnicence. If they come over to see me, I never rush to pat and control them, rather I just sit back
and allow them time to explore and consider me from a no pressure perspective. I have found this to
be a fantastic strategy for deepening the
rapport I have with my horses.
When teaching your horse something, time
is absolutely crucial. To keep the rapport
strong, you need to work with your horse in
such a way that you can progress, without
pushing them over the edge. You want to
take them just outside of their comfort zone
(as that is where all learning happens). The
extent to which you can take a horse outside
its comfort zone is dependent on the horse
and the level of rapport you currently have
with them. The key with taking a horse
outside their comfort zone is to make sure
they never feel rushed or unsupported, that
you allow them the time they need to think through the process, try and reect.
Time also comes into play when you consider how long you work with your horse for, how long you
allow your horse a release for, how much time you have on that day to work with your horses and how
much time you perceive to be enough vs how long the horse feels is enough, to name a few. When
thinking about building rapport with your horse, all of these things need thorough consideration.
The professionals you have to help you on your horsemanship journey can be pivotal to your success
in building a stronger rapport with your horse. As important as it is to have professional support, it is
important also that you nd a person who appreciates where you are at in your horsemanship
journey. On the same token all professionals have things of value to offer, so be open to the advice of
all people. It is a bit of a balancing act learning from people though, as no one is going to have all the
answers you desire or work with horses in the exact way that you want them to. Never feel pressured
to do things to/with your horse that do not sit well with your current horsemanship philosophy,
maybe ask your professional to further explain their reasoning so you can decide if you wish to adopt
that technique or idea. If you do not, do not shut the idea out forever, simply le it for later use. It is
amazing to notice down the track that things you didnt like at one point in time, become part of your
Horsemanship philosophy.
Being Aware of Your Self
In Issue 4 I discussed the concept of active and
passive body language. Body language is a
universal language and the one in which we
use to communicate the majority of our
messages to our horses with. Because this is the
main way we communicate with our horses, it
is important to always be aware of what
messages we convey.
A simple example of this is the difference our
breathing makes to our horses. If our
breathing is short, shallow and tense, it is likely
that our horses are also breathing in a similar way, or are not fully relaxed. When we start to breathe
more deeply and evenly, most often horses visibly relax and even out their own breathing.
Further study into what horses deem predatory behaviour is also well worth the time spent. If you
are aware of how horses interpret your behaviour, you can consciously show your horses you wish to
be their partner and strengthen the rapport you have with them, by demonstrating favourable body
language.
What Motivates?
If you are aware of what is important to your
horse and ask yourself often, whats in it for
the horse?, you will further show your horse
that you have their best interests at heart and
are concerned with building and maintaining
a rapport with them.
I am yet to do much of my own thinking on
this, but many reputable horsemen and
women state that safety, comfort, food and
play are the 4 things that motivate horses.
What I do know however, is that if your horse does not feel safe with you, they will not show you their
true colours. So the rst step to building rapport is to get your horse to trust you and feel safe with
you.
Taking the time to step back and ask yourself, whats in it for the horse? will help you to consider
what you are doing with them on a deeper level. Many horses I know would rather be left in the
paddock and not do any work or interact with people, so putting this aside, how can you make what
you do with your horse engaging and stimulating for them? For example if your horse knows how to
ride around on a circle, what is motivating the horse to continue circling with energy and life?
Perhaps you could ensure that you keep being progressive and use the circle to advance other ridden
skills- such as transitions, lateral work, stopping on a point, riding over scary obstacles, maintaining
gait, etc. What ever you do, keep it interesting, help your horse to see that you are a fun human to be
with and that you wish to form the best bond with them known to man!
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YOU TUBE CLIP REVIEW
4 Ways To Move
The Hind Quarters
Moving the hindquarters might seem
like the most basic of maneuvers. While
it is fundamental there are several
different approaches, and you should
be able to master each one. In this
segment Buck demonstrates four ways
of movi ng t he hi ndquart ers and
discusses the circumstances when
having each of these methods solid
might be crucial, and common mistakes
one mi ght make i n worki ng on
developing them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCq7uthzwnI
Arnica

The no. 1 remedy for rst aid! Arnica cream can
be applied topically, but DO NOT apply directly to
broken skin as it will sting! The homeopathic
remedy is taken internally.

Bruising

Bleeding

Injuries

Wounds

Swelling, pain

Pre and post-surgery

Muscle strains and over-exertion

Shock
Calendula

A great remedy for healing! Can be purchased
as a cream and put directly on the wound, or as a
homeopathic remedy.

Promotes healing of open wounds

Lacerations

Ulcers

Proud esh

Encourages granulations
This can also be purchased as a cream called
Hypercal Cream, and put on the skin to help heal
and disinfect.
Important First Aid
By Kelly Henry
Homeopathic Remedies
Homeopathic remedies can be invaluable in treating rst aid situations with animals
and people alike. In some situations they can help resolve issues, saving money on vet
fees (or Drs fees!). However, it is important to seek the advice of a Veterinarian or
Medical Practitioner if you are concerned.
Hepar Sulph

Abscesses that are burst and very

smelly like old cheese

Abscesses brewing that are hot and very

painful

Suppurating skin eruptions

With these infections, the least touch is

painful, low pain threshold
Given in a low potency (eg 6C), the remedy will
help to bring the abscess to a head. Given in a
higher potency (eg 200C) will help abort the
abscess or infection.
Hypericum

Injuries to nerves especially lower limbs

and tail

Excessive pain

Puncture wounds

Spasms, jerking and twitching of

muscles following injury

Tetanus and tetanus prevention in

combination with Ledum

Tooth pain
Homeopathic remedy is taken internally.
Combination
of
Ingredients
Ledum
Puncture wounds - the number 1 remedy for
Tetanus prevention. Please remember, this is
not meant to replace Veterinary care, however, it
can reduce the chance of a tetanus infection.
Rhus tox

Muscle and tendon strains and sprains

Key actions are on tendons, ligaments,

muscles and joints (especially larger
ones)

Pain and stiffness better for movement

and warmth, worse for rest and damp or
cold weather

Restless - has to keep moving to

relieve the pain
Ruta

Acts on bones, cartilage, tendons, joints

(especially smaller ones)

Weakness in the limbs affected

Stiffness eased by movement

This remedy can be tricky to differentiate
between Rhus tox. However, Ruta has
weakness, whereas Rhus tox has restlessness.
Silica

Abscesses that are painful but slow to

come to a head

Slow healing or infected wounds

Expulsion of foreign bodies eg grass

seed stuck under the skin

Feels the cold easily, looks thin,

weakened immune system
For more information you can contact me:
Kelly Henry (Homeopath DipHom)
Certicate in Animal Care
Email: equinoxhenrys@slingshot.co.nz
Phone: 027 6353537
Potency and
Administration
The best mid-range potency for your rst aid kit is
200C. A guideline to administration is, the more
acute and intense the symptoms, the more often
the remedy is repeated. A couple of examples are
given below:

A horse has cut its leg open on a fence.

Give a dose of Arnica every 10 minutes until
you see an improvement (up to 6 doses). It
is important to stop repeating the remedy as
soon as the horse shows signs of feeling
better.

A mare has become lame overnight. The

farrier diagnoses a hoof abscess which
hasnt burst yet. Give a dose of the
indicated remedy morning and night for 3
days, or until she shows signs of
improvement, whichever is rst.
Simillimum Homeopathic pharmacy in Wellington
are stockists of all the above remedies. You can
order directly from their website:
www.simillimum.co.nz.
The remedies are very cost effective. A bottle of
approximately 30 pillules is $12.50. The creams
can be purchased in 100g pottles for $20.50.
If in doubt about any condition or for advice on
prescription, please consult your Homeopath. Does
not replace the advice or treatment given by your
Veterinarian. Homeopathic remedies can be used
safely alongside any conventional treatment given.
its not forever e.g., just coz they
oat good it is not forever
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Becoming
an instructor/
clinician has been
good for my growth as a
horsewoman. A common pattern
that has emerged from my clinics, is that
people assume if their horse has done something
before, or used to be good at it, this is a done thing
and they will remain that way indenitely.
Unfortunately through my own experiences Ive
discovered that nothing is forever. Even the things we think
are certain, often turn out not to be.
It can take just a second for a horse to
unlearn something, I consider this to be
instantaneous learning. It is instantaneous
because as soon as they learn it, they
normally know it for life and it can be a
hard habit/pattern to break and can have
a tendency to reappear. Some examples of
this are: a horse who pulls back, will not
oat, is hard to bridle, hard to catch, kicks,
bites etc. Normally these behaviours are
learned instantaneously because the horse
either got the exact response they wanted
or they reacted in such a way that they
found instant safety and comfort.
A good horseman once said horsemanship
and horse training is like spinning plates.
Some plates will spin for a very long time
on their own, but always go back every
now and then to check they are still
spinning ok. For example this analogy
works well with oat loading; if your horse
is loading well and then you do not
load it for 6 months, do not instantly assume that
the horse will just load again. The day before
you need to travel your horse, get your oat out,
with plenty of time to spare and make sure the
plate is still spinning.
This concept of plate spinning is especially
important if you have ended on a note that was
not positive. For example you have been riding
your horse for 6 months and all has been going
well. On the last ride before you turn him out he
spooks and gets upset. You do not have time to
revisit this the next day and he then has a month
off- in the plate analogy, this one is wobbling a lot
and without the right attention will stop spinning.
Instead of getting on months later and forgetting
the spook incident, take the time to iron out the
kinks, get the plate spinning easily, then proceed.
Both of these are examples of taking the time it
takes and seeing things from the horses
perspective. I always have this in the back of my
mind, even with my best trained horse. It pays
never to just assume. Because as the saying
goes, to assume is to make as ASS out of U and
ME.
On a positive note though, just because a
horse is dead set scared of tarpaulins, it does
not mean it will be this way forever! I am yet to
meet a horse that cannot ever do something.
For some it just takes more time, but thankfully
the nothing is forever notion can be seen in a
more optimistic light in these scenarios.
One of the hardest things I have had to help a
horse overcome is the fear of oating. Some
horses have had some very horric oating
experiences; reasons ranging from not being
prepared properly in their initial training, to life
threatening accidents. The depth of the trauma
and the skill of the handler will often determine
the length of time it takes for the horse to
overcome this fear.
In these scenarios it is important to recognise
what the horses triggers are. A horse with
deep seated trauma can regress very quickly if
these triggers are presented and not dealt with
appropriately. As the trainer of the horse in this
instance, it is important not to make a big fuss
of the reaction the horse has to these triggers;
rather redirect the horses energy positively, so
as to not allow the horse to play through the
scenario in its head and have them fall back
into old patterns. Basically get the feet moving
to unlock the brain.
It is kind of like us, if we mull on a problem too
long we often make it worse, and if not make
the problem worse, we normally make
ourselves feel worse. However, if we get busy
with something, the problem is normally put
into perspective and no longer seems as much
of a big deal.
So remember, nothing is forever!
Use this saying to help remind
you not to assume, but also to
remain optimistic!
The tool I do not go any where
without!
Like all tools, there is no quick x for a horse
that pulls back, but this tool will get you one
step closer to having a horse that ties up!
There is a great video clip on You Tube,
by Clinton Anderson, called The
Aussie Tie Ring. In this clip Clinton
shows you how to successfully
reteach a horse not to pull back.
An important thing to remember about a
horse that pulls back, is that they do it
because they feel claustrophobic. At the
start a horse that pulls back is not
naughty, they are merely doing what is
natural, getting away from danger,
often regardless of the cost! Once a
horse has learned to pull back, it
can become a habit, the good news
is though, that the habit can be broken!
Check out Issue 6 for tips and suggestions on how
to stop a horse pulling back.
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EQUIPMENT REVIEW
These can be purchased from the Tack Shop website for around $55
http://www.tackshop.co.nz/blocker-tie-ring.html
Establish positive
tying up behaviours
right from the start
with a Blocker Tie
Ring
All information on this
page is a direct screen
shot from this website
below:
http://www.toklat.com/
Blocker/Tie%20Ring
%20Basics
Lead Ropes
Different lead ropes offer varying
degrees of hold. For example, a
brand new poly lead rope may
have less hold than an older,
cotton lead rope that has been
hanging in your barn for years.
Experiment with different lead
ropes around your barn and
you'll see how different ropes
work.
Often, it will only be necessary to
use the Level One tying method,
because your lead rope offers
enough hold to support your
horse. But note, if you can't pull
the lead rope through the Blocker
Tie Ring, you are probably using
more hold than necessary to
support most horses.
The suggested length of lead
rope between your horse and the
Blocker Tie Ring is approximately
two feet. You may need more or
less depending on your horse.
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One of the most common things I read on Horse
Help Facebook pages, are people having
difculty with their horses when they take them
out, especially to shows.
I have complied a list of common complaints
and questions people have and will attempt to
offer some suggestions that could help.
So I do not have to repeat it through all of the
reasons, it is important that your horse is
properly prepared. By this I mean do not expect
him to do something out, that he cannot do at
home in his normal environment. For example if
you never leave your horse tied up and take its
buddy away, do not expect the horse to tie up at
shows without its buddy and be happy about it.
What do you need to do to be organised?
Before analysing what the horse does or
doesnt do, rst run through a few checks of
your own. To have success when taking your
horse out, these are some things you should
have sorted before you get to the day of the
event/show:
1- Write a list well in advance of the day. This list
should include all of the things you need to pack
and organise, both for yourself and your horse.
As you pack and organise things, cross them off
the list.
2- Mentally prepare yourself a few days before,
by running through the scenario of how the day
may pan out. In doing this, you may come up
with some concerns you could potentially have;
such as backing the oat, the horse not loading,
not knowing how to get there etc. Once you
have identied these concerns, map out a quick
action plan of how to deal with them. Chances
are that by identifying them, you have prevented
them happening any way!
3- Have a few practice runs. Hook the oat up,
load your horse and take them for a quick drive.
Yes, this is a bit of a pain, but it ups your
chances of success on the day. It also allows
you to get extra oating practice in for a horse
who can have reluctant days.
4- Make sure you have allowed plenty of time to
get loaded and on the road on the day. It is far
better to arrive early and composed, than late and
hurried. My horses are perfect loaders, but I still
have half an hour up my sleeve at least. On dark
mornings I allow even more time, especially if I
have horses who have not loaded in the dark
before. To support yourself in having plenty of time,
ensure that you have packed the night before and
have a plan for what you will do for lunch.
5- Keep check of your emotions, as a good leader
for your horse you need to arrive at their paddock
on the day of the show/event, just like you would
on any other day. If you feel tense, excited or
nervous, stop at the gate and get your breathing in
check, and emotions sorted before catching your
horse.
Prepare your horse with stress-free outings
Another important part of ensuring success is to try
and expose your horse to as many low stress
outings as you can, before you wish to compete
with them. It is benecial to take your horse to
shows and not compete at all, rather just take them
there and hang out with them, let them soak up the
sights and sounds, without the stress of having to
be a competitor. The rst few times you do this you
may like to take their paddock buddy and bring a
friend along to help lead them. To keep your horse
feeling positive about outings, you can take them
for light hacks to the beach or forest, or to a friends
place too.
Do not over face yourself
Another common error people make is that they
enter competitions or classes that are too high for
the horse at that current point. A good rule of
thumb is to enter the class/level below what you
are doing at home. Many people feel rushed to do
the higher stuff, because they feel like they will be
more successful quicker. Quite the opposite is true
however, if you start off right and build condence
in your horse, you are more likely to achieve higher
levels faster.
Take supportive people with you
Going to events the rst few times is very daunting,
especially if you are very new to it. Build your own
condence by taking a wing man- some one who
you know will have your back and is condent
around horses. This person can act as your groom
This was Jazzys rst time at the beach, so I
just took her on the lead. This helps build
her condence without the extra stress of a
rider on board.
and support crew, giving you another
perspective on things.
Put the time into oating
It still amazes me that people take horses to
events when they know their horses are not
condent oaters. The MOST stressful thing
for any horse person on the day of the event
is a horse who does not load! Float loading
is one of the things I strongly urge people to
invest the time and money into. You may get
to an event and win the ribbons, but what
have you really won if the oating part was a
mission? Certainly not the horses trust and
respect. If you know your horse is an
anxious oater, practice every day for a
week before the event and/or pay a more
experienced person to come and help you.
Assuming you want to compete this horse
for years to come, set it up for success by
ensuring that your horse loads every time.
Take it places with no time restraints and
practice loading. Run through a million
oating scenarios, before the day you
expect it to load onto a oat to go to a show.
Common problems
With all that said, here are a few responses I have
to things people commonly have problems with.
Horse wont stand tied at the oat
To begin with ensure your horse is tied safely and
short enough that they are not going to get their
leg over the rope, but they can reach their hay
bag. Obviously you will not be tying them if they
have a known pulling back tendency.
There are two approaches to horses not tying up
and it depends on the horse:
-Anxious horses for the rst few times may need
you to be with them for reassurance, so as much
as you want to go and watch your mates,
sometimes you just need to be there for the horse.
These horses may also benet from having
a tie up buddy for the rst few times. These
horses also struggle to be expected to tie
up indenitely. To build their condence
and prevent them from getting to pulling
back status, only tie them up for short
periods at a time. Have them tied for 10
minutes, then BEFORE they start to get
anxious, untie them and take them for a
walk, then tie them back up. It is important
NOT to untie them while they are anxious,
otherwise you are reinforcing to them that if
they get anxious they will get untied.
Instead you want them to gure out that if
they show relaxed behaviour they will be
untied- this will lead to positive associations
and the horse will learn to relax eventually
even if they do not get untied.
-Condent Horses- someti mes al l a
condent horse needs is to be left alone at
the oat to sort it out for themselves and
you being there can actually make the
problem worse as they try to intimidate you
with all the crazy things they are going to
do. Once a condent horse like this knows
they are resigned to their fate, they will
settle down and conserve energy.
Horse has Separation Anxiety
Similar to the oating situation for an
anxious horse, use pressure and release. It
is also essential that this is well-established
before you go to the show. Take the horse
away from its buddy, but only to the point
where it rst starts stressing. Have the
horses mind kept busy (back ups, circles,
exing head, disengaging hind end etc) as it
frets and do not take the horse back to its
buddy until it has shown and proved it has
settled down. Once the horse is calmer,
walk it back to its buddy and let it rest for a
few minutes. Then repeat, what the horse
will come to understand is that it is actually
easier to not fret- because when they do fret
they have to work and be busy. Eventually
the horse will become more condent being
further away from its buddy. The key with
this task though is to NOT let the horse
back to its buddy when it is fretting and it
should always be YOUR idea to go back.
Horse will not load to go home
This happens to at least one person at a
show. My experience has shown me that
people are often best just sitting down,
having a cup of tea and sorting it out on
their own. Unfortunately what happens is
every second person wants to help and
they all have a different method for getting
the horse on. My advice is denitely not to
let other people help you, unless you know
for a fact they are skilled in loading horses.
By having heaps of people around,
especially people the horse does not know,
the problem is compounded. The horse
feels more pressured and stressed and
then is less likely to go on! So stand
strong, people can be very pushy and
sometimes you just need to rmly tell them
no and trust that in your own time, you will
get your horse back on the oat.
Horse neighs repeatedly
This is a natural reaction for the horse to
have in environments where there are
many horses. Just be positive and
proacti ve about thi s, growl i ng and
punishing the horse only compounds the
problem. If it is becoming an issue, give
your horse a job. But trust that the more
the horse goes out and has positive
experiences, the more likely it is that the
behaviour will disappear.
Horse not listening
Sometimes the environment at shows is so
busy horses nd it hard to concentrate.
Deal with this behaviour as you would if it
was occurring at home, while remembering
to keep your emotions out of it. Do not
consider what others may be thinking,
remember you are at the show for you and
your horse, not them! I nd the one rein
stop and disengaging the hind quarters
two good exercises for getting the horses
attention back on you (see previous
Versatile Equines Magazines). Like I said
at the start though, make sure you have
arrived at the event with the tools and
exercises you need to have success at the
show.
Jigging
Having their horses jig around at shows was
another common problem people had. This is
created by a variety of things- the emotional level of
the rider and spirit level of the horse. Some tips to
get your horse to stop jigging are to circle them in
tight circles until they walk, do lots of lateral exion
and keep the horses mind on slow, smooth
movements. You will also nd as a rider, that if you
are nervous, excited or tense your body will be
sending conicting messages to the horse. Check
out your body and make sure there is no tension
any where and that you are breathing evenly.
Horses often feel further compelled to jig if the reins
are too tight, so try to put a lot of slack in the reins
also. If the jigging becomes unmanageable
sometimes it is more appropriate to work the horse
on the ground.
Above all, never put the ribbons and success
above all else. Listen to the horse and ensure
you are well prepared.
There is
always
next
time!
Most
importantly,
enjoy the time
you have out
with your
horses
Remember no
ribbon is more
important than
the relationship
you have with
your horse
Mark Rashid
CLINICIAN REVIEW
Mark Rashid (pronounced RASH-id)
is an internationally acclaimed horse
trainer known for his ability to
understand the horses point of view
and solve difficult problems with
communication rather than force. He
began working with horses at age ten,
when he met the old man, who
taught him to work with horses, not
against them, and to listen to what the
horse is trying to say. Marks clinics
center on one-on-one work with horse
and rider and are immensely popular
with people around the world.
When Mark decided to study the
martial art of aikido as a way to
improve his horsemanship, he brought
the same quiet determination to it that
he exhibits in his work with horses.
After years of practice, he has earned
a second degree bl ack bel t i n
Yoshinkan aikido and now teaches the
way of harmony in the local dojo.
Mark worked full time on ranches for
many years gathering herds, managing
stock, and training horses. When time
permits, he still enjoys working on
ranches near his home in Estes Park,
Colorado.
Mark has been a guest on NPRs The
Horse Show and was featured on the
Nature series on PBS. He is the author
of nine books - Considering the Horse,
A Good Horse is Never a Bad Color;
Horses Never Lie; Life Lessons from a
Ranc h Hor s e ; Hor s e mans hi p
Through Life; Big Horses, Good Dogs,
& Straight Fences; A Life With
Horses; Whole Heart, Whole Horse;
and his latest, a novel, Out of the Wild.
He also has a solo music CD Song of
the Prairie and enjoys singing and
playing guitar with a local band The
Elktones.
Learn more about Mark at these links:
1- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56s0wSdS9aA
2- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_UGAN7EB6U
3- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=haOwZlMnlU4
4- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqmbUvugtOw
5- http://www.horsemanmagazine.com/2008/10/interview-with-mark-rashid/
Train on the Trail
A common saying of Clinton Andersons is,
long rides, wet saddle pads and concentrated
training, in even doses. Basically what he is
trying to say is that we need to make sure we
are mentally and physically exercising our
horses. We need to make our training
programme engaging and varied for the horse.
A great way to incorporate all three elements of
the quote above is to train while out on the trail.
Another reason for training while out on the trail
is to keep the horses mind active, which in turn
keeps you safe. If you are riding a spooky
horse out, often the worst thing you can do is
sit there waiting for them to spook. Instead
keep them busy, give them so much else to
think about that they do not even consider
spooking.
For example if you know your horse is spooky
stop often and back them up a few strides, then
ride them forward again, do this in such a way
that they are not sure when you are next going
to ask them to do something, so they will stay
tuned in, in anticipation of a cue. If there are
wide at areas on the ride get your horse
moving out a bit, use up some of that excess
energy, or give them a chance to burn off some
of their adrenaline and energy by riding tight
circles and gure 8s.
As you are riding along often training
opportunities will arise. Many people let these
opportunities pass, or do not notice them at all,
as they are only focussed on the ride out and
the ride back. When I am out riding I am always
looking for ways to extend the relationship I
have with my horse. As you start opening your
mind to training on the trail, more and more
ideas will pop into your mind; such as backing
up banks, serpentining around trees, riding
between tight gaps, side passing over logs etc.
The only limitations you have when you ride
out, are the ones you place upon your horse.
I also love to school while out on a ride and I
rmly believe that dressage does not just
belong in an arena. There is not one ride that I
go on that I am not working on my soft feel,
lateral work and collection.
In this picture above the rider has found the
perfect obstacle for training on the trail, plastic
from the hay bales! Her horse was very
uncondent and would not go near it. She
gently, but persistently, asked her horse to
investigate it. By the end of the session he was
condently stepping on it and snifng it! This is
just one example of using a naturally occurring
scenario to build condence, responsiveness,
respect and control on the trail.
The wet saddle pads part of the quote is very
important and what better way to get this done
than to work your horse up hills and let them
stretch out in faster paces. Horses by nature are
made to cover a lot of ground, but unfortunately
they cannot cover the same amount of ground
as they would if they were living in the wild.
Because of this it is important that we give our
horses the chance to stretch their legs and have
a play at faster paces. If you do not feel
condent to do this on their backs, they can be
exercised at liberty in a large paddock, or on a
long lead line. Regardless of how you do it,
horses need to move.
Concentrated training is any training you do,
both on the ground and under saddle.
Concentrated training is where you work on
building a more soft, supple and responsive
horse, through a variety of mentally stimulating
exercises, such as backing through/over poles,
working patterns and moving the hind quarters.
Long rides, wet saddle pads and
concentrated training, in even doses
DVD REVIEW
Alycia Burton
Free Rider
Thi s DVD i ncl udes t he phenomenal
document ar y of sel f - made, YouTube
sensation, Alycia Burton. Featuring stunning
free riding footage around NZ, it follows
Alycias story from a young girl discovering her
love for horses, to a determined young woman
forging a career in the revolutionary practice of
free riding. Also including interviews with
equestrian professionals speaking candidly
about Alycia, the documentary and bonus
features will inspire and excite you about the
potential of a person who is living life to the
fullest.
This DVD includes:
I enjoyed watching this DVD, it was lovely getting to know
more about Alycia Burton the Free Rider. She has such an
amazing seat and a lovely way with horses. All of her
concepts she discussed worked so well for her, she truly is
fearless. There are many things she discusses that
compliment working with horses in a natural way.
The side saddle work that she does is insane, so amazing to
watch!
My only thought would be that her free riding method to date
does not seem fully accessible to all riders. There is a lot of
work and skill that goes into riding bareback and bridle-less
well and it can be a very dangerous endeavor. If you are well
prepared however and fully trust in your horse, denitely give
it a go!
Alycia has done a fantastic job in this DVD of showing
people how truly amazing horses are. I do hope that this
DVD reaches as many people as possible. Get enough
people thinking like this and the world truly can be made
better for our horses!
5 Free Riding Tutorials
1- An intro to Free Riding
2. Free Riding Techniques
3. Teaching your horse to Free Ride
4. How to control an unpredictable
horse
5. Free Riding Demo
+Bonus Features
1. Side saddle demo
2. Western Riding
3. Free Rider Trailer
Running time: 61 Minutes
Like most things in horses, balance and
consistency are key to having achievable
expectations of your horse. On one hand if
you do not have expectations, you are
unlikely to progress or promote positive
change; but if you expect too much, you can
Expectations
-Always be aware of my own limitations and
thresholds
-Is my horse properly prepared to meet my
expectation?
I have always been a person who has struggled
with the concept of expectations. I always have
an end vision of what I would like to achieve with
my horse, but I am not always condent at pushing
through my own, and my horses, thresholds to get
there in a timely manner. It is not that I do not
achieve the things I desire, I just feel like it takes
me ages to get there. Part of this has to do with
me feeling like the horse owes me nothing and I
should just be grateful for them being in my world.
Wrapped up in this is my perception that horses do
not care if they can back up on cue, let alone in
the right frame, at the speed I dictate. So in
expecting more from my horse, am I not just
seeking personal fulllment.....? And if I am, is this
ok? Does my horse enjoy helping me feel
personally fullled or are they impartial to it?
Occasionally I push through these thresholds and
expect that bit more from myself, so in turn my
horse, and great things happen! In these situations
there are often places where the horse feels a bit
confused and pressured and this is the point at
which I meet my threshold, but things always turn
out ne and progress is made if I push on.
end up being disappointed, frustrated and
feeling negatively towards your horse.
These are a few things I try to have in the
back of my mind when I am working with my
horse and considering expectations:
-The relationship with my horse is more
important than my goal
-Always reward him trying
-Keep my expectation in sight, but do not be
blinded by it
D
o
y
o
u
e
x
p
e
c
t

e
n
o
u
g
h
f
r
o
m
y
o
u
r

h
o
r
s
e
?
So my battle is never expecting too much, it
is always not expecting enough during a
session. In the past I have expected far too
little and this has been dangerous due to the
horses I was working with. For example with
Jewel; because I did not expect enough from
her, I was not providing enough leadership
and she decided to become the leader.
In saying this, these are my thoughts about
myself, not at all a comparison to what other
people expect from their horses. When
people compare me to others, I am told I
expect a good amount and make progress
quickly. But there are a few people who tell
me I do not expect enough!! I just know I
have not nearly reached my potential. It is
easy for people to sit back and judge whether
or not people expect enough. But, at the end
of the day only you can know what is truly
right for you!!
I can also only say this in hindsight too, as I
now know more about how much pressure
hor ses can handl e and t hat some
expectations are not as hard for the horse as
humans deem them to be.
I think of expectations like keeping a state
of equilibrium. Unique to all people, but
made up of a variety of factors.
So basically from all of this, what do you
think about your expectations of your
horse???
So do you expect enough from your horse????
Hopefully out by September 2014!