Header Exceptional Horsemanship
November 2010
Exceptional Horsemanship Newsletter
Greetings!

Buenos Dias!
Big horse show season here in the west. Let me know how you're doing. Hope you all got a chance to catch some of the World Equestrian Games even though the coverage was paltry. How often do you get to use the word 'paltry'? :D

Thomas Edison said, "We don't know a millionth of one percent about anything." This opens a big ponder on horsemanship, doesnt' it? Why is it so hard for people to be okay with 'not knowing'? If you can get past your ego, you'll be a much better horseman. I know this happens to other trainers too as we try to figure out more and better ways to help. Someone asks what to do with a problem they're having with their horse and when told the solution, they don't want to do it because it's not something they're familiar with. Of course not, otherwise they wouldn't have the problem!! But, in not wanting to change, their horsemanship (rather lack of horsemanship) doesn't change either.
Get over yourself (and I mean that in a nice way) and become fascinated with the quest for knowledge. What could be better than becoming a horseman????
 I've added another block this month with a quote from Albert Bandura to get you thinking about how this might apply to your horsemanship. Scroll down just below the Upcoming Stuff block.

I've figured out how to get you guys into my archived newsletters! My techie skills are sorely lacking, but I'm plugging along. Try this.
Spread the WORD!  Forward this issue

Book review: "Reflections on Equestrian Art" by Nuno Olivera. As stated in the title it's "Reflections". Some of the comments left on the Amazon site gave me a chuckle because they complain that it doesn't teach you how to do the movements. Uh, no. That's why it's called Reflexions. However, one of the programs I'm working on follows that someone can't do something with their horse that they haven't got in their head. People want horse videos to show the horse and the 'trick/skill/movement', but going out to the arena with a horse and performing with intelligence if the concepts haven't been observed and thought about (reflected on) doesn't work. So, a quote from the book: "Students must be taught to use their hands and legs in a proper fashion, but above all they must be taught to use their head rationally".

Click here to get your own newsletter if this was forwarded to you. Don't wait for your friend to send it to you!
                          
 
So... Are You Horseman Material????


Horsemanship Material Question - How much de-spooking do you do?
This mare chooses to spook at a lot of stuff she isn't really scared of. I made the picture big so you could look closer. All this 'stuff' was brought over by her owner who wanted her to be good with it. Note that she doesn't have any halter on and she is standing on her most mortal fear, a hardened, old, hairy hide that has peaks and crumples. At my place for a 10 day session, by the second or third day (here) after being 'loaded' with scary green fake grass and a tarp, she went to stand on the hide after crossing the carpet between the police tape and the umbrella when I pointed my finger and indicated what I'd like her to do. The look on her face (eyes/ears, etc.) is of paramount importance. There is also a water box out of the picture that she went thru first. She's a very intelligent horse, but horse intelligence doesn't always come in handy for owners.
Summer loaded
  p.s. she stood there while I went in the house to get my camera!

blog (Horse Musings)

There's a difference between techniques and technique.
For exceptional results, think "how and how can I".

                          
Columbian saddle Upcoming Stuff
Had to do some re-shooting for the  Curbside Service DVD. And boy is there a lot of work scripting and writing and talking so it sounds good. Sheesh!

Next time in Horsemanship Material (maybe): NOT doing what it takes, NOT changing, Going for too much before you've asked for just the right amount! Or show spooking.
Or... There's just SO MUCH to write about!
And new stuff keeps popping into my head.
And I got a new program that I'm getting ready to unveil!


   
                          

Albert Bandura wote:

People with self-efficacy (high assurance in their capabilities to achieve a goal) approach difficult tasks as challenges to be mastered rather than as threats to be avoided. They set themselves challenging goals and maintain strong commitment to them. They heighten and sustain their efforts in the face of failure and quickly recover after failures or setbacks. They attribute failure to insufficient effort or deficient knowledge and skills which are acquirable. They approach threatening situations with assurance that they can exercise control over them. They measure success in terms of self-improvement rather than by triumphs over others.

In contrast, people who doubt their capabilities shy away from difficult tasks which they view as personal threats. They have low aspirations and weak commitment to the goals they choose to pursue. When faced with difficult tasks, they dwell on their personal deficiencies, on the obstacles they will encounter, and all kinds of adverse outcomes rather than concentrate on how to perform successfully. They slacken their efforts and give up quickly in the face of difficulties. They are slow to recover following failure or setbacks. Because they view insufficient performance as deficient aptitude it does not require much failure for them to lose faith in their capabilities.

 

I did a little editing for length on this and took out a couple of sentences so google him and read more if you want.

I'm currently struggling with how easy some fixes are and because it's something tiny the person has never considered before, they won't do it. It isn't hard, it isn't dangerous, it isn't time consuming (it shortens all your riding/horse issues you work on), it doesn't take math or brain power and yet... because many people with horses (as opposed to horsemen) don't consider this or trainers don't help their people by pointing it out (assuming they know), they don't do it. And their horsemanship suffers. We're talking stepping on feet, coming off, running off, rearing, etc. Wouldn't you want a fix for that? Really??? Help is available, but we can't make ya. As Tony Robbins said, "Lack of resources isn't why you fail. It's a lack of resourcefulness."


To better ways of looking at our horsemanship, Hi Ho Silver, Away!

                                                 

 


Fabulous fun...    better results, less work and a lot of fun. Gather 9 or so of your friends and barn mates and schedule a 3-hour workshop with me. Something like "The Goldilocks Syndrome" or "Horse Manners 101" or "Enhancing Trainability".  Of course you could do a clinic, too. Whichever... if you have the concepts behind the tools and learn how to incorporate them together, your results will skyrocket exponentially. Yours is free if you do.
Don't forget to check the blog for more training and put in your questions and comments!
 
Enjoy the Ride,
 
Lauren Woodard
Exceptional Horsemanship
Lauren Woodard
Scottsdale, Arizona 85254