|
|
|
|
Exceptional Horsemanship Newsletter
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hola,
BIG SMILES to all of you who conquered the quiet challenge from last month and emailed me.
"Skill to do comes of doing." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson "Sometimes the best helping hand you can get is a good, firm push." -- Joann Thomas Had a very relaxing few days in Puerto Penaso, Mexico in March. The house we stay at is right on the beach and we can just sit there and watch the dolphins with a cool beverage in hand.
Of course, I wasn't JUST sitting there the whole time. I was writing out some scripts for videos I'm putting together for you guys.
The quote up top there by RWE... well, if you're in the moment with your horse, there's always something you can learn by doing. But, the opportunity I had a couple of weeks ago was new and different.
Helena and her horse Nikita asked me to meet them at the underpass again. Actually Nik wasn't in on the call, just Helena! :D You may remember from a few newsletters back during the hot Phoenix summer I'd met them in the underpass (concrete box and 6 lanes of freeway above) and worked Nik in the shade in there. Well, Helena had something she wanted to work on for a future ride in the Superstition Mountains that had a dangerous, drop-off ledge, with a rock wall on the other side, while climbing a difficult rocky incline/decline. She'd been on the trail previously and run into quite a spot of trouble that was very scary for both her and Nik.
So, she thought that if we worked on this 'obstacle' Nik would get more confident and so would she with something tough, scary and way different, but 'at home' so to speak. I always say "Do your homework at home." Good on ya, Helena.
The over/underpass surround is a tall wall of concrete. We're at the bottom and there is a narrow 4 foot opening fully enclosed on the sides all the way up leading to the to top with about 13 STAIRS!!! And a RAILING in there to boot. Hmmm......
Forward, backward, left, right, up, down or stand still is all there is, just different applications of timing, feel and skills, true or true?
Nik and I re-acquainted ourselves with a F,B,L,R. We removed the saddle so it wouldn't get caught on the railing. Using a LONG rope and I went to the top. With timing and feel (NO PULLING) it only took a short time and up she came. As it was a long ride by the canal (Yes, a central canal at the top) and around to get back to the bottom, I Curbsided Nik on the railing keeping us from dropping over the wall and giving Nik an opportunity to practice being close to the drop. Slipped on and rode her back around with the halter/bareback. We repeated the same thing again and when I rode her back down after the second time up, I decided that she would be okay so I pointed her at the opening and up the two of us went. A couple of more times and it was Helena's turn!!! WOO-HOO! She did great!
Now we're going down. Exceedingly tougher!
Keep reading the Horseman segment below for yet a different training situation.
|
So... Are You Horseman Material????
An email from Roxanne in Montana:
Lauren, I just have to tell you that I love the way you write! It is just as if we were having a direct conversation. Anyway, something really struck me in this current Newsletter. I have known for a very long time that our horse is always learning something from us whether it be good or bad. But what I really began to think about is how our horse(s) perceive us in day to day caregiving of them and just how much of this observation carries over when we are riding. What about basic ground manners when we are feeding, cleaning stalls, jealousy between horses, etc. When they are not in halter or bridle, and just being horses, are there any rules? Or do we just let them be horses?? Does this make any sense? I know I would like to learn way more about my own body language and the messages I may be inadvertently sending to my horse. And certainly to NOT send the wrong message.
"To be conscious that you are ignorant of the facts is a great step to knowledge." -- Benjamin Disraeli, British prime minister
"Long-range goals keep you from being frustrated by short-term failures." -- J.C. Penney
Lauren says: Perfect sense. This is a BIG part of horsemanship and why I'm always stressing Awareness. Of course you don't always have to address everything that comes up, but if you do at least pay good attention, becoming more aware of what is happening and correct a good bit of the time, you'll have much better behaved horses. And you'll keep having less to correct as they become accustomed to behaving. Kind of like training kids to behave in a restaurant. We'll go into this more. I've noticed more than once the eyeball rolling of a student as the thought goes through their head, and sometimes comes out their mouth, "Just let it go, Lauren." Ahhh... NO!
It's on my list. And it's a long list!!
If there's someone you think might enjoy this info, too. Please pass it along!
Ask yourself: What would have to happen for me to look at and think about my horse differently? What might I gain if I did? And what might be the benefits to my horse? |
| Upcoming stuff:
I'm going to be at the Queen Creek Horse Expo on April 30 (Arena 2 @ 2:30) doing a Curbside Service Demo. I'm taking one of my heathens to show what we mean by Curbside Service. There's a blurb on the Expo site for people to submit their horse to me by email for demo use. And I've picked a 6 year old Clydesdale just started under saddle that I've never met. I know I'd want Curbside Service with such a tall horse.
Join us if you're in the neighborhood.
Also, it looks like I'll be in Utah in the middle of May. Let me know if you're in the Vernal area, or could be.
|
|
|
|
Hey folks, I love writing and I'm certainly going to keep it up. But, I'd also like to know what you think about what I'm writing. So... post some comments on the blog and help me out here. Or, get some info on what you're interested in by letting my know. Thanks a bunch in advance! And if anyone got Curbside Service on their Kindle, I'd like to hear about it.
Don't miss out! There are always new training concepts in the blog. Plus I've got some new stories on the site.
Sincerely,
ME
Lauren Woodard
Exceptional Horsemanship |
Lauren Woodard
Scottsdale, Arizona 85254
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
