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Exceptional Horsemanship Newsletter
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Good Day,
Who's read the Steve Jobs book? Whew! I wonder if it's even possible to like him after reading that. There are some great quotes and concepts that he promulgated and I actually learned quite a bit about my Mac. Talk about focused. But, just because he (certainly not by himself) got some really great things done using some great tools to make great things happen... well, let's just say the end does not justify the means. If everyone including your closest friends describe you as cruel and brutal???
The means do NOT justify the end in horsemanship either.The actual results, i.e.: winning a competition or even if you don't compete, have a lot of spin in the telling if your methods aren't honorable. Check out this new post Love Your Horse?
I admit to being pretty darned focused when it comes to horsemanship and I mix in a real low tolerance for BS and laziness. I have no regard for someone who wants a gimmick to MAKE the horse do something so the person doesn't have to learn something or do it right. As Isaacson also says in the Jobs book, "most people... tend not to be direct when they feel something is shoddy because they want to be liked, which is actually a vain trait." I agree, but I do try not to hurt people's feelings. However, I badly want people to get the most out of me, their horse and themselves. Ah well...
There are two new videos on my website. The one with Taylor bareback/halter jumping with the loose herd is on the home page and another on teaching horses to come at liberty. Both are on the Training Tips/Videos page. And I'm working on the training content that goes with them.
Make sure to give a quick read to the not to be missed bottom segments!
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So... Are You Horseman Material????
All the famous clinicians are always talking about good foundation work, taking it slowly, getting it good. And they're absolutely right. The problem I see is that a lot of people don't understand nor want to nail down what good foundation is. Good and good enough are not the same thing. And really, foundation is all you've got. It's a question of where you set the bar.
 Azabache (Bache) to wit: Check out her bio by clicking on her name there so I don't have to type all that. Now the update is that with only half a dozen bareback/halter rides and once having a saddle/bridle on her, I took her out to the desert. Peka and Taylor came along. Gave Bache a few minutes to acclimate as she hasn't been out of my pasture since I brought her home. Asked her, online, to jump down into one of my favorite holes (where huge Mesquites have been pulled out with the roots) and come up. Video soon with Zorro in the holes) She did it like a pro. I got on, we started trotting on a loose rein, past trash rotten people dump in the desert, off the edge of washes, up to some firm ground. I urged her into a canter and just sat back and enjoyed the HECK out of her smooth run over uneven ground, reins flapping, ears forward into a gallop and after almost half a mile when we'd slowed to a nice moving lope, I asked for a quiet stop and she dropped right into it and just stood there. I shook my head in wonder at the fabulousness of this horse and the absolute rightfulness of foundation work to success.
On the last day of a Ray Hunt clinic a man said, "Ray I have a question for you. I've been sitting here and observing, and I think I understand what's going on. Every day you put the class through the same series of simple stops, backups, and turns."
"Yes," said Ray.
"So my question is, When do you go on to the exercises meant for us 'intermediate' riders? Ray -- when do we ever leave Square One?"
And Ray sat there for a full minute before answering. Then said, "Son, you never leave Square One. You take it with you."
Foundation!! As in - can you ask your horse to move whichever hoof you choose forward, backward, left, right, up or down when you ask and without moving the other hooves? Will your horse do what you ask? It isn't the task.
There's a big difference between being on a horse and being a horseman.
If you have a passion for it; and I don't mean that platitude/buzzword that people like to throw around, you're putting in the hard work to gain the most important skills - knowledge and imagination.
so they can sign up for their own newsletter.
There's a difference between techniques and technique.
For exceptional results, think "how and how can I".
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Ya Gotta Watch this video: The Equestrian Whisperer this is hilarious (and true). My book, Curbside Service, Change the Way You and Your Horse Think About Each Other, is doing well in both print and Kindle, so a huge THANK YOU. Pretty soon, people watching a friend have trouble with mounting an unhelpful, moving horse will say with high eyebrows, "What? Your horse doesn't Curbside?"Upcoming stuff: So, just where do YOU set your bar? awareness, the need for calm, maintain boundaries in order to create focus, both in yourself and your horse. ladder jumping - the art of waiting timing/feel comeThe weird niche.
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Let's Raise your Bar off the ground. Raise your Level. Raise your Ambitions. BE THE BOLD ADVENTURER! Email lessons, a great way to get you started, today. Check the "Stuff" for you page on the site. I'm building new programs for you too, with video lessons. I must say, I'm having to learn a lot of techie stuff that I somewhat resent taking the time to have to learn. Not to mention the 'learning curve'.
NEW training tips/concepts and videos are in the blog and put in your questions and comments!
Lauren Woodard
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Lauren Woodard
Scottsdale, Arizona 85254
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