March 2015

Exceptional Horsemanship Newsletter

A big, big THANK YOU to all of you who took the time to respond to my which book to finish writing first question. It really helped me a lot and changed a couple of my thought processes involved. The winner? Yep, my newest endeavor and what I was so excited about "How to Feed Your Horse a Carrot".

While it sounds simplistic, THAT'S exactly the reason I chose that title. What happens and how much folks miss while they are shoving a carrot in their horse's mouth. And how it applies to most if not all of the rest of their horsemanship and is a leading indicator of your horse's behavior and emotional mindset. Plus, I may include the Leading book inside the Carrot book as it is all about the beginnings of every experience and exposure to your horse and what to do about it.

How do YOU feed your horse carrots? Give it some thought next time you head out there with a carrot in your hand. A thought to get you started: If you hold a small carrot UP, many horses struggle to get their head around putting their head UP and they try to make their lips go up without moving their head. YES! IT'S TRUE! Now I didn't say forward so don't ask them to step on you. Up! Maybe start with their eye level and change depending on what your horse shows you. Just hold it in one spot and see how long it takes for your horse to figure it out.

More later of course... in the book!

LOOK what I've got: Yep! Exceptional Horsemanship Playing cards!!! How can you get your own deck? Two ways. 1) Get 4 friends to sign up for this newsletter and either message me on fb with their names and your mailing address or email me with the info and there you go, an exceptional deck of cards will be on it's way to YOU!

2) click here and in the "Make Payment" box enter $11 which includes the $3 shipping and I'll get them right off to you. And if you order in the next two weeks, you'll also get one of my really cool new Exceptional Horsemanship stickers (transparent background).

Some look, but don't see.
Some listen, but don't hear.
And some know, but don't do.
And they have fun, but not jumping-waving-crazy-dodgeball kind of fun.
Jump, --The Universe

My goal is to help everyone I can have JUMPING-WAVING-CRAZY-DODGEBALL fun with their horse. Let's go!

A bunch of us horse people have had wrecks and bodily troubles. Many of you know that on July 4 of '08 I had a rare complete knee break: ALL the ligaments completely snapped off and curled back in the muscles. Tendons and muscles torn, the bones broken and the knee cap dislocated (of course). They didn't actually fix my ACL they just stitched it to my PCL and tied it with heavy thread, drilled a 4 inch hole thru the shin-bone to a shirt button they stuck on the front of my shin bone under the skin. I have not seen my knee cap since that day until now. My knee remained swollen to the point where there was no delineation and frequently difficult to operate or get in jeans. I don't have feeling in the knee from about 4 inches above to about 6 inches below. Like your face with Novacane at the dentist.

I was researching Rue, and came across a website that makes only 6 healing creams - firstaidcreams.com. I bought the Ruta Graveoleans cream that says it helps ligament and tendon regeneration. I put it on morning and evening for three weeks without change and then got up the next morning and I could see the left side of my knee cap. Delirious was I! Within two more days the right side was visible. Everyday it gets better and operates better. I then ordered their Hypericum cream that helps regenerate nerves and it's now starting to feel a bit differently. So I hope this helps some of you out there needing it.

You can catch up on all the training ideas you've missed on the blog

So... Are You Horseman Material????

What does the movement LOOK like - EXACTLY. Let's be clear in our vision so we can be clear to the horse and we can then have a clear view of what is actually transpiring.
Everyday I see people being imprecise and they think I'm being picky. Close enough for government work some say. YUCK! They don't care that the horse is braced around the corner or didn't move out of the way, or knocked them in the head with his head or stepped on their foot - that's just what horses do, they moan. NO, it's what ill-behaved horses with unaware or lazy people do to get points and the upper hoof. And more power to them if they can just keep doing it! What does it take for a person to get it in their head? Obviously a lot more than I think it should.
We're talking about an inch here and there. How can it make a difference? Let's just change the scenario: You're going to drink a glass of milk. We'll even assume you operated your hand good enough to place it around the glass without spilling it, But that may not be so and you then can't pick up the glass without spilling the milk on the counter. Then on the way to your mouth, as you tip the glass, you're an inch off your mouth. What ho!
It's important! People! Let's get clear!!!

"Your imagination is your preview of life's coming attractions."

-- Albert Einstein

Don't have a sloppy preview! Can you imagine constantly pouring your milk all over yourself every day?

That's what you're doing when you are NOT precise with your signals or when you're wrong! Using the wrong move or too strong a signal or too weak a signal will also get milk all over you! And milk dries sticky!!! Keep trying! Keep learning! Watch your horse so you know that her response means you were off the mark and just poured milk all over her neck.
1) What EXACTLY am I trying to figure out?
2) Break it down to smaller details.
3) Anything familiar that you can associate or start with?
4) Learn it faster - BUY help (me, books, etc).
5) Set your task list.
6) Research - including people to call for help and recognizing similar models.
7) Develop a practice plan.
8) WHAT DO YOUR RESULTS LOOK LIKE?

If you're not willing to experiment and fail, you are stuck with incremental growth instead of exponential growth. Let's get Exceptional!

Please forward this newsletter to your friends and tell them to sign up for their own. Click the purple "Gimme" button on the website.

There's a difference between techniques and technique.

For exceptional results, think "how and how can I".

Upcoming stuff:

On the galloping bridge. Drift. Would you know what side of the balance bean you'll fall off?
A horse invading your space as opposed to being in the same space.
Dressage Mastery Riding into your 90's.
Asking your horse to do something way above his level and way above yours!

"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 come
Managing space around other horses scarcity vs. abundant mindset

"Think."

Advance your horsemanship by Aquiring knowledge!

Call or email me to schedule a lesson, training session, phone or email lesson/consultation today.

Don't forget to check the blog for more training and put in your questions and comments!

Sincerely,
ME

Lauren Woodard
ExceptionalHorsemanship.com

Lauren Woodard

Scottsdale, Arizona 85254