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

VersatileEquines

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!!!

ContentsEditor’s NoteWe want your ideasBook ReviewBuilding RapportYou Tube ClipHomeopathyNothing is ForeverThe Magic ToolSuccess At ShowsClinician ReviewTrain on the TrailDVD ReviewExpectations

Editor’s NoteT h e f u r t h e r I e m b a r k o n m y 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

YOURIDEAS

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 Clinton’s 8 Steps to Success approach.1- Goal2- Why3- Teaching Stage4- Handler/Rider Mistakes

Establishing

Real  horses.  Real  riders.  Real  problems.  Real  solu1ons.

C l i n t o n   Ande r s on ' s   t r a i n i n g  techniques   can   achieve   amazing  results   with   almost   any   horse.   Now  his  methods  are  available  for  the  first  >me   in   a   reader-­‐friendly   highly  illustrated   book   and   you   too   can  learn   the   program   that   teaches  "everyday   people"   -­‐   regardless   of  riding   style   age   or   ability   -­‐   how   to  communicate   beCer   with   their  mounts.

Star>ng   with   an   understanding   of  horse   psychology   Clinton   presents   a  real is>c   step-­‐by-­‐step   tra in ing  approach   that  you   can   apply   to   your  own   horse.   Through   a   series   of  photographs   taken   at   the   >me   you  see   each   new   exercise   as   it   is  presented   to   two   riders   and   their  horses.   Each   exercise   includes   a  troubleshoo>ng   session   from   both  the   riders'   &   Clinton   Anderson's  perspec>ve.

Clinton,  who   appren>ced   with   some  of   Australia's   best   horsemen   quickly  gained   a   reputa>on   first   in   Australia  and   later   in   the   US   as   a   talented  teacher.   This   is   the   perfect  book   for  all  who  desire  to  be  safe  gain  control  and   respect   of   the   horse   and   enjoy  horseback  riding  to  the  fullest.

5- Horse Problems6- Trouble Shooting7- Success Tips8- Practical Purpose

ControlBOOK 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 RapportAs the definition 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 TheoryI 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 let’s 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 horse’s mind and its functions. 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, fight/flight 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 confidence 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 TimeTime, 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 definitely 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-SkillingThis 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 magnificence. 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 reflect.

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 find 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 file it for later use. It is amazing to notice down the track that things you didn’t 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, “what’s 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 first 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, ‘what’s 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!

Check it out here

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 moving the hindquarters and discusses the circumstances when having each of these methods solid might be crucial, and common mistakes one might make in working on developing them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCq7uthzwnI

Arnica

The no. 1 remedy for first 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 flesh• 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 HenryHomeopathic RemediesHomeopathic remedies can be invaluable in treating first aid situations with animals and people alike. In some situations they can help resolve issues, saving money on vet fees (or Dr’s 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)Certificate in Animal CareEmail: equinoxhenrys@slingshot.co.nzPhone: 027 6353537

Potency and Administration

The best mid-range potency for your first 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 hasn’t burst yet. Give a dose of the indicated remedy morning and night for 3 days, or until she shows signs of improvement, whichever is first.

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 float good it is not forever

Think of your Horsemanship like spinning plates

Nothin

g

is F

orev

er

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 indefinitely. Unfortunately through my own experiences I’ve

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 float, 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 float 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 float 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 floating’. Some horses have had some very horrific floating 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 fix 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.

Blocker

Tie Ring

EQUIPMENT REVIEW

These can be purchased from the ‘Tack Shop’ website for around $55http://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.

At ShowsSUCCESS

One of the most common things I read on Horse Help Facebook pages, are people having difficulty 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 doesn’t do, first 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 float, the horse not loading, not knowing how to get there etc. Once you have identified 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 float 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 floating 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 outingsAnother 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 beneficial 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 first 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 yourselfAnother 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 confidence in your horse, you are more likely to achieve higher levels faster.

Take supportive people with youGoing to events the first few times is very daunting, especially if you are very new to it. Build your own confidence by taking a wing man- some one who you know will have your back and is confident around horses. This person can act as your groom

This was Jazzy’s first time at the beach, so I just took her on the lead. This helps build her confidence without the extra stress of a rider on board.

and support crew, giving you another perspective on things.

Put the time into floatingIt still amazes me that people take horses to events when they know their horses are not confident floaters. 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 floating part was a mission? Certainly not the horses trust and respect. If you know your horse is an anxious floater, 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 floating scenarios, before the day you expect it to load onto a float to go to a show.

Common problemsWith all that said, here are a few responses I have to things people commonly have problems with.

Horse wont stand tied at the floatTo 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 first 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 benefit from having a tie up buddy for the first few times. These horses also struggle to be expected to tie up indefinitely. To build their confidence 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 figure 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. -Confident Horses- sometimes all a confident horse needs is to be left alone at the float 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 confident horse like this knows they are resigned to their fate, they will settle down and conserve energy.

Horse has Separation AnxietySimilar to the floating 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 first starts stressing. Have the horses mind kept busy (back ups, circles, flexing 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 confident 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 homeThis 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 definitely 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 firmly tell them no and trust that in your own time, you will get your horse back on the float.

Horse neighs repeatedlyThis is a natural reaction for the horse to have in environments where there are many horses. Just be positive and proactive about this, growling 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 listeningSometimes the environment at shows is so busy horses find 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 find 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.

JiggingHaving 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 flexion and keep the horses mind on slow, smooth movements. You will also find as a rider, that if you are nervous, excited or tense your body will be sending conflicting 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 RashidCLINICIAN REVIEW

Mark Rashid (pronounced RASH-id) is an internationally acclaimed horse trainer known for his ability to understand the horse’s 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. Mark’s 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 black belt in 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 NPR’s 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 R a n c h H o r s e ; H o r s e m a n s h i 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=56s0wSdS9aA2- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_UGAN7EB6U3- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=haOwZlMnlU44- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqmbUvugtOw5- http://www.horsemanmagazine.com/2008/10/interview-with-mark-rashid/

Train on the TrailA common saying of Clinton Anderson’s 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 flat 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 figure 8’s.

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 firmly 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 unconfident and would not go near it. She gently, but persistently, asked her horse to investigate it. By the end of the session he was confidently stepping on it and sniffing it! This is just one example of using a naturally occurring scenario to build confidence, 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 confident 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 BurtonFree Rider

This DVD inc ludes the phenomena l documentary o f se l f -made, YouTube sensation, Alycia Burton. Featuring stunning free riding footage around NZ, it follows Alycia’s 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, definitely 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 Tutorials1- An intro to Free Riding2. Free Riding Techniques3. Teaching your horse to Free Ride4. How to control an unpredictable

horse5. Free Riding Demo

+Bonus Features1. Side saddle demo2. Western Riding3. 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 confident 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 fulfillment.....? And if I am, is this ok? Does my horse enjoy helping me feel personally fulfilled 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 fine 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

Do you expect enough from your horse?

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 ho rses can hand le and tha t 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!