I have a question. I suspect that many people will think it is the dumbest question they have heard from a horse trainer. But dumb or not, it might be worth a few seconds of consideration.
Regular visitors to this page already know that I strongly believe everything a horse does begins with a change in thought. I teach how to direct a horse’s thought, and the thought then directs the horse’s movement. It begins with the rider giving the horse a new idea, and the new idea directs the feet. This concept underpins everything I practice when working a horse and everything I teach when working with students at a clinic.
However, many trainers address training from the opposite end. They believe moving the feet influences a horse’s thoughts. I teach that changing the thought influences the feet and others argue that changing the feet influences the thought.
So here is my really dumb question.
If directing the feet of a horse occurs before changing its idea, why don’t we attach the reins and the lead rope to the feet?
I have taught horses to lead from a rope around their feet. I have taught horses to wear hobbles when I have camped in the bush on horse treks. Therefore, I know they can be trained to respond when I apply feel to a rope attached to their feet.
So why don’t trainers who believe that moving the feet comes before directing the thought use ropes, reins, lunge lines, etc., attached to the feet?
(I told you it was a dumb question).
At a clinic I helped a student teach her horse to give to a leg rope in preparation to wearing hobbles.