Most of us appreciate that all horses are different. When training, what works for one horse may not be the best approach for another. The almost infinite variations of a horse’s nature combined with their varied experiences (nature plus nurture) mean the chance is almost zero in finding two horses responding identically to identical training.
What To Do
Pressure Creates The Conversation Between Horse and Rider
While I encourage us all to reflect on how little pressure we can apply in our training, I believe the criteria for judging the amount of pressure to use or not to use is NOT in how loud is our energy. Pressure is not the enemy of good horsemanship - no matter what source the pressure comes from (positive or negative reinforcement). It’s in how effective it is in opening and maintaining the conversation between us and our horse. If we do too little, a horse will ignore us. If we do too much, a horse will be obedient because it will be afraid not to be obedient. If we get it just right we will have the best relationship, the most willing performance and so much fun.
Work Ethic In Horses
What Is Trick Training?
A Quiet Mind
I have spent many years trying to tell people about what is a soft horse or what is a horse like when he feels okay. It’s always been a struggle to put these ideas into concepts that have meaning for people. But when I really break it down to the essentials I realize I am just talking about a horse having a quiet mind.