There is so much information in this video, it could fill a book. I hope you will re-wind sections that interest or confuse you and study the "why" of it. Feel free to ask questions about what I did and why.
The Dip In The Neck
Is Horse Riding Cruel?
Each of us has our own values and a belief about what is and was is not acceptable when it comes to working with horses. Most people can agree that the worst forms of cruelty such as physical violence and starvation are not acceptable. However, there may be considerable differences of opinion about training methods, equipment and uses for horses. It’s for each of us to come to terms with our own ways of handling horses and be able to sleep with a clear conscious.
Timing Of The Aids
One Horse, Two Sides
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.
Primary And Secondary Thoughts
So the reason we need to know what a horse’s primary and secondary thoughts are is that it lets us know how available a horse is to learning. We should always be trying to have the conversation we are having with our horse be the primary focus. It’s a non-stop battle because we are constantly competing with the rest of the world for our horse’s attention. This also means that while other things occupy a horse’s primary thoughts, we will never help our horse find softness and willingness.