"Where results speak for themself"
Performance / Dressage Training
Put your relationship with your horse first
We all ultimately want our horse's to perform to their highest level for their ability at the stage of their training and development. Most of us are focused on the end goal of performing an exercise, race or test that's going to help us achieve our goals, such as a dressage test.
Training Horses Naturally works with the laws of nature rather than old school techniques that work with the rules of man, in my experience mans rules are the major factor in horses becoming hard to handle, difficult, bored and dangerous. Man's rules do not apply to the natural instincts and psychology of the horse.
I have always found it strange that people will say "that won't work with my horse" as if training a horse in it's only language is used for specific breeds. Developing a harmonious approach to your training and riding needn't be one or the other. In fact those who really understand dressage at an elite level, do not practice or train their horses like 99% of people - they put the relationship first, not their egos, deadline, price tag or ribbon.
True horsemanship applies to all disciplines and is about taking the time it takes and not forcing or pushing the horse past it's mental, emotional and physical capabilities.
The best example that I can share with you is the training philosophy of the "Spanish School of Riding". The trainers and riders that are a part of this school spend years and years preparing themselves and their riders, never exhausting the horse's mental, emotional and physical fitness.
The most imporant thing that you have with your horse is the relationship and it needs to be nurtured and your number one priority.
For example, I first like to think of encouraging the horse to "perform" in incremental steps, such as moving off to the right of the round yard. Getting the horse to move off is the performance part of the exercise. When the horse is capable of doing this in a calm and relaxed manner I will ask the horse to "perform" the next step. When the horse can combine a series of steps in a logical sequence you can then say their performance is being trained.
What I see happen in too many cases is the direct line thinking people take with their horses. They put the end goal first and miss the imporant steps, increments and rewards that are required to develop a solid foundation and a horse that is soft, subtle and willing.
Put your relationship with your horse first
We all ultimately want our horse's to perform to their highest level for their ability at the stage of their training and development. Most of us are focused on the end goal of performing an exercise, race or test that's going to help us achieve our goals, such as a dressage test.
Training Horses Naturally works with the laws of nature rather than old school techniques that work with the rules of man, in my experience mans rules are the major factor in horses becoming hard to handle, difficult, bored and dangerous. Man's rules do not apply to the natural instincts and psychology of the horse.
I have always found it strange that people will say "that won't work with my horse" as if training a horse in it's only language is used for specific breeds. Developing a harmonious approach to your training and riding needn't be one or the other. In fact those who really understand dressage at an elite level, do not practice or train their horses like 99% of people - they put the relationship first, not their egos, deadline, price tag or ribbon.
True horsemanship applies to all disciplines and is about taking the time it takes and not forcing or pushing the horse past it's mental, emotional and physical capabilities.
The best example that I can share with you is the training philosophy of the "Spanish School of Riding". The trainers and riders that are a part of this school spend years and years preparing themselves and their riders, never exhausting the horse's mental, emotional and physical fitness.
The most imporant thing that you have with your horse is the relationship and it needs to be nurtured and your number one priority.
For example, I first like to think of encouraging the horse to "perform" in incremental steps, such as moving off to the right of the round yard. Getting the horse to move off is the performance part of the exercise. When the horse is capable of doing this in a calm and relaxed manner I will ask the horse to "perform" the next step. When the horse can combine a series of steps in a logical sequence you can then say their performance is being trained.
What I see happen in too many cases is the direct line thinking people take with their horses. They put the end goal first and miss the imporant steps, increments and rewards that are required to develop a solid foundation and a horse that is soft, subtle and willing.
As a student you must be prepared to endure the hardships involved in a genuine pursuit for knowledge and be determined to sustain your effort and will. You must anticipate the multiple obstacles that you are bound to encounter along the path and understand the key to successful practice is never to lose your determination.
- Dalai Lama
- Dalai Lama
(Galileo: "I believe that there is no greater hate in the world than that of ignorance towards knowldege")