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"Trim for comfort - Train for Trust." D.E. Hofford
Training is such a huge area with so many different opinions and passions that it is with trepidation that I say anything in public. It might help to start out with clarifying what I don't do: I don't train for any specific discipline. I'm not training at the 'higher' levels, so to speak. What I teach horses is a foundation that gives them confidence and trust on the ground with people and gives them a solid, balanced base from which to be ridden and engage in smooth transitions from one gait to another in a collected frame. This requires both ridden and ground work. "What is it that makes horses give their rider everything? It can only be a reaction based on mutual trust. Once a horse trusts his partner, he develops and grows; and once a rider has found trust in his horse's abilities, he can develop the confidence needed to achieve special accomplishments." Elizabeth Furst, Visions of Show Jumping I do ForeplayTM with all the horses I work with as a basic to generate trust. I call it ForeplayTM because its a bit provocative but mostly because it comes before anything else and should be thought of as play. The horse is required to do nothing but enjoy him/herself. ForeplayTM is a way of interacting physically with horses that gives them intense pleasure, and asks nothing of them other than that they open themselves up to it. This is, for some of them an issue and as such provides a wonderful opportunity for engendering trust and confidence and does so in such a basic way that the effect is rather profound. For those 'that take to it' right away, its a quick and easy way for me to identify myself as someone who can listen to them and be in sync with them, which I find extremely important in gaining their trust and confidence in me. It is also a beautiful way for the owner to learn how to be sensitive to their horse, how to read their horse, how to synchronize with their horse. There is little danger of being hurt and almost no chance of doing anything that would damage or hurt the horse though if done properly it provides almost instantaneous feedback to the owner about how they are doing in the eyes of the horse. For more details on how to engage in ForeplayTM with your horse and possible clinics, click here: ForeplayTM. "We work by two main principles on which the entire system of equestrian art, with all its movements and all its rules, is based. They are balance and flexibility. From balance follows mobility and lightness, and out of flexibility develop agility, submission and with it obedience." --- Ludwig Hunersdorf (1800) I would change that to "..and out of flexibility develop agility, partnership and cooperation." This better suits my sensibilities and, I think, the time. But the central point is the importance of balance! I can't stress this enough. A horse that isn't balanced will not be supple no matter how many times he goes across the cavaletti or how many leg yields he's hauled through. If he isn't balanced and supple nothing is going to work right and as has been pointed out "...every step is another step closer to lameness." And all the 'techno' gear one can buy won't change that. That includes whips, spurs and bigger, meaner bits. Head set means absolutely nothing with out self-balance. Well, that's not quite true. A horse forced into a head set without being balanced creates a mass of muscle and joint damage for the vet and chiropractor to deal with. "The perfect horseman is quiet on a horse. The calmness which springs from confidence in his own ability extends to the horse and quietens him too. Nothing frightens a horse as much as a frightened rider, and nothing will make a horse more restless and fidgety than a rider who cannot sit still..." - Dick Francis
"To practice equestrian art is to establish a conversation on a higher level with the horse; a dialogue of courtesy and finesse." Nuno Olivera, Reflections on Equestrian Art
"Be considerate of your horse. He is not a machine - and even machines run better with good driving." Shiela Wall Hunde, Invitation to Riding Holistic Hoof Care & Rehabilitation - The application of sound physiological principles to hoof care and lameness issues. Foundation Training - Ground training, balancing/rebalancing, conditioning, creating smooth transitions. Applied Equine Psychology for Troubled Horses - Building confidence and trust in your horse through the application of sound biological principles applicable to equids. ForeplayTM Clinics - The practice of exercises designed to deepen the bond you have with your horse and strengthen your relationship.
"A horse is a thing of such beauty ... none will tire of looking at him as long as he displays himself in his splendor." -Xenophon, On Horsemanship
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