Learning From the Mistakes of Our Fellows

Just sampling quotes from Fugly's blog, Very Large Colt. Best learn from the mistakes of others, it'll come in handy. xD

Quotes:

4Horses&Holding said...
Absolutely.A perfect example is when I was trying to get my mare to pick up the correct lead (story told in 'What Was Your One Moment in Time'). Back then, I just kept stopping her, and trying to cue her into picking it up. On a large circle. There was no physical need for her to pick it up, so I was asking her to do something "for no reason" (at least in her mind). It, of course, cumulated in her temper tantrum.Now I would take her into a situation that necessitated a lead change, a sharper turn around a barrel, bush, cone, and cue at the time of the turn. That way she would begin to associate the lead change with the cue. *shrugs*
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Also, the 'very bad mare' (story told on the training forum here), has an issue with occasionally backing if she doesn't want to go forward. Once upon a time, I may have booted her until she moved. I may have argued with her about backing up, trying to stop her and then asking for forward movement - which easily could have turned her reverse motion into "UP" motion.The way I have handled it now, is through body weight, vocalizations, and a little bit of constant leg pressure. I don't care if she keeps backing for miles (well, really I do, but...) I'll keep up the 'pressure' until she goes forward - even a step, then immediately let off. It's worked beautifully so far.When you are older, you don't want to fight with them. You know that it's possible that you can't stick on a horse as well, so you try to use less stressful methods, to keep the horse relaxed. It works out better all around.In horse training, the fastest way to achieve good training is often the 'slowest' route.

fuglyhorseoftheday said...
Another show ring tip for those of you just starting out...it looks so much better to begin the trot sitting and then start posting on the correct diagonal (learn to feel it, nothing looks more uncool than looking for it) than just launch into a posting trot and have to switch when you realize you're wrong. Again, just take your time a bit. No judge penalizes you for taking a few seconds and doing it right and "pretty."

fuglyhorseoftheday said...
It's also important, when working with an instructor, to remember that you are a paying client and you can say no. I think so many times we have all of these shameful feelings about saying no to something we're not comfortable with doing yet, and we shouldn't. As I've said before, pretty sure we all know we are not going to the Olympics. :-) It truly does not matter how fast we get to the point of jumping the crossrail. I like the instructors who let people stay in their comfort zone until the person gets bored with it on their own and WANTS to move on...not the instructors who push.

4Horses&Holding said...
I've also learned that if I am in a bad mood - not to work with the horses, at least not in a 'training' mindset. If I am stressed or crabby or mad, I may brush them or pet them, but I won't ride them.I can remember several 'fights' that I had with my poor, long-suffering mare (who's 'finishing training' was all from an unenlightened me), just because I was already in a bad mood. I wasn't as patient, I was already annoyed.... and you can NOT successfully teach a horse to sidepass (first memory that comes to mind) when you are impatient and wondering "WHY THE HELL DON'T YOU JUST GET IT, ALREADY?".
May 6, 2008 5:48 AM

animageofgrace said...
I think the best advise the wiser trainer gave me was "Ride the horse you have each day." That means I have to give up my agenda. If my horse is dropping her shoulder on the day I planned to work on lead changes, I have to fix the shoulder issue first. It might be the only thing we get accomplished that day, and that's OK with me.
May 6, 2008 10:35 AM

Theresa said...
I read a comment by John Lyons where he said, "Good horse training is boring to watch." The older I get, the more I understand that comment. All of the "exciting" stuff--rearing, bolting, bucking, whipping, spurring, etc.--isn't as inevitable or necessary as I once believed.