It's About The Horse

ElaineW · Member Joined: 03 Feb 2009 Posts: 1465

Okay,, so I heard something this evening.

Was having a great session with Levi,,
in the beginning he was SOOOO hard to lead! he would muleup and NOT move forward..
I did what I knew till I knew something better.I would put pressure on the lead and pull against him,like tug of war of sorts.
To me that had a really shitty feel.. had a good friend suggest a new way.
Step to the side and drive , instead of pullin his head.
That's the goal right? not to pull on the head.. well it is for me..

So that worked for us, but Levi would STILL stand still till I walked way off. I know what that means, It's still a shitty feel,, just not as bad as it was in the beginning. Still not wanting to BE all the way with me.

Like I said, you only do the best you know till you know better.

The last few sessions/visits I have chosen to stop GETTING BY and fix our deal.
well I have been walking off and requestiong Levi walk away with me. Not lag behind. but stay WITH me..

Walking different speeds, stopping, starting, and backing.. we are making great progress,a nd this evening was like the best ever!
Every time I went to walk Levi stayed WITH me.
so I was getting the back up softer, trying to request him please back with me with out having to ask with the lead..
again, goal is not pullin on his purdy noggin..
at one point I was so focused on FEELING his try, I was completely void of thought.. as we backed up, soft, straight this popped in my head

I AM TRYING

I stopped, smiled and said in my being,,

I know Love,, So am I.. and
put every bit of heart, respect, kindness I had in my hand and rubbed his neck.

I walked forward then with my partner next to me.

jackspark · Member Joined: 10 Jan 2010 Posts: 4474 Location: Missouri

All I have time for right now but I just wanted you to know that I heard you

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Nancy

Flying Monkey Trainer

A journey of a thousand miles must
begin with a single step. Lao Tzu

CoolsLadyInRed · Posted: Wed Nov 02, 2011 12:19 pm Post subject:

Elaine, sounds like you are making head way for a good relationship. When I went to the Chris cox tour thing he always said he didn't want to be pulling on the horse's face and used what you did. Go the side and disengaging those sticky hind quarters. Then give them time to think about it.

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beth

ErinR76 · Member Joined: 12 Aug 2011 Posts: 504 Location: Austin TX

Yep sounds great! That is also in Bill Dorrance's book, True Horsemanship Through Feel.
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A horse is NOT a large dog that thinks like a person.

PasoBaby_CarolU · Site Admin Joined: 31 Jan 2009 Posts: 9030

Yes Elaine...it is amazing what focus does. Great job.

Sometimes I find it helps to figure out why the horse is getting sticky feet. My rescue gelding gets sticky feet approaching the round coral. Carina gets sticky feet when you go to put her back in the pasture after playing...she is not done, even if you are. With the first I put a meal in the round coral some days so there was a great reason to go there, and made sure to make his last memories in there good ones. In the second case I play with Carina in the pasture a lot and after I take her out. She really just wants to be with me...all the time if she can. More attention.
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Carol Nudell
Corazon de Oro Paso Finos

"The path to your horse's heart lies through your own."

Rumors are carried by haters, spread by fools, and accepted by idiots. - Words of Wisdom - Mhar

‎"Great minds discuss ideas; Average minds discuss activities; Small minds discuss people." - Eleanor Roosevelt

becdubie · Posted: Wed Nov 02, 2011 1:53 pm Post subject:

That's sweet.
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-Becky
There is more than one right way!

ElaineW · Member Joined: 03 Feb 2009 Posts: 1465

merle · Member Joined: 13 Feb 2009 Posts: 445

ErinR76 · Member Joined: 12 Aug 2011 Posts: 504 Location: Austin TX

LOL. I remember when I first got Sasha, before I had ANY horsemanship skills. I was reading Horse and Rider magazine and I think it was Chris Cox who wrote the article, and he was trying to explain his 'direct and drive' concept (which you did, above, in your story). I could NOT grasp the concept! It was totally foreign to me...you want me to do what? Hold my arm up? (direct.) swing my rope?? (drive.) Step towards the hindquarters?! (disengage.) What??

I got the concept figured out eventually but I don't think it really started using it until someone actually showed me. its almost impossible to get just from reading a book! Well for me anyway.
_________________
A horse is NOT a large dog that thinks like a person.

ElaineW · Member Joined: 03 Feb 2009 Posts: 1465