I’ve had a couple people recently talk to me about looking for holes in their horses’ training. Maybe it makes more sense to look for what they CAN do. You can teach them anything by building on what they already know, but they have to be physically, emotionally, and mentally capable of it. More than that, YOU have to be able to tell what they can do and what they’re ready for.
The guy making YouTube videos claiming to solve a particular problem hasn't met your horse. They haven’t met you. They can tell you what to do, but do you know why you’re doing it? Do you know how to do it with YOUR horse? Do you know when that thing is appropriate, or when something else might work better? And, are you seeing the whole process, or is the video edited for a miracle before-and-after? How does their horse look? How are they moving - quick, choppy, soft, smooth, trying to avoid the handler or waiting calmly? How is their expression - is there tail swishing, ear pinning or ears out sideways, tension in the mouth, nostrils, or eyes? Look for those things in your own horse, too.
When problem-solving a situation, or making plans for the future, here are a few things to consider:
For the horse:
- Tack must be right for both horse and human
- Training must consider the horse’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being
- Consistency in frequency and type of handling and training
- Management must fulfill the horse’s needs as best as possible
For the human:
- Consistency - you have to do the work
- Willingness and ability to change and to learn
- Willingness to accept horse as they are
For the goal:
- Success depends on the two above
- Must be break-downable
- Has to be reasonable for both horse and human
There are no free rides, but there are options. If you don’t want to put the time in, find and pay for a horse that has already had it. If you’re attached to your horse but they aren’t fulfilling your goals, you have to invest, either by spending time and/or money learning how to train, or find a trainer and pay for their time and learning. The bottom line: if you don’t change something, nothing will change. It’s simple, but none of it is easy.
