I have often been asked about the best point to begin working with horses. Whenever I am asked this particular question, I answer, "Begin at the beginning". I know my response confounds the question askers, but then I proceed to give them some clarifications.
Whatever you want to do with a horse, you start by getting its trust and respect. If it trusts and respects you, you can train it without agony to do what you need it to do, and your teachings will be permanent. If it does not trust and respect you, it's going to be particularly indisposed to do what you want it to, and you are likely to find yourself forcing it to act in accordance with your expectations, which isn't a good thing in any way. The concept is really very simple: your pony functions best when it is walking beside you, not when it is being pulled or pushed by you.
You have to keep the pony in control, of course, but you don't have to resort to a regime of punishment to do so. It is a regrettable fact that horses are like children: go easy with them and they are going to climb all over you. Give them an inch and they are going to try to take a mile. Horses can also be rebellious, and that is why the stick does not work with them as well as the carrot does. For all of their rebelliousness, though, once they give you their unrestrained commitment, they'll never waver.
From the beginning, you make sure your horse does not take you lightly. You make sure you don't ignore any of his mistakes: if he steps on your foot, you make it obvious to him that isn't done. If he pushes or nudges too much against you, ensure he understands you don't like it and he's not to repeat it. Under no circumstances can you afford to let him get the impression you're a pushover.
So start by teaching your horse precisely where the line that he just can't cross stands. Horses are meant to have a developed sense of social responsibility and discipline due to their herd mentality: each horse in a herd is allotted a place and sticks to it. The hierarchy is clear, positions on the totem pole are clear, and there isn't any bickering about 'status'.
This is the sentiment you have to exploit. A horse's instinct is to obey his herd leader and the herd seniors; you take their place when you are with him. Once your pony knows clearly where he stands with you, you can train him to near perfection without being cruel with him. The formula is simple; give him a reward every time he does just what you wanted, show your disenchantment at his failing to perform by making him do it again, and again.
Horses are clever enough to realise most things reasonably swiftly. They also retain things they learn for a long time, Ssmetimes till their deaths. When you start them off right, they don't go wrong.
You can educate them to do virtually anything the correct way. But those are later chapters.
The 1st chapter is to coach your horse to acknowledge that although you and he are equals, you are more equal than he is.
Whatever you want to do with a horse, you start by getting its trust and respect. If it trusts and respects you, you can train it without agony to do what you need it to do, and your teachings will be permanent. If it does not trust and respect you, it's going to be particularly indisposed to do what you want it to, and you are likely to find yourself forcing it to act in accordance with your expectations, which isn't a good thing in any way. The concept is really very simple: your pony functions best when it is walking beside you, not when it is being pulled or pushed by you.
You have to keep the pony in control, of course, but you don't have to resort to a regime of punishment to do so. It is a regrettable fact that horses are like children: go easy with them and they are going to climb all over you. Give them an inch and they are going to try to take a mile. Horses can also be rebellious, and that is why the stick does not work with them as well as the carrot does. For all of their rebelliousness, though, once they give you their unrestrained commitment, they'll never waver.
From the beginning, you make sure your horse does not take you lightly. You make sure you don't ignore any of his mistakes: if he steps on your foot, you make it obvious to him that isn't done. If he pushes or nudges too much against you, ensure he understands you don't like it and he's not to repeat it. Under no circumstances can you afford to let him get the impression you're a pushover.
So start by teaching your horse precisely where the line that he just can't cross stands. Horses are meant to have a developed sense of social responsibility and discipline due to their herd mentality: each horse in a herd is allotted a place and sticks to it. The hierarchy is clear, positions on the totem pole are clear, and there isn't any bickering about 'status'.
This is the sentiment you have to exploit. A horse's instinct is to obey his herd leader and the herd seniors; you take their place when you are with him. Once your pony knows clearly where he stands with you, you can train him to near perfection without being cruel with him. The formula is simple; give him a reward every time he does just what you wanted, show your disenchantment at his failing to perform by making him do it again, and again.
Horses are clever enough to realise most things reasonably swiftly. They also retain things they learn for a long time, Ssmetimes till their deaths. When you start them off right, they don't go wrong.
You can educate them to do virtually anything the correct way. But those are later chapters.
The 1st chapter is to coach your horse to acknowledge that although you and he are equals, you are more equal than he is.
About the Author:
Horses are Heather Toms
passion and she enjoys sharing her extensive knowledge through her 100s of
articles with other horse lovers go here
passion and she enjoys sharing her extensive knowledge through her 100s of
articles with other horse lovers go here
0 commentaires:
Enregistrer un commentaire