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The
John
Lyons
Conditioned
Response
method
of
training
horses
is
based
around
safety
for
the
rider
and
horse,
keeping
the
horse
calm
utilising
gentle
methods. This
horse
training
system
provides
the
foundation
for
any
riding
discipline.
The
basics
of
the
system
hinge
on
learning
how
to
isolate
and
control
the
various
moving
parts
of
a
horse's
body.
This
also
provides
you
with
the
tools
for
fixing
just
about
any
kind
of
problem
that
may
come
along.
By
practicing
all
the
steps
you'll
end
up
with
a
horse
that's
obedient,
responsive
and
supple.
Best
of
all,
your
horse
will
be
a
joy
to
ride!
John Lyons is America's most trusted and respected horseman. He has inspired and helped hundreds of thousands of horse owners to achieve a better understanding of how to work with and develop a better relationship with their horses through his practical and gentle methods of training. John's methods are used and taught by hundreds of professional trainers throughout the world. John has worked with and given a new life to thousands of troubled horses. In the world of horse trainers, he is considered by many to be the very best. His conditioned-response method will help any horse at any level of training and spans all levels of riders and all disciplines of riding. John is one of only a few individuals who has effectively dealt with every breed of horse and riding discipline. John's methods teach "training without trauma" and overcoming problems and fears, and his methods put the rider in control, with the horse willing to do whatever is asked.
For
unbroken
horses
work
commences
in
the
round
pen
where
horses
are
taught
to: Ø
Face
up Ø
Move
in
the
direction
asked Ø
Turn
in
the
direction
asked Ø
Come
to
the
handler Ø
Focus
attention
on
the
handler Ø
Spook
control Ø
Bridling Ø
Saddling Ø
First
rides GroundworkØ
Go
forward
cue Ø
Give
to
the
halter
and
bit Ø
Head
down
cue Ø
Move
the
hips,
shoulders
and
nose
(all
while
giving
to
the
bit
or
halter) Ø
WESN
lesson
–
direction
control,
right,
left,
forward,
back Ø
Clock
Lesson
(Directional
control
of
feet) Ø
The
beginnings
of
collection Ø
Leading
and
advanced
leading Ø
Picking
up
feet Ø
Tying
up Ø
Float
Loading
The horse you are leading is the same horse that you will be riding. If he does not listen to your signals on the ground, he will not listen to your signals when you are mounted. The horse’s behaviour will generally be worse when you are on his back, because he can not actually see you. If your horse demonstrates any unwanted behaviours such as spookiness, pushiness, rudeness, is dull to your commends, is afraid of you, or is inconsistent with his responses, he will continue these behaviours when you climb on his back. You feel safer when you are on his back because he cannot step on you, drag you or run over you but you are kidding yourself. Lack of Control is simply………….lack of control Remember you ride the horse you lead. Ridden WorkØ Giving to the bit Ø
Connecting
the
rein
to
the
hip Ø Connecting the rein to the front feet. Move the shoulders and feet. Ø Calm down cue Ø
Clock
Lesson
(Directional
control
of
feet) Ø
Backup
on
one
rein
then
two
reins Ø
Turn
on
haunches/forehand Ø
Direct
and
indirect
reins Ø
Halfpass
and
sidepass Ø
Picking
up
leads Ø
Lead
changes Keeping
Yourself
Safe
Before
starting
any
activity
with
your
horse,
make
sure
you
feel
safe
doing
so.
Never
turn
your
safety
over
to
someone
else.
No
matter
how
much
that
person
knows,
if
you
are
not
ready,
then
you
are
not
ready.
Understand
that
this
includes
me.
I
am
not
responsible
for
your
safety
or
your
horse’s
safety
(although
I
will
take
all
steps
I
can
to
ensure
your
safety). Fear is common sense in disguise. It is okay to be afraid. It only takes a split second to get hurt. Go by your ‘gut’ instincts. If something does not seem right, it isn’t. Stop and rethink the situation or problem. If there is danger, remove yourself before you or your horse gets hurt. Put the horse away even if it is not on a good note. Go and re-evaluate the situation. It may be as simple as giving the horse more practice on the previous lessons or steps. Do not ever compromise your safety. The three golden rules of our training are: Rule #1 You can not get hurt. Rule #2 The horse cannot get hurt Rule #3 The horse must be calmer after the lesson than before it began Nine Points of the Horse Exercise: Give to the bit. This exercise teaches the cues for lateral bending of the poll and neck as well as giving to the bit or softness. Your ability to ask for, and get, lateral bending will improve the horse's flexibility and increase your overall control. Contents: Directional control of the horse; stop runaways; beginning of collection 2. The Ears Exercise: Lower the horse’s head Contents: Control elevation of the head; stop rearing; calm down cue; weight shift from forehand to hindquarters 3. The Poll area Exercise: Nose gives to base of neck Contents: Muscles start to soften; refine collected starts and stops; combined with point 2 – round out and elevate neck 4. The Base of the Neck Exercise: Giving to the bit, but asking for a deeper bend. Contents: Preparation for leads; reverse arc circles; suppling in all gaits; better directional control of horse 5. The withers and shoulders Exercise: Giving to the bit with a deeper neck bend until handler sees the saddle shift over one inch to the side. Clock lesson. Contents: Shoulder control; weight shift from right side to left side of the body (going to the left); prepares the horse for stepping out with a specific front foot 6. Front Feet Exercise: Connecting the reins to the feet Contents: The horse will step on a specific spot 7. The barrel Exercise: Using the rein to move the barrel right and left. Head elevation and breaking at poll helps to round out the back Contents:
Line
up
hips
for
straight,
collected,
square
stops;
rounded
out
back
helps
the
horse
to
carry
himself
light 8. Back Legs and Hip Exercise: Connecting the rein to the back legs. Connecting the rein to the hip may be the most important lesson you teach your horse. In order to ensure the safety of the rider this exercise addresses that first off. Stopping the hip gives you control of unwanted behaviours as well as a stepping stone to other exercises for advanced manouvours. You'll also stop behaviours such as runaways, jigging on the trail, cowkicking, bucking, and jumping everything in sight by first controlling the hips. When you move your horse's hips over, you're changing his direction and /or cutting the power off from going forward. Contents: Stabilise the pivot foot; control the hindquarters for turns; backing in all directions; straight stops; proper hind position for circles and straight lines 9. Tail Exercise: Schooling without causing aggravation to the horse Contents:
Quiet
tail
shows
a
content
horse RepetitionsWhen training you must be prepared to spend the necessary time with the horse so that he will really learn what is asked. You may need to ask your horse to make or repeat the movement hundreds, even thousands of times before he does it consistently. Repetitions are extremely important. It takes a lot of repetitions before the horse learns what it is you are teaching. This element is often overlooked but is one of the most important ones in training. Imagine an Olympic gymnast practicing a somesault thousands of times before it is perfect or a basketball player shooting thousands of lay-up shots to maintain his basic skill. When
teaching
a
lesson,
you
can
teach
it
in
one
session
or
break
it
down
into
many
sessions.
How
much
you
break
it
down
depends
on
the
following:
the
physical,
mental
and
emotional
state
of
the
horse. Physical: Is the horse physically able to perform the request without incurring injury or undue stress? Pay particular attention to young stock and horses that have a medical condition. Mental: Does the horse understand what you want him to do? Some horse can absorb more information for longer periods of time. Emotional: Can the horse perform with consistency regardless of the level of excitement? Some horse get excited easily at the lowest level of training. The teacher must be careful to not cause emotional overload by asking too much in any one session (too much pressure). Build confidence by praising, when the horse gives the right answer. Also watch for attitude. The horse may start to misbehave because he is not willing to work or try for you at the moment. Be patient and work through this. Many trainers do not really realise the necessity of repetitions. A person will tolerate a bad habit from a horse forever day in and day out. The fact of the matter is that the years of frustration that are endured could be eliminated with a few hours of repetitions. Unfortunately the thought of working on one small problem for 2-3 hours does not sound reasonable to the average horse owner. As a rule of thumb it takes 3,000 repetitions to change a habit and 15,000 for a new habit to be put in its place. The
more
steps
an
exercise
is
broken
down
to
combined
with
repetitions,
will
allow
the
horse
to
learn
more
quickly
with
less
trauma. CuesBefore you start you must have a cue system that you understand. Then you must be able to accurately and consistently administer these cues to the horse. A ’cue’ is a specific signal that the handler has taught the horse using teaching format. When given to the horse, the horse responds to the cue within 2 –3 seconds. If a horse does not respond to the cue, calm or excited, he has not learned it well enough. In
order
to
get
a
horse
to
perform
an
exercise
you
need
to
know
four
things: What is the motivator? What is the release? What body part am I trying to move? What direction do I want it to move? If
I
want
the
horse
to
move
his
hip
over. Motivator – the rein Release – release rein pressure Body part – Hip Direction
–
To
the
right
or
left
(opposite
of
rein
used
as
motivator). To
perform
any
exercise
we
must
be
clear
in
our
own
minds
what
the
answers
to
these
four
questions
are. Active
or
Reactive
Any change that we want our horse to make, we must first make in ourselves, our horse are a mirror of ourselves. Ø If we are inconsistent our horse will be inconsistent Ø Is we are distracted, our horses will be distracted Ø If we lack confidence, our horses will lack confidence Ø If we lack concentration, our horses will lack concentration Ø
If
we
are
afraid,
our
horses
will
find
something
to
be
afraid
of When
horse
and
rider
are
working
together
they
become
partners
–
one
is
active
and
one
is
reactive. One
partner
creates
the
action,
while
the
other
reacts
to
this.
The
role
the
handler
chooses
will
determine
the
direction
the
training
takes.
The
approach
that
the
trainer
takes
will
significantly
impact
the
attitude
and
performance
of
the
horse.
Many
times
the
horse
is
the
active
partner
and
creates
a
reaction.
One
example
of
this
would
be
when
a
horse
walks
toward
a
gate
to
leave
the
arena.
The
riders
reaction
is
to
tell
the
horse
‘Don’t
Go
There!’
The
rider
is
reacting
to
what
the
horse
is
doing.
Eventually
a
pattern
develops.
The
rider
begins
to
feel
like
he
is
losing
control
of
the
horse
and
may
become
afraid
of
the
horse.
The
horse
also
becomes
aggressive
and
less
responsive
to
the
handlers
requests. On the other hand , if the handler is the active partner, then the horse begins to play the reactive role. The handler asks the horse to respond and as soon as the horse does, the handler asks for something else or repeats the first request. The horse attention is focused more on the handler than on the surroundings, e.g. gate, other horses etc. |
Initial
groundwork
is
aimed
at
achieving
greater
softness
and
response
through
the
bit,
develop
a
great
stop
with
nose
tucked
in,
Learn
"hips
over",
a
manoeuvrer
which
helps
stop
a
running
away
or
bucking
horse,
and
enables
you
to
put
a
"button"
on
each
hip,
speed
control,
and
beginning
a sidepass.
Each
step
is
designed
to
allow
you
to
have
greater
control
over
different
parts
of
your
horse,
resulting
in
a
soft,
responsive
partnership.