Foundation Horseman
Guiding Principles
Principle #1
Horses want comfort and safety
Principle
#2
Horses get comfort and safety through leadership and consistency
Principle
#3
Leadership is never harsh or cruel
Principle
#4
Attitude is the first key to good leadership
Principle
#5
Knowledge is the second key to good leadership
Principle
#6
Self
control is the third key to good leadership
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Training
Approach
-
Safety
of
horse
and
rider
overrides
all
other
issues
in
handling
and
training
horse
and
rider.
-
Kindness
and
Firmness
are
the
cornerstones
of
success
in
any
training
program.
Often
misunderstood
and
difficult
to
balance
it
is
the
correct
balance
of
these
two
attitudes
that
ensure
respect
and
willingness
between
horse
and
rider.
-
Ask
the
horse
for
the
correct
response.
This
should
start
as
a
mere
'suggestion',
and
if
the
horse
does
not
give
or
try
then
increase
intensity
of
the
'ask'
till
the
horse
complies.
Never
use
force.
-
Reward
the
slightest
'try'
by
the
horse.
When
you
can
'feel'
the
horse
try
the
correct
response
in
an
exercise,
give
to
them
as
a
reward.
-
Repetition
reinforces
learning.
A
horse
(and
rider)
can
only
become
efficient
and
skilled
in
an
exercise
by
constant
repetition.
This
will
take
thousands
of
repetitions.
-
Variety
is
key
to
maintaining
a
willing
horse
and
progression
in
training.
Horse
will
sour
by
a
lack
of
variety.
DO
not
confuse
this
with
consistency.
Variety
doesn't
have
to
mean
different
forms
of
riding,
but
means
varying
exercises
and
movements,
rather
than
focusing
on
one
or
a
few
movements
day
in
day
out.
-
Consistency.
Horses
love
consistency
and
routine,
it
is
how
they
learn.
Be
consistent
in
your
attitude,
cues,
aids
and
rewards.
-
Always
plan
your
training
sessions,
know
in
your
mind
what
you
wish
to
achieve
and
what
exercises
and
responses
you
are
looking
for.
This
will
need
to
be
then
gauged
against
the
actual
results
and
progress
of
the
horse
and
adjusted
accordingly.
Basic Movements
- Lateral bending
- Go forward cue
- Connecting the reins to the hips - disengaging
the hips
- Direct rein control of the front feet and
shoulders
- Halt
- Backing
- Indirect rein control of the front feet and
shoulders
- Vertical flexion
- Walk, trot, canter transitions
- Correct leads in canter
Training Tips
- When cueing (ask) a horse to complete a
movement be careful in selecting the cue and intensity. For example when
asking a horse to move forward, kicking the horse is not always the best
cue, if the horse resists the rider must kick harder, and this cannot be
done for a prolonged period. Better to ask with a squeeze and progress this
to bumping the horse till they move forward. Bumping can be prolonged for
longer periods and does not rely on force but pressure till the horse moves
(tries).
- Always practice cues and movements from the
ground first. As in the previous example by teaching the horse from the
ground to move forward from a light tapping (dressage whip) to the top of
the hip or behind the girth they will learn to move from the pressure
without the rider in the saddle. When they understand what you want on the
ground you can move to the saddle. This improves the safety aspects
as well as making learning easier for the horse (kindness).
- When in doubt stop and think carefully about
what you are trying to achieve and how you can achieve the desired outcome.
Better to stop early and achieve less than to push too far and encounter
setbacks from not fully understanding the 'what' and 'how' of the outcomes
you are trying to achieve.
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