It's All a Frame of Mind
Before we talk about a horse's physical frame, lets talk about Frame of Mind. A proper, focused frame of mind in the rider is the most important thing in a horse's training. The horse will become, for the most part, a total reflection of the rider. This can be a hard pill to swallow for some, but in my opinion, it's the truth. Of course there are exceptions, which I won't address right now, so that I can keep focused on my explanation.
The horse is being constantly trained by the rider ... good or bad. The horse is waiting for clear cues and aids to explain what the rider wants from him. Those cues and aids are applied and then released only when the horse responds correctly. Initially, in training a new response, the rider adds the cue just enough to add irritation and then waits for the horse to make an effort at the correct move. At that point the rider releases the cue and rewards the horse. When the horse learns the correct response to the cue (this only takes 3 times when done consistently) then the rider can start a build of pressure to add incentive to the horse. The 'incentive plan' causes the horse to respond on lighter cues, to try harder and to move faster. By starting lightly and continuing to increase pressure (adding irritation) until the response is achieved, the horse learns to take the easier route and to put more effort into earning his release.
There it is in a nut shell ... horse training 101. With all the above going in on, there is absolutely no room for anything else to enter your mind. We've all heard this before, in different ways on different days but it's all the same, so why is there such frustration and confusion. Why do horse and rider pairs get stuck in their training, or worse, develop bad habits and quirks that become very hard to correct? It's the rider, or more specifically, the riders focus and consistency. I teach and coach riders for a living, it's my passion to teach people about their horses (running a close second behind doing sliding stops). This one common thread runs though all of my teaching and that is ... rider focus. Every time you step on to your horse you need to slow your mind down and think about what 'EXACTLY' you are going to do before you make a move. All too often our hands and legs go to work on the horse before our minds do. We run way ahead of ourselves in our daily lives, there's always multi-tasking going on... planning for this... don't forget that. When with your horse it's your responsibility to be 100% focused on communicating to him. How else can we expect our horses to be 100 % focused on us and to learn what we want, if we aren't focused on them?
While I'm tacking up and grooming my horses, I'm focused on them. Are they easy to catch? happy today? hurting somewhere? cranky? head high and alert? head low and mellow? All of these pre-signs help me get in tune with the horse and plan a course of action for the training session. I'm focused, I have a plan, and am ready to work towards what I want to achieve. If Plan A goes off like a dream, I warm up then start working on the task for the day, the horse responds with more and more effort, increasing precision and finesse in the move I'm asking for. We end on a high note in a relatively short period of time, we cool down with plenty of praising, maybe even head down the trail for a few minutes.
Plan B's go like this ... somewhere, some how, the rider gets frustrated, the fighting begins and the lesson plan falls apart. Just stop! The word frustrated and horse training NEVER go together. Just stop and think for at least 5-10 minutes. Sometimes I'll even get people to get off of their horses and stand there. Take this time to re-think the whole session up to this point. Where or when did the misunderstanding happen? Most of the time it is just that, a misunderstanding. How can it be corrected or re-explained to the horse? Maybe the horse didn't 'get' what you were asking, or you didn't ask in the same way you usually do. Are you feeling pressured from somewhere? Are you mad at something unrelated? Did your mind wander off or something distract you? Are you in a rush to get this done? Slow down your mind and re-plan. You'll still work on the same move, only step it back a notch and build from there. The horse will now have had a chance to clear his mind and you also should have new clarity.
Your re-attempt will be filled with focus and patience ... or else go home. Nothing will be accomplished with out proper frame of mind ... I mean, nothing POSITIVE will be accomplished. It's no big deal, just put the horse away and try again when circumstances are better. You are the one in the least frustrating position ... think about what the horse is trying to figure out. The last thing that a horse ever needs is an uptight, frustrated, scared or erratic rider on it's back (You'll remind him of a cougar, and he'll head for the hills). Be calm and cool, show the horse the right way though your precise cues and rewarding releases. It's your job as a rider to keep your horse in a trainable frame of mind and this all starts with your focused. clear from the world, frame of mind.
Later, staying on this subject, I will address our frame of mind leading up to and during competitions. I'll talk about how I got my mind re-focused at the NRHA Futurity after months of sleepless nights. I'll also talk about the 'knowing what to do' in situations that can build a lot of rider confidence and therefore focused patience.