Welcome at article #6 of the series ’10 lessons learned from a true Horseman’. In my last article you would have been able to read how important it is to consistently show your horse that he is safe and you care. In this article I would like to talk about a different aspect that plays an important role in that and also makes sure that your horse will put more effort into communicating with you; politeness or (po)lightness.
Berni & Yannick
During the NH Experience of 2015 Berni Zambail demonstrated again that whatever happens and whatever degree of firmness you have to use for your horse, you always revert to a polite question afterwards. As shown in earlier articles there were several different situations where he needed to be more firm with a horse (or rider 😉 ) but we all saw and experienced that immediately afterwards he was able to switch back to a lighter form of communication. He didn’t hold any grudges or negative feelings in his head or his body; his hands were trained to, after using some force in his fingers to ask a horse to back up from the halster, quickly open and politely ask the horse to back up on a phase 1 like nothing happened before.
Every good Horseman knows how important it is during training to live in the moment just like the horse does and show him in this way that he will always get a new chance whatever happened before. Buck Brannaman explains it in this way; ‘To always offer your horse the better deal.’
If necessary you clearly show your horse where the end of the line is by going up in your phases but the moment he responds you offer him the better, lighter deal; a chance to communicate in a more polite way. You can only do this by giving him the right example first and being light yourself.
Berni @play
All of our students learn how to do this too; when you ask your horse to do something you always start with a subtle question or a hint, and then give him enough time to pick up on it and respond. When he doesn’t respond you slowly but surely promise him that there is a consequence to it. The moment he decides to respond you quickly show him that you too are capable of being subtle in your communication again.
This way he learns that responding lightly to your aids, even when he doesn’t completely understand yet, is a good idea. He will then start to put more effort into becoming (po)lighter.
I’m sure you’ve heard, in horseworld, that your horse is your mirror; what you put in front of it you see reflected back at you. In this case this is certainly true. When you are not polite in communicating with your horse he won’t be in communicating with you either.
So just remember; politeness doesn’t cost a thing but, with some time, it will buy anything!
Lees je het artikel liever in het Nederlands? Hieronder vind je het origineel—> Continue reading
prnatuurlijk.wordpress.com 