I was working with Cash this evening, helping him to figure out back-up under saddle. He's doing so great now- we're approaching the point where the main thing he will need is just miles on the clock
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I am so with you on the flooding piece. I think Anderson overdoes it and I suspect using the predator/prey analogy leads to that sort of flooding desensitization which then progresses to a shut-down, compliant horse that is silently rebellious. I think you have to give the horse space to issue their objections, and understand why you're asking them to do something rather than just plain compel once you get past basic safety (I also hatehatehate the timed competition training stuff. So you can overwhelm a colt to the point where you can stand on his back after a set period of time and do other stuff? That's not training, that's circus tricks. And will it stick?). But you don't need to flood the horse to get basic safety stuff down. And you can't desensitize the horse to everything. Rather, you need to teach the horse that you're its leader, so that the horse reacts, then checks in with you (the jump, then freeze. You don't always want to have that jump gone, not if you plan to trail ride. That startle reaction from an attentive horse could save your butt).
I always remember Sparkle's reaction to a mountain lion on the other side of a river when we were trail-riding in a group. The other horses were panicky and running out. Sparkle jumped. Snorted. Then stopped and checked in with me. Another time, we encountered her first combine, at dusk, on a blacktop road. She spooked and ran backwards three steps. Then she stopped and checked in. That's what I want.
Doesn't work with hotbloods like Arabs, TBs, or QHs with a lot of TB in them. They tend to be unhappy and rebellious horses.
I think the key is establishing the relationship so that the horse knows you are trying to be fair. Horses understand fairness. I think we as trainers need to give them that space to issue their objections and state their opinions. I think in the long run that leads to a happier and more compliant horse, because they know they can object and you'll listen.
Works for teaching middle school kids, too.
I also see now what you mean by foot control. I think it's a metaphor for feel, but I think too many people focus on the feet and not the feel. I've seen G do the same thing as Ray, only I think he can articulate it a bit more clearly. Not saying he's better, just that he explains what he's doing through the whole process.
(And he will be the first person to tell you I don't always feel the feet. I blame the screwy seatbone for that one. I can feel the left side fine, not the right)
I always remember Sparkle's reaction to a mountain lion on the other side of a river when we were trail-riding in a group. The other horses were panicky and running out. Sparkle jumped. Snorted. Then stopped and checked in with me. Another time, we encountered her first combine, at dusk, on a blacktop road. She spooked and ran backwards three steps. Then she stopped and checked in. That's what I want.
Doesn't work with hotbloods like Arabs, TBs, or QHs with a lot of TB in them. They tend to be unhappy and rebellious horses.
I think the key is establishing the relationship so that the horse knows you are trying to be fair. Horses understand fairness. I think we as trainers need to give them that space to issue their objections and state their opinions. I think in the long run that leads to a happier and more compliant horse, because they know they can object and you'll listen.
Works for teaching middle school kids, too.
I also see now what you mean by foot control. I think it's a metaphor for feel, but I think too many people focus on the feet and not the feel. I've seen G do the same thing as Ray, only I think he can articulate it a bit more clearly. Not saying he's better, just that he explains what he's doing through the whole process.
(And he will be the first person to tell you I don't always feel the feet. I blame the screwy seatbone for that one. I can feel the left side fine, not the right)
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