| Horses are not determined creatures, that is they only | | | | it easy and obvious for him to do. If it's easy to do, he'll |
| do what works for them. They are not creatures like | | | | likely do it, if it's not, he won't try for long and therefore |
| humans who can show determination and patience to | | | | may never do it. |
| persevere with an idea that has previously failed over | | | | The important thing to remember is to stop asking the |
| rand over again. With that in mind horses could never | | | | horse to do something the second you see or feel him |
| have invented the light bulb, as it took Edison more | | | | try. This gets into the horse's mind that the task is |
| than 10,000 attempts to get the light bulb right, horses | | | | easy and you set the stage for him to do it again, and |
| do not have that many attempts in them. | | | | since it was not hard the chances are he will try again, |
| It is all well and good to learn various horse training | | | | only this time you ask for a little more than previously. |
| techniques, but sometimes we just learn enough to get | | | | Logically, if the horse finds it difficult, he is less likely to |
| ourselves stuck, because we fail to remain aware of | | | | repeat the task. |
| why these techniques work. Awareness is difficult to | | | | Almost every horse problem begins, or is associated |
| comprehend, but many old martial arts films | | | | with the owner and what they did or didn't do. So if |
| demonstrate awareness well. It is not uncommon in | | | | you have a horse that's not doing what you want, ask |
| these films to have a the master have the pupil close | | | | yourself what you are doing to contribute to the |
| their eyes and ask the pupil 'what do you hear?', only | | | | problem. Perhaps what you are asking is hard, or you |
| to point out that they failed to here a grasshopper or | | | | have made it to hard for the horse to do and so he |
| another type of insect at their feet or close by. | | | | does nothing. An excellent example is a horse that |
| Sometimes we get stuck with what we know and so | | | | won't move after you've stopped. This may be due to |
| fail to realize what we do not know, because our | | | | him learning that when he stops, his mouth doesn't get |
| awareness has shrunk and we have stopped learning. | | | | punished anymore, as whilst being ridden the rider |
| Now because horses are not creatures that | | | | inadvertently jerks and pulls at his mouth, but this |
| persevere with stuff they can not do, this becomes an | | | | ceases when they stop, and so the horse gains some |
| excellent techniques for us as trainers to use. The | | | | relief. |
| easiest way to get a horse to stop doing something is | | | | So in understanding the fact that horses will only do |
| to make it hard for him. Remember if it is harder for | | | | what works for them and that they are not creature |
| the horse to continue doing a particular thing than it is | | | | that will persevere when things do not work for them, |
| to stop, what do you think he will choose to do? He will | | | | you become aware that in order to correct a horse |
| choose the easier thing of course. This now unveils | | | | problem you need to stop and think it through in order |
| what appears to be a big secret in the horse training | | | | to figure it out. If you don't understand the problem, |
| world, whatever you're asking your horse to do, make | | | | how will you know how to rectify it. |