9 February 2010

Third Lesson:

Today we learned to tie our horses by letting them figure out the pressure. Using a tree with a good limb, above the horses head, we draped a long lead rope over it. By holding the end of the rope we were then able to apply more or less pressure as the horse resists or relaxes. By just draping it, and not tying it, the horse is able to feel the pressure without it being too sudden, restrictive and scary.

They were so relaxed about it during the lesson. Tas says that they are relaxed because they understand the basics of pressure/release. This is thrilling to me! I am so excited about this progress.  This means that we have been effective in our training. The horses are benefiting. They reacted so well.
Practicing the 'parking' also had a wonderful effect on how they handled this new situation. 'Parking' is when you let you horse stand calmly while you work and move around him. He is supposed to stand still. If he follows you or moves: you correct him by applying pressure until he is in the position he started and is relaxed. Then you release immediately and praise. They learned to stand still very quickly.
I was amazed that they handled it so well and came to a relaxed state almost immediately with the 'tying'. They find the place where the rope is slack and stand there, waiting patiently.

After we did this we practiced some more 'walk to trot'. This time we did it down a little hill, around a tree and back up the hill. Some obstacles around us made it quite daunting. (not to mention the heat and smoke from the mountain fires!)
Tas noticed that I am a little too tentative in my handling of Jupiter. I tend to do it with less confidence than I should. I also look at my feet too much. This confuses him and makes him tentative in his reaction. I will, in this coming week, try to be more confident. I think this is going to help me with everything in my life, not only my horse training.
Jupiter managed to, firstly, run away with me and then break away from me completely. Literally leaving me face in the dust. This was not a great start to the exercise. Although he did trot very well when I applied minimal pressure before this ordeal. He noticed that I am not in complete control and took the gap. Tas helped me by correcting his behaviour. When he tried to overtake again… She stopped him and made him back up until he relaxed. Again and again. Finally he relaxed.
Being a young horse, he tends to be a little impatient at times.
I tried the exercise again. This time he got it. He seemed to be quite pleased with himself for gettig it right.

Sabik was also a handful. He was not in the mood to do this crazy exercise at all! Tas explained to us that we tend to let the horses 'get away' with not doing what we ask, want or expect of them. When we apply pressure and they back out of it we tend to release the pressure instead of enforcing it.

This makes so much sense! They have to respond and do what we ask, even if it is just a small step in the right direction, just a small response. If they don't, they shouldn't be rewarded. If we insist (with pressure) and they take even the slightest movement in the intended direction: release and praise. They should rely on our judgement and not their own. Even when scared they should be able to rely on us. This way you can prevent a situation from becoming out of control. If they learn that we are not too sure of our position and that they can override us with their judgement of the situation then they will become difficult to control if something does go wrong. So for our and their safety: this is a paramount lesson!

After Sabik's effort at giving Francois a hard time; Consistency, patience and pressure/release prevailed in the end and they both did a beautiful job. Francois managed to handle Sabik perfectly.

To finish the lesson off we 'tied' them to the tree again. They were perfectly still and obviously quite tired from the exercise and learning. What beautiful, clever boys.
I am very proud of them and how quickly they are managing so many new things.

Then, to top the day off, we moved Mahogany and Ziya (our new Arab mare) from the one paddock to the other. Mahogany knows the rickety, wooden bridge we need to cross to get to the paddock and was no problem. Ziya, on the other hand, is not even halter tame. She is still wild and has had no training. Poor Tas had the task of getting her to cross the bridge. This took some time and patience and a little support from Mahogany. But eventually she did it. Tas was amazing! Francois and I would have never gotten her across without using the wrong methods. I was so glad that Tas was here to help us. She is so incredible and inspiring.
I think Ziya will be a pleasure to train, though. She is so sweet, willing and inquisitive.

Now some reading homework: Andrew McLean's Proportional Principle.

What a day! Tired, a little sore and very happy.