stangs
Well-Known Member
Rambling really but, as it’s been development goal setting season at work, I’ve been thinking a lot about self-improvement (just more focused on improving my horsemanship/animal-man-ship than on my actual job improvement!) and the 70/20/10 rule - i.e., the idea that 10% of your learning comes from theory, 20% comes from interaction with others, and 70% comes from on-the-job experience.
Now, getting theoretical knowledge is pretty easy thanks to the Internet and, in my case, a serious addiction to buying horse books. But my concern is that I’m spending too much time with the theory and not enough time applying it. Because, ultimately, although I’m getting some more varied experience from the dog training and different RS horses, I only have regular access to a grand total of 3 horses (my retiree, the share horse, and friend’s boy), all of which are pretty easy to do and if anything enablers of me getting sloppy with my horsemanship. I’m also usually on the yard(s) alone, so limited chances to get to know other liveries and get chances to play around with more horses that way.
Probably butchering the 70/20/10 rule here but in terms of the 20% shadowing others: I’m dressage writing regularly, planning daytrips to various sales (Clitheroe and Newmarket should cover the whole spectrum!) and (semi)-feral pony herds, and spectating at clinics whenever I get the chance. Vet writing’s on the bucket list. Would love to shadow a trainer or vet, but don’t have a network so have no idea how I’d convince someone to take a punt on me.
And then getting that 70% hands on experience - obviously there’s working with my boy and the others, dog training, riding lessons, and I’ve got a clicker course booked for later in the year to work with some new animals. I know IH used to do some handling foal or feral horses courses, but those seem to have stopped. Not going back to working at a yard part time alongside the 9-5 because that near killed me, with sheer frustration at the people if not exhaustion at never having a day off. Might try get in contact with an old dealer friend to see if she’ll let me spend a holiday playing ponies with her lot, because that seems to be the closest I’ll get to working with ferals and youngsters again. And there's got to be other riding holidays that let you improve your horsemanship - the US seems full of 'mustang camps' but the UK seems incredibly lacking in that field.
Presumably, I’m not the only one trying to improve their horsemanship whilst not being willing to quit my job and dedicate myself 24/7 to horses, so what else do people do to develop in literally anything horsemanship related, outside of working with their own horses? What experiences do you think have taught you the most? Any and all thoughts, experiences, and ideas appreciated - it'd be nice to have a little community going.
It just feels like all the advice out there is either based on working with your own horses, or working with horses for a living, and I know that that’s the gold standard, but there’s got to be a way of improving and getting a variety of experience even whilst living in the city and having a 9-5 (to 6-6 as the case may be…)
Now, getting theoretical knowledge is pretty easy thanks to the Internet and, in my case, a serious addiction to buying horse books. But my concern is that I’m spending too much time with the theory and not enough time applying it. Because, ultimately, although I’m getting some more varied experience from the dog training and different RS horses, I only have regular access to a grand total of 3 horses (my retiree, the share horse, and friend’s boy), all of which are pretty easy to do and if anything enablers of me getting sloppy with my horsemanship. I’m also usually on the yard(s) alone, so limited chances to get to know other liveries and get chances to play around with more horses that way.
Probably butchering the 70/20/10 rule here but in terms of the 20% shadowing others: I’m dressage writing regularly, planning daytrips to various sales (Clitheroe and Newmarket should cover the whole spectrum!) and (semi)-feral pony herds, and spectating at clinics whenever I get the chance. Vet writing’s on the bucket list. Would love to shadow a trainer or vet, but don’t have a network so have no idea how I’d convince someone to take a punt on me.
And then getting that 70% hands on experience - obviously there’s working with my boy and the others, dog training, riding lessons, and I’ve got a clicker course booked for later in the year to work with some new animals. I know IH used to do some handling foal or feral horses courses, but those seem to have stopped. Not going back to working at a yard part time alongside the 9-5 because that near killed me, with sheer frustration at the people if not exhaustion at never having a day off. Might try get in contact with an old dealer friend to see if she’ll let me spend a holiday playing ponies with her lot, because that seems to be the closest I’ll get to working with ferals and youngsters again. And there's got to be other riding holidays that let you improve your horsemanship - the US seems full of 'mustang camps' but the UK seems incredibly lacking in that field.
Presumably, I’m not the only one trying to improve their horsemanship whilst not being willing to quit my job and dedicate myself 24/7 to horses, so what else do people do to develop in literally anything horsemanship related, outside of working with their own horses? What experiences do you think have taught you the most? Any and all thoughts, experiences, and ideas appreciated - it'd be nice to have a little community going.
It just feels like all the advice out there is either based on working with your own horses, or working with horses for a living, and I know that that’s the gold standard, but there’s got to be a way of improving and getting a variety of experience even whilst living in the city and having a 9-5 (to 6-6 as the case may be…)
