Video posted by HHO...thoughts?

[TarrSteps]

Thanks, that's a great reply. Definitely about the not running and the not always repeating things (I hadn't noticed that myself) when the temptation can be to repeat until it is done correctly.

That is a whole 'nother thread . . . .

The idea of how we judge progress and how we shape the learning environment is a HUGE part of training, at least as important as what we actually do. Part of the problem with this is that many, if not all, experienced trainers have largely learned this through, well, experience. They have made mistakes and either corrected them or, more likely, been told to correct them by other, more experienced people. They haven't necessarily sat down and thought about the process of training horses, they have learned "on the job" and so are not always best placed to teach other people the pertinent bits because they take the details and concepts for granted. They know the how but not always the why.

This is actually the gap programs like Parelli and Intelligent Horsemanship seek to fill. To teach people a framework for judging their progress and planning their lessons. The problem is they are meant to be tools, not an end unto themselves, which is what they sometimes become and what makes people dismiss them.

Anyway, as I said, another thread for another day . . .

 

[hnmisty]

Lovely video, I really enjoyed watching it but if I tried to do that it would end up in disaster. Probably with me tied up in a long line knot and horse disappearing into the distance.....

Ditto. Great to watch, if I tried that though it would end with me being dragged round a cross country course flat on my face!

 

[vallin]

Some really interesting responses, exactly what I had hoped for. Thanks you.

 

[TwinnyOlive]

Hm totally different methods to usual, but lovely way of presenting a horse thats green shows the horse working naturally much better then free lunging were I feel sometimes the horses just tear around (Only sometimes). Notice it is by Richard Sheane whos very experienced, wouldn't try it myself

 

[jhoward]

Because with a less experienced person there is massive potential for this to go very wrong. Stand too close and the horse might decide to buck and kick, and take your head off; Or he decided to put his head down and go and visit his mates, taking you with him (note that the rope is attached to the side of the headcollar, where you have more control than if it is on the back); did you notice where the trainer had to put his hand up so the rope didn't go round his neck?; or you get the lead tangled/drop it and the horse gets free and bogs off across the field, pursued by a loose rope, which he thinks is a snake and panics; or he decides to dodge out at a fence and knocks you down; or you try for just a bit bigger fence and un-nerve him. Like lots of things, it looks easy when the experts do it! I am sure there are other people who could add to the "don't do this at home" ideas.

The trainer and the horse look in complete harmony. The trainer is in charge, he knows what he is doing and he is watching what the horse is doing. He also has complete control of his lead rope at all times.

I would do this at home, in an enclosed space, with a hat and gloves on and with a horse I knew wouldn't panic if the rope was dropped and I would concentrate VERY hard NOT to drop the rope and finish while things were going well.

actually I thought there was a couple of times it looks like the horse got away from him.

But all those things could happen if you were just lungeing too? I'm obviously too used to only having a field to lunge in!

ive always done the x country bit with my babies like this, even if its a ditch on a grass verge.. heaven forbid I walked a horse up a lane to pop a ditch... or go up and down a bank .. and I always lunge in a headcollar. especially if jumping them. the horse world at times is far to ocd.