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Showing posts with label comfort zone. Show all posts
Showing posts with label comfort zone. Show all posts
2/17/17
Leadership: Nature's Way
Nature’s Way: Every Herd Needs A Leader
It is THE LAW of nature that
every herd needs a leader. If you and
your horse are together, then there must be a leader and that leader had best
be you. There is always what we call
“testing” by a horse. What he is
actually doing every single time he tests you is actually checking out who is
the leader of the herd. Since it is you
and him together, you have a herd of
two.
If you allow him to ignore
you or do his own thing, he is then the leader.
This is not a good position for you and soon you will have a
rambunctious, and possible dangerous horse on your hands. You will not trust him because he does not
trust you.
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| Tiffy - the leader of our herd |
Adventure Horse Riding in NYS Smilla13@gmail.com (Mary Dixon) www.RideNYS.com
12/24/16
The Power of the Walk/Stop Exercise and 10 Hours of Riding
I have a new horse, a Paso Fino, and can you say hot, and crazy as a bedbug ! Oh my goodness, spin, and way, way too fast. The action "walk" just was not in her vocabulary. Not since my beloved Jose have I had a horse as scared and wacko as this little girl.
So after 5 days just riding her in the playground (my work area) and forever and ever and ever teaching her how to do walk/stop she finally learned to listen. We did not get to her to being able to walk 4 steps, she could only do 3 steps before she sped way up again, but she finally did catch on to the "stop" and the "release".
Once Cassie caught on to walk 3 steps, stop, 3 steps, stop and wait for me I then took her out onto the trail. Needless to say, the first ride scared the bejesus out of me. BUT, she would actually stop when I asked her too - every single 3 steps before we would start up again. Did that for 2 hours on the trail, then next day 3 hours, then next day 2 hours, and I have to admit the first 2 days were pretty awful, but my goodness, the third, fourth and fifth days - what a HUGE improvement.
Her head finally dropped and we ACTUALLY COULD WALK quite a distance, and yesterday I started taking her down hills which I would have never, ever dreamed possible.
So, we are now in a partnership - she trusts me and I trust her - more work needs to be done, she is not perfect but I am no longer afraid of her nor is she afraid of me.
I had forgotten how well this works - ALWAYS - I have done it with many outlaw horses through the years but it has been a spell since I have had a new horse.
Try it and you will be impressed with the outcome.
Remember, it takes the time it takes and it will take less time.
The best to you.
 |
| Cassie, Paso Fino |
Adventure Horse Riding in NYS Smilla13@g Smilla13@gmail.com (Mary Dixon)
www.RideNYS.com
12/5/11
#49 Ruts and Pits
#49 Ruts and Pits
Are you in a rut? Do you and your little darling have a standard routine?
If you are in an arena, are you doing the same patterns over and over again? Do you keep running barrels or run barrels in the same cloverleaf pattern, keep practicing the half halt, changing leads, flying lead changes, diagonals, jumping, or always teaching tricks ?
If you are an outdoor rider, do you always go to the same place, or take the same trails, or do the same gait?
Is your horse bored stupid ?
Folks have all kinds of reasons for not doing things but it's mostly because we don't want to get out of our comfort zone....that makes us nervous and fearful.
When you are in the comfort zone, you mostly know the outcome of your actions and those of your horse. When you are out of it, there is a whole new ballgame.
Challenge yourself or your horse - it's great for mental attitude and for courage.
Adventure Horse Riding in NYS - Mary DixonSmilla13@gmail.com www.RideNYS.com
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