Consistency is the Key for Your Little Darling !

When it comes to working with horses, consistency is the key ...  " Consistency is your greatest ally and inconsistency is your worst enemy".

This is one of the best lessons I have ever learned and it makes a HUGE difference in the interaction between you and your little darling.  Why?  Because he is not confused and "gets it" - you gave him the real opportunity to understanding a behavior that you want from him.

A few simple examples:

If you expect him to always drop his head for haltering then that is what you need toalways insist on.
If you allow him sometimes get away with raising his head in the air and you still halter him and then other times you expect the head to be lowered, you are inconsistent and confusing to your horse.

It really does mess him up because he then thinks both actions are just fine.

If you sometimes let him rush out of his stall and other times require him to wait for you.

If you allow him to jig back to the barn and other times require that he quietly walks back.

If you allow him to stomp his feet for feeding and you feed him and other times you  insist that he is mannerly or allow him to head dive in the feed bucket and later don't allow it.

If you allow him to move when you get up on the saddle and climb up there anyways and other times you require him to stand still.

When you ask your horse to stop and allow him to leak forward or move out on his own instead of doing what you have asked him to do.

And the list goes on and on and on ....

You are always training your horse and too often it is easy to forget that.  They are aware of nearly everything you do when you are around them.

So, to help your little darling always be good and well-mannered, be aware of what you are doing and BE CONSISTENT.

                                                  

Adventure Horse Riding in NYS            Smilla13@gmail.com  (Mary Dixon)         www.RideNYS.com

#46 Exercise

#46  Exercise

Your darlings need exercise - they were born to move - not to stand still.  If they are stalled most of the time you are doing them a huge disservice.

  A new foal can go 20 miles hours after his birth.   The darlings 

are designed to trot, run, climb and kick up their heels.  The words Horse and Running are almost synonymous.

Horses are also meant to be outside - not always easy in our society where land in urban areas is expensive and at a premium - so many of them are just stuck in arenas and small paddocks - but it is important to do the best you can to give them space and outside air and terrain - or at least, ride them outside when you can.  

There are so many horses that never ride anywhere but inside in an arena.

It is our responsibility to respect them as horses - not pets - and to provide environments that are as near to their heritage as possible.

Otherwise, they get sick, lame, bored, develop bad habits, develop muscle atrophy, etc.

Adventure Horse Riding in NYS            Smilla13@gmail.com       www.RideNYS.com