Blog Archives
1/9/10
The site is new and I am full ideas. I feel as though I am reaching my arms around Mt. Everest-or trying to climb it at least. And I will...one step at a time.
You can teach an old dog new tricks!
I've loved music nearly as much as horses as long as I can remember. Due to a silly little experience at around age ten I lost interest in music . I turned fifty last October and a couple days ago I began learning piano. My fiance' is an extremely talented musician who, luckily for me, took the time to indulge my waxing interest in singing along with his piano playing. He patiently answered my questions and showed me enough on the piano that in one session I learned the universal key, the major cord triad and the major 7th. My practice music is Change the World originally sung by Eric Clapton. I'm feeling pretty good about the four cords...it actually sounds like the song! The only downside thus far is conditioning my fingers. Apparently it isn't enough to understand what to do but strengthening and developing coordination in my hands. I am surprised by the amount of soreness in my right hand-perhaps arthritus rearing its ugly head? Or just using old parts in a new way. Chances are I'll keep practicing in spite of the discomfort because I am enjoying the music I am making.
What does this have to do with horses? Too often I hear people speak of horses in training as 'getting' what they, the horses, are being taught as though it is purely an intellectual or behavior conditioning. It sounds to me that the people don't realize the training advances as the horse develops the proper and appropiate muscles, strength and coordination. For every skill the horse learns, it must be allowed enough time for the physical developement to sustain the rider's or trainer's expectation. In other words, it is not enough for the horse to simply submit or obey. The horse needs the rider or trainer to understand the requirements of biomechanics. Performance improves as the body condition improves -not just when the horse choses to cooperate.
When the horse shows resistance usually it is the only way the horse can demonstrate it is at a physical threshold. At this point a breather, a break or change of movements is enough to rest the muscle groups the horse using. The rider can always return to the exercises. It is known in the human athletic world that it is not the workout that developes but the rest period that promotes muscle strength and development.
Hopefully the break I'm giving my hands before returning to the piano will be sufficient because I plan on playing for a very long time now that the door has opened to me.
The only boundary we have in learning is the one we set for ourselves. Open that
1/1/10
This website and blog is intended to guide people who are looking for insights to building the best relationship possible with horses. This is not a program to train your horses as much as learning a way of being, day in, day out with horses. Genuine interaction with your horse each day in everyway. Once you witness the light of a horse's heart you wonder how mainstream horse training could be so off track, so cruel and so violent.
Odd as it may seem, I will direct you to be polite with your horse. To keep it in an environment that is most condusive to his natural way of living. To feed it and care for it's hooves as close as possible to what would be found in the wild. Not as far fetched as you may be thinking now. Look around and you will see a revolution of sorts on behalf of horses.
As time consuming and non progressive as it may seem, one must learn about horses before they can teach or lead a horse. Then impliment what you have learned like climbing Mt. Everest...one step at a time.