Writing this blog is really helping me, maybe I'm being a little too self analytical all the time but jeez I need to be as I have so many bad habits.
This morning I lunged Moo, first let me say how darned proud I am of my boy, he is finally growing up. Moo managed to walk down to the school calm and quiet in spite of Fugly running around and calling, he also lunged sensibly and listened at least 90% of the time (thank goodness for clicker training) and went back up to the yard without a hitch.
Whilst lunging I realised how much white noise I give off, extra little noises to urge him forwards or slow him down, inadvertent movements of a hand or the whip. Gawd I'm like some kid who can't be controlled, lol, so how the heck do I expect him to pick out the important bits? I tried very hard from then on to just give commands, whip up to go, rein hand up to stop, step to the shoulder to turn on the forehand etc etc I could use just body language or just voice to make him stop and go so why use both at the same time?
After a couple of days off work due to Fugly's arrival (he is much calmer now) I was so happy to be back to work, my horses keep me sane (ish).
Showing posts with label AIDS the substance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label AIDS the substance. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Monday, March 23, 2009
AIDS the substance (part 2) stop/start
It fascinates me that so few books give clear instructions for stopping and starting. Surely these are the two most important aids and all else is based on these. One writer who makes it very clear how simple and separate these aids should be is Kyra Kyrklund, for this reason I often recommend her book and I would urge everyone to read her thoughts on this subject.
Part of the reason that I'm writing all this is to clear my own mind, I think I know what I do when I'm riding but until I start to break it down then I can't be certain. To stop I use my hands, to go I use my legs. Always (at the beginning) separately and always aiming to get them to be the smallest/lightest possible to get a reaction. I recently read a lesson report from a friend and her trainer had suggested she ask very quietly the first time but to build it to *asking like you have PMT*, lol, but that's the rub isn't it? It's no good going through twenty different levels of asking, it has to be first discretely aided and then loudly but always being certain not to have even the tiniest opposing aid in place. What I mean by that is when you ask forwards in the early stages then you must never block with the hand, the horse must always sense that he can go forwards. Likewise when we aid for halt we must remove any thought of a driving leg. Later these two fundamental aids of hand and leg can be *played* together but not (for me) in these early stages.
Of course this work will have commenced, dismounted, at liberty, in-hand, on the lunge etc already with Chapiro I use the whip or my hand at the *g* spot where I will later use my leg and so it won't come as any surprise when this continues into his ridden work. On the ground we can use body language but this becomes pretty obsolete when we climb aboard, however it must be very important in building a trusting bond between horse and trainer.
In recent years I have *played* with the idea of clicker training, it doesn't change the methods but it offers a really accurate reward system and enables you, with some horses, to advance more quickly and avoid the *PMT* phase of aiding.
There is so much to say on this subject I think it will be rather a long project. Tomorrow perhaps I'll be able to talk about how I use my legs and hands, better ride and take some notes!!
Can anyone else recommend a good writer on stopping and starting? Think I may have to get a book list on here.
Part of the reason that I'm writing all this is to clear my own mind, I think I know what I do when I'm riding but until I start to break it down then I can't be certain. To stop I use my hands, to go I use my legs. Always (at the beginning) separately and always aiming to get them to be the smallest/lightest possible to get a reaction. I recently read a lesson report from a friend and her trainer had suggested she ask very quietly the first time but to build it to *asking like you have PMT*, lol, but that's the rub isn't it? It's no good going through twenty different levels of asking, it has to be first discretely aided and then loudly but always being certain not to have even the tiniest opposing aid in place. What I mean by that is when you ask forwards in the early stages then you must never block with the hand, the horse must always sense that he can go forwards. Likewise when we aid for halt we must remove any thought of a driving leg. Later these two fundamental aids of hand and leg can be *played* together but not (for me) in these early stages.
Of course this work will have commenced, dismounted, at liberty, in-hand, on the lunge etc already with Chapiro I use the whip or my hand at the *g* spot where I will later use my leg and so it won't come as any surprise when this continues into his ridden work. On the ground we can use body language but this becomes pretty obsolete when we climb aboard, however it must be very important in building a trusting bond between horse and trainer.
In recent years I have *played* with the idea of clicker training, it doesn't change the methods but it offers a really accurate reward system and enables you, with some horses, to advance more quickly and avoid the *PMT* phase of aiding.
There is so much to say on this subject I think it will be rather a long project. Tomorrow perhaps I'll be able to talk about how I use my legs and hands, better ride and take some notes!!
Can anyone else recommend a good writer on stopping and starting? Think I may have to get a book list on here.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
AIDS the substance (part 1)
Well I've been putting this off for days but feel I really must get on or I'm never going to get my thoughts into perspective.
I hope that I may get some feedback to help me direct my thoughts but until then I'll make a start on my own.
In the Aids ramble pieces I touched on Podjasky's advice regarding aids and for me the following is burned into my brain **The rider must have an exact understanding of his aids and their effect, and must make use of them intelligently; he must not allow himself to be influenced by his feelings.** So we are scientists first and artists second. We can dream of dancing in harmony with our horses but it only works if we understand the how, why and when, the basic mechanics of movement. I am sure that there are some who will disagree with that last statement but for me it encompasses training, art based on sound science. Just like a great chef only develops his *art* after he understands the science of how food works.
I recall reading Udo Berger's book The Way to perfect Horsemanship the first time and how absorbing I found the chapter on biomechanics. Here, for the first time I could work out, scientifically, why exercises worked. Of course, nowadays there is a wealth of books on the subject and lectures/ demonstrations to attend. Now we can all be amateur scientists and train our horses through science with an artistic heart.
There are so many good authors that discuss the aids and their effects and I hope to draw on their sound knowledge whilst looking at it from the perspective of a middle aged woman struggling to accept the boundaries of her broken body.
I shall begin the next installment by discussing the importance of the fundamental aids used to move our horse forwards and to stop him. The cornerstones of any system of control.
I hope that I may get some feedback to help me direct my thoughts but until then I'll make a start on my own.
In the Aids ramble pieces I touched on Podjasky's advice regarding aids and for me the following is burned into my brain **The rider must have an exact understanding of his aids and their effect, and must make use of them intelligently; he must not allow himself to be influenced by his feelings.** So we are scientists first and artists second. We can dream of dancing in harmony with our horses but it only works if we understand the how, why and when, the basic mechanics of movement. I am sure that there are some who will disagree with that last statement but for me it encompasses training, art based on sound science. Just like a great chef only develops his *art* after he understands the science of how food works.
I recall reading Udo Berger's book The Way to perfect Horsemanship the first time and how absorbing I found the chapter on biomechanics. Here, for the first time I could work out, scientifically, why exercises worked. Of course, nowadays there is a wealth of books on the subject and lectures/ demonstrations to attend. Now we can all be amateur scientists and train our horses through science with an artistic heart.
There are so many good authors that discuss the aids and their effects and I hope to draw on their sound knowledge whilst looking at it from the perspective of a middle aged woman struggling to accept the boundaries of her broken body.
I shall begin the next installment by discussing the importance of the fundamental aids used to move our horse forwards and to stop him. The cornerstones of any system of control.
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