Articles with the Tag Training

Spirit – Training Video 1

Spirit - Training Video's
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Training Video 1 – Basic Familiarisation & Feel games

Familiarisation = getting Spirit used to things, energy, motion, noise using approach and retreat and not over facing him with stimuli. I want him to be able to become familiar with things and not be frightened or shut down. I’m looking for relaxation when doing this so I will go as gently as he needs but progress when he’s okay about it. This game is the most important one and as relaxation is the goal I will be able can return to it often to reassure Spirit to find that sweet spot regularly when he needs it.

Feel = This is where I ask for specific moves by touching the horse. I work on these to help him understand my riding aids and I want to make sure those are good before I ride him, more so because he will be going bitless so working on a feel from the halter/lead rope is paramount to a good bitless start. These moves are done by pulsing cues between halter/rope and hand on body and I’m looking to move all 4 feet in all 4 directions with equal understanding, lightness and purity as we go along…for now, just one step is good but I will make sure that one step is done well before releasing/rewarding so that Spirit understands.

Process = Play for 7 days in a row to ensure lessons are understood well. Just one step and reward after by a big breath out, release hands on lead rope and horses body to cause a stop, some scratches at his withers which he loves or even just resting next to him. I will give him a BIG reward at the end of each session with some of his favourite pony nuts on the ground just before I rub him and walk off showing the end of the session clearly.

Progress = After working on asking for one step for 7 days I will start to introduce more steps slowly, making sure I use my ‘pulsing cues’, this makes sure I end up with smooth moves and no brace in the horse  (physically, mentally or emotionally / neck,head, body, legs, mind). I will show this progress as we go 🙂

For more on my training you can buy my instructional dvd’s here: https://horsesavvy.co.uk/index.php/shop/

 

Lesson 1 video UPDATE & PROGRESS after working on the basic ABC’s of horsemanship communication.

 

Hope you can see how much Spirit has progressed on the first steps of his journey. Lesson 2 is coming shortly 😉

  • Shelley – HorseSavvy

 

 

Training Tip Video’s: “Imagination”

Training Tip Video's
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Putting a few regular tasks together makes up a much more imaginative days play and helps keep things progressive and fun.

Games used are: Circling, transitions, narrow corridor/squeeze, fig 8’s done with Relaxation, Willingness, Impulsion and Flexibility.

 

Using some IMAGINATION with fig 8’s and a jump. IMAGINATION is the key to having a good time with games and keeping it fun for you and your horse 

  • Shelley – HorseSavvy

 

 

Training Tip Video: ‘Flight Checks’

Training Tip Video's
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Flight Checks are what I do after playing with my horse and before I ride off from the mounting block. I make sure I have brakes and can move all four feet in all four directions (forward, back, left and right). It also lets me assess whether I have a good Connection and to help the horse get balanced and flexible before riding off. If anything needs working on I will either stay with it until softer and lighter or I’ll get off and work on it from the ground.

Here is a short film of the Flight Checks I do and how they can progress. I hope it helps to remind you to offer and find the ‘light feel’ on the reins, where our weight should be and to use our focus, seat and leg aids before using the reins.

 

Once you and your horse can do these with lightness and no brace you will find you will need them less and less. I use them before riding off and practice them now and then but because our ‘muscle memories’ in our bodies and brains have the techniques and actions stored we can use them when necessary (ie. an emergency halt w/relaxation) but can now refine them so that my breathing out and a lift of the rein is suffice to halt. I want the muscle memories there for if and when I need them…this one rein halt will not work well if the memories aren’t there, we would both be so far removed from relaxation that it would actually cause more tension and braciness….if we can avoid that and teach ourselves and our horses to have a ‘trigger’ of relaxation when the rein is lifted then we will all be safer in an emergency situation that hopefully never happens.

“Be prepared for the worst but hope for the best”

  • Shelley – HorseSavvy