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 Tips: “Consistency”

Training Tips
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consistency

Being away or bad weather makes it hard to find CONSISTENCY with training yourself and your horse, I know that scenario all too well BUT consistency doesn’t necessarily mean working on something every day, it can also mean working on something in a consistent manner.

Being consistent with your cues, your energy, your focus and your feel of love is still consistent and if you practice that with your horse you will soon find he will give you consistent replies to the questions you ask.

Yesterday Solly and I, apart for 9 days through teaching and weather finally had some US time and this is what happened…..like we’d never been apart.

  • Shelley – HorseSavvy