Why?

Why would anyone sign up for a riding lesson, pay money for an hour of instruction, that looked like this?

recognition learning

MY experience is - the only training going on IS the language of very very few words. Such as "go". Everything else is boundaries and synchronicity. Yes, there is a 'learning curve' in the beginning. The horse needs to go forward ...... even one step - not to avoid the unpleasant - but to start the conversation. "It's not what you do, but what you do after what you did" The 'response' to the first step IS the 'reward'. While riding that 'looks like' recognition. When the horse takes the first steps in walk - the rider matches, reflects, keeps caught up with each step so that the horse literally recognizes himself (his walk) in the rider. Even the human legs hanging on his sides reflect this synchronicity. To move up to trot - the rider "stops" riding the walk and "says" - "go" and immediately reflects the movement of the trot ........ and so on and so on. It takes no more effort (or cue) to turn a horse than it does to turn your own two feet. I'm not sure when we turned communication (and dance) into such a "subject/object" thing. It isn't even airy-fairy ..... it is very hard work and takes a very long time for the HUMAN to learn this. The horse learning is minimal - the physical gymnastic it quite impressive - hard work. I worked (and learned) hard - so did my horses - but they never did it alone and there never did it on command or to avoid ........ anything "worse".
This is a statement about my experience and not a criticism of yours .......... except maybe ALL the emperor's have new clothes.


 http://horse-charming.com/2015/07/09/the-emperors-new-clothes/

"too" and "boundaries"

PLEASE MIND AND HONOR YOUR BOUNDARIES BY MINDING AND HONORING THE OTHER.
“Too” and "Boundaries"
What do the word “too” and “boundaries” have in common?
Answer; They are both inclusive and negative (exclusive) depending on the use and the understanding of the word.
When judging mares and stallions at the Hanoverian inspections, my mentor pointed out that a walk could be "too" big and therefore "tip" into TOO much lateral sway and no diagonal transfer through the back at the withers. That's when I learned that the word TOO was a "no" (negative) word.
“Too” means “as well as” and “also”. Which is inclusive. It can also mean ”over-the-top”. Beyond desirable into the bad. The tipping point over the edge.
“ too much …”
“ too many ….”
“ too soon”
“ too late”
“ too hot”
“ too cold” ……… you get the drift.
All of the examples above change the adjective to a negative. No matter the numbers/measurement it is not a negative (bad thing) until the word “too” comes in.
On the other side - “too” can be inclusive as well. Meaning “also”.
“I’m coming too”
“I feel it too”
“Me too”
Inclusion is a positive - like the plus sign (+) adding things together. Connecting.
…….. Inclusive until it crosses the line into the negative. The minus sign (-). Exclusion.
The word and concept (understanding) of the word “boundary” has the same characteristics.
Many people see (understand) boundaries as barriers. Limits. Edges. In that context it feels negative - like a stop sign. A wall. Exclusive.
I use the word “boundary” a lot, but not in that context. I use the word “boundaries” to describe INCLUSION. Because I understand that boundaries are how we connect. A boundary is not the protection of “self” but the discovery of “other”.
Boundaries are inclusive because they create (define?) the space between the manifested and the un-manifested. We simply would not exist, or have reason to exist, without that space between. We would not have the experience of being alive, would not have the experience of connecting to an other without the space between our “selves” and everything else.
We are created (manifested) for the sole purpose to experience ……. the other. smile emoticon
Every sentient being wants to be seen and connect to other sentient beings.
That’s all - end of story.

Your boundaries can be both TOO rigid and TOO porous if you do not see/acknowledge/honor the OTHER. The "not seeing" of the other tips the boundary into the "No" - negative.
See to be seen
Hear to be heard
Trust to be trusted
Love to be loved
Respect to be respected
Please mind and honor your boundaries by minding and honoring the other.

basics - joke

You might be missing the basics if:
       - you turn your horse with the inside rein
       - you train your horse to 'lower his head'
       - you teach your horse his canter leads
       - you practice "patterns/movements" until he gets it right
       - you think you can connect a horse with no contact
       - you give your horse rhythm
       - you ride 'front to back'..... aka the head
       - you move any of your horse's body parts "for" him
       - you put your horse in a 'frame'

..... do not be ashamed if your were not taught the basics - 99% of riders today were never taught the basics. Please do not label me as a kook or as being judgmental just because I know the basics.
.... more importantly - I 'discern' what is not ..... the basics.

TTouch

I must admit - when I first saw this - I was intrigued. Cautiously. Something did not feel right.
Then I understood! To use this as anything more than a 'self hug' is ........ not helpful. Not a 'hug in motion'.
I do not want to sound critical of the TTouch. TTouch is a clear, kind "system" that the 'unaware' can practice to become more aware.
This is a cozy hug. The short coming of the body wrap is - it does not include the whole horse. More specifically the whole movement. The entire 'step'. Hindleg-foreleg-head. It is the WHOLE stride that makes it beautiful! The head and neck is an EQUAL part of every step of the ...... horizontal horse.
Our goal as 'forward riders' (on the ground and in the 'saddle') is to complete every stride. Alllll the way from the hind leg - through(!) the supple relaxed back - through(!) the foreleg - and out the forehead!!!!!
...... that "freedom" and "self-carriage" part. And FORWARD.

Fences

Let's talk about fences. As boundaries. As a training aid. Language in communication.

Fences are your horse's very first introduction to boundaries. Controlled by the human. Our first step in controlling the horse. Shaping their behavior.
And our first opportunity to demonstrate integrity. Unbroken. True to our word. Consistency. Who we are. This sets the stage for all future communication.
Now define a boundary. A limit. A border.
Next define integrity:

1. Steadfast adherence to a strict moral or ethical code.

2. The state of being unimpaired; soundness.

3. The quality or condition of being whole or undivided; completeness.

 

Put the two together and you have started your training relationship with your horse. 

 

The important thing we have learned  (right!) about boundaries from my earlier posts - They do not "attack". They do not push. They do not invade the horse's personal boundary.  They are respectful in that way.  
Special to fences - they have integrity. Unbroken. Sound. Consistent. (I hope!)

Connect the dots.
Acknowledge (own it!) that you ARE using the fence to  ...... communicate, control, channel, ...... speak to your horse. For WHATEVER reason.

Just do it respectfully. Never run your horse into the fence. And never allow your horse to lean on the fence. As if the fence were the only dependable part of your conversation. "Do no harm but take no shit"

While lunging, the fence is your outside leg. Be responsible for your outside leg - this boundary.  Ideally your goal in the picadero, round pen, lungeline, or big arena is to work the horse OFF the fence.

The test will be to free lunge your horse in a big arena. 

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