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Diary of Trail Ride on March 20th, 2005 at Cottonwood Creek Stables
Diary of Wakefield Workshop April 30th, 2005
Diary of American Legacy Workshop Aug. 27-28, 2005
Diary of American Legacy Workshop June 10-12, 2005
Diary of Lincoln Workshop June 13-14, 2005
Diary of Cottonwood Creek Stable Class Sept. 24, 2005
Diary of Madison Clinic November, 2005
Diary of High View Farms Workshop, September 10-11, 2005
Lessons Learned at Madison Jan. 2006
Diary of American Legacy Workshop Jan. 21-22, 2006
Diary of Holstein May 2006
Diary of Weeping Water and BKT Arena Spring 2006
Diary of Sioux City 2006
Diary of Chance Ridge 2006
Diary of Private Lesson Days Summer 2006
Diary of Calamus Women's Camp 2006
Diary of Calamus Youth Camp 2006
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Report from Weeping Water and BKT Arena Clinics Spring 2006
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One of the outstanding memories from the clinic at Weeping Water on May 13-14, 2006 was how we could not believe it was May. We froze the entire weekend as we were outdoors. It was cloudy, misty, and most of all windy. Anytime the sun came out we soaked up the rays of heat as much as we could because we knew it wouldn't last long.
I have to commend the participants for sticking it out, because it was anything but comfortable. People were even putting on their long underwear. When the students filled out their evaluation forms at the end of the clinic nearly everyone wrote down the way that we can improve is by having better weather. I couldn't agree more. But we made it through and despite the conditions everyone learned a lot and their horses were better at the end of the clinic.
Even though it was extremely windy the horses were amazingly calm. We all know how crazy horses can act when it is windy. But I am telling you this stuff really works! If you will be more natural with your horse becoming a calm, cool, and confident leader, your horse will start to follow your example more and more.
I recently attended a conflict management training seminar and I was amazed at how similar their training was to what I teach at natural horsemanship class. I am going to share some of the similarities because I have noticed the reason many people come to a clinic or seek a trainer is they have unresolved conflict with their horse and they want to find solutions.
1. Conflict comes from misunderstandings.
(Most of the time the horse behaviors that people call naughty are misunderstandings because we don't understand horse thinking.)
2. Timing is important!
a. (If you wait to long to handle the situation the problem becomes nearly unmanageable, so you must seek outside help for mediation; ie. a trainer or instructor)
b. It is your timing that teaches the horse when he has reponded correctly. Bad timing teaches bad habits, good timing teaches the right behaviors.
3. Be less focused on issues and more on communication.
a. (Hmmmm! Basic horsemanship principles Focus, feel, timing, balance, and communication.)
b. (It's not about getting the horse in the trailer, it is about communication.)
4. Let people be heard give them the time they need.
a. (Again, how many times have you heard me say take the time it takes and it will take less time.)
b. (Listen to your horse, read them, they will tell you what you need to know in order to be effective)
5. Know you can learn from anyone, so give them value!
a. (Yes, horses teach people, if you will value them and open your mind to learn from them.)
b. (Value the relationship with your horse more than the task you wish they perform for you.)
6. Set up the environment for success.
a. (I've said it over and over at clinics set yourself and your horse up for success.)
b. (Don't go where you know you will fail, and therefore ruin your confidence or worse yet get injured.)
7. Never take away the dignity of the person.
(Need I say more, never, ever take away the dignity of the horse or knock out his curiosity.)
8. Develop a Win/Win attitude and be willing to change yourself.
(If you will change your own attitudes and behaviors most often the horse will change right along with you, it really works.)
9. Put on the A Game (stay calm, cool, and collected, smile with appropriate responses.)
(The best horsemen do this and are as soft as possible but as firm as necessary without being abuse.)
10. Force provides short-term gains (sometimes) and always long-term losses.
(Need I say more!)
11. Have fun and let people know you care about them.
(Horses don't care how much you know, they care how much you care.)
12. Look for ways to motivate them.
(People are motivated by praise, recognition and monetary gain;
horses are motivated by safety, comfort and play.)
13. Be firm, fair, consitent and honest! Lead by example. Good communication starts with you!
(Well by darn, that will work with horses also.)
14. To be able to deal with conflict you must have the necessary skills, insight, and self-confidence.
(These skills, insights and self-confidence are what I teach at a clinic).
Now I have rambled on long enough about conflict management and you still didn't get a detailed report about the class. However, essentially you did, because these are some of the concepts we covered at the clinic. I hope that you gained some new insight of how managing conflict with people is not much different when managing your horse.
It was a beautiful weekend at BKT arena in Lincoln. The weather was perfect; not too cold and not too hot. Unlike the previous weekend at Weeping Water where we froze.
However, both clinics were similar in that several people experienced riding their horse for the first time in a natural rope halter and found how much more relaxed and responsive their horse was without a bit in their mouth. I am always excited when I see horses and riders communicating in a softer manner with more connection and less frustration. These people said they can't wait to order their natural rope hackmore and start riding on a consistent basis with it.
Here are some of the comments from participants who attended these two clinics:
The best part of the class was.................................
* working with my horse without a bit
* riding in a rope halter
* lateral work
* half circle walks down the arena
* saddle fit lesson
* Seeing the major improvement in my horse
* the small group instruction and individual attention
* riding and applying what was taught
* making a new connection with my horse
* learning by watching demonstrations
* teacher worked on low points and praised our high points
These are some of the things the students said they learned:
* importance of patience and a quick release
* how to keep my horse away from me on the ground
* lots of groundwork to improve acceptance of me while riding
* a lot about foundation work and how important it is
* how to be soft but firm plus a lot of techniques
* how to be calm and cool always
* if I'm tense and angry the horse is tense & resistant
* calm down, don't expect so much from my horse
* give big reward for little success
* I gained new insight on how to read a horse and what to do
* body language
* how to get a horse to understand me
* how to understand and read my horse
* how to relax build trust and respect with my horse
* how to slow down
* proper positioning
* focus, look where your'e going
* ways to get my horse left brained
* ways to get my horse prepared to ride safely
* how to play in a round pen to help my horse bond and want to be with me
* the difference between lounging and circle game
* work close to the problem and rest away from it
* approach and retreat for desensitizing
Here is what students said the worst part of the class was:
* need more days to keep learning, to short
* the weather
* when I didn't do it correctly
* wasn't one
* the wind
* wish I could do more lessons
* wish I had more confidence
* the squeeze game
* demos were sometimes too long, I wanted to be working with my horse instead of watching
* the first day of riding because my horse and I were both nervous and frustrated
* I was only able to use one of my horses
* need to save up money so I can take another class
I hope if you have read this far that you will be signing up for a class soon. You will be glad you did and your horse will be also. I know that many of you reading this are already getting fantastic results with your horses and have a great relationship with them. I like what one student said this weekend, "you can never learn too much!" She is soooooo right!
I am always amazed at the end of the class the things people say they learned for the first time. It seems so natural to me now. But I have to remember there was a time when it was very new to me also. I feel so blessed to not only be able to share this information with people but to be able to continue on with my learning as well. The more I learn the better instructor I will become.
Happy Trails,
Sherry
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