239: The Horse's Response Can Guide Training

We tend to think that horses always respond the same way to rein, seat and leg aids but the don't. We forget that some horses have a lot of trouble with trailers while others just don't. Horses have thoughts and opinions, and personalities, and good days and bad days. Predicting how any particular horse will respond to anything is actually wildly unpredictable. The horse's response is actually what should shape training, spending more time patiently working through challenges - and there will be at least one! - and feeling a bit more grateful while doing things that come easy to that horse. We have to remember that perceptions are what trigger feelings. Thoughts are part of perceptions. How any given horse perceives any given situation is complex, unpredictable and not in our control at all. But we can notice how horses respond and adjust what we are doing or how in ways that help horses instead of just demanding obedience and ignoring how horses feel about things. Guest: Deb Romero, Certified Alexander Technique Instructor www.optimalposture.org Host: Kirsten Nelsen, professional horse trainer developer of Training for Optimal Balance www.wexfordfarm.com