PRINCIPLES TO COMPETITION
by Nancy Slater
Continued from page 43
In Parelli Natural Horsemanship, the horse is taught to bond with the rider, first on the ground doing certain tasks, then taking those skills to the saddle. A rapport is important. He is prepared emotionally to not be afraid, to trust and be brave. He is prepared mentally to think about what we want, be a problem solver, and comply respectfully. He is taught to give his body physically to the task at hand, and to be supple and soft to our touch.
Your Horse is Reading Your Mind
Sounds like a dream, right? That's what great horsemen do. They form a partnership based on the language and perspective of the horse. You get to where it seems like the horse is reading your mind! Master horseman Tom Dorrance said that it should feel like your could ride your horse up a telephone pole or down a badger hole. Of course you would never ask that, but that is the FEEL you want.
Teach without Fear or Anger
But a horse can only be a great horse with a great education by a great teacher. That is a person who teaches the horse to be a partner without fear or anger. This is when a horse tries his guts out to please the rider! He trusts, respects, and wants to work. These great horses move like hovercrafts for their owners!
Like people, horses need a great coach to get them to reach their potential. Are you that person, or are you happy to settle for mediocre? It takes try from the person as well as the horse in competition. Many people complain about their horse's behavior, few fix it. Sometimes it's a matter of a little change in us that makes all the difference.
So many horses are dull, spooky, hesitant, naughty, and uneducated. I'm amazed when I see a horse expected to know something they have not been prepared for. Even if that horse is bred for a specific job, he still needs an education on how to work under the direction of his rider. Our job is to communicate our wishes clearly and effectively so the horse understands. This can be done with purpose driven ground work leading to productive saddle work.
Nancy and Shaman