God wants us to scare the living shit out of unhandled horses and exhaust them into submission!
This is just a perfect example of something I’ve wanted to blog about for a while. Namely, all of those clinics where someone take a (supposedly) unhandled horse and gets it riding at a walk, trot and canter in a few hours are…
really really really really really FUCKING STUPID! AND BAD FOR HORSES!
Getting on a horse with a back leg pulled up (what is that, practice for the slaughterhouse it’s gonna wind up in after you lame it up/fry its brain?) is not exactly difficult. What is the horse supposed to do? You have it physically disabled and it’s scared to death. It thinks it’s caught in something. If it’s smart, it does what the filly does and tries not to get hurt. If it’s not smart, well, I guess it winds up going to Heaven in a hurry. This couldn’t be further from proper training and I certainly won’t call it horsemanship. That term has something to do with skill. This is just theatrical asshattery.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Getting on a young horse you’ve roundpenned the living shit out of is NO test of skill. It’s NOT amazing. If I round pen something enough, I’m pretty sure your GRANDMA can get on it without any drama. It’s a horse, not a robot and making it too exhausted to jump around is not a complicated procedure. All the roundpenning is appalling to me since, if these horses are unhandled, then, DUH, they are nowhere near fit enough to handle that much work. Who cares if you get them broke in a day if you also lame them up and create soreness and problems you’ll be fixing for months, if it even can be fixed? It’s just stupid. Stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, STUPID!
I’m so damn sick of the easily-led public thinking there’s something miraculous about being able to get on a green horse and ride it around in this manner. The chase ‘em, rope ‘em and ride ‘em clinics are everywhere and these dudes actually make MONEY putting them on, which makes me want to yack up my dinner. What scares me even more is their legions of followers going home to try it themselves. And we wonder why so many brain-fried young horses show up in rescues and at auctions. Gee I can’t imagine why we are seeing so much of that, can you?
Listen up, America: YOU CANNOT TRAIN A HORSE IN A DAY! Training is a slow, step by step process in which the horse has a chance to learn one lesson and then get the reward of rest before moving on to the next lesson. If I have an unhandled horse, the first lesson is going to have to do with asking him to give to pressure and take a couple steps in the direction I’d like on the lead rope. I may very well use treats. You know what happens when he takes those steps? I pet him, I praise him and I put him away. That’s the whole first lesson. Probably didn’t take more than 15 minutes. I guess it’s not very exciting to watch. But the next day, I can get more steps. He’s not scared of me, he’s not sore, and we’ve started to lay the foundation that everything else will build on. I am not a professional trainer. This is just common sense. When you get an unhandled adult you treat him/her like a foal. You have to go through all of that basic foal training like leading and tying and picking up feet before you even think about starting to train him to ride. I don’t see anything cool about forcing all of it upon a horse in three hours, and I cannot believe people are so dim they don’t pick up on the fear level of those horses.
As the old saying goes, Rome wasn’t built in a day. Training takes time and patience. Anybody trying to sell you on a shortcut is selling you snake oil – EVERY time. THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS. You will never develop a solid, enjoyable, rideable horse with shortcuts and they have a nasty way of backfiring. A horse who isn’t trained in a slow, patient manner is like a piece of swiss cheese — he’s full of holes, and you’re going to fall through one when you least expect it. If you can’t go for traditional training because you care about your horse, choose it because you care about your own neck.
And sheesh, stop giving money to these con artist faux trainers. I’d rather you give it to Benny Hinn! At least that’s not gonna hurt anything other than your pocketbook.
My daughter and I finally figured out why “Natural Horsemanship” is so successful:
Most horse owners are either fat, out of shape, lazy, or all the above and own a horse just to impress their crowd that they “own a horse”. They really don’t want to do anything to train the horse. That would be too much work. So they are looking for the “short cut”.
So along comes “Natural Horsemanship” and they can show you the “short cut” to training. They are selling “nothing” to people who want to do “nothing”. That is an easy sell.
Hello Cathy, slightly OT, but this is just such a perfect example of why fat people become so sensitive. The lazy person for sure, is ALWAYS going to be the one looking for the shortcut, regardless of build type. The fat person, however, by virtue of being fat, is not looking for the shortcut by virtue of being fat. Rather a fat person who looks for a shortcut is a lazy person who just happens to be fat. So here again, is that situation where fat people who look at Natural Horsemanship are being lumped together in an unfair derogatory way and personally, I consider this a hit on fat people. And Jack, thanks so much for this classic example of insensitivity to a group of people.
You are one of the exceptions to the rule. I apologize if I offended you. For your information I am 75 years old and a couple of years ago I weighed 225 lbs. I now weigh 170 and I ride my 5 year old gelding every day. Shit happens.
Jack, I appreciate the apology. I can’t say, no offense was taken, but you are a gentlemen for not getting defensive and willing to offer the apology, so thank you.
Maybe for some, maybe for many wrapped up in the NH gimmick trainers. Don’t lump us all in that catagory though. I can and quite frequently do ride my horses 35+ miles a day when on trail rides, not to mention I provide all the care for my 5 horses. Right down to stacking my own hay and loading my own grain, plus doing all the training that goes into my horses. Not a typical fat, lazy horse owner.
And as for having my horses as status symbols I don’t even advertise the fact I have horses to my non-horse acquaintances for the simple fact I don’t want them bugging me to take them riding. Quite frankly, they wouldn’t be able to handle the kind of riding this fatty likes to do. So please don’t lump us all in the same catagory. Oh, and BTW- I’m 5’5″ and weigh 195.
Exactly! I’m 5’3 and weigh 195 and I stack my own 3-tie bales and haul my own 80lb bags of grain. I’m not into the whole Parelli thing but I do think that horses should be worked with in a non-abusive (and needing a smack for misbehaving is not abusive) manner.
OK, the fatty comment was dumb. I have known quite a few plus-sized men and women who are competent horsepeople.
Actually, I blame our Hurrry Hurry Instant Gratification society, ignorance about animal psychology (every species has a different take on the world, including humans), a surge in completely uneducated adult first-time horse owners, increased skillful marketing by the snake oil crowd (including the Christian angle), and poor marketing and unglamorous (but TRULY EFFECTIVE) methods of reputable trainers and instructors.
I would have to disagree with this statement. I have been using Clinton Anderson’s ‘Natural Horsemanship’ to train my own horse and a few friends/clients for 5 years now and I LOVE IT! Yes you can get a lot more done quickly if done correctly. It doesn’t HAVE to take so long to do basic stuff. It takes months to years yes to refine a certian disapline. I got a 9yr old wild mustang 4 years ago, and using Clintons method I was riding him at the beach in a week. He never once bucked, reared or did anything stupid as I spent 4 solid days in a row doing ground work before riding him and he is my second best horse I have.
I have competed in the Extreme Cowboy race on my 13hh haflinger mare and she did great! A horse is smarter than most other animals and sooo many people don’t realize how smart they are, you can take it slow yes but it is consistancy that is the key with horses and they catch on quick if you are training them properly, knowing when to give and release pressure and also when to reward. TIMING is everything in horse training.
So Don’t go bagging on all Natural Horsemanship, Clinton Anderson is awesome and his shit works! I’ve trained over 20 horses from the ground up using his methods and as a kid I NEVER thought I’d know how to train a horse from scratch. Now I have people who see my website and the trail training/desensiting training I do calling me to bring their horses to me. And I have a great relationship with my horses. Not many people I know can lay their horses down, roll them over and sit on their bellies….talk about trust!
I LOVE NATURAL HORSEMANSHIP!!
Course this particular video was all going great till the leg rope thing on the hind leg…wtf? I can see to prevent bucking but they didn’t do enough ground work to prepare the horse….At least their timing was good…once the horse stopped fight the rope they immediatly released the pressure and the horse understood.
Jack, you should probably have said “Most horse owners who practice NHare either fat, out of shape, lazy, or all the above”
THIS is true, from my experience.
Hmmm, I’m really not seeing where that is much better but, I suppose if I look at it, that most non-NHers can fit into the, fat, out of shape or lazy categories, I really can’t complain about the stereotype, because it fits across the board, doesn’t it? If I stated that most people who don’t practice NH are abusers of horses who looked for the easyway out without actually training a horse, because I have known people in the past who advocated using a 2X4 to adjust attitudes, rearing, what have you, there would be no end to the flaming I would get. Most all the non-NH people would most likely be pissed that some one would make such a sweeping declaration and even though I did not point my finger directly at them, they would find my declaration insulting. If you are going to declare that NHers are only looking for a shortcut (which personally, from my experience, I do not agree with), then that is a declaration that NHers are lazy, end of story. Laziness is not an admirable trait in most of society. Why is it necessary to go on to bring in physical attributes as some sort of evidence? In my example above about non-NH people, I didn’t give physical attributes, but I am pretty sure, if I did and any of it hit closer to home about how you looked, you would be that much more inclined to be insulted, especially if I hit on a physical attribute that could be considered negative but fit you to a tee.
I know being fat is not desirable. No one knows this better then I do. I have received this message for over 40 years and I am not delusional about the fact that I will continue to be reminded, either directly or indirectly on a daily basis and nothing I say here is going to change anyones thoughts if they are so completely disgusted with fat people that they cannot see any value in the human being that happens to be fat. Believe it or not, we are people with thoughts and feelings, there are people who love us, we do have worth, we have talents, there are “good” and “bad” fat people, just like there are “good” and “bad” thin people, out of shape people, white people, black people, on and on. So, no, I’m not real sure your post is much better, in the end.
I personally would like to categorize Jack..as an idiot. What a completely inappropriate statement that was. Wonder what the quick fix for your stupidity is…..
I know many larger people that are incredible horse owners and trainers…and most of them could and probably would..out work most skinny people that I know.
I don’t often do this, but this popped up on my Facebook feed along with the statement “they are going to auction on Monday.” Not really sure what the heck this place IS, but I felt bad for these guys.
I don’t think God would train a horse that way, and I sure don’t think God would appreciate being linked to stupidity like that. I would envision God being kind and gentle with appropriate correction when it is required. It drives me nuts when people drag their religious beliefs into stuff like this.
I think he has an off kilter perspective to say the least. He uses words like “patient” and “salvation” but that clearly is not what he is practicing.
The weird perspective on training and Jesus reminded me of someone. I worked with a girl who told me that she grew up attending church at least 3 times every week. She also told me that she does not believe any of it now. When she was small, every time her family left the house to go to church her mother would sleep late and come into her room like a crazy person yelling at her to hurry up. She would yell, “You stupid GD kid. Get your fucking Bible and get in the car. Oh shit, I hate when you make me late for church.” And then her mother would drag her down the stairs and push her into the car with her crying and speed off to church. The little girl was 5. Now she is grown and does not speak to her mother, go to church but sh does pick up extra work posing nude.
I bet the horses remember their training as well as my coworker remembered her Christian training.
I’m into middle age, and I guess I’m behind the times. This week I’ve been excitedly emailing friends: A cranky old horse who others found a nightmare to catch, only took three weeks to come when I call. He even placed his pretty little head in the halter. No oats, no tricks, no endless round penning. Just fair treatment and good vibes. Last night I went to sleep re-imagining the thrilling scene.
I think I like my pace better. The changes I make with animals seem to last, and have no negative side effects.
I just came in from the barn. When I went out there, I called to my VLC and he whinnied at me and came trotting to me. That idiot in the video will never have that happen. I love it.
The comment I left on the video…which I doubt will be shown since it has to be approved.
“Using a rope to yank a horse’s leg out from under him isn’t a testament of skill, but a lack thereof. If your God didn’t create the world in three hours, what in the hell makes you think that you can transform a horse from “wild to willing” in that amount of time? It’s ridiculous, dangerous, and damaging to the horse.
If you’re going to preach, then preach. But if you’re going to train a horse, do right by the animal and do it CORRECTLY and PATIENTLY.” ~GalisgiaSoquili
I absolutely can’t STAND clinics like this. It gives people the wrong impression that ANYONE can train their horse in a manner of hours, and when they discover that they can’t pull off the same results, it’s the horse’s fault. I will never understand why people insist on trying to force their horses to learn everything in “30 days or less”.
Here’s a nail biter for ya. How does a redneck outdo the usual kid-on-unhaltered-horse-in-trashy-pasture sale ad?
Put an infant on him: http://www.equinenow.com/horse-ad-274446
It’s me again, telling about my Parelli experience. The #1 principle is “Put the relationship first”. And another of my favorites “When should you get off – the first time it crosses your mind.” The two most important things the Parelli’s emphasize are relationship and safety. It has taken me almost two years to reach the point of getting on my horse. Yes, Cathy, he’s a quarter horse and a very easy going guy. But, he’s very dominant with people and at my advanced age it has been a long road to where our relationship is now. It shouldn’t have taken this long, but due to weather, etc there would be long periods of inactivity. He’s in a 10 acre pasture and when he hears me open the gate, his head pops up and here he comes to me and when he gets to me he greets me with a soft whinny. Each time I still get a warm fuzzy feeling. I don’t just put his halter on, I rub and scratch him all over and just enjoy being with him. When I pick up the halter, he lowers and turns his head to me – things we learned with Parelli. The farrier that comes to our boarding barn just has to touch the chestnut and up comes the foot – he loves it. My boy will follow me all around an open pasture, stop when I do, back up when I do and we even play hide and seek in the trees somethimes and he loves it. I think we really have a relationship. Another Parelli, “what do you get when you take the halter off – the truth”. I’ve always thought of the program as not a “horse” training program, but a “people” training program.
The biggest issue I see with the natural horse trainers is that people say they are doing it this way or that way, but they are not doing the program step by step. As mentioned many times concerning the featured trainer, they’re taking shortcuts and trying to hurry the progess and what they get is a disaster. Another Parelli – “take the time it takes and it will take less time”. Even being Parelli follower I’ve seen lots of people who say they are studing Parelli, then I watch what they’re doing and just want to scream ” where the f**k did you see that in the program”. I usuall do ask in a nice way and get an answer like “this was faster,etc.”
It all reminds me of when I worked at McDonalds’s when I was in my later 30′s. Not a job I would have chosen, but my husband was in the Navy and I just needed a job for a short time and not one I would have to buy a new wardrobe for. Anyway, I learned that Ray Kroc, the founder, had originated a wonderful training program for new employes. There is a six step method for greeting and serving customers that was to be followed at all times. Is is ever used – rarely. In the 30+ years since I worked at McDonalds I’ve heard the 6 steps less than half a dozen times. It’s quicker for store managers to just put a new employee on the register and turn them loose. So, it is with the horse trainers – people use the things they want to use but not in the proper way. So, the trainers or there methods get a bad name. I don’t know much about the other “renown” trainers, but I feel this is true for the Parelli’s.
And thanks for always approving my post and keep up the good work. I love your blog.
Oh, one more thing. Last week the lady that owns the facility where I work got a call that someone had an orphan colt and could she go get him. The man didn’t know she was pregnant (she was out with a stud, DUD) and a neighbor had called him and told him he had a foal in the pasture. He went out and the mother was dead. He had no idea how old the foal was, or how the mother had died. Baby is now at our barn and so far so good. We took him straight to the vet where it was determined he had not gotten collustrum so he was given that by IV. He’s a Foxtrotter. So, would everyone please wish good things for him. The vet said he won’t be out of the woods for a least a couple of weeks. He thought he was less than 36 hours old.
Y’know, when Pat Parelli first started getting coverage in horse magazines & stuff, I though, this guy does have some good ideas. I still think that he started out with good ideas.
Unfortunately, it all spun out of control when he got too popular & got a product line. Classic, classic story. I also can’t condone the dumb stuff like what Linda Parelli got caught doing on video – featured here a few weeks back, or the jumping over picnic tables etc.
I’m glad for you that the good ideas stuck, and the crap just rolled off.
Also, the story about the foal just makes me want to scream and smack somebody upside the head with a chainsaw that just happens to be running…
Good for your friend for taking it in. So very, very, VERY sad.
Our next door neighbors have 2 dogs – a Sheltie mix, unspayed. A pitbull mix, unspayed. Yeah, this is their 5th or 6th litter. Cuz the world surely needs more Sheltie/pit mutts. THere’s such a demand for them, hunh.
Parelli has a couple of things that set him apart from other NHers. To the beginners he says, when you first think that you don’t want to be on anymore then get off. YAY that he doesn’t want folks scared shitless on their horses in the backyard and the high potential for blow ups that come with it. I have also heard him say more than once that colt starting is for professionals and if you are a beginner and looking to buy a horse then buy a babysitter or older calm horse that is TRAINED to go through the program with and if you are a beginner who already has a young unstarted horse then find a professional to start it under saddle. He also emphasizes taking time with learning, whether that is for the newbie or the horse.
I am not real fond of the glitzy showman stuff they have been known for but I have not seen them jump any picnic tables lately so maybe they have given up on that stunt- I can hope.
What I love watching? The lessons Linda takes with Walter Zettl! I am ecstatic that they have this as part of their expos- as there is not enough video out there of this man teaching. I don’t care who he teaches – he is the only old master alive that I’m interested in every word he utters.
You know, if they spent less time scaring the horse to death first, they wouldn’t need to spend so much time praying!
Interesting to note that of all the Isaiah quotes out there, folks like this guy seem to ignore Isaiah 55:8 – “‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways’, says YHWH.”
Has anyone watched “Saddle up with Dennis Brouse”? He was working with a rescue with major major trust issues. He told the person “this is going to take time” he asked the horse to face him. No ropes on the leg,did have a whip at first for direction.. Just a world of difference..
Perfect and I even get to stay on topic I have an 8 year old mare I just recently got that is basically unhandled. She will come up to me for treats and scratches but if I even think about a halter or lead rope she’s gone! Any advice on how to proceed with getting a halter on her, without having to rope her and choke her down. Once she has the halter on she will lead, but if she even sees a halter or lead rope she won’t come anywhere near you. I’m seriously thinking about sending her to a trainer, but most don’t want to handle an adult mare without any basics at all and well trailering should also be fun since she’s never been in one of those either.
We bought a mare like yours nearly 3 years ago, a sad, abused, scared of adults, run down old girl, who had suffered many years of assualt by inappropriate humans during her at least 25 years (we had purchased her as a riding pony for our 8 year old the seller advertised as “my 5 y.o rides her unaided” and “does not like to be caught by adults” and “I have been involved with horse rescue for many years and do not class her as severly underweight” when I questioned her condition when she arrived to our place.)
She was scared of adults that is for sure, being handled was not on her list of pleasantries. We had a hard time catching her at first, but slowly she learnt, over 4 months, that being caught meant being groomed, patted and fed. We also incorporated some of the lessons of Clinton Anderson in desensitising using his roping technique. At first she would nearly poop herself with the rope being gently moved around her and slowly she started to accept that we were not going to eat her or hurt her, the last hurdle was her back legs, as she would go into a mad panic if handled there, rugging this old girl was a no-no for months. But again using the roping excercises, she went from flipping out to accepting, to eventually, 4 months later, accepting being rugged.
She eventually would come up to me in the paddock, not me having to try and trick her into being caught. I think if a horse learns that being caught = pleasure, eventually even the worst horse will come around, it wont happen overnight but it will happen and once that fear is master and they are then being saddled, then 3 times out of 4 being caught should still mean only pleasure, eventually with kind and commonsense handling, they wont bolt when they see the headstall, if we do our groundwork right and eventually being out on the trail with their rider will also mean fun and happy time, pain and torture. I hope you have some happy stories to share in the future
I finally had time to watch the video!! Atrocious! I could only watch a few minutes of it, the Scripture quoting made me angry. Pulling the leg was cheap. Crazy!
Just like anything else, one total asshat like the moron in this video (or dozens of asshats, which there certainly are) does not portray the entire concept. I do agree that endless roundpenning is ridiculous. But there are some very useful ideas to be learned from GOOD horsemanship in the vein of “natural” horsemanship. I am constantly frustrated by the things traditional training misses!!
I personally use what would be considered by many “natural horsemanship” (God, I hate that name for it) techniques. I came to it after many, many years of the standard training techniques. It took me a lot of years to figure it all out, but I’m damn good at it now, and I’ve turned out a lot of really nice, level headed, usable riding horses this way. So have a number of my longtime friends. We actually RIDE our horses. A lot. Everywhere. I recently had a very talented, high level dressage rider who trains with Steffen Peters compliment me on how soft, willing and focused all of my own horses (I own 6) are.
I’ve watched innumerable clinicians, and taken something away from each — even if it was what NOT to do. I’ve seen lots of the popular guys, and totally disagreed with much of what I’ve seen them do. I’ve seen the legends, (Brannaman, Hunt, Dorrance, to name a few), and while I was impressed with their horsemanship, because they clearly had a rare gift, I found many of them to be poor teachers with little patience for the humans (I don’t blame them, but there it is).
Fugs, I think you have to be totally fair here and agree that there are JUST as many really, really bad trainers that could be called “traditional” trainers. The bottom line is that training a horse is NOT easy, it’s NOT something anyone can do, and it takes skill, a great deal of knowledge, and a brain to get the job done in a way that’s safe and effective.
I do TOTALLY agree that the “speed training” events are ridiculous. Each horse is an individual, and must be given the time he or she needs to learn and absorb the critical lessons without being physically and mentally exhausted in the process.
Can you imagine HUMAN speed training? You’re given a 6 year old child, randomly selected, and you must teach them readin’, writin’, and ‘rithmetic in just one day, using a round pen and your imagination!!!!!
“Can you imagine HUMAN speed training? You’re given a 6 year old child, randomly selected, and you must teach them readin’, writin’, and ‘rithmetic in just one day, using a round pen and your imagination!!!!!”
Great analogy. Exactly. I just do not get how anybody in their right mind thinks you are doing anything constructive by scaring/exhausting a horse into accepting a rider in a matter of hours.
I have seen many “classically” (read: trained for English riding) trained horses here in the US who are what I consider “sorry broke” with what are to me obvious holes in their training- heavy on the rider’s hands or becomes fearful with a lack of contact- completely unable to be ridden on a loose rein. All of my experiences with horses trained in Europe have been in Spain where the horse is still used for work. The traditional training those horses get results in a much different horse than I have seen in horses going English here in the US (and quite a few of the ones going western too).
I think you are right, there are as many bad traditional trainers as bad Fluffy NHers (never ride the horse theorists) and the Git ‘er Done NHrs (like the featured idiot). Training a horse is not rocket surgery but it requires someone who is always THINKING.
Hi folks, I’m a day late and a dollar short. I am not an advocate of the 7 levels not to ride your horse.
However, once upon a time, during a horrific blizzard in Dillon, Montana … I watched a man work with ranch colts in a manner which I had never seen before. (Aside: I’d never seen so many horses who were earless or earjagged due to frostbite.) He seemed almost like a magician. He also appalled me ‘cuz he mentioned that “yes, there are stupid questions which prove you’re not listening.”
I watched Ray Hunt build a preliminary communication with these ranch colts that amazed me — and that was back when Pat P. was still a sycophant.
Let’s keep learning and not buying into the latest “quick fix.”
If you guys are doing all that activity and are still overweight, are you checking what you are eating? Some of the hidden killers are anything with high fructose corn syrup (coke, snacks) and just snacking on empty carbs. Just a suggestion. Some people are just heavier than others, but sometimes the culprit for weight gain can be sneaky foods.
For some of us, it’s nasty things like Poly-cystic Ovary Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, Hypothyroidism etc. that keeps the weight on. Not some simple dietary abuse. For me, it’s PCOS and with medical treatment it’s easier to lose weight than without it but even so it’s much much harder than before my body decided to malfunction. I try not to let it stop me from doing anything and most days I have no problems bucking my own 110# bales of hay, let alone exercising my horses and dogs. I remember when I first realized that my body wasn’t working right- I was 33 years old, 5’3″ and 170lbs and I had just upped the intensity of my cardio on my treadmill to 9 miles a day at 4mph at maximum incline and changed up my 3 day per week weight routine- I logged 1200 calories per day – after that change in intensity (was 6miles daily + 3 days weights and 1200 calories). I couldn’t lose a pound! I felt defeated. Now I’m 40 years old and it is even harder BUT I’m no longer defeated. I just stay active because giving up means accepting disability and a slow death.
Wow. I couldn’t watch more than two minutes of that. How bad do you think that horse is about picking up that back foot after having it caught? So what was the purpose of tying up the horse’s foot? To keep it from being able to buck? Goes to show that you CAN’T break a horse in three hours if you have to tie it down so you can stay on.
Where will I be for the rest of eternity? Very slowly and patiently teaching my horse to respect my space using NH that somehow doesn’t involve gadgets, bags tied to whips being flipped around his head and running him around in a round pen until he’s too tired to move.
So I am assuming idiots that know nothing about horses are supposed to see how awesome this video is and develop a relationship with Jesus? (does He get one leg tied up too?)
I’ve heard of these competitions but generally not seen them, and I’m hoping that the “road to the horse” and similar are at least not quite this much of a cluster*@&#. WTF is with the foot rope? I mean, seriously. I’ve seen some boneheaded stuff, but that’s just taking it to a whole other level. It’s too bad that filly was too kind-hearted (or just too tired) to just flip onto her back and grind that asshat into the dust.
You know, I think that at the root of the problem for a lot of this stuff is the one-day or two-day “clinic” format. (I mean, the root of the problem beyond these people being morons. That’s incurable, apparently.) I’ve heard from a lot of old-time horse folks about how they went to see a Ray Hunt clinic and it’d be four or five days of working with a horse or two at the animal’s own pace. Now everybody’s expecting to be wowed and amazed within fifteen minutes, and for some reason we all think that the only true mark of a horseman is if he can do amazing things very quickly with a horse that’s either wild or just absolutely hazardous to work with. I really never see anybody at these clinics working on refinement, technique or fixing the small problems that aren’t so theatrical to watch; it’s always some horse owner whose animal is incredibly out of control expecting a miracle worker to “fix” the critter up in the space of a day. And the clinicians, apparently desperate for money and acclaim, promise the moon in return.
On the other hand, seeing the trainer under pressure — much like you posted about recently when looking for a trainer to hire — certainly tells you more about who they are than seeing them under optimal conditions. Thanks to this pressure to succeed and the completely idiotic things that it spurs these trainers to do in a public space, I have a better idea of who not to give my money to. (Clinton Anderson and Dennis Reis, for a start.) I figure if you want a man to look good, you put him on a horse. And if you want to see what kind of a man he really is, you give him a wild horse and you see which one of them really looks like an animal at the end of it.
Almost thought this was my ex. He was a big fan of tying up a horse (but strangely, only in front of an audience or camera). Whenever someone had “a real bronc” or problem horse for him to evaluate, ex wouldn’t dare show up w/out his slew o’ cowboy pics & carefully selected newspaper articles. (also swore my horse bucked “because I drink”)
My daughter and I finally figured out why “Natural Horsemanship” is so successful:
Most horse owners are either fat, out of shape, lazy, or all the above and own a horse just to impress their crowd that they “own a horse”. They really don’t want to do anything to train the horse. That would be too much work. So they are looking for the “short cut”.
So along comes “Natural Horsemanship” and they can show you the “short cut” to training. They are selling “nothing” to people who want to do “nothing”. That is an easy sell.
Do you agree?
Jack and Denise Schreyer
http://www.HorsesDIY.com
Hello Cathy, slightly OT, but this is just such a perfect example of why fat people become so sensitive. The lazy person for sure, is ALWAYS going to be the one looking for the shortcut, regardless of build type. The fat person, however, by virtue of being fat, is not looking for the shortcut by virtue of being fat. Rather a fat person who looks for a shortcut is a lazy person who just happens to be fat. So here again, is that situation where fat people who look at Natural Horsemanship are being lumped together in an unfair derogatory way and personally, I consider this a hit on fat people. And Jack, thanks so much for this classic example of insensitivity to a group of people.
My Bear Bunny,
You are one of the exceptions to the rule. I apologize if I offended you. For your information I am 75 years old and a couple of years ago I weighed 225 lbs. I now weigh 170 and I ride my 5 year old gelding every day. Shit happens.
Jack, I appreciate the apology. I can’t say, no offense was taken, but you are a gentlemen for not getting defensive and willing to offer the apology, so thank you.
Uhm, how was that again? Fat=Lazy=Out of shape?
Maybe for some, maybe for many wrapped up in the NH gimmick trainers. Don’t lump us all in that catagory though. I can and quite frequently do ride my horses 35+ miles a day when on trail rides, not to mention I provide all the care for my 5 horses. Right down to stacking my own hay and loading my own grain, plus doing all the training that goes into my horses. Not a typical fat, lazy horse owner.
And as for having my horses as status symbols I don’t even advertise the fact I have horses to my non-horse acquaintances for the simple fact I don’t want them bugging me to take them riding. Quite frankly, they wouldn’t be able to handle the kind of riding this fatty likes to do. So please don’t lump us all in the same catagory. Oh, and BTW- I’m 5’5″ and weigh 195.
Exactly! I’m 5’3 and weigh 195 and I stack my own 3-tie bales and haul my own 80lb bags of grain. I’m not into the whole Parelli thing but I do think that horses should be worked with in a non-abusive (and needing a smack for misbehaving is not abusive) manner.
OK, the fatty comment was dumb. I have known quite a few plus-sized men and women who are competent horsepeople.
Actually, I blame our Hurrry Hurry Instant Gratification society, ignorance about animal psychology (every species has a different take on the world, including humans), a surge in completely uneducated adult first-time horse owners, increased skillful marketing by the snake oil crowd (including the Christian angle), and poor marketing and unglamorous (but TRULY EFFECTIVE) methods of reputable trainers and instructors.
I would have to disagree with this statement. I have been using Clinton Anderson’s ‘Natural Horsemanship’ to train my own horse and a few friends/clients for 5 years now and I LOVE IT! Yes you can get a lot more done quickly if done correctly. It doesn’t HAVE to take so long to do basic stuff. It takes months to years yes to refine a certian disapline. I got a 9yr old wild mustang 4 years ago, and using Clintons method I was riding him at the beach in a week. He never once bucked, reared or did anything stupid as I spent 4 solid days in a row doing ground work before riding him and he is my second best horse I have.
I have competed in the Extreme Cowboy race on my 13hh haflinger mare and she did great! A horse is smarter than most other animals and sooo many people don’t realize how smart they are, you can take it slow yes but it is consistancy that is the key with horses and they catch on quick if you are training them properly, knowing when to give and release pressure and also when to reward. TIMING is everything in horse training.
So Don’t go bagging on all Natural Horsemanship, Clinton Anderson is awesome and his shit works! I’ve trained over 20 horses from the ground up using his methods and as a kid I NEVER thought I’d know how to train a horse from scratch. Now I have people who see my website and the trail training/desensiting training I do calling me to bring their horses to me. And I have a great relationship with my horses. Not many people I know can lay their horses down, roll them over and sit on their bellies….talk about trust!
I LOVE NATURAL HORSEMANSHIP!!
Course this particular video was all going great till the leg rope thing on the hind leg…wtf? I can see to prevent bucking but they didn’t do enough ground work to prepare the horse….At least their timing was good…once the horse stopped fight the rope they immediatly released the pressure and the horse understood.
Jack, you should probably have said “Most horse owners who practice NHare either fat, out of shape, lazy, or all the above”
THIS is true, from my experience.
Hmmm, I’m really not seeing where that is much better but, I suppose if I look at it, that most non-NHers can fit into the, fat, out of shape or lazy categories, I really can’t complain about the stereotype, because it fits across the board, doesn’t it? If I stated that most people who don’t practice NH are abusers of horses who looked for the easyway out without actually training a horse, because I have known people in the past who advocated using a 2X4 to adjust attitudes, rearing, what have you, there would be no end to the flaming I would get. Most all the non-NH people would most likely be pissed that some one would make such a sweeping declaration and even though I did not point my finger directly at them, they would find my declaration insulting. If you are going to declare that NHers are only looking for a shortcut (which personally, from my experience, I do not agree with), then that is a declaration that NHers are lazy, end of story. Laziness is not an admirable trait in most of society. Why is it necessary to go on to bring in physical attributes as some sort of evidence? In my example above about non-NH people, I didn’t give physical attributes, but I am pretty sure, if I did and any of it hit closer to home about how you looked, you would be that much more inclined to be insulted, especially if I hit on a physical attribute that could be considered negative but fit you to a tee.
I know being fat is not desirable. No one knows this better then I do. I have received this message for over 40 years and I am not delusional about the fact that I will continue to be reminded, either directly or indirectly on a daily basis and nothing I say here is going to change anyones thoughts if they are so completely disgusted with fat people that they cannot see any value in the human being that happens to be fat. Believe it or not, we are people with thoughts and feelings, there are people who love us, we do have worth, we have talents, there are “good” and “bad” fat people, just like there are “good” and “bad” thin people, out of shape people, white people, black people, on and on. So, no, I’m not real sure your post is much better, in the end.
I personally would like to categorize Jack..as an idiot. What a completely inappropriate statement that was. Wonder what the quick fix for your stupidity is…..
I know many larger people that are incredible horse owners and trainers…and most of them could and probably would..out work most skinny people that I know.
OT….
BUT a WONDERFUL… WONDERFUL!!!! example of HOW TO SELL YOUR HORSE… CORRECTLY!!
WOW NICE and well done!!
http://rockford.craigslist.org/grd/1685002269.html
I don’t often do this, but this popped up on my Facebook feed along with the statement “they are going to auction on Monday.” Not really sure what the heck this place IS, but I felt bad for these guys.
http://web.me.com/horseylady/Quality_Acres/CURRENTLY_AVAILABLE.html
I don’t think God would train a horse that way, and I sure don’t think God would appreciate being linked to stupidity like that. I would envision God being kind and gentle with appropriate correction when it is required. It drives me nuts when people drag their religious beliefs into stuff like this.
I think he has an off kilter perspective to say the least. He uses words like “patient” and “salvation” but that clearly is not what he is practicing.
The weird perspective on training and Jesus reminded me of someone. I worked with a girl who told me that she grew up attending church at least 3 times every week. She also told me that she does not believe any of it now. When she was small, every time her family left the house to go to church her mother would sleep late and come into her room like a crazy person yelling at her to hurry up. She would yell, “You stupid GD kid. Get your fucking Bible and get in the car. Oh shit, I hate when you make me late for church.” And then her mother would drag her down the stairs and push her into the car with her crying and speed off to church. The little girl was 5. Now she is grown and does not speak to her mother, go to church but sh does pick up extra work posing nude.
I bet the horses remember their training as well as my coworker remembered her Christian training.
I’m into middle age, and I guess I’m behind the times. This week I’ve been excitedly emailing friends: A cranky old horse who others found a nightmare to catch, only took three weeks to come when I call. He even placed his pretty little head in the halter. No oats, no tricks, no endless round penning. Just fair treatment and good vibes. Last night I went to sleep re-imagining the thrilling scene.
I think I like my pace better. The changes I make with animals seem to last, and have no negative side effects.
I just came in from the barn. When I went out there, I called to my VLC and he whinnied at me and came trotting to me. That idiot in the video will never have that happen. I love it.
LOL. I was thrilled today when, in the midst of many, I whistled and my horse raised her head to look for me.
Slow and steady … and keep the fancy tricks. Congrats to you. (big fat smile)
The comment I left on the video…which I doubt will be shown since it has to be approved.
“Using a rope to yank a horse’s leg out from under him isn’t a testament of skill, but a lack thereof. If your God didn’t create the world in three hours, what in the hell makes you think that you can transform a horse from “wild to willing” in that amount of time? It’s ridiculous, dangerous, and damaging to the horse.
If you’re going to preach, then preach. But if you’re going to train a horse, do right by the animal and do it CORRECTLY and PATIENTLY.” ~GalisgiaSoquili
I absolutely can’t STAND clinics like this. It gives people the wrong impression that ANYONE can train their horse in a manner of hours, and when they discover that they can’t pull off the same results, it’s the horse’s fault. I will never understand why people insist on trying to force their horses to learn everything in “30 days or less”.
Here’s a nail biter for ya. How does a redneck outdo the usual kid-on-unhaltered-horse-in-trashy-pasture sale ad?
Put an infant on him:
http://www.equinenow.com/horse-ad-274446
It’s me again, telling about my Parelli experience. The #1 principle is “Put the relationship first”. And another of my favorites “When should you get off – the first time it crosses your mind.” The two most important things the Parelli’s emphasize are relationship and safety. It has taken me almost two years to reach the point of getting on my horse. Yes, Cathy, he’s a quarter horse and a very easy going guy. But, he’s very dominant with people and at my advanced age it has been a long road to where our relationship is now. It shouldn’t have taken this long, but due to weather, etc there would be long periods of inactivity. He’s in a 10 acre pasture and when he hears me open the gate, his head pops up and here he comes to me and when he gets to me he greets me with a soft whinny. Each time I still get a warm fuzzy feeling. I don’t just put his halter on, I rub and scratch him all over and just enjoy being with him. When I pick up the halter, he lowers and turns his head to me – things we learned with Parelli. The farrier that comes to our boarding barn just has to touch the chestnut and up comes the foot – he loves it. My boy will follow me all around an open pasture, stop when I do, back up when I do and we even play hide and seek in the trees somethimes and he loves it. I think we really have a relationship. Another Parelli, “what do you get when you take the halter off – the truth”. I’ve always thought of the program as not a “horse” training program, but a “people” training program.
The biggest issue I see with the natural horse trainers is that people say they are doing it this way or that way, but they are not doing the program step by step. As mentioned many times concerning the featured trainer, they’re taking shortcuts and trying to hurry the progess and what they get is a disaster. Another Parelli – “take the time it takes and it will take less time”. Even being Parelli follower I’ve seen lots of people who say they are studing Parelli, then I watch what they’re doing and just want to scream ” where the f**k did you see that in the program”. I usuall do ask in a nice way and get an answer like “this was faster,etc.”
It all reminds me of when I worked at McDonalds’s when I was in my later 30′s. Not a job I would have chosen, but my husband was in the Navy and I just needed a job for a short time and not one I would have to buy a new wardrobe for. Anyway, I learned that Ray Kroc, the founder, had originated a wonderful training program for new employes. There is a six step method for greeting and serving customers that was to be followed at all times. Is is ever used – rarely. In the 30+ years since I worked at McDonalds I’ve heard the 6 steps less than half a dozen times. It’s quicker for store managers to just put a new employee on the register and turn them loose. So, it is with the horse trainers – people use the things they want to use but not in the proper way. So, the trainers or there methods get a bad name. I don’t know much about the other “renown” trainers, but I feel this is true for the Parelli’s.
And thanks for always approving my post and keep up the good work. I love your blog.
Oh, one more thing. Last week the lady that owns the facility where I work got a call that someone had an orphan colt and could she go get him. The man didn’t know she was pregnant (she was out with a stud, DUD) and a neighbor had called him and told him he had a foal in the pasture. He went out and the mother was dead. He had no idea how old the foal was, or how the mother had died. Baby is now at our barn and so far so good. We took him straight to the vet where it was determined he had not gotten collustrum so he was given that by IV. He’s a Foxtrotter. So, would everyone please wish good things for him. The vet said he won’t be out of the woods for a least a couple of weeks. He thought he was less than 36 hours old.
Y’know, when Pat Parelli first started getting coverage in horse magazines & stuff, I though, this guy does have some good ideas. I still think that he started out with good ideas.
Unfortunately, it all spun out of control when he got too popular & got a product line. Classic, classic story. I also can’t condone the dumb stuff like what Linda Parelli got caught doing on video – featured here a few weeks back, or the jumping over picnic tables etc.
I’m glad for you that the good ideas stuck, and the crap just rolled off.
Also, the story about the foal just makes me want to scream and smack somebody upside the head with a chainsaw that just happens to be running…
Good for your friend for taking it in. So very, very, VERY sad.
Our next door neighbors have 2 dogs – a Sheltie mix, unspayed. A pitbull mix, unspayed. Yeah, this is their 5th or 6th litter. Cuz the world surely needs more Sheltie/pit mutts. THere’s such a demand for them, hunh.
Parelli has a couple of things that set him apart from other NHers. To the beginners he says, when you first think that you don’t want to be on anymore then get off. YAY that he doesn’t want folks scared shitless on their horses in the backyard and the high potential for blow ups that come with it. I have also heard him say more than once that colt starting is for professionals and if you are a beginner and looking to buy a horse then buy a babysitter or older calm horse that is TRAINED to go through the program with and if you are a beginner who already has a young unstarted horse then find a professional to start it under saddle. He also emphasizes taking time with learning, whether that is for the newbie or the horse.
I am not real fond of the glitzy showman stuff they have been known for but I have not seen them jump any picnic tables lately so maybe they have given up on that stunt- I can hope.
What I love watching? The lessons Linda takes with Walter Zettl! I am ecstatic that they have this as part of their expos- as there is not enough video out there of this man teaching. I don’t care who he teaches – he is the only old master alive that I’m interested in every word he utters.
You know, if they spent less time scaring the horse to death first, they wouldn’t need to spend so much time praying!
Interesting to note that of all the Isaiah quotes out there, folks like this guy seem to ignore Isaiah 55:8 – “‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways’, says YHWH.”
Oh yeah, long time lurker, first time poster.
Has anyone watched “Saddle up with Dennis Brouse”? He was working with a rescue with major major trust issues. He told the person “this is going to take time” he asked the horse to face him. No ropes on the leg,did have a whip at first for direction.. Just a world of difference..
Perfect and I even get to stay on topic
I have an 8 year old mare I just recently got that is basically unhandled. She will come up to me for treats and scratches but if I even think about a halter or lead rope she’s gone! Any advice on how to proceed with getting a halter on her, without having to rope her and choke her down. Once she has the halter on she will lead, but if she even sees a halter or lead rope she won’t come anywhere near you. I’m seriously thinking about sending her to a trainer, but most don’t want to handle an adult mare without any basics at all and well trailering should also be fun since she’s never been in one of those either.
We bought a mare like yours nearly 3 years ago, a sad, abused, scared of adults, run down old girl, who had suffered many years of assualt by inappropriate humans during her at least 25 years (we had purchased her as a riding pony for our 8 year old the seller advertised as “my 5 y.o rides her unaided” and “does not like to be caught by adults” and “I have been involved with horse rescue for many years and do not class her as severly underweight” when I questioned her condition when she arrived to our place.)
She was scared of adults that is for sure, being handled was not on her list of pleasantries. We had a hard time catching her at first, but slowly she learnt, over 4 months, that being caught meant being groomed, patted and fed. We also incorporated some of the lessons of Clinton Anderson in desensitising using his roping technique. At first she would nearly poop herself with the rope being gently moved around her and slowly she started to accept that we were not going to eat her or hurt her, the last hurdle was her back legs, as she would go into a mad panic if handled there, rugging this old girl was a no-no for months. But again using the roping excercises, she went from flipping out to accepting, to eventually, 4 months later, accepting being rugged.
She eventually would come up to me in the paddock, not me having to try and trick her into being caught. I think if a horse learns that being caught = pleasure, eventually even the worst horse will come around, it wont happen overnight but it will happen and once that fear is master and they are then being saddled, then 3 times out of 4 being caught should still mean only pleasure, eventually with kind and commonsense handling, they wont bolt when they see the headstall, if we do our groundwork right and eventually being out on the trail with their rider will also mean fun and happy time, pain and torture. I hope you have some happy stories to share in the future
I finally had time to watch the video!! Atrocious! I could only watch a few minutes of it, the Scripture quoting made me angry. Pulling the leg was cheap. Crazy!
Just like anything else, one total asshat like the moron in this video (or dozens of asshats, which there certainly are) does not portray the entire concept. I do agree that endless roundpenning is ridiculous. But there are some very useful ideas to be learned from GOOD horsemanship in the vein of “natural” horsemanship. I am constantly frustrated by the things traditional training misses!!
I personally use what would be considered by many “natural horsemanship” (God, I hate that name for it) techniques. I came to it after many, many years of the standard training techniques. It took me a lot of years to figure it all out, but I’m damn good at it now, and I’ve turned out a lot of really nice, level headed, usable riding horses this way. So have a number of my longtime friends. We actually RIDE our horses. A lot. Everywhere. I recently had a very talented, high level dressage rider who trains with Steffen Peters compliment me on how soft, willing and focused all of my own horses (I own 6) are.
I’ve watched innumerable clinicians, and taken something away from each — even if it was what NOT to do. I’ve seen lots of the popular guys, and totally disagreed with much of what I’ve seen them do. I’ve seen the legends, (Brannaman, Hunt, Dorrance, to name a few), and while I was impressed with their horsemanship, because they clearly had a rare gift, I found many of them to be poor teachers with little patience for the humans (I don’t blame them, but there it is).
Fugs, I think you have to be totally fair here and agree that there are JUST as many really, really bad trainers that could be called “traditional” trainers. The bottom line is that training a horse is NOT easy, it’s NOT something anyone can do, and it takes skill, a great deal of knowledge, and a brain to get the job done in a way that’s safe and effective.
I do TOTALLY agree that the “speed training” events are ridiculous. Each horse is an individual, and must be given the time he or she needs to learn and absorb the critical lessons without being physically and mentally exhausted in the process.
Can you imagine HUMAN speed training? You’re given a 6 year old child, randomly selected, and you must teach them readin’, writin’, and ‘rithmetic in just one day, using a round pen and your imagination!!!!!
“Can you imagine HUMAN speed training? You’re given a 6 year old child, randomly selected, and you must teach them readin’, writin’, and ‘rithmetic in just one day, using a round pen and your imagination!!!!!”
Great analogy. Exactly. I just do not get how anybody in their right mind thinks you are doing anything constructive by scaring/exhausting a horse into accepting a rider in a matter of hours.
I have seen many “classically” (read: trained for English riding) trained horses here in the US who are what I consider “sorry broke” with what are to me obvious holes in their training- heavy on the rider’s hands or becomes fearful with a lack of contact- completely unable to be ridden on a loose rein. All of my experiences with horses trained in Europe have been in Spain where the horse is still used for work. The traditional training those horses get results in a much different horse than I have seen in horses going English here in the US (and quite a few of the ones going western too).
I think you are right, there are as many bad traditional trainers as bad Fluffy NHers (never ride the horse theorists) and the Git ‘er Done NHrs (like the featured idiot). Training a horse is not rocket surgery but it requires someone who is always THINKING.
Hi folks, I’m a day late and a dollar short. I am not an advocate of the 7 levels not to ride your horse.
However, once upon a time, during a horrific blizzard in Dillon, Montana … I watched a man work with ranch colts in a manner which I had never seen before. (Aside: I’d never seen so many horses who were earless or earjagged due to frostbite.) He seemed almost like a magician. He also appalled me ‘cuz he mentioned that “yes, there are stupid questions which prove you’re not listening.”
I watched Ray Hunt build a preliminary communication with these ranch colts that amazed me — and that was back when Pat P. was still a sycophant.
Let’s keep learning and not buying into the latest “quick fix.”
‘Let’s keep learning and not buying into the latest “quick fix.‒
AMEN! (LOL! I’m a Christian but one of the nuts!)
If you guys are doing all that activity and are still overweight, are you checking what you are eating? Some of the hidden killers are anything with high fructose corn syrup (coke, snacks) and just snacking on empty carbs. Just a suggestion. Some people are just heavier than others, but sometimes the culprit for weight gain can be sneaky foods.
Saddlesore:
For some of us, it’s nasty things like Poly-cystic Ovary Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, Hypothyroidism etc. that keeps the weight on. Not some simple dietary abuse. For me, it’s PCOS and with medical treatment it’s easier to lose weight than without it but even so it’s much much harder than before my body decided to malfunction. I try not to let it stop me from doing anything and most days I have no problems bucking my own 110# bales of hay, let alone exercising my horses and dogs. I remember when I first realized that my body wasn’t working right- I was 33 years old, 5’3″ and 170lbs and I had just upped the intensity of my cardio on my treadmill to 9 miles a day at 4mph at maximum incline and changed up my 3 day per week weight routine- I logged 1200 calories per day – after that change in intensity (was 6miles daily + 3 days weights and 1200 calories). I couldn’t lose a pound! I felt defeated. Now I’m 40 years old and it is even harder BUT I’m no longer defeated. I just stay active because giving up means accepting disability and a slow death.
Wow. I couldn’t watch more than two minutes of that. How bad do you think that horse is about picking up that back foot after having it caught? So what was the purpose of tying up the horse’s foot? To keep it from being able to buck? Goes to show that you CAN’T break a horse in three hours if you have to tie it down so you can stay on.
Where will I be for the rest of eternity? Very slowly and patiently teaching my horse to respect my space using NH that somehow doesn’t involve gadgets, bags tied to whips being flipped around his head and running him around in a round pen until he’s too tired to move.
So I am assuming idiots that know nothing about horses are supposed to see how awesome this video is and develop a relationship with Jesus? (does He get one leg tied up too?)
I’ve heard of these competitions but generally not seen them, and I’m hoping that the “road to the horse” and similar are at least not quite this much of a cluster*@&#. WTF is with the foot rope? I mean, seriously. I’ve seen some boneheaded stuff, but that’s just taking it to a whole other level. It’s too bad that filly was too kind-hearted (or just too tired) to just flip onto her back and grind that asshat into the dust.
You know, I think that at the root of the problem for a lot of this stuff is the one-day or two-day “clinic” format. (I mean, the root of the problem beyond these people being morons. That’s incurable, apparently.) I’ve heard from a lot of old-time horse folks about how they went to see a Ray Hunt clinic and it’d be four or five days of working with a horse or two at the animal’s own pace. Now everybody’s expecting to be wowed and amazed within fifteen minutes, and for some reason we all think that the only true mark of a horseman is if he can do amazing things very quickly with a horse that’s either wild or just absolutely hazardous to work with. I really never see anybody at these clinics working on refinement, technique or fixing the small problems that aren’t so theatrical to watch; it’s always some horse owner whose animal is incredibly out of control expecting a miracle worker to “fix” the critter up in the space of a day. And the clinicians, apparently desperate for money and acclaim, promise the moon in return.
On the other hand, seeing the trainer under pressure — much like you posted about recently when looking for a trainer to hire — certainly tells you more about who they are than seeing them under optimal conditions. Thanks to this pressure to succeed and the completely idiotic things that it spurs these trainers to do in a public space, I have a better idea of who not to give my money to. (Clinton Anderson and Dennis Reis, for a start.) I figure if you want a man to look good, you put him on a horse. And if you want to see what kind of a man he really is, you give him a wild horse and you see which one of them really looks like an animal at the end of it.
Almost thought this was my ex. He was a big fan of tying up a horse (but strangely, only in front of an audience or camera). Whenever someone had “a real bronc” or problem horse for him to evaluate, ex wouldn’t dare show up w/out his slew o’ cowboy pics & carefully selected newspaper articles. (also swore my horse bucked “because I drink”)
This is called salvation through the horse’s eyes because the horse is running around thinking, “O my GOD!!!!!” There. He found god.