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5/1/02
HOW SIMPLE?
The last five rides by Tempest have been outstanding. This is
the first I have looked forward to the next ride. She has achieved
a level in her "preparation" where she is demonstrating
good self control.
I am able to ride her in any gait on a slack rein and she makes
no effort to push, thanks rate. If she pushes, all I do is "feel"
her in the face. If she backs off, great. If not, I will slowly
increase until she hears me. When she "hears" me and
comes to me with her body, I release. To stop, I quit riding
with my body and "feel" her in the face, she stops.
To quit riding I mean that I push my feet forward and sit down.
Remember? A creature of habit. When "she" feels that,
she begins stopping. It is important that I am consistent because
"she"feels the stop, which is correct. Remember also,
a horse wants to be comfortable. When I stop riding I get out
of time with her and she becomes uncomfortable. She knows by
stopping she can find the comfort zone. Just keep it simple.
She can understand and she does, she knows how to find comfort.
Preparing a horse is so simple it is difficult. So, the question
is, how simple can we make it?
This log entry is so simple, yet so large, that it can easily
be over looked. The description, if presented clearly, is the
cornerstone to the house. The arrival to this point, has been
a steep up hill grade. Now, it is a long gradual incline for
the next two to three years.
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