Thanks for the comments on yesterday’s post. Today is my first day of classes. I’ll make it a goal this semester to write more about what I’m learning at school. I enjoy writing about what I’m learning (whether it’s in the classroom or the barn). I think writing helps me think back through things, organize my thoughts and, often, reveals what I still need to learn.
The horses are muddy pigs right now. The contest between the pastures seems to be who can get the muddiest. The picture is of Miss Kitty, one of our old timers at the rescue. She’s at least 30 and seemed determined to win the mud award. Mud I don’t mind too much, but it’s hard to do too much riding when there’s standing water in the round pen.
Rainy or wet days don’t have to be a waste. With a bit of thinking, there’s actually a lot of training that can be done in a small space. The best places to play yesterday were definitely the run in sheds in the pasture. One gelding tends to brace while being haltered, so we worked on head lowering and relaxation at each step in the haltering process. Connor got to work on head lowering, flexions and giving softly to the lead, no matter which way it went. Tex the pony and I practiced backing up from just a finger pointing at his chest.
I’ve been reading Klaus Ferdinand Hempfling’s Dancing with Horses. Although I disagree with KFH on a lot of things, overall (so far) I really like his philosophy and message, which centers on the horse’s well being. He is very concerned with developing a horse so that the horse will be both mentally and physically sound.
One of the sections I read yesterday discussed teaching a horse to back up. He writes:
“It is good to learn how to back a horse from the ground, that is, how to direct him backwards, not push him backwards, bump him backwards, or cause him to back away from pain…..if I begin with gross methods, with yanking, jerking, tugging or dragging, then the standard of communication has been set and subtle work is no longer possible.”
Very sound advice, I think. The method he describes involves leading the horse into a channel, so that the only direction possible is backwards. Backward movement is rewarded with praise and a treat. Later a verbal cue is added and the channel is gradually dissembled.
Klaus Ferdinand Hempfling understands the importance of setting up the environment so that the horse can be successful from the start, as well as rewarding small efforts or try. Criteria are gradually increased, so that the horse continues to be successful. I promise a full review of the book when I finish it, but so far I’m really enjoying Dancing with Horses.
Sounds like a good book. 🙂 Clicker training is better though hehehe! Don’t I sound like a snob? 😀
Oh, I totally agree with you that clicker is at the top!
I still think that other trainers have a lot to offfer, even if they don’t use a clicker. I’m really liking some of the things I’m learning from Hempfling right now. I think many of his ideas combine well with clicker training.
Mary
This is where I like micro shaping, now all I have to do is pivot the snap on the lead to get my horses to back. That’s a lot less work than building a channel.
Have you read the part where he talks about how to move your hips while riding? I thought that bit was pretty interesting.
I’m not to the chapters on riding yet. Thanks for the heads up, though, I’ll be looking for that part.
You are right, microshaping is VERY powerful, and building a channel is probably a lot of work. However, I really liked the channel idea because it emphasizes constraining the environment and setting the animal up to be successful from the start. Very few horse trainers focus on finding the easiest way for the horse to be successful.
Mary
Could you make a video of some of these “rainy day” lessons? I’m here up north and wanting to get off dead center and do some of this stuff, if only to build a relationship with my horses. An old, well respected dressage trainer in our area told me to “make friends with your horse”. Huge ah ha moment. Seems to me we’re that confidence and trust builds both ways when we do this. (I just have to get off dead center–winter laziness!)
Great idea!
I’ll start putting together a list (and possibly some videos) of good rainy day and cold weather activities. I’ll let you know when I post it.
Mary
Hempfling offers a unique perspective and really makes you think (or at least he did me :o) I have this book, and have also watched the video which is very good as well. One of the things that really interested me was his discussion on square vs. round for training areas (I think he calls his a “picadillo”, or something like that). Lots to do with the psychology of it (e.g. round rooms cause major problems for people after a time) which made a lot of sense. I tend to look at trainers like a buffet, and fill my plate with a little of this one and a little of that one :o)
Yes, I find the small square arena really interesting, too. My two main places to work with the horses are our small and large round pens. Sometimes, for ground work and for riding work, I really wish I had some corners!I know many people don’t like square because for lunging and ground work, the horse can get “stuck” in the corners. However, this is usually because the horse is trying to get out of doing work. I would enjoy trying to work on circling with a clicker trained horse in a small sqaure arena, I don’t think the corners would be a problem if the horse was connected and willing. Hempfling’s discussion of how the corners help the horse go from straight to bending is interesting as well. Mary
Thanks, I like Hempfling a lot but lately it seems like he is moving into the big bucks and has started a cult like marketing effort. I still want to check out his new book though, who else can connect with P.O.ed stallion in a few minutes time? do you know of anyone else? He seems pretty unique.
Hi Diane,
Thanks for commenting. I agree with you that Hempfling has a unique philosophy and way with horses.
Although I don’t agree with all of his methods, I definitely think he has some good ideas to offer.
Mary
Hi there! New to your blog, and curious about what parts of Hempfling’s philosophy/methods you do not agree with? So far I have never really seen anyone specify what they don’t like, just statements such as “don’t agree with some aspects” but no clarification. I am just curious what your perspective is, and if you could give some examples?
Hi Rebecca,
Thanks for the comment today on my blog post. It’s been almost a year since I’ve read the book, let me go back and look at the book and some of my notes, and then get back to you about specifics. If want to shoot me an e-mail, I’m happy to reply to you by e-mail as well.
cheers,
Mary
cheeriotrainer@gmail.com