I have sometimes been accused of overthinking things. I plead guilty. But on this occasion, I want to encourage you to do the overthinking. I’ve got some questions and I really want to know your thoughts.
A common complaint I hear from owners is that their horse is heavy on the reins, doesn’t respond to the rider’s leg, drags on the lead rope, or ignores the crop. In other words, many people despair that their horse is dull to pressure.
I was once asked about my thoughts on winning and losing when it comes to training horses. The question came from another trainer who believed that you should never let a horse win.
I believe that to become a partner with our horse and work as a unit we need to understand the nuances of how a horse’s brain operates. As I have said many times, a horse is only a brain with four legs.
I spend most of my time with horses trying to help them view work with me as easy. I strive to make it something that causes them no more bother than to be standing in the paddock on a warm day. That’s my goal and what I work on every moment.
