Star....9/11/10

Saturday 9/11/10

One of the things I like to note in the posts are some training tips.  Not all of them are useful to everyone.  Take the ones that work for you and ignore the rest.  That is what I do.  BUT don't forget that you need to "park" your ego at the gate, you can learn something from everyone.

One rein stops are a very important safety valve.  You should be able to pull your rein to one side or the other and eventually bring your horse to a stop.  This requires the proper preparation, you can't get on today, break him into a run and then try to do a one rein stop.  There will be a wreck of dramatic proportions, with you as the wreckee.  Start at a walk, gently pull your horse to one side (asking for the release) and as soon as all forward motion stops (don't worry, they will go in circles, just hold your ground).  Let go, give your horse the release.  Sit a few seconds (give him time to "soak").  Repeat this until you can pick of the rein, start to ask and you get a stop.  As soon as you have mastered that, move to a higher speed.  As the bottle says....rinse and repeat....

On to Star, today we backed up a little and did some fundamentals.  One rein stops are good for her because it interupts her pattern and makes her think.  She is a horse that likes mindless work, the fear/reaction side of her brain kicking in.  So, anything to break the pattern is a good thing.  We did this all afternoon at all of the speeds.  She was lots better and the end than she was at the beginning, as she should be.