| Successful horse training should ultimately provide the | | | | just bucks her off. |
| rider with total control over every move the horse | | | | Control cannot be established with mechanical gadgets |
| makes. This is the idea behind the "art of riding" or | | | | - period. Any horse can run through a bit - whatever |
| dressage. But what does "control" really mean? It | | | | you use. And if that does not work - you just might hit |
| should not mean pure physical control or restraint - | | | | the ground. |
| never. | | | | Control is a mental process that is build on your focus, |
| I mentioned in another article, that I did see a post, | | | | your training and the trust you build between you and |
| what bid to use with a halter on a young colt to gain | | | | your horse. I have told people who where dragging the |
| more "Control". What a horrible though! | | | | horse at the end of the lead rope or were hanging on |
| Here are two very interesting examples of "control". | | | | for dear life, "You should not ride this horse, you have |
| There is the hyped up, eye rolling show horse in cross | | | | no control". And many times I was right. |
| ties standing in the barn aisle. Well, I guess the horse is | | | | This actually is my favorite example. If you are leading |
| "under control" - at least it cannot leave the barn at | | | | your horse to the hitch-rail and your horse is not |
| lightening speed. | | | | following you, head dropped with slack in the lead rope |
| And then there is the cowboy out there leading his | | | | - you got a problem. And you might encounter a more |
| horse through the gate, dropping the reins and closing | | | | serious problem. |
| the gate - and the horse will never move. At a ranch I | | | | Again, control is a process that builds on your training |
| worked for we actually had a cowboy who would | | | | and your focus on the horse and the bond of trust |
| place his horse to turn the cattle while he was pushing | | | | between you and the horse. When I walk out to my |
| them out of the corral afoot. Now THAT is control. | | | | horses they all show up. And my stud will come with |
| There is a funny aspect to that. People use heavy bits | | | | the look "the girls are mean to me" - which sometimes |
| to have "control". A woman once told me she got this | | | | makes him forget to respect my space. All it takes is |
| - horrible - bit because it gave her more control I asked | | | | a certain look - and he will back off. Then and only |
| her how much control she would have, if this horse | | | | then will he get scratched. |