| #ffffff;" /> | | | | end to the work. Discipline or punishment is a |
| Think of how sensitive your horse is—even if | | | | continuation of the work. Constant repeated |
| you don’t think he is particularly sensitive to | | | | continuation of work or schooling a particular element |
| your aids at all. Think of how reactive he is just to the | | | | over and over even when the horse has done it well |
| persistent presence of an annoying fly at his belly. | | | | just leads to desensitization. (How many times have |
| Horses are by their very nature sensitive creatures. | | | | you heard someone refer to a horse that has gone |
| They need to be because, in the wild, if they were dull | | | | sour? That’s likely a horse that has not had a |
| and not sensitive to all that goes on in their | | | | proper reward system for doing the work correctly. |
| surroundings, they would be someone else’s | | | | The fact that such horses ever learn anything is a |
| prey. | | | | miracle in itself!) |
| Take the horse’s sensitive nature and put him | | | | As a horse grows further desensitized and duller, the |
| with a human for some time and that nature can | | | | rider’s aids increase to achieve a desired |
| change. Picture a horse that has been repeatedly | | | | response and attaining lightness is nearly impossible. |
| exposed to conflicting aids, for example, a rider who | | | | As a rider, your goal needs to be riding in lightness, that |
| kicks him to go but then accidentally pulls on the reins | | | | is, achieving what you want from your horse with |
| when she loses her balance. Or a horse whose rider | | | | minute imperceptible aids. Picture a top show hunter, |
| has little control over her leg and constantly clinks her | | | | grand prix dressage horse or champion reining horse. |
| legs in his side. Eventually both horses may very well | | | | You barely see the rider do anything, and it seems as |
| shut down and tune out the aids, becoming perceived | | | | though the horse is doing everything on his own. What |
| as dead to the leg, dull, hard to get moving or | | | | you don’t see is that the horse has been |
| downright sour. He gradually becomes desensitized. | | | | maintained to still retain sensitivity by a rider who rides |
| Likewise, horses that aren’t given a sufficient | | | | in lightness. |
| reward system can follow the same desensitization | | | | When you have a training goal for your horse, keep in |
| course. When riding your horse, you are always | | | | mind the reward system and remember that he will |
| training him, and that training needs to balance a proper | | | | learn best when there is an end to the work. And |
| reward/discipline program so your horse not only | | | | always end on a good note |
| learns what he should and should not do but that he | | | | Hope you will continue and visit our resource box links |
| also doesn’t desensitize to you. | | | | below. |
| For a horse that is working, the greatest reward is an | | | | |