| How many times have you heard the expression, | | | | your pressure issue to deal with in the round pen. |
| The straw that broke the camel's back? Maybe | | | | If the horse doesn't get it right, how do you deal |
| you've had a problem at work, at home, at the | | | | with it? Can you build your threshold so that you |
| barn and all of a sudden, it's the last straw. | | | | truly do hope for mistakes in order to have a |
| Whether it's a temper tantrum or a melt-down | | | | teaching moment? This is the perfect place to |
| waiting to happen, the results usually aren't going | | | | practice that mindset, for in the round pen, it isn't |
| to be pretty. But we all know, if we're being | | | | about the goal, it isn't even about the journey; it |
| honest, that the incident in question isn't really the | | | | is about the mindset needed for the journey. |
| problem; it's the entire set of events leading up to | | | | Now about that pressure that you apply on your |
| this one. In other words, it isn't really the straw | | | | horse: how should you apply it? There are |
| that broke the camel's back, it's the load that he's | | | | numerous tools available for you to use; lariats, |
| carrying. Have you ever been in a situation with | | | | lunge whips, etc. But perhaps the best tools are |
| your horse in which the pressure builds and builds | | | | the ones that are always with you: your body |
| until finally, the explosion happens? It certainly isn't | | | | and your voice. If you've ever worked with a |
| much fun to ride in that situation. Maybe you're | | | | horse with nothing attached, you may realize |
| heading out for a horse show, tense and nervous, | | | | already that you don't need the extras, although |
| and you just can't understand why your horse, | | | | they do come in handy in certain situations; a |
| who normally walks right up the ramp, refuses to | | | | lariat can be an extension of your arm so that |
| load. Or you head out for your first hunt, and the | | | | you don't need to get too close or get yourself |
| excitement builds with the hounds, the field, the | | | | into an unsafe situation. Actually, you'd be |
| surroundings, until your horse explodes. You've | | | | surprised at how quickly most horses will move if |
| taken him out every week, all summer with no | | | | you just start a set of jumping jacks! An |
| problem. It isn't the surroundings; it isn't the | | | | important part of the Nature's View system of |
| crowd; it isn't the situation, it's the pressure | | | | horsemanship is using your body to apply |
| caused by the situation that causes the problem. | | | | pressure and to communicate with the horse; |
| So how can you learn to deal with pressure so | | | | your placement and body language can actually |
| that it doesn't have such a negative impact? How | | | | ask him to slow down, stop or even turn around; |
| can you teach your horse to do the same? | | | | if you're using the alpha mindset, you will work |
| Remember, your horse is a prey animal, | | | | with the horse and let him tell you what to do |
| therefore, naturally inclined to freeze, flee or fight | | | | and how to do it, depending on which of the |
| when a pressure situation comes along. In our last | | | | three that you would like to accomplish. What a |
| issue, we talked about a new mindset that will | | | | great way to practice the mental tools of |
| help you (and your horse) to deal with these | | | | problem solving, timing, etc! Now, the other |
| problems: the alpha mindset. This mindset of How | | | | important part of the equation is your voice. If |
| can I help you? will be much more beneficial for | | | | you are truly going to use the new mindset |
| both of you once you learn to use it when a | | | | outside of the round pen after you finish your |
| pressure situation arises; but first you'll have to | | | | classroom lesson, your voice will be the best tool |
| learn to push past your pressure threshold (the | | | | of all. Remember your mother when she caught |
| amount of pressure that you can handle before | | | | you with your hand in the cookie jar? That "ah ah |
| the explosion happens). On any given day, your | | | | ah" that you heard back then still works wonders. |
| threshold for what you may be able to handle | | | | If you use it, along with the pressure that you |
| could change, depending on the circumstances. If | | | | apply with your body or other tools, the horse will |
| you've had a rough day at work, for example, | | | | associate it with the consequences that follow. |
| you may blow up or have your melt down a lot | | | | Therefore, when presented with the pressure |
| sooner than you would in the same situation on a | | | | situations on the outside, your tone of voice can |
| good day. Your horse is the same; depending on | | | | help him to remember to keep his how can I help |
| the situation, his pressure threshold may change. | | | | you attitude intact. The pressure of noise can be |
| In order to raise his threshold to a higher level, | | | | difficult for some people to apply. In fact, one |
| giving you a better ride under stressful | | | | misconception is that the tyrant (opposite of |
| circumstances, you may need to take his training | | | | alpha) mindset is one in which you always apply |
| back to the basics. | | | | too much pressure. In fact, someone who doesn't |
| We use the safe environment of the round pen | | | | apply enough pressure is also a tyrant: in both |
| as our classroom. The training that takes place | | | | cases, too much or too little pressure, the person |
| here will carry over to the outside world so that | | | | isn't listening to the horse to let him tell them |
| the tools that you learn will help you with your | | | | what to do. |
| reactions. First, remember that there are no | | | | So, to make the most of your classroom lesson |
| mistakes in the round pen. If you are really using | | | | in the round pen, the pressure that you apply will |
| the alpha mindset, you will consider mistakes an | | | | help you to increase your own pressure threshold |
| opportunity. It's hard not to try to get it right or | | | | and to allow you to learn more about your |
| to be upset if your horse doesn't work with you | | | | horse's reactions to pressure. This can help you to |
| to get it right, whatever it may be. We are all | | | | measure how much pressure he can handle and |
| programmed, in a sense, to do our best; to try | | | | to increase his pressure threshold as well so that |
| to accomplish the goal. But in this case, it is | | | | he moves from the negative to the positive side |
| actually better for the horse to make a mistake | | | | of the pendulum. |
| (in other words, he is using the tyrant mindset) so | | | | (c) Copyright Nature's View, Inc. All Rights |
| that you can teach him consequences. The | | | | Reserved Worldwide. |
| pressure of being perfect or getting it right is | | | | |