| In the past, I've emailed a lot of info where I | | | | horse) |
| describe key principles in horse training. | | | | Then I said, "I'M MAD AT YOU FOR DOING |
| One I like to harp on is the prin- ciple of | | | | THAT!!" |
| "kindness." | | | | Within seconds he started crying. It broke my |
| Instinctively, most understand the kindness thing. | | | | heart that I had broke his. |
| After all, why be cruel to your horse. | | | | Immediately and with extrememe compassion |
| Even though that's a given, that's not the principle | | | | and heartfelt words I said, "I'm not mad at you |
| reason I preach about being kind to your horse. | | | | anymore." |
| When I say "treat your horse with kindness" the | | | | The crying ceased in a few seconds except for |
| importance in training is this: | | | | the occassional gasps of air he needed to settle |
| When a horse does as you ask, he should be | | | | himself. |
| rewarded with kindness such as a carress on the | | | | The lesson was, he needed to know he made a |
| point of shoulder or forehead. | | | | mistake but more importantly he needed to know |
| The thing a lot of people don't get is kindness | | | | I still loved and approved of him. Had I not |
| with punishment. (When I say punish- ment, I | | | | countered the negative reinforcement, I think it |
| don't mean whipping or hitting a horse. Punishment | | | | would've been injurious down the road. |
| "ONLY" refers to negative reinforce- ment which | | | | And that's how I see it with horses. You should |
| can be as light as an abrasive tone of voice.) | | | | make sure they're loved and approved of even if |
| When a horse needs corrected through negative | | | | they "spilled the paint." For if they continue to feel |
| reinforcement then it's my practice to almost | | | | a little afraid and uneasiness, it'll be harder to train |
| immediately follow up with kindness such as | | | | 'em. |
| caressing. | | | | But one has to be careful in timing the kindness |
| The reason is to keep a horse's con- fidence up | | | | because you could reinforce the wrong behavior. |
| and principally to reinforce you're still his | | | | For instance, if you go to catch your horse and |
| buddy...even though he did something wrong. | | | | he runs from you but finally lets you catch |
| Here's a good story that'll reinforce my point. | | | | him...and then when you catch him, pet him, then |
| About 9 years ago, I moved into another house. | | | | say "Good boy" you teach him to run from you. |
| My son and I went to get it ready for the move | | | | Why? Because he learns he'll get petted and told |
| in. At the time, he was around 3 years old. | | | | he's a good boy "after" he runs from you and |
| While I was cleaning parts of the house he was | | | | later gets caught. |
| running about. | | | | Paul Esh, a featured trainer from tells on his video |
| We were just about ready to leave when I | | | | why this is so important. |
| noticed the carpet didn't look right in my bedroom. | | | | It's amazing what you can learn from different |
| I checked it out and found paint had been spilled | | | | horse trainers because each has there unique |
| on it. It was wet and fresh. | | | | things they do. |
| Upset, I called him in the bedroom and angrily | | | | That's why SuperStars of Horse Training exists. |
| asked, "DID YOU DO THAT?!!!" | | | | You learn from the best of the best of horse |
| After hearing my tone, he knew he was in | | | | trainers. What they do with horses you can too |
| trouble. He was nervous. (Hmmm, just like a | | | | after see what they show you. |