Horse Problem - Natural Horsemanship - How can something that seems so easy be so hard at first?!

Trouble is when you look at your pics, it all looks so easy at first!! Same old story, when something is done well it always looks easy, but I’m beginning to see there is a great deal to get together at once, but I'm getting there now. Your program is great! Anyway, I’m thrilled and we will be taking very baby steps from now on in the future when needed - only way to go! Many thanks and I will keep you posted with further developments. Best wishes and thanks so much for all your help.

Or...here's an interesting way of looking at it/that learning curve that I'd like to share with you. The human learning curve for natural horsemanship (or any new such similar endeavor we attempt to learn) progresses in this sequential order:

1. First we are unconsciously incompetent (you aren't aware of what you don't know)
2. Next, we are consciously incompetent (you suddenly know what you don't know/can't do)
3. Then we are consciously competent (you think about it and then you can do it)
4. Finally, we are unconsciously competent (you don't even have to think about it and you do it automatically)

Interesting way to look at it and so true. Just "take your watch off" and be patient with yourself as much as we are with the horse as you traverse your learning curve, and you will reach unconscious competence before you know it. The truth is, in natural horsemanship, the journey really is the reward. ;-) The more NH you learn, the more exciting and creative it gets and the more fun it is for both you and the horse along that never-ending journey.

And one of the reasons why it looks easy at first, but then suddenly seems a little hard in the beginning is: we are predators, horses are prey animals. Our thinking and actions and reactions are quite different from one another, and we speak a totally different "language" of communication. Horses communicate for the most part via body language. Humans communicate for the most part verbally. And learning to apply NH in training horses is greatly about: learning to speak the silent language of the horse/prey animal that he is already born understanding/knowing, and not expecting them to try to learn our more difficult language of human predators. A horse will never fully be able to think/act like a predator, but we can certainly learn to think/act like a prey animal in order to better communicate to our horses! We become their herd leader when we communicate to them, so that they feel comfortable following a proficient, fair leader in our little "herd of two." And since horses are herd, pecking order, "energy conserving" creatures, they are far more comfortable in the follower spot than the leader spot as long as they feel you know how to "speak" (and I mean without words for the most part) to them concisely and consistently in their own language, to communicate your desires clearly and fairly.

So...it's not the horse learning a new language of communication in natural horsemanship, but you, the human! So who has the longer learning curve there? ;-) Yet this is the way to go in order to reach the deepest partnership with your horse. When I'm training a green horse, right alongside training a novice (or even sometimes an experienced) owner, the horse always gets there quicker, because I'm speaking his own language and breaking through previous barriers quickly so that he understands instantly, and from then on, what I/we want or need from him. The owner often takes a little bit longer to catch up there at first because: this is not his/her "native language." Get it? But it's easy to learn the language of NH, trust me. Just be patient with yourself and you'll get there quicker. It's not rocket science (or I probably wouldn't be doing it myself!).

Natural horsemanship is a lifelong learning endeavor, though. The day you think you know all there is to know about horses and natural horsemanship is simply: 1) the day you stopped learning, and 2) the day you should probably step away from horses altogether, because that just means: you shut down, closed-mindedly. Stay open, remain a sponge for learning, absorb from the best NH masters out there continually, and you'll get good fast.

And have fun with it! Horse endeavors are supposed to be "recreational." Definition of "recreation": refreshment of strength and spirits after work. So if you're not feeling that definition there, and if you're stressed about it at any point, you're 1) taking it all far too seriously and/or 2) your mind is just telling you: you need to reach out to get further help/directions. And there is no shame in stopping and asking for help. Ever! I consult with other peer professionals in my field all the time, nonstop and they do the same with me. We share tips and we ask advice from one another all the time. Remember that for times when you feel negative feelings inside you welling up or entering the picture when working with a horse  -- just step away, think about it more, use "outside the box" creative thinking, and don't hesitate to reach out for better answers when needed.

NH is all about: having the "Three T's" -- theory, technique and timing down for helping you to better play with your horse as you train/teach them. More productively, more informatively, more safely, and in the end, having more fun! The Three T's are defined as follows:

• Theory -- Why are you doing what you're doing? What is the theory behind this step/exercise? If you don't know for sure, don't do it! For instance, with bonding, the theory here is about giving unconditionally to the horse, and making a great first impression at the beginning of each lesson session and throughout. Melting the horse before asking anything further of them. Softening up the horse so that they will be more willing to try to do what is asked of them later.
• Technique -- How exactly do you communicate this step to the horse, physically? This needs to be very precise in your mind so you understand it perfectly. With bonding, you would melt the horse by rubbing the eyes, under the jaw, ears, finger in the mouth, etc. Find his favorite spots and memorize them for later use as you "search touch." Here are more bonding techniques: http://www.naturalhorsetraining.com/TrainingTips58.html
• Timing -- Your timing must always improve. Your release timing in NH becomes quicker and crisper as you get more proficient. You begin to anticipate the give and are there ahead of the horse. Timing is even important in bonding. As the horse leans into you when you find a favorite "ahhh" spot, indulge for a second, but then move on quickly to something else, leaving the horse wanting more, instead of waiting for the horse to pull away first when he's had enough. This will more deeply bond the horse to you psychologically.

We proceed in this order at all times when training/teaching a horse any behavior:

• Ask (apply pressure and wait)
• Anticipate (...the horse complying; wait and hold pressure steady)
• Get compliance (Horse complies/yields)
• Release (instantly release the pressure - all horses learn from the release of pressure what it is you want, not necessarily the pressure itself, so get release timing quick when horse gives/complies!)
• Reward (the release is the reward but if you want to speed up the learning process by 60%, lavish praise, stroking, scratching, after the release for "right answer" makes the horse progress far faster)

Get that down and you're half way there in understanding what NH is all about! And that's when it gets really fun and creative!

Just this afternoon I was out playing with three of my horses. Didn't have time to ride, or really work with them one by one for too long, was pressed for time in my busy day, but wanted to spend at least some quality time with them nonetheless. So... I grabbed all three and started challenging them -- and myself, for fun -- to see if I could do some of my training steps and some other fun NH exercises with all three of them at the same time. My husband sat up on a fence watching, quite amused, as it turned into an entertaining, spur-of-the-moment -- and very funny -- circus show. Literally.

I had them doing interesting things in complete unison, three lead ropes in my hands at the same time. Backing together, stepping forward together, playing "leapfrog" as I had them switching places with one another smoothly, etc. The horses got a huge kick out of it, too, and totally perceived it as interesting play. And they honestly worked to do everything together -- they got exactly what I was after there. And even they thought it was funny and fun. And kept them on their toes thinking/fully focusing to get the games right/but together. Especially my paint, Doc, who has a huge, playful sense of humor, was very amused -- he thought it great fun, especially if one of the other two "big brother" older horses didn't catch up fast enough/evenly, like a proper "circus horse," so he'd reach & grab their lead rope with his mouth to try to "help." Or if one didn't drop their head evenly/in perfect-enough unison (their "bow"), Doc would again grab the lager's lead rope in his mouth and use pressure/release himself to get their head down/even with the others. (He's the "Groucho Marx" of the trio). I let him do it, because it made the "act" even funnier! We had a blast. And so did they. Next life I think I'm going to run away with Barnum & Bailey's circus! :-) All that, briefly, on a day when I "didn't really have time." But oh, so productive, in the end.

I had a vet one time on "check up/inoculation day" turn to me stunned, then immensely amused, as he watched me lead our (then 5) horses in, all together, from pasture, had each pass through the gate one by one being driven from the rear, back up together in unison so I could close the gate, then lead them in, each horse quiet and compliant, perfectly lined up shoulder-to-shoulder next to each other, several feet respectfully behind me, as I then said to the vet, "So...which one do you want to start with?" And when he sat there, mouth open, gasping and still laughing, I said, "What?? What's so funny?!" Apparently he'd never seen 5 client cooperative horses do everything at the same time, calmly, rationally. You see...this playtime "circus horses" exercise above, in the end, serves a very helpful purpose!

When your horse learns complete partnership skills and quick, willing compliance via natural horsemanship training, the sky's the limit for what you can do creatively and fun with them. The only limits are to your imagination!

Great work you're doing there! Keep the questions coming if you get stuck again. Always glad to help!

 

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