--- In [email protected], "Judy Ryder" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > Dear Judy, > > The current dilemma you have about how much firmness to use, and > when to use it, is something that you and Ruby can sort out > together, but I will give you a little clue here, a hint that might > help: Sidestep the emotional load usually inspires one beforehand > to become firm (In other words, the mule will not benefit from any > physical firmness that is fueled by thoughts like: > > "I hate it when you act this way...", WHACK > > "You know what I mean when I do this!!" BANG! Or, "I told you NOT > to do that!" Crack! "You have done this to me for the last time!!" > Slam....etc. > >
This is very good. I have actually wondered about this topic also. I also really like the reminder that it really comes down to us and the horse in front of us, and we really have to sort it out together, I'm not sure there is one easy prescription for every situation, we just have to monitor what feels right. I really do think I see the connection between a horse having a soft bend in the neck, and having a good stop. Rose and Snorri are very good with this. I stand at their withers and ask them to bring their heads back to me, I'm doing it without any physical contact right now. Zoe is stiff, I'm not sure where that is coming from, she is 3 and has not been ridden. It really may be her conformation, but I know it is something to work out before we start riding. I've been doing a lot of things with the horses at liberty out in the pasture, like trimming hooves. I'm really amazed at how much better this is going, Celie is getting really good at this and is starting to lift her feet for me on her own, consistently. It wasn't always this way, I think she might have done something to my foot my stomping on it really hard a couple of times, she actually stomped on my ankle once too, so this is an amazing change. She is picking up all four feet softly and then softly putting them down. I'm not sure what changed exactly, it's sort of intangible, something like an energy shift, finding the right spot and working from that place as long as I can, knowing when I have had enough, or when the horses are finished and have had enough of a session for the time. I have more confidence that we will get to the place I imagine, no matter how long it takes, you never know how long that is. I can't wait to get my copy of "True Horsemanship" again, I think I have the other copy in storage, so I'm waiting for a copy of the new edition. Kim
