>>>> Our motto: Training is always easier than RETRAINING! We aim for zero remedial work, even if we go very slowly.
>> Oh, that's a good one!!! We'll have to remember that quote. We learned that the hard way, from our own mistakes...as well as from the mistakes of others. I so wish I had not made so many of the mistakes I did with Holly. For several reasons, that mare developed a hard brace in her neck - what might be called a "hard mouth" but was actually all over her body, particularly in her head in neck. I took her to a clinic with Dave Seay, and it took even him about two hours to learn to really give to the bit, and he specializes in problem horses. Holly didn't really appear to anyone there to be a "problem horse" - she certainly went through the motions of being well-behaved most of the time. But, until I got her relaxed, we were at a brick wall - I couldn't improve her gaits, I couldn't really do anything with her. I could go on and on with other examples in our herd. I know I'll never actually achieve the goal of zero remedial work, but at least with it as a goal, we seem to get SLIGHTLY closer to that goal with each young horse we start. Karen Thomas, NC
