HORSES ARE CONSTANTLY ON THE ALERT FOR REAL OR IMAGINED DANGER AND THEIR NATURAL INSTINCT IS TO ALWAYS BE PREPARED TO FLEE THAT DANGER IN AN INSTANT...
RESPECT FOR THE HORSE UNEQUIVOCALLY – NOT FOR WHAT YOU WISH HIM TO BE BUT FOR WHAT HE IS...
LEAD THE HORSE BEHIND YOU AT THE DISTANCE YOU WANT HIM TO BE – THREE FEET OR FIVE FEET OR TEN FEET AND HAVE HIM STAY AT THE DISTANCE YOU CHOOSE...
FORWARD (MAINTAINING AN ENERGETIC THRUST OF THE HINDQUARTERS IN ALL GAITS AND MOVEMENTS - NOT JUST MOVING FORWARD OR RUSHING), STOP, TURN, BEND, BACK UP...
HORSES ARE “HARD WIRED” BY NATURE TO BE AFRAID OF EVERYTHING UNTIL PROVEN OTHERWISE...
DON’T LET YOUR HANDS OVERRIDE YOUR LEGS, KEEP THE HORSE’S MIND AND FEET IN THE SAME ARENA...
FIRST, LAST, and ALWAYS – YOU HAVE TO HAVE FORWARD in the horse. It is a learned behavior...
I believe an explanation is in order about the circle of horsemanship schematic which has recently been added to the student section. If not an explanation, per se, then at least what was going through my mind at the time I developed it and why I chose the words I used (although that will become evident with the definitions provided.)
Being aware not only means being alert and mindful; more importantly, it means having knowledge about something - in this case, horses...
The conversation between rider…and horse is never-ending; always, during every stride, the rider asks little questions...