Clinic Day 2

We started the day with some very interesting demonstrations of how little energy it took to send a signal through a rope. If you have never done this you should give it a try.

Attach a soft rope halter to a good quality lead rope – meaning a rope that has some life to it.  I have learned over the years whether it be working with horses or computers it is important to have good quality tools. And my favourite halters and lead ropes are ones I have bought from clinicians.

Once you have your halter and lead rope attached find a friend to hold the halter with both hands one on each side of the nose band. Then you step back to near the end of the rope, lift it off the ground and give it a shake. Ask your friend if they can feel it. Adjust your shake until you find out the least amount of shake in the rope you need for the other person to feel it. I was amazed at how harsh a “moderate” shake could be.

We practiced what we learned yesterday and then tested and challenged our learning with leading, backing and sending through obstacles. We even all successfully got our horses to jump barrels.

And there are those “little gems” that keep popping up. Sometimes they are ones we have heard before from reading books by the “old masters” like Tom Dorrance or Ray Hunt, or sometimes it is minutes, hours or days later that the words suddenly reappear with more meaning.

It is interesting how the horses don’t resent being asked to do more if the person doing it knows how to communicate clearly and consistently and has the timing to tell the horse when it is doing the right thing.

Jonathan is big on touching, rubbing and being friendly with the horse. I like that. Maybe I just like the feel of them but I think it enhances the bond.

Tomorrow we ride them. Just typing that raised my pulse.

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