Training with Dana, cont’d Horses Learn by the Reward
Learn When to Give
of correction and reward you will find your horse trying to please and looking for that reward. When you release your horse, that release is his reward. However, don’t release until he truly gives. Set your standard in your mind of what your expectations are. I determine this by how advanced my horse’s training is. If my horse is very green, I won’t require as much as I would if he were a finished show horse.
We talked about your pick-up, or your approach, and equally important is your release. My own standard I have of when to release is that I want my horse to soften in my hand. I want to not only see the horse give through his head and neck, but I want to feel him soften and give in my hands. Horses can fake it and set their head, appearing to give. If your goal is to develop a light, soft horse, the biggest secret to that is for him to soften in your hand every time, before you give!
Learn to Follow Through The act of following through is huge in riding and training. I find a common problem in people that I teach is that they ask with their hands very timidly or insecurely, don’t really get much of a response, and then give because they just aren’t sure if their horse gave to them or not. It is very important that you ask confidently and clearly, stay in with your cue until you truly feel a response, and then give clearly. So be clear in your pick up and release.
Forgive After Each Correction If your horse is fighting you or arguing with you in the face and you need to get tough with your hands, make sure that the next time you ask him you forgive what just happened and ask soft ly again. All of us are capable of carrying our anger or frustration through to our hands, but I stress to you to stay soft and forgiving with your hands. If you hold a grudge through your hands,
you will only prolong the fight. So many times I’ve found that I get through to my horse more quickly by starting over in my mind and staying soft in my hands. Also, keep your hands light on the reins. In other words, don’t have a death grip on the reins. Hold them in your hands lightly. Apply these tips this month and perfect your hands. Be ready for next month when you will learn all about proper hand position. Be safe and have a great ride. Dana Hokana is one of the top female trainers in the Quarter Horse industry, training Western Pleasure Circuit Champions and Futurity Winners as well as achieving Top 10 placings at the AQHA Congress and AQHA World Championship Show. Dana’s video series, the Winning Strides Series, is designed to educate horse owners and riders from the basics to competing at high levels in the show arena. (See her listing in Business Services under Trainers/Coaches.)
Practice Your Pick Up I teach my students to practice their “pick up and release.� This will teach you how to effectively use your hands. Practice coming in contact with your horse’s mouth, feel for a response, and then release. Your approach, or how you connect to your horse’s mouth, is important. I encourage people to “draw up� on the reins with a smooth, steady motion until they make contact. If you grab out of mid-air or snatch, you will find that your horse will dread your pick up and may start bracing or resisting in his jaw to protect himself. I feel it is fair to bump, or even jerk, a horse as long as you have the slack out of the reins and he knows you are there. If you’ve connected with his mouth and he pulls back against you, then go ahead and bump or jerk until he gives to you. But don’t do this without warning. That is not fair play. I work to build a relationship between my hands and my horse. Jerking a horse out of mid-air is like yelling at someone instead of talking to them. It damages the relationship. Remember to ask first, then demand! Be in or be out. HCBC 2010 BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
Mike Beck
Howard Neufeld
BROKER/R /REALTTORÂŽ mike@vantageone.net
REALT E TORÂŽ howard@vantageone.net
Armstrong
Vernon
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