This message is from: "Kathi Thompson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --------------------------------------------------------------------
From:[EMAIL PROTECTED] (fjordhorse-digest) Reply-To:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: fjordhorse-digest V2007 #3 Date: Thu, 4 Jan 2007 09:37:03 -0500 >fjordhorse-digest Thursday, January 4 2007 Volume 2007 : Number 003 > > > Hello to all, My name is Kathi Thompson and I just have to respond to both the balance and bit issues. I am a certified Dennis Reis Universal Horsemanship instructor and have been a professional horseman for over 30 years. It has been an evolution and somewhat of a revolution for me to come into the use of Natural Horsemanship the past few years. The NH concept is based on a partnership with our horse through seeing and doing things through their eyes and instincts. In other words, we learn and speak their language instead of us expecting them to become "human". What does this have to do with the questions of balancing when the horse jumps quickly in some direction or the use of a more sever bit? Well, if we begin understanding and practicing consistant body language on the ground and then carry that over to our saddle work or even driving, not only will our horse look to us for leadership, direction and confidence but we will begin to "read" the horse and effectively prevent many problems in the first place. One very effective exercise is the passenger lesson. In a roundpen or enclosed area try riding on a totalliy loose rein, no contact at all and just let your horse trot around or canter if you are comfortable with that, where ever they want to. Any direction as long as they keep going. Watch the horses ears, they will point in the direction he is going and going to go. Your head and neck look and bend the same as his, your shoulders and arms are his shoulders and forelegs, traveling the same way his do, your arms can "trot" in cadence with his shoulders. Your hip and legs are his hips and hind legs. See if you can feel these different body parts and move WITH them. Practise this a few minutes each time you ride. Any time the horse begins to go too fast for your comfort shut him down with a "bend to a stop", using only one rein gently, slowly bend his head around toward your foot until he slows, stops and gives to the pressure. Then release the pressure immediiately and ride off again. These may be very foreign lterms to many of you which just shows how much you may not speak your horses language. I can't take up any more space but in a nutshell, these Natural Horsemanship concepts work and work very well if properly instigated. Bigger bits are not needed and a light, responsive and very much safer horse is the result. It is my passion to teach these concepts and see the wonderful results. If anyone is interested in setting up a clinic in your area I am open to traveling, I live in the Pacific Northwest. The Freedom Course of Dennis Reis' I teach will give you a wonderful foundation for any kind of riding you do from trail to dressage to western and driving. Email me privately for more info, I would love to get some fellow fjord owners involved in Natural Horsemanship. Kathi Thompson [EMAIL PROTECTED] The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw
