I found the one step/stop/praise to be helpful in a lot of circumstances. The friends I ride with are much more experienced than I. We have a few places we ride that require us to move from one area to another by going between two fence posts that are fairly close together. Rider would go through much faster than my comfort level, which raised my anxiety and that in turn told him there was something to worry about, which translated into him rushing even more. My knees were not happy with the repeated clunks. :-) Light bulb went off and while my friends powered through Rider and I would approach the posts one step at a time. Lots of "good boy!" This worked like a charm. First time he had no idea why I was asking him to stop and stand instead of getting through as fast as possible to get to the other horses, which is important to his comfort level. But he quickly caught on. He now will approach slowly and we get through the posts a step at a time. I will stop between the posts as much as possible to show him it matters between them as well. Breaking it down to one step at a time has really helped me and Rider work on my goals together. You met Rider (in my profile picture) at the Palm City Florida clinic a few years back.
Ivy how is the weight in saddle? Do you have to weight one side more than the other in the saddle or do you sit even on both butt checks and just rely on calf?
Another beginner who insists that "nice" and wrong is always better than correct. Again, it is always the horses who pay for human ignorance and hubris.
I found the one step/stop/praise to be helpful in a lot of circumstances. The friends I ride with are much more experienced than I. We have a few places we ride that require us to move from one area to another by going between two fence posts that are fairly close together. Rider would go through much faster than my comfort level, which raised my anxiety and that in turn told him there was something to worry about, which translated into him rushing even more. My knees were not happy with the repeated clunks. :-) Light bulb went off and while my friends powered through Rider and I would approach the posts one step at a time. Lots of "good boy!" This worked like a charm. First time he had no idea why I was asking him to stop and stand instead of getting through as fast as possible to get to the other horses, which is important to his comfort level. But he quickly caught on. He now will approach slowly and we get through the posts a step at a time. I will stop between the posts as much as possible to show him it matters between them as well. Breaking it down to one step at a time has really helped me and Rider work on my goals together. You met Rider (in my profile picture) at the Palm City Florida clinic a few years back.
Ivy how is the weight in saddle? Do you have to weight one side more than the other in the saddle or do you sit even on both butt checks and just rely on calf?
Oh, dear. What a mess. Poorly thought out theory and failure to understand the aids and appropriate use of them.
Typical beginner reply. Praises bad theory because it knows nothing
Too bad. The horses pay.
Frau Pompeed typical passive aggressive troll . Move on since you have nothing nice to say.
Another beginner who insists that "nice" and wrong is always better than correct. Again, it is always the horses who pay for human ignorance and hubris.