Most great horse people didn't discover everything out on their own. Horsemanship has been around for a very long time and there has always been someone older and wiser to instruct the younger horse generation on how to get along with horses. Sure everyone adds new ideas to to the mix, but many of the ideas we all share with each other and borrow from each other. For this reason horsemanship is similar all over the world. By no means is it exactly the same, but the basic principles remain constant.
This sharing of ideas has helped advanced horsemanship and I feel that it is crucial. What if everyone had to learn horsemanship all by themselves? Only a few people would be able to get far and many people would give up. Sharing is essential for us to understand horses more. If you keep a great new concept to yourself then no one else can benefit from it.
Remember sharing is good, just like your mother said when you were young.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Monday, March 9, 2009
Henry David Thoreau and Horsemanship
Few people know of Henry David Thoreau, that is unless they were forced to read about him in a literature class or stumbled upon learning about him by chance. For those of you that don't know, Thoreau was a transcendentalist. Yes, big word, but don't bother defining it because the definition will only confuse you more, trust me. It was a philosophical movement in the 1800s, which took place during the time of slavery, the Mexican War, and right before Lincoln would become President.
But, what does transcendentalism and Thoreau have to do with horsemanship? It is was Thoreau and his philosophy stood for. These things we can apply to our daily lives with our horses.
One of Thoreau's first believes was that you shouldn't follow the dictates of society. In horse terms: you don't have to do what everyone else is doing just because everyone else is doing it. Dare to be different and stray from the pack. They aren't always right. In some countries trainers tie barb wires from one stirrup, across the chest and to the other stirrup so that they can train the horse to stop by putting the stirrups back and apply pressure to the chest. It isn't just a few though. An entire culture trains that way just because everyone does it. Do not be afraid to be different. If you see everyone using cruel devices on their horses and you would be the only one who didn't use it, then GOOD for you! It is better to be different and right then accepted and wrong!
Another principle is to do what YOU think is right. Not what your best friend, or an older horseman. You yourself. Of course, take advice into consideration, but ultimately it is YOU who is in charge of you. So if a more experienced horseman tells you the best way to cure a lazy horse is to hit him over and over with a whip, but you don't think it is right, then don't do it. Many people you respect may not always do what you think is right. By all means still respect them, but do not mock them in all their ways.
Thoreau also believed it was essential to simplify your life. I believe it is essential to simplify your horsemanship and training. When you get stuck on all the complicated things, the simple things (which are also the most important) tend to slip away. Some people when they ride spend ridiculous amounts of time tacking up because they have to put on a saddle pad, throw the saddle on, tighten the cinch, tighten the flank cinch, fasten the breast collar, attach the running martingale, put on the bridle, put the reins through the running martingale, make sure everything is fitting correctly, re-tighten the cinch. Most of this is unneeded. It's possible to train a horse with just a halter and lead rope. However, many people enjoy their equipment. I am not saying not to use equipment, but that simplifying your horsemanship has it's benefits.
Another example of simplifying horsemanship is in the training process. Training advanced things seem complicated, but can easily be simplified. A side-pass quickly becomes preventing movement forward and giving to pressure applied to the side with the leg and the neck with the rein. The trick behind simplifying advanced moves is to break them up into smaller and easier parts. Teaching a roll back would be a stop, giving to pressure applied by leg, and then a lead departure. It's easier to break it down and get it under control before the elements are blended together to create a complete roll back.
Time is another important matter. Thoreau believed that time didn't matter. Better things are created when time is forgotten. This is very applicable to horsemanship. Do not be in a rush to get what you want out of your horse. If you go too fast you will skip something or not cover something enough and things will fall apart later. Instead don't worry about time and do things how they come along and don't move on until you are sure you are ready. This way you and your horse will be better off in the long run. Your horse will have a better foundation and will understand everything else better because of it. Every person/horse has their own rate to progress at and he/she should progress at that rate and not any faster.
Finally, Thoreau believed that you should advance toward your dream. If you do this then you can do good things and everything will be less complex. So find your dream and take steps toward it.
But, what does transcendentalism and Thoreau have to do with horsemanship? It is was Thoreau and his philosophy stood for. These things we can apply to our daily lives with our horses.
One of Thoreau's first believes was that you shouldn't follow the dictates of society. In horse terms: you don't have to do what everyone else is doing just because everyone else is doing it. Dare to be different and stray from the pack. They aren't always right. In some countries trainers tie barb wires from one stirrup, across the chest and to the other stirrup so that they can train the horse to stop by putting the stirrups back and apply pressure to the chest. It isn't just a few though. An entire culture trains that way just because everyone does it. Do not be afraid to be different. If you see everyone using cruel devices on their horses and you would be the only one who didn't use it, then GOOD for you! It is better to be different and right then accepted and wrong!
Another principle is to do what YOU think is right. Not what your best friend, or an older horseman. You yourself. Of course, take advice into consideration, but ultimately it is YOU who is in charge of you. So if a more experienced horseman tells you the best way to cure a lazy horse is to hit him over and over with a whip, but you don't think it is right, then don't do it. Many people you respect may not always do what you think is right. By all means still respect them, but do not mock them in all their ways.
Thoreau also believed it was essential to simplify your life. I believe it is essential to simplify your horsemanship and training. When you get stuck on all the complicated things, the simple things (which are also the most important) tend to slip away. Some people when they ride spend ridiculous amounts of time tacking up because they have to put on a saddle pad, throw the saddle on, tighten the cinch, tighten the flank cinch, fasten the breast collar, attach the running martingale, put on the bridle, put the reins through the running martingale, make sure everything is fitting correctly, re-tighten the cinch. Most of this is unneeded. It's possible to train a horse with just a halter and lead rope. However, many people enjoy their equipment. I am not saying not to use equipment, but that simplifying your horsemanship has it's benefits.
Another example of simplifying horsemanship is in the training process. Training advanced things seem complicated, but can easily be simplified. A side-pass quickly becomes preventing movement forward and giving to pressure applied to the side with the leg and the neck with the rein. The trick behind simplifying advanced moves is to break them up into smaller and easier parts. Teaching a roll back would be a stop, giving to pressure applied by leg, and then a lead departure. It's easier to break it down and get it under control before the elements are blended together to create a complete roll back.
Time is another important matter. Thoreau believed that time didn't matter. Better things are created when time is forgotten. This is very applicable to horsemanship. Do not be in a rush to get what you want out of your horse. If you go too fast you will skip something or not cover something enough and things will fall apart later. Instead don't worry about time and do things how they come along and don't move on until you are sure you are ready. This way you and your horse will be better off in the long run. Your horse will have a better foundation and will understand everything else better because of it. Every person/horse has their own rate to progress at and he/she should progress at that rate and not any faster.
Finally, Thoreau believed that you should advance toward your dream. If you do this then you can do good things and everything will be less complex. So find your dream and take steps toward it.
Training Methods
The biggest obstacle of training a horse is deciding how to train the horse. When just casually thinking about it, the complexity of training isn't so overwhelming. However, when put into practice training becomes almost completely overwhelming at times.
There are infinite ways for you to train your horse. You will be bombarded with many trainers throwing their method at you and trying to get you to go to their seminars and buy their products. With all that is offered it seems very difficult to decide what method is best for you. Not to mention it is frustrating because many methods blatantly contradict one another.
First of all, learn about the different training methods. Rent books from the library, read magazines, research on the internet, ask fellow horsemen, watch television shows (ie RFD-TV), and if you are really interested call or email the trainer/company about their training method. Don't take any to heart right away because you saw their horses do something truly remarkable and amazing. You want a method that can make you horse fun and safe to ride. If it works for that trainer, good for him, but you need it to work for YOU and YOUR horse.
After you have an idea of what methods are out there, you must decide what your beliefs are about horsemanship and horse training. What do you belief is more painful than necessary to your horse? What are you capable of doing with your horse? Do you have the time and patience to do it that way? If something goes wrong or you are stuck will you know how to adapt using this method? There are many other things you will need to think about to determine what you want out of your training method, and then finally your trained horse.
Now, it is time to choose a training method. However, you don't have to stick to one clear-cut method. Remember what "maieutic" means? Getting new ideas from each other. This is essential to horsemanship in my opinion. Stay open to other methods and if there is something you like take that and mix it into your primary method. Keep taking the best from each method you know and create a unique horsemanship that is your own and fits you best. Do not take anything for the gospel truth.
On my blog I will share what I have learned and what I believe. I do not expect everyone to agree with me and that is perfectly fine. However, if you do not agree or think you have a reason why I am wrong I strongly encourage you to share and speak up about it. I am more than willing to learn something new. Also, I may be able to explain better my standing and the reasons for it. So please do comment.
There are infinite ways for you to train your horse. You will be bombarded with many trainers throwing their method at you and trying to get you to go to their seminars and buy their products. With all that is offered it seems very difficult to decide what method is best for you. Not to mention it is frustrating because many methods blatantly contradict one another.
First of all, learn about the different training methods. Rent books from the library, read magazines, research on the internet, ask fellow horsemen, watch television shows (ie RFD-TV), and if you are really interested call or email the trainer/company about their training method. Don't take any to heart right away because you saw their horses do something truly remarkable and amazing. You want a method that can make you horse fun and safe to ride. If it works for that trainer, good for him, but you need it to work for YOU and YOUR horse.
After you have an idea of what methods are out there, you must decide what your beliefs are about horsemanship and horse training. What do you belief is more painful than necessary to your horse? What are you capable of doing with your horse? Do you have the time and patience to do it that way? If something goes wrong or you are stuck will you know how to adapt using this method? There are many other things you will need to think about to determine what you want out of your training method, and then finally your trained horse.
Now, it is time to choose a training method. However, you don't have to stick to one clear-cut method. Remember what "maieutic" means? Getting new ideas from each other. This is essential to horsemanship in my opinion. Stay open to other methods and if there is something you like take that and mix it into your primary method. Keep taking the best from each method you know and create a unique horsemanship that is your own and fits you best. Do not take anything for the gospel truth.
On my blog I will share what I have learned and what I believe. I do not expect everyone to agree with me and that is perfectly fine. However, if you do not agree or think you have a reason why I am wrong I strongly encourage you to share and speak up about it. I am more than willing to learn something new. Also, I may be able to explain better my standing and the reasons for it. So please do comment.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Behind The Name
Many of you probably don't know what "maieutic manege" means. First of all, "maieutic" means to get new ideas from one another. I feel this is an important part of horsemanship and that you should try to get as many new ideas as possible to find the best ones that work for you and your horse.
Nextly, "manege" is the art of horsemanship. I believe horsemanship is indeed an art and is a beautiful thing that through practice and patience can be mastered.
When you put them together you get the art of horsemanship by sharing new ideas and getting new ideas from others.
So, feel free to post your ideas or views in comments and I hope that they can be discussed calmly and cooperatively.
Nextly, "manege" is the art of horsemanship. I believe horsemanship is indeed an art and is a beautiful thing that through practice and patience can be mastered.
When you put them together you get the art of horsemanship by sharing new ideas and getting new ideas from others.
So, feel free to post your ideas or views in comments and I hope that they can be discussed calmly and cooperatively.
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