Post by horseguy on Feb 12, 2017 13:18:19 GMT
My first horse training mentor made up one word descriptions for types of prospects. He called them names like "the Stoic" or "the Outlaw". I wish as a young man I had the sense to write down all those named categories he defined. I find I do much the same thing now. I have a type called "the Bluffer". This is a horse that if you are a little afraid of prospects can convince you that he is a real badass horse, but he's not in the least. Instead this is a horse that somehow through learning or instinct has developed a strategy of pretending to be dangerous in order to avoid the work of training.
The Bluffer will throw his weight, crow hop, twist and do many of the same moves a truly difficult horse will do but what exposes him is that when the trainer counters his moves with firmness, he caves in like $15 Kmart tent. He might try his bluffs a few more times after being confronted but if the trainer "explodes" with dramatic responses, he's done.
Not long ago I got on a horse that was described as a problem. He was not described as dangerous but the implication was there. Being 70 now, I told myself to be careful because being tossed onto the hard winter ground might not bode well for my old bones. As I threw my leg over he tensed, so as is my habit, I relaxed and let him do whatever it was he did. What I got was a pretty half hearted "run away". Being in a modest sized indoor arena I felt I could handle his BS bolting. I gave him a few simple and not very intense corrections and he responded with a stupid stiffness that produced a lateral movement at a slow canter. It was then I realized that we were approaching the end wall, and by the way he was moving I was convinced he was unaware that the wall would come up shortly. This is significant because in my experience horses that are truly difficult are more aware and focused on their surroundings and agenda in order to counter the trainer. This guy was more like a rudderless motor boat wandering around on some pond.
So as the end wall approached, I gave him a few corrections to distract him as he slid sideways toward the wall. I was right. As the boards neared it was clear he had no idea he would hit them. About two stupid lateral canter strides away from a big crashing noise, I lifted and turned his head to show him the wall. That woke him up.
This horse had no plan. I am not even sure he had an intention. Somehow he got into a pattern of doing his mindless and directionless movements under saddle that I am convinced was not satisfying for him and was just idiotic from a rider's perspective. And beyond all that, when he was clearly told what to do he complied immediately. In fact, the rider who asked me to hop on him told me weeks later that he was good since that one ride I gave him.
But here's the thing about Bluffers, if you let them keep doing their dumb stuff, eventually it becomes a real problem. They start to believe their own nonsense and then you have a difficult horse to ride. Therefore, it is essential that young horse trainers learn early in their career to identify and sort out these frauds, and quickly "smack them upside the head". They are among the easiest horses to train but if they are misdiagnosed as being difficult, you can create a monster.
The Bluffer will throw his weight, crow hop, twist and do many of the same moves a truly difficult horse will do but what exposes him is that when the trainer counters his moves with firmness, he caves in like $15 Kmart tent. He might try his bluffs a few more times after being confronted but if the trainer "explodes" with dramatic responses, he's done.
Not long ago I got on a horse that was described as a problem. He was not described as dangerous but the implication was there. Being 70 now, I told myself to be careful because being tossed onto the hard winter ground might not bode well for my old bones. As I threw my leg over he tensed, so as is my habit, I relaxed and let him do whatever it was he did. What I got was a pretty half hearted "run away". Being in a modest sized indoor arena I felt I could handle his BS bolting. I gave him a few simple and not very intense corrections and he responded with a stupid stiffness that produced a lateral movement at a slow canter. It was then I realized that we were approaching the end wall, and by the way he was moving I was convinced he was unaware that the wall would come up shortly. This is significant because in my experience horses that are truly difficult are more aware and focused on their surroundings and agenda in order to counter the trainer. This guy was more like a rudderless motor boat wandering around on some pond.
So as the end wall approached, I gave him a few corrections to distract him as he slid sideways toward the wall. I was right. As the boards neared it was clear he had no idea he would hit them. About two stupid lateral canter strides away from a big crashing noise, I lifted and turned his head to show him the wall. That woke him up.
This horse had no plan. I am not even sure he had an intention. Somehow he got into a pattern of doing his mindless and directionless movements under saddle that I am convinced was not satisfying for him and was just idiotic from a rider's perspective. And beyond all that, when he was clearly told what to do he complied immediately. In fact, the rider who asked me to hop on him told me weeks later that he was good since that one ride I gave him.
But here's the thing about Bluffers, if you let them keep doing their dumb stuff, eventually it becomes a real problem. They start to believe their own nonsense and then you have a difficult horse to ride. Therefore, it is essential that young horse trainers learn early in their career to identify and sort out these frauds, and quickly "smack them upside the head". They are among the easiest horses to train but if they are misdiagnosed as being difficult, you can create a monster.
