A really useful article that I copied from Daniel Stewart's Newsletter! If you don't already get it you can sign up here!

Donna asks "My instructor is encouraging me to set goals. I think it's a good idea but I just can't seem to get into the habit. I've spoken with a few other riding friends and they can't seem to get into it either. Is this normal"? I commend you on your desire to include goal setting in your training program and encourage you to not get discouraged, it's actually quite common for many riders to struggle with it. Having said that, goal setting is one of the most beneficial tools any of us can develop, it helps us learn to use our training time more efficiently, stay focused on what's important, identify strategies that lead to success, provide us with feedback on our progress, gives us reasons to keep going and provides us with a clear vision of what we want to accomplish. There are many reasons why riders might struggle with goal setting, knowing what they are may help you understand what's holding you back: Fear of Failure - We might avoid setting goals so that we can avoid the possible disappointment of not being able to achieve them. Fear of Success - We might worry that if we achieve a goal today we'll have to keep achieving them in the future or be labeled a slacker. Impressions - We might believe that others will think badly about our weird way for training or of trying to exceed being average. Wrong Tool For The Right Job - We may have been discouraged in the past because we set outcome goals (only focused on winning) instead of the long and short-term goals that create success. A lack of willpower can also lead to goal setting difficulties. Willpower is defined as having the self-control to resist instant gratification so that we can achieve long-term success. Many riders believe that goals require too much time and doubt that the efforts they put in today will benefit them tomorrow. When done correctly however goal setting can actually be a time saver because it gives our training sessions greater structure and purpose and makes them more efficient by focusing more of our time on the skills that will benefit us the most. Understanding why we don't set goals is only 1/2 the battle... the other 1/2 is learning how to set them. For more information on how to do this I suggest you read the following Tip of The Month and to remember that: Any goal worth setting is a goal worth working for. Thanks for the great question Donna! If you have a question you'd like me to answer in a future newsletter feel free to email it to me at: www.stewartclinics.com

Tip of the Month Setting Goals For Success Riding is a very goal-oriented sport, whether we're training a young horse, moving up through the levels, learning to jump or developing a conditioning program, goal setting is an integral part of what we do. Learning to set goals is important but it's just as important that we learn how to achieve them. Below are a few tips that can help you do this: Correct tool for the correct job - Set short and long-term goals that focus on your skills and behaviors instead of those of others. Worthwhile - Goal setting requires hard work and dedication so your goals should make the effort worthwhile. Realistic - Set goals that are challenging but achievable, too easy and you'll loss motivation, too hard and you risk feeling disappointed. Schooling and Showing - Since the vast majority of learning occurs in training you should set goals for your lessons as well as your shows. Self-Determined - Goals should be all about you, meaningful to you and not someone else (avoid setting goals to make others happy). One at a time - Goals work best when you set 1 long-term goal at a time and set no more than 3 per season - quality is better than quantity. Measurable - The best goals let you know if you've achieved them or not. Non-measurable goals like "trying my best' are too ambiguous. Time Bound - Create a target date for your goals, it makes them measurable and helps you avoid procrastination or complacency. Believable - If the gap between your ability and your goal is too big your mind won't be able to accept the discrepancy. Perpetual - A goal that requires a lifetime commitment is fine but goals tend to be more achievable when you work on them one day at a time. Ethical - Setting goals that go against your morals (i.e. sacrificing your horse's safety for a ribbon) will leave you wondering if it was all worth it. There are many other ways that goal-setting can set you up for success... watch for more goal setting tips in future newsletters!

A week with Kathy & Quick

“Teaching flying lead changes from zone 5”

As you can guess by the title this week I decided to try and teach Quick flying lead changes with long lines from zone 5! I chose to use the figure 8 pattern – something that he already knows, to help support the flying lead change pattern.

Some things I found useful to already have in place before starting this week’s project: In a nutshell, at least Level 3 ground skills with Quick. Plus, confidence in zone 5 with two rein driving at walk, trot and canter. Also, a positive pattern on my 45’ line doing the figure 8 with just one line. In addition, I have been practicing Walter Zettl type 2 rein sessions with Quick, getting him highly in tune with my energy up and energy down so that we can make precise transitions without heavy use of the line. Lastly, we have been playing more and more with zone 5 driving while I keep my feet still = lots of circles, figure 8’s, and weave (with very long lines and lots of ‘drift’).

Day 1: With all the preparation we have done I felt Quick and I were ready to dive right into the Figure 8 pattern. We started at walk then trot and built to canter with simple changes by the end of the session. Once we got to canter I focused on seeing if I could keep my feet as still as possible and would allow Quick to do several circles around me while I prepared to be in the right position and when we were both ready I asked Quick for the transition and new lead when he was in between the cones. Once on the new lead I allowed him to circle several times until we were both ready and then asked for the transition through the center and into the new lead.  Quick caught on quickly (no pun intended J), and we finished on a relaxed canter around a cone, a nice downward transition to walk and then back out around the other cone in the new lead about 3 times.

Day 2: We prepared with a VERY short session on the 45’ line to get his energy up (it was very HOT, so a short session was key!). Once he was connected we played with 2 22’ lines in zone 5 warming up with the same pattern as Day 1, all was coming smoothly. So, I chose to ask for the change. On the first attempt Quick did a slip change (not quite enough ‘Shwung’ for a flying change), but after a few repetitions and some “go button” practice he offered a flying change!! We stopped, rubbed, scratched and gave him a cookie. Then to the other side, and he immediately offered a flying change the other direction J Stop: Rub: Cookie and we cooled out for the day!

Day 3: Well, after ‘Day 2’ you may be thinking goal already accomplished, but . . . Today I warmed up, reviewed the pattern from Day 1 and decided to try 2 45’lines for the changes, my thought was that with the longer ropes I would able to be very savvy and keep my feet completely still while offering him drift. However, we only got slip changes. Still we finished on a relaxed, obedient figure 8 pattern with slip changes and off to eat grass and cool off. After dinner while reflecting on what happened I believe I was allowing so much drift that Quick was getting ‘flat’ and loosing elevation in his canter therefore making it harder for him to change (the same thing that happens to most students when they try to get ridden flying changes – that’s why they need a ground pole – to increase the moment of elevation). So, tomorrow back to the 22’ line!

Day 4: Back to the 22’ lines and a much better result! What I learned was that the shorter lines caused me to keep him more elevated because if I allowed enough drift for him to become ‘flat’ I was out of rope! So tomorrow I’ll be back to the 45’ lines to see if I can allow drift at the right time and ‘bring him back’/more collected when he needs to get ready for the change.

Day 5: We started with low energy today, perhaps due to the heat (only 90 at 9:00am!). So, I realized I needed to make a quick session of high energy and we spent time warming up Quick’s brain with some slow but particular tasks, like places one hind foot on the pedestal and playing ‘touch it’ with his tail! After he was in the mood, we moved onto the 45’ line. After 2 slip changes we added some energy and ‘Shazam’ we got 3 changes in a row! The 45’ lines worked great, I was able to allow drift to get the forwards then shorten about ½ circle before the change to help him set up for the change – and it was a success!

A week With Kathy & Quick "Bridling While Mounted"

Bridling While Mounted

A Week With Kathy & Quick

This week I decided to see if I could get Quick to act like a partner while I was in the saddle and bridling him. My goal was to get Quick to have a positive response to the point that I could hold out the bridle and Quick would offer to take it without me having to bend over and ‘chase’ his mouth around.  The following link is to a video of our progress at the end of the 5 days:

VIDEO

One of the things that I needed to have in place to make this 5 day goal a reality was a positive response to bridling while on the ground (video link of Quick Bridling on the ground):

VIDEO

To build this positive response to the bit I have been playing with Quick getting something ‘tasty’ each time after accepting the bit. It is the same idea that Linda Parelli shows in the ground simulations on the Game Of Contact DVD.

Day 1: I checked our bridling from the ground and rewarding with a treat to make sure we were set to go for this week’s goal -all was good. Now I needed Quick to solve a more complicated puzzle, I just held the bit out and asked him to ‘take’ it (up until this point I have been setting up the situation as perfectly as possible). When he did he got a little cookie.

Day 2: I started where we ended on Day 1, asking Quick to take the bit in an awkward position, ex. Up higher and down lower than normal. Also, at this point I started simply holding the bit out and waiting for him to come around and choose to stick his head in the bridle.

Day 3: We started on the ground and then I moved to sitting on the fence and asking Quick to take the bit. This was a little bit of a challenge for him to make this leap, but I stuck with him and rewarded the slightest try (ie. Sniffing the snaffle) with a cookie. After about 2 cookies he figured out the game was the same from the fence and was able to take the bit while I sat above him on the fence.

Day 4: After warming Quick up online with a saddle I started our bridling session on the fence, all went well. So, after mounting I rode over and picked up my bridle. He had a similar reaction to the first time I was on the fence – a little unsure about the game. I went back to rewarding him with a little cookie for just touching the bridle with his nose. After about 3-4 repetitions he figured out the puzzle and put effort into putting his nose and mouth through the bridle and onto the bit. We repeated the bridling while mounted 3 times rewarding him with a cookie and scratch after each success.

Day 5: Today we warmed up On Line and then videoed out progress (see video link above). After figuring out it was the same game he is used to just in a different zone it took no time at all to get bridling like a partner while I was mounted!

A great video of catching game!!

Click here to watch!

The outside of a horse is good for the inside of a man . . . or is it?

I’ve spent the weekend at the Equine Affaire in Columbus, Ohio and had the privilege of watching Linda Parelli, Jesse Peters, Mollie Robbins, and Christine Madoni demonstrate horsenalities, personalities, and Game of Contact! Plus, watch many other presenters throughout the weekend covering topics such as natural horsemanship, breed specific demonstrations, dressage, jumping, western performance, massage, etc. During all these amazing demonstrations I couldn’t help but think how amazing, versatile, and athletic the horse is! Not to mention how lucky we as humans are to be involved in their world!

 As I was watching one of the less exuberant presenters my mind began to wonder . . . thinking of all the variety horse’s offer us as well as the room to grow and improve ourselves through the study of the horse. One quote stuck out in my mind as particularly interesting:

“There is something about the outside of a horse is good for the inside of a man.” –Winston Chirchill

Now, normally I really like this quote, but for some reason (perhaps the dominate LBI in myself J, thanks Linda for the humorous reminders this weekend!) I dared to confront this quote with a challenge: The INSIDE of a horse is by far the most valuable for the inside of a man.

After all it is the inside of the horse where the true ‘being’ exists, they are of course beautiful to watch, stunning to observe and fascinating to study. But the true value is Under the sleek, powerful exterior, you have to dig a little deeper find to what makes a horse a horse.

They are amazing partners for us humans, different in so many ways but complimentary in even more. Man is the ultimate predator designed to out strategize its prey. Built to learn, grow and build. Able to remember past experiences learn from them and plan for a different future. Able to build means of communication, science and records that will outlive our short lives. Continually thinking of what has been, what will be, and what could be. Able to overcome incredible odds through faith in something greater then oneself. Nurturing and motivated to maintain strong, and long family ties.

On the flip side, the equine created as the ultimate prey animal. Living in the moment alert to changes in the environment (with foals being able to run in just 2 hours of birth). Able to easily cover 20+ miles a day with rhythm, speed and grace. With the capacity to attack a challenging stallion, fight to the death then within a moment begin grazing calmly with the herd. Built with such a shape that they can accept a human for a comfortable ride on their back and with such a character that they allow it! They are creatures with the dignity of a noble being and yet are unreasonably forgiving. 

What an amazing partnership not because of the similarities but because of the differences. What humans lack horses can provide and often do so willingly.

And for all that they offer and give perhaps the most valuable is the opportunity for us to grow, to discover how to see the world from a different point of view and then how to use our incredibly equipped brains to solve the puzzle of bringing our world views together.

Often at the end of a ‘Horse Behavior & You’ Course we would take the time to say thank you to everyone who had been part of and helped us on our journeys. The last “Thank you” was dedicated to the biggest teacher we could ever have: “Our Horses”, I’d like to second that and say THANK YOU to all the Equines that have helped make us better human beings!