tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post2778765488664162157..comments2023-05-27T11:53:06.487-04:00Comments on Memoirs of a Horse Girl: Memoirs: A Horse Girl Learns Her LessonValhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07335385366138424092noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-91555064026198014092012-01-15T10:55:07.050-05:002012-01-15T10:55:07.050-05:00Thanks Val! That makes sense. I actually didn...Thanks Val! That makes sense. I actually didn't teach him to lead. He already knew how when I bought him at five months old. The clicker training was done with a target for teaching him to trot in hand. Now he responds off of my jogging and clucking without the target. In fact I rarely ever take contact with his head while leading (in fact a friend of mine who has a habit of dragging on her horses can't even lead him because he balks when she starts pulling on his head for no reason; he does tie really well in both halters though and immediately steps up off of pressure if he steps back too far). He's really good at keeping slack in the rope, so maybe he doesn't know how to move off of pressure in the rope halter either . . . in fact I just realized this may be why he was so confused when we tried ground driving . . . If he ignores me while grazing again I'll definitely use a whip or the rope to get him moving forward instead of trying to pull on his head. Now I'm off to research teaching a horse to respond to halter pressure, because he does his lateral flexes perfectly so for all intents and purposes he does seem to understand it. It may just be that the grass was too much temptation. Anyway, thanks for answering my question!Achieve1dreamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15401246064499148344noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-10562902114976980982012-01-15T10:23:47.253-05:002012-01-15T10:23:47.253-05:00achieve1dream- Thanks for your comment. Blue was ...achieve1dream- Thanks for your comment. Blue was a great horse.<br /><br />Relax. You are doing a great job with Chrome. I will write back on your blog about the flat halter. :)Valhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07335385366138424092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-49213488940124895222012-01-15T10:11:25.365-05:002012-01-15T10:11:25.365-05:00Wow, what a cruel, but important lesson. It sound...Wow, what a cruel, but important lesson. It sounds like she was a good trainer and Blue was a good boy too. Thanks for sharing your story. :)<br /><br />Also in regards to my last post, I completely agree with what you wrote in your comment. I don't know why I took him out in the flat halter. I was just tired and not thinking straight I guess. I have no doubt I could have gotten him to move if I had yielded his hindquarters, but I got smacked in the face before I got that far. I will definitely use the rope halter from now on when we go walking. I just forgot that he hasn't been in a flat halter since he was a foal, so he needs work in it. The only reason I've used a rope halter his whole life is because it's so adjustable while he was growing. So my question is when I start working with him at home in his flat halter do I just practice what he already knows (leading, halts, yields, backing) and he'll learn to respond to it or is there something specific I need to do to get him responsive from it? I am definitely going to get a whip for carrying with us. I had a short bat with a leather popper on the end, but I have no idea where it is. I need a new leash for the dogs anyway, so I'll just go to the feed store after work and get both. Thank you for your comment!Achieve1dreamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15401246064499148344noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-87549638104968449012012-01-15T09:06:37.297-05:002012-01-15T09:06:37.297-05:00Thanks for the insightful comment, smaz. I did be...Thanks for the insightful comment, smaz. I did benefit greatly from my experiences with my original trainer, despite the fact that they were not always easy. I would not be the rider I am now without her or her horses.<br /><br />I think that my trainer felt that "I could handle it". She did not sugar coat, but when I did something well, getting a word of praise from her was like winning diamonds. As a teen and early twenty-something, I was hooked. That was my perspective at that time in my life.Valhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07335385366138424092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-66262105975409996312012-01-15T08:44:28.582-05:002012-01-15T08:44:28.582-05:00I thought it was a bit harsh, she took that test W...I thought it was a bit harsh, she took that test WAY too personally, I think a "what happened in there?" would have been better. Then you could have had a frank discussion about show nerves and how to deal with them. But I also understand why you don't want to put her in a negative light, after all she did teach you a lot and she started you on the path that got you to your current trainer.smazourekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03029180368325070266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-70978513507304133672012-01-14T19:24:49.976-05:002012-01-14T19:24:49.976-05:00Grey Horse Matters- I like your pep talk. That is...Grey Horse Matters- I like your pep talk. That is a talk that all students should consider whether they are paying for lessons or not. Sometimes really talented people do not make the best teachers. I take the selection of my teachers very seriously now. I will not clinic or lesson with someone who is not respectful of the students. I have tolerated quite a few "tough" lessons at this point, but I am also tougher, because of them. It hardened my skin a bit, which I did need, and has helped me in other areas of life.<br /><br />In my first lesson with my current teacher, she made me smile for half the lesson. I still worked hard, but she was funny and creative and knew so much about biomechanics. She made riding even more enjoyable and rewarding. My perspective now is that life it too short to ride any other way! <br /><br />Thank you for contributing your experiences to the discussion.Valhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07335385366138424092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-18356899639395778282012-01-14T17:45:49.717-05:002012-01-14T17:45:49.717-05:00All of our riding/showing experiences influence us...All of our riding/showing experiences influence us in one way or another. Her negativity was unwarranted in my opinion. It made you doubt your abilities until the other rider gave you a boost on the way into the ring. <br /><br />I've had many trainers and many different personalities to deal with. My first trainer was a screamer and would always have something negative to say. That doesn't help anyone learn it just makes us defensive. After many years of this I left and went on to other trainers. My experience with the first trainer made me have a talk with myself to the tune of something that went like this: "you are paying for these lessons, you want to learn the correct way of riding, you don't need to be yelled at because you are an adult who doesn't need to be disrespected. It all comes down to "you can only be treated the way you allow someone to treat you." From then on I just wouldn't put up with being screamed at and would let the trainer know it wasn't acceptable. I'm not a witch but a person who doesn't learn from negative screaming and a negative attitude.<br /><br />I'm glad you shared this and even though it still rankles you did learn something from the experience.Grey Horse Mattershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05837575441967937196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-69264816267114012672012-01-14T14:13:09.882-05:002012-01-14T14:13:09.882-05:00No need to apologize. I appreciate your candid re...No need to apologize. I appreciate your candid response. <br /><br />Since this is my memoir, I am trying to be honest about the event as I remember it, but it is my perspective alone that is shared. However, I am still inclined to agree with your comment and do not condone this type of treatment for any student.Valhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07335385366138424092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-65009350863493300842012-01-14T11:27:26.196-05:002012-01-14T11:27:26.196-05:00Sorry - I'll just say it. There is no room for...Sorry - I'll just say it. There is no room for that kind of instruction, in dressage or anything else for that matter. <br /><br />There is a fine line between pushing someone out of their comfort zone - which is often needed for growth to happen - and being mean. Your instructor crossed it. <br /><br />When you say there is no room for ego in dressage, in horsemanship at all I believe, that applies to the instruction as well. It sure sounds to me like your instructor was acting out of her feelings about how your performance reflected on her, rather than concern for you and your mount.<br /><br />That's not to say that we cannot learn from negative experiences, but why should we have to? When an instructor is creative enough, they do not have to resort to demeaning their student. Period. It's not like you were riding in the Olympic Qualifiers or something. <br /><br />Good for you taking the good out of the situation. And very well written. Thanks for sharing. :)Calm, Forward, Straighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08360276614916635500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-64957418773159228252012-01-14T08:53:30.935-05:002012-01-14T08:53:30.935-05:00Thanks so much, Kate.Thanks so much, Kate.Valhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07335385366138424092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-65837990206381651172012-01-14T06:24:15.055-05:002012-01-14T06:24:15.055-05:00I think that you are brave and wise to understand ...I think that you are brave and wise to understand the importance of momments like these - thanks for sharing the story with us.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-21584076827383482832012-01-14T00:28:41.344-05:002012-01-14T00:28:41.344-05:00Hi Margaret- I definitely would not duplicate her ...Hi Margaret- I definitely would not duplicate her tactic. Since I still feel somewhat wounded by the event, my perspective is that it was unfairly harsh, but I still thought it was a worthwhile story to tell. I learned a lot from my trainer, but she was a tough one!Valhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07335385366138424092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-9473578820361941112012-01-13T23:55:20.175-05:002012-01-13T23:55:20.175-05:00My heart goes out to you. I am proud you gritted ...My heart goes out to you. I am proud you gritted your teeth and bore through it all. Yes, a valuable lesson indeed. I wonder, did your instructor do the right thing? Seems a bit harsh to me, but is that what needed to be done or do you think she could have reached you effectively using a kinder, gentler approach?Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00007201357693227614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-8418871178327365202012-01-13T23:09:12.153-05:002012-01-13T23:09:12.153-05:00Annette- Thanks for noticing the header!Annette- Thanks for noticing the header!Valhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07335385366138424092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-59091069672894463062012-01-13T23:08:28.827-05:002012-01-13T23:08:28.827-05:00Thanks, Karen and Annette.
There is no room for t...Thanks, Karen and Annette.<br /><br />There is no room for the ego in riding, but that doesn't mean that it doesn't hurt every time it is handed to us after a righteous fileting. I wrote that I was a dedicated student and I was/am, but I do not think that I was always an easy student. I definitely questioned and tested. My trainer's husband told me later that I was the kind of student that needed a push once in a while. I think that was a nice way of saying something else. ;)Valhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07335385366138424092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-916567114260531932012-01-13T22:48:15.857-05:002012-01-13T22:48:15.857-05:00Wow, Val, that is some story. I'm impressed t...Wow, Val, that is some story. I'm impressed that you shared this -- the humbling experiences are good teachers but not easy to retell. I think all of us dressage riders have similar stories; stories of fear and nerves and finding that reserve somewhere deep inside. <br />Your header picture of Harley is gorgeous. He looks very WB-ish -- all uphill and muscle.Oak Creek Ranchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02875705582058188289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-39437879484406963992012-01-13T21:31:52.060-05:002012-01-13T21:31:52.060-05:00That was a really great story, Val. Thank you so ...That was a really great story, Val. Thank you so much for sharing. Well written and spoken from the heart. <br /><br />KarenBakersfield Dressagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05571487914424695283noreply@blogger.com