A commitment to Learning

This horse has changed...a worthy story for your attention

I have been working with Emma and her thoroughbred Shovely for the past few weeks. We are 3000km apart but technology and the resources I have created that document my process means distance is no barrier.

Emma writes the best training reports. I really enjoy reading them as she records the best observations about Shovely and herself.

She just finished working through all the steps of my groundwork process and is now up to consolidating the responses before moving onto the riding phase.

I asked her today how things have changed and I loved her response. I got her permission to share it here

Enjoy

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Since starting the reboot process things I have noticed and also witness that Shovely can do are:

Back confidently off one finger on this halter both in and enclosed arena and in an unfamiliar environment.

I can get him to lower his head just by touch.

Hind quarter yield both sides smoothly.

Back up away from me just by making a sound and a little wiggle of a rope.

Give me space and respect when leading him, rather than being on top of me or over the top of me.

Happily have a lunge whip near him, over him and cracking near him (amazing achievement for a horse who was very afraid of them!).

Lunge in a circle on a rope and be relaxed and with me rather than reactive and concerned (also amazing considering a week ago he was draining me across the paddock!).

I can send him away to transition upwards to a walk/trot using just a point if my finger and a click and then bring him down to a walk or trot just by looking at his rump! (What kind of magic is this ).

He can now canter a few steps/half a circle without dragging me and getting too worried or reactive.

What I have noticed about him:

He hasn’t lost any condition by not being in consistent work but in fact looks amazing! Relaxed and stress free.

He is so clever, I always knew he was special but he is so willing to learn, given the right cues and consistency and he embraces it and is excelling… well in my books .

Things he used to hate or at least I was told he did he actually doesn’t care about ie. lunge whips and lunge reins.

He just seems happier in himself, more confident and we are only just starting our journey!

What I have noticed about myself and others have:

I am much braver, more confident and relaxed when handling him.

If faced with a challenge I don’t let it get to me and give up or get scared I just keep trying and revisit the resources supplied.

Preconceived ideas I had about things don’t exist, he isn’t hard to lunge, he doesn’t hate backing, he just hadn’t been shown how to do things in a way he understood before.

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See...pretty cool report isn't it!

One thing Emma has missed out of her report is that she has dedicated herself to getting out there and working with her horse. She has practiced and practiced. She had to buy pieces of equipment she has never owned before, learnt to do things she has never done before...but she committed and gave it a go.

This is effort and this is the magic that happens with dedicated, committed determination to learn.

Well done Emma!