Taught and managed by D.j. Sims of Silver Stables, but using Summerwind Marchador horses mostly. This year a few people brought up their horses up for camp too! It was a full month of three-day events with kids that were experienced riders and kids that sometimes had little or no experience. We had one group from Arizona, and the others were “locals” – either vacationing or living here in Pagosa Springs.
Marchador horses and kids go together!
Thanks to D.j. and Elizabeth Sims for the time and effort into planning, driving, teaching and doing all the other activities that went into another success.
Here are some photos from the camps! The horses and the kids were awesome!!! Summerwind Marchadors used were Artemis do Summerwind, Caboclo da Piedade, Caesar do Summerwind, Hawke do Summerwind, Koyote Libertas. Joining us from Arizona were Fidalgo do Summerwind, Sabela da Tranquility, and Topsy, a very cute pony.
Colorado Marchador Photos! We had a great time riding in the mountains in Pagosa Springs, CO. Our new neighbors Karen Livesay and Randy Conilogue joined us often and were great fun. We had lots of friends riding with us! Thank you for coming!
“The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and lightning bug.” Mark Twain
Adrienne and Gralha
Tom Dorrance and Ray Hunt were master horse trainers and communicators. They advocated to “set the horse up for success”, “to let the horse learn it” and “to feel and listen to the horse.” We have found our own master trainer here in Arizona in Ned Leigh of Ned Leigh, Equine Focus. It is with Ned that I learned how important the words we use are in the setting up of this kind of environment.
All of Ned’s work comes with the horse in mind. Knowing that there many be many answers the horse will choose during training. The try is important. The repetition and clarity of the request is what will cause over time for the horse to choose the RIGHT answer, the one you intended. From the horse’s point of view, all the responses are valid. Ned’s words to the trainers are always horse-focused. And what a difference it makes – in your head and in the horse’s head!
Here are 5 examples of the words that help create the mind-set for success.
1. “Help your horse”
What a difference in mindset! This is almost revolutionary – 180 degrees from “you have to win”, “correct your horse”, “make him obey”. If your horse is a partner, a member of the family, you’ll want to help him succeed, not get frustrated because he isn’t getting it as fast as you want.
2. “Your horse is confused”
Related to number 1 above, but what a great way to think of it. Instead of “You (the trainer) are doing it wrong”, again the focus is on the horse. Now you need to learn how to make your request easier or clearer to him. There must be 10 ways to request a backup. Maybe more. Anyone will do as long as both you and your horse understand what is being requested.
3. “Wait. Give the horse a chance to make the decision.”
Let your horse try. Let your horse discover the right answer through the process of elimination. Just keep asking in a consistent and clear manner and reward the right answer. No need to escalate or rush. Take a deep breath and instead, watch him think. You might learn something about how your horse learns.
4. “Watch for the muscle movement to release.”
Timing is everything in the reward for doing the right thing. The earlier the release, the softer the horse. When you ask the horse to move, before the horse actually moves its feet, the muscles respond. If we build our release, the reward on the muscle movement, you are rewarding the correct thought and that speeds up the horse’s understanding.
5. “Use the backup command to establish your boundary”
The horse is a gregarious and social animal. That’s what we want too, someone to love and spend time with. However, establishing a boundary establishes your relationship with the horse with you as the leader. It is the responsibility of the person to control their horse’s approach to the boundary and if they cross into it without permission, it is the person’s fault. The horse should not be punished for the person’s failure to control the boundary.
The backup. Ned, Carmen and Koyote
Often Ned’s teaching is broken down into at least 3 steps. This gives the horse a clear, repeatable pattern. And it helps the trainer become clearer in his/her request and less hurried. The horse is “set up for success”. It will learn the request, the sequence and the right response.
The horse can choose to respond (and that’s the desired response) on the first step. This teaching makes for a soft, willing partner. Isn’t that what we all want?
This is training from the horse’s point of view. This is training for UNDERSTANDING.
Any training with the mindset of MAKING your horse do something is totally NOT what I want for my horses.
If you are using words that don’t describe your thoughts and actions from the horse’s point of view, see if you can change them. See if that makes a difference in yourself and your horse. I’d love to hear back from you.
The partnership. Bossa Nova de Miami and Lynn.
All the photos below in the gallery from the clinics are Mangalarga Marchadors from Summerwind during a Ned Leigh Clinics. All happy horses and happy people! Photo credit to Lynn Kelley, Leticia Ribeiro and Laura Patterson Rosa. Click on any of the gallery photos to make it larger or read the captions!
The partnership. Gaia do Summerwinds and Adrienne.
The partnership. Bossa Nova de Miami and Lynn.
The partnership. Elizabeth and Gralha MUG
The send (1st step, direction) Brisa and DJ.
Ned coaching the forehand pivot. Adrienne and Caboclo.
Sarah coaching Sandy and Wizard.
Lynn and Bossa Nova de Miami, her first Marchador.
The backup. Brisa Libertas and Kristy.
Ned Leigh explaining the concepts and demonstrating to the class.
The partnership. Koyote kisses Laura.
The partnership. Bill and Brasilia do Summerwind
Ned and Izzy. Izzy had the least experience so Ned used her as the demo horse.
The soft kind hands (and eyes) of a horseman.
The test! Backup and put the right hind foot on the cone.
The test. Good girl Azenha!
The backup. Ned, Carmen and Koyote
All the photos are Mangalarga Marchadors from Summerwind during a Ned Leigh Clinics. Photo credit to Lynn Kelley, Leticia Ribeiro and Laura Patterson Rosa. For more information on Ned Leigh Equine Focus or Summerwind Marchadors:
“Contrary to popular belief, horses do not get bored with basic work. If the rider (trainer) request exact responses, paying close attention to detail and quality, neither the horse nor rider will have time to get bored, rather a true sense of accomplishment will be gained.” Erik F. Herbermann.
FOSH (Friends of Sound Horses) Magazine features the Mangalarga Marchador breed. Koyote Libertas, our imported gelding makes the front cover! Photo by Tamara Gooch!
D.J., mounted on Artemis do Summerwind, Marchador gelding. Braiding by Leticia.
3 generations of Marchador mares at Summerwind. Brisa Libertas with John, daughter Brasilia do Summerwind and granddaughter Jewel do Summerwind with Lynn
Jewel do Summerwind, one month old. Daughter of Oma de Maripa, owned by Agro Maripa x Brasilia do Summerwind.
Elegance times two! D.J. with Gralha M.U.G, imported Marchador mare.
Leticia riding Caboclo da Piedade, imported Mangalarga Marchador.
Photo Shoot Sunday with Tamara Gooch! Lynn with Artemis!
Hawke do Summerwind! Our 2 year old stud colt. Ximoio de Maripa x Azenha de Maripa, both bred by Agro Maripa, Brasil.
Tamara Gooch – Photo Shoot Sunday – Izzy with Karen.
Photo Shoot Sunday with Jess Lee! Gralha MUG with Elizabeth!
Leticia and Koyote Libertas, imported Marchador gelding!
Isabelle do Great Lakes with Karen. Photo by Lynn.
Gralha MUG and D.J. Sims riding up for their next pose on Photo Shoot Sunday!