Let me start by saying that working with horses is humbling, period.  This animal is bigger, stronger and faster than me.  And yet, with love, patience, understanding and respect, the horse learns and then makes the choice to carry out my wishes.  We can truly have an amazing relationship with the horse if we will only take the time to develop it.  And teaching is a two-way street.  I learn as much or more from horses as they may learn from me.  And the cornerstone of this process is in building a bond with the animal.  You never get a second chance to make a first impression!

    Horses learn by observing, memorizing and comparing.  They have incredible memories, especially if they undergo a negative experience.  Based on this, I use operant conditioning focusing on positive reinforcement when teaching them.  Lavish verbal praise or a food reward are used to motivate the horse toward the response I am looking for.  Unfortunately, horses are more often trained by avoiding something unpleasant happening to them.  Which way would you prefer to be taught?  The answer is obvious and I submit to you that if you asked your horse he would choose the same! 

   

In the first picture, I am holding the lead rope and Matty is none too sure about going near this makeshift contraption, let alone under it!  By the second picture, I've draped the lead over her back and allowed her to look at the obstacle and think about it.  As she takes a very slight step towards it, I give her lavish verbal praise with words she understands to be positive reinforcers.  By the next picture she is gaining confidence and not feeling rushed and goes willingly forward.  In the last picture, Matty is receiving the reward of a gentle ear scratch, which is her idea of heaven, even more than treats!  Now this exact approach and particular reward may not work with every equine because they are all individuals.  Matty has a very curious and bold personality but a more timid horse may take several sessions or more to feel confident enough to approach the obstacle. 

    When teaching a horse, I choose to break any exercise or request into the smallest components.  I always look for the slightest try or smallest change as an opportunity to praise the horse.  You would not expect a child to write words or sentences before they learn the alphabet and it is the same with horses.  So often, too much is asked too quickly, resulting in frustration for both the horse and handler.  It takes the time that it takes.  Each horse is an individual with their own unique personality and quirks and therefore one may learn a bit differently from another or quicker etc.  And, once the horse shows the slightest understanding of what I am trying to communicate, I end that portion of the exercise and go on to something different.  I don't like to be drilled on any one thing endlessly and I believe that kind of repetition bores and dulls horses as well as people.  If something is not interesting for you, it certainly won't be for your horse either.

    When teaching horses, I am available to work with your horse on a monthly in-house basis or assist in developing your own communication skills with the horse in a lesson style format.  Truck-ins are welcome with UTD Rabies vaccinations and Coggins papers.  I also travel in a limited area.  If your horse is with me on a monthly basis, I encourage you to take advantage of free weekly progress sessions.  I always begin with an evaluation of the horse.  Very often, a behavior "problem" is actually the horse calling out for help with physical pain.  Sometimes basic needs are overlooked such as regular turnout.  Occasionally a feeding regimen will need to be modified and supplements added or deleted.  It is critical to look at the whole picture of the horse.  A horse is no more able to give his best if he does not feel well than you would be if not feeling one hundred percent.   

A Word About Bitless Riding

    Bitless riding is certainly not a new concept.  Sidepulls, hackamores, bosals and more recently rope halters have all been used successfully with horses for years.  I became totally bitless in my personal riding several years ago after a horse named Ace and a veterinarian named Robert Cook educated me.  Typically, I use Dr. Cook's bitless bridle in my riding and lesson program as

                                         

  KIMBERLEE STRAUSS

  Horsemanship from the Heart

"Perhaps the sentiments contained in the following pages are not yet sufficiently fashionable to procure them general favor; a long habit of not thinking a thing wrong gives it a superficial appearance of being right, and raises at first a formidable outcry in defense of custom.  But the tumult soon subsides.  Time makes more converts than reason."Thomas Paine, Introduction to Common Sense, Feb. 14, 1776

it places gentle pressure on the horse's entire head, not just one area.  Some of my advanced students have learned to use a cordeo (neck strap).  I believe that as more trainers and owners are educated about the uncomfortable and often painful effects of a bit in the horse's mouth and the behavior problems caused by bitting, bitless communication will continue to become more widespread.  In the show world, the bitless bridle is already accepted in the cross country portion of 3-Day Eventing.  And, more recently, the Royal Dutch Equestrian Federation has become the first national federation to permit bitless dressage.  Bosals are also acceptable for junior horses in most western pleasure classes.