There is so much variation in the human individual that the approach has to be a little different in order to fit each person. They might come out with the same results as someone else, but if everyone tried to take the same approach, there wouldn’t be too many of them coming out with the same solution. That’s another thing I think is important to emphasize — this is an individual process. I tell people that over and over when they are trying to get something worked out. I say, “All I can do is try to help.” It has to come right out of the inside of the individual. There is no other way I know of that they can get it. It depends on what  the situation may be; there might be many things, but there is a variation in how they are applied. People tend to say, “That’s a little deep. I know what you are saying but I don’t understand it.”

This quote is from the book, True Unity - Willing Communication Between Horse and Human, by Tom Dorrance.

In the quote, Tom Dorrance emphasizes that humans are individuals and that our horsemanship approach should be individual too. Our horses are also individuals and the relationships that we have with our horses are unique.

For years I read books, watched videos and attended clinics where various approaches were taught as if the same approach would yield the same solution. That was not the case. Maybe I needed a certain trainer’s saddle or bridle or maybe another video would help.  I was taking the methods from these clinicians and applying them to my horse without taking his unique personality into account.

When my horse didn’t respond as the video or book or clinic indicated he should, I interpreted this as resistance or stubbornness.  Our relationship was characterized by drilling and tension. Over years of clinics, books and videos, we headed down the wrong path.

I think this happens to lots of riders and their horses. We buy a horse and something happens early in the relationship that causes us to loose confidence in the horse. We anticipate trouble and ride like that. We do more groundwork and that makes the problem worse instead of better. Many of us sell the horse or quit riding altogether.

What worked for me was to watch a Warwick Schiller video on YouTube titled, 10 Year Old Girl Training. In the video, Warwick describes riding a horse at an event called Equidays in New Zealand. The horse almost bucked him off during his demonstration. Later in the day, the same horse was ridden by his 10 year old owner in an obstacle class and the horse behaved perfectly. That experience caused Warwick  to have an epiphany about the importance of connection in horsemanship. Watching Warwick’s video caused me to remember my experiences riding as a 10 year old and the importance of the connection I had with my horses at that time.

So I changed what I was doing. I stopped the groundwork drilling and I looked for ways to remove the tension I was seeing in my horse. It worked and it rebuilt the relationship I had with that horse and changed what I do with my other horses.

So I hope that you’re experimenting to find the right approach for the solution you’re looking for with your horse. I hope that you recognize that the solution you read about or see in a clinic might not be the best for you and your horse. I hope that you recognize tension in your horse and that you work to start and end your sessions with your horse without tension and with relaxation.

Here's a link to Descript, the audio and video editing tool that I use and recommend.

Here's a link to the Second Half Horsemanship website.