"But, I don't want to train, I just want to have fun!" That was the moan I
would hear out of one of my daughters when they were little and we all were
riding big horses. Yes, there is time for relaxing, and we go on many a trail
ride....but my response was, "Every time you interact with a horse, you are
training!" Parents, this is true with your children too. Every moment you are
around them, and even when you are not around them, you are teaching them about
life and relationships. Our children learn from what we do, rather than from
what we say. More is caught, than taught!!! So, in essence, every one who drives a mini is a
trainer, either for good or for bad. You are giving your horse a message every time you drive.
That being said, I don't want to set myself up as an expert, or as an authority in any way. I am just a verbal lady, excited about horses, fairly transparent and handy with a camera. There are many out there much wiser than I am. Wish they had the time to be busy with a camera :) We are all in this together. I love when Angela or Kim or Jaci or Julianna or Tim or.....fill in the blank, asks me why did I just do that? Or, would it be better to do it this way or that?? We are all in this together; striving to get the best from our horses. I welcome ideas....
I also know that when I started driving minis, it puzzled me. With big horses, there was help everywhere. I live in a horsey area and a man who trains with Al Dunning and Brad Barkenmeyer is down the way. He always could redirect me. There were World Champions in many homes that were enthusiastic and shared with me. There are many videos. But, I struggled to find accessible help with collection in the cart. How to get that mini body moving correctly without my legs and weight???? That was my question. I rode a lot of Western Pleasure horses too. You touch the rein, they drop the head and get off your hands completely. Minis, on the other hand, are driven with contact. When was it hard? How did you drive on the bit, but still have your mini light? These questions stayed on my mind as we worked with horse after horse. I'd see fancy movers at shows who look scared and hyped up on sugar to move the way they did. Then, I'd see some who were trained to move, and yet were calm. I had so many questions. I have been thankful for those experienced drivers who would talk to me. On a whole, there are many nice people in this miniature horse world.
I can't wait for Nationals. Not because I want to show my own horses, but because I learn. I love watching the talent in the warm up arena. I have heard many complaints about trainers. and some are justified in my mind, but there are some real experts out there too. Some of the trainers amaze me in what they accomplish with the number of horses they work, the varying temperaments involved with each horse and how well they do.
Even though we take horses in and train for others. I still call myself an ammy. With how old I am, I will always be an ammy. But, I love learning. It was Muffy Seaton's video on "Bending the Driving Horse" that first got me thinking. I watch videos like I cook. Glean quickly over the recipe, close the book up and start playing. But, Muffy's ideas of bending began making sense.
I admire the "real trainers" for they also have to have people skills. Much of their skill is also in handling the multitudes of personalities that come with miniature horses, and to do it kindly!
I also know that when I started driving minis, it puzzled me. With big horses, there was help everywhere. I live in a horsey area and a man who trains with Al Dunning and Brad Barkenmeyer is down the way. He always could redirect me. There were World Champions in many homes that were enthusiastic and shared with me. There are many videos. But, I struggled to find accessible help with collection in the cart. How to get that mini body moving correctly without my legs and weight???? That was my question. I rode a lot of Western Pleasure horses too. You touch the rein, they drop the head and get off your hands completely. Minis, on the other hand, are driven with contact. When was it hard? How did you drive on the bit, but still have your mini light? These questions stayed on my mind as we worked with horse after horse. I'd see fancy movers at shows who look scared and hyped up on sugar to move the way they did. Then, I'd see some who were trained to move, and yet were calm. I had so many questions. I have been thankful for those experienced drivers who would talk to me. On a whole, there are many nice people in this miniature horse world.
I can't wait for Nationals. Not because I want to show my own horses, but because I learn. I love watching the talent in the warm up arena. I have heard many complaints about trainers. and some are justified in my mind, but there are some real experts out there too. Some of the trainers amaze me in what they accomplish with the number of horses they work, the varying temperaments involved with each horse and how well they do.
Even though we take horses in and train for others. I still call myself an ammy. With how old I am, I will always be an ammy. But, I love learning. It was Muffy Seaton's video on "Bending the Driving Horse" that first got me thinking. I watch videos like I cook. Glean quickly over the recipe, close the book up and start playing. But, Muffy's ideas of bending began making sense.
I admire the "real trainers" for they also have to have people skills. Much of their skill is also in handling the multitudes of personalities that come with miniature horses, and to do it kindly!
I watch your videos but too much of an amateur to follow through on my own about the collection.
ReplyDeleteI thought I commented so I hope this doesn't show twice. I watch your videos. Still too new to driving to completely understand how to get the collection but don't worry about it. I need to set up the SoloShot video more often and watch my driving. I sure notice my mistakes when I do that.
ReplyDeleteI've been in the "horse world" since I was young. I took a break through my teenage years but came back to horses (which we always seem to do) in my late 20's. I've ridden those highly trained Quarter horses (my Uncle is a horse trainer/coach), so I know exactly what you mean. But I decided to try Dressage and was a groom for a small Lipizzaner Stud for a few years. I learned about contact and the discipline of Dressage...at the same time I was learning about "Natural Horsemanship " and they both gave me great tools to use! Thank you for inspiring me to get out there and just "play" with what I know and hopefully one day challenge myself to do a Driving Class or CDE! Keep doing what your doing!
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