It is always shocking to me how many horse people get insulted by the term “Back to the Basics”.
The response is often: “I don’t need to learn
basic horse training
my horse just doesn’t like to do XYZ”.
When working with a Horsemanship Master, often times you will be brought back to basics to overcome a riding issue.
This is not to say that you have no skills, just that there was something missing in the basics that needs to be revisited to get the results you were asking for.
Most Masters of Horsemanship revisit the basics every day with their horses.
The interesting thing about that is 80% of Horsemanship Students shut down when told they need to go back to basics.
Going back to basics is not an insult to rider skills. It is where you and the horse can always improve together. (click to tweet!)
I am so excited to share with you the wisdom of Melanie Smith-Taylor, arguably one of the best Horsewomen in the world, sharing her view of getting back to the basics during her clinic series, TaylorMade Horsemanship.
Do you need to re-focus on the basics? I challenge you this week to take a look at what basics could be improved upon with your horse and work on them!
Leave a comment below and share what basics you need to revisit, I am eager to hear what you need to focus on!
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Going back to basics is bery important! This week, want to focus on “transitions” from
walk to trot, trot to lope. Attention to the “set up”.
Thanks for pointer.
Bob
I’m with you on that one!
leading… really basic but really important… leading with respect to my space… and ‘having a presence’ with the horse while not being too ‘assertive’ .. to “in your face” with the horse… so that they want to follow me.. but from a safe distance and not crowding me or dropping a shoulder into me
That is a gooood one, Maureen! Such a fine line yet not so easy to get, and a basic people often forget to take the time to pay attention to, including me:)
I need to go back to basics with regard to teaching my horse to load into a trailer without fuss.
I need to allow her sufficient time to do this.
And I need to keep calm.