MOST IMPORTANT TRAINING TIPS

I thought I would post a quick, easy to read dropdown of the training tips that I find most helpful, most important and that always deliver the best results.

1. ALWAYS BE CALM

That's it.

I mean really calm. Like 1/10 of your normal speed. Slow motion.

I don't mean sleepy. You can still be alert. But everything that comes out of you is calm. Slow. Measured. Compassionate and focused.

Make sure you show up calm. Leave mind chatter and worries at home. And if you can't. - don't work with the horse.

Answer everything by returning to calm. Be slow.

Answer every misstep, every emotional escalation, every mistake or boggled attempt.

With CALM

Get rid of every shred of information lurking in your brain that you might have accumulated in your equestrian journey that tells you to struggle. Or use force.

That leads to nothing fast.

1. ALWAYS BE CALM

If your horse is confused and you respond by escalating emotions and using force you are not going to help. Increasing energy and pressure is not going to help. Repeating things louder and with more pressure makes deviations bigger and harder to handle, often frightening and painful to horses when things get out of control. Adding speed to deviations and unbalance doesn't help.

Return to MORE calm, and start again, where there is understanding. And be more clear. And reward every single try you horse gives you.

Stick to what your horse knows well. Start there. Return there often. Celebrate small successes.

And keep things calm.

CALM.