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When it comes to working with horses and people I believe in five things.
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I will never know enough.
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There is always a better way.
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You can learn something from everybody.
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If I’m having a hard time understanding it then the horse doesn’t have a chance.
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The horse and I want the same thing - to be happy.
With these five things I always strive to make things easier and quicker for the horse and rider. I understand that listening to my student is as important as teaching them. I want the horse and the student to feel as secure and relaxed as possible. If you don’t wake up in the morning excited to work with your horse but rather you dread it, then it’s time to make a change.
The best way to accomplish a goal is to break it down into the simplest of steps. Starting with what the horse already knows or understands I work forward from there. Work with purpose. “Get in, get it done, and get out.” This means instead of doing the same thing over and over again without making progress I want to make the skill better each time I do it. Not each session, but each repetition. Working in short sessions allows the horse to relax and think about what it was we were working on. This lowers the frustration level of the horse allowing for better learning. There should never be pain involved in training. If there is pain the horse is not learning but rather thinking about the pain. Pain is a distraction not a motivator.
One more thing - the time it takes is the time it takes. Every horse is different and so is every rider. Not all horses or riders learn at the same speed. Therefore, there’s no rush in getting things done. Sure I like to see progress but sometimes things go faster when you slow down.
Horses amaze every day because of their willingness to adapt and learn. Even so, I learn so much more from them for they are the great teachers.
Raye Lochert
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