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Creating a Well-Balanced Partner
by Brock Griffith
We all want a well-rounded equine partner: one that will stand quietly, yet move with energy; one that will walk calmly, but give us speed when we ask for it; and one that won't jump if a branch bumps him, but will easily move off our leg or rein cues. We want our horse to think about every step he takes, but also trust us enough to overcome an obstacle he may think is “scary” or dangerous.
This does not come easily and seldom by accident. We must work hard to create this type of relationship through concentrated, balanced training. Most training exercises and techniques can be placed in one of two categories: sensitizing or desensitizing. To put it simply, sensitizing refers to an exercise in which we expect the horse to respond, encouraging a more sensitive horse. Desensitizing refers to movements we expect the horse to ignore, encouraging a quieter, more confident partner.
If we are to one day have the perfect, well-rounded horse that we dream of, we must work several sessions a week on it. We need to have a great understanding of how, when, and why we apply each of these techniques. It would be easy to think that equal doses of each would suffice. But this is unfortunately not the case. All horses are very much individuals in how they learn and think, and they need to be trained accordingly. For instance, some horses are naturally more reactive than others, and will need more desensitizing than sensitizing. A wild mustang is understandably going to be much more in tune with his instincts, and as a result he will be more flighty and skittish. Then, there is the family-raised quarter horse that is used to the hustle and bustle of our environment. We need to keep this in mind at all times during training and let the horse be the determining factor for how much or how little we need to do. Remember, even a dull, quiet horse can become a basket-case if all we do is sensitizing. Likewise, an energetic scaredy-cat can become resistant and unruly---even overly quiet---if all we do is desensitize. Every horse needs both---just not equal amounts.
Keep in mind we always want our horse to be thinking and responding during training; not reacting and fearful. Anytime we see this occurring, we need to know when to go back to desensitizing and slower work in order to regain a calm, thoughtful, willing mind. If our horse shows laziness and is dull, we need to wake him up with some good sensitizing exercises to get those feet moving and saying “yes” with some energy.
Your horse will let you know what he needs. It is up to the owner/trainer to know what to expect out of the horse. We need to present ourselves clearly and reward accordingly.
We design a unique training program for each and every horse we train. We use all the same basics, but know how and when to apply them correctly. If you have any questions or would like tips on training, you can contact us through our website. We also teach several clinics throughout the year. Check out our website for the 2010 schedule of events: www.brockgriffithhorsemanship.com
Desensitizing excersices.
A horse after desensitizing to a scary object .
A well balanced, willing partner.
