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Welcome to the August 2008 issue of "Lyons Training 101," written by John Lyons Certified Trainer Keith Hosman.
I've finally done it! I've compiled the top 5 "rein handling" tips of all time into one article. Trust me here: The way you work those reins has everything to do with your success—or lack thereof—as a rider and trainer. You can easily pick up a few tips in the next 20 minutes—and be wow'ing your horse friends this time tomorrow.
My newsletters have hinted at this stuff in the past; I've drummed it into every clinic rider I've had - and it's about time it appeared in one, collective article!
To be blunt, this is the material upon which all the rest of our training is built, it's just that important. You'll find the article sampled below. To read it in its entirety, simply follow the link provided. If the links don't work or you're not getting the emails properly, scroll to the bottom of this page.
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Literally hundreds of articles have been added to Horsemanship101.com. With dozens of new categories, the odds are terrific you'll find answers to your particular questions:
- From green horses to basic training and beyond
- Articles for buyers, for sellers, owners and lovers
- Learn to care for your horse, feed it, & show it
While most articles found on "H101" use and promote the "John Lyons techniques," tips and articles found in the new "Guest Authors" section offer a "second opinion" on many common issues we horse lovers face. They are offered as a means to deepen our understanding of our equine friends.
To peruse the Guest Author section, visit: Horsemanship101.com/GuestAuthors.
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Jump to the full version of this month's featured article: "The Reins: 5 Tips to Improve Your Use"
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We clinicians teach "handling of the reins" in a particular order and emphasize certain aspects because we repeatedly see a pattern of "universal truths" from one rider to the next. We see this and we see opportunities to make marked improvements fast. Students don't realize how much pressure they're applying, that they never release, that they're actually rewarding poor behavior, etc. They're mad, the horse is mad – and they pay me to put on a black and white striped shirt and blow a whistle. "Stop fighting; go to your respective corners." This stuff is simple – but there's a pattern to it, a flow and rhythm. If you're having issues with your horse – or just want to improve as a rider, give this material a whirl.
You'll find five tips – each with "your handling of the reins" as their focal point – each guaranteed to make your friends at the barn wonder if you haven't inked a deal with the devil. This is the material I cover most often, the stuff I hit the hardest, the concepts I believe to be the most important, the undercurrent running through the rest of our training. While I won't specifically deal with the mechanics of handling your reins, ("Hold them like so") the material covered will change the way you think and so will ultimately effect the way you do hold, release, etc. Bottom line: You'll improve much faster if you first understand the "why" behind the "what, when and how."
A) Every time you pick up your reins from now on – each and every time – I want you to first put it in your head that your horse is about to do "whatever" perfectly. He's the perfect horse not after he does something, but before. This is due to a phenomena that's really rather obvious: If your horse has been fighting you for three days on that turn to the right – we as humans naturally assume he won't do it on day four either. So, what do we do? We grit our teeth and pick up the reins with eight million pounds of pressure to force the issue or to "be ready." However... your horse, being no dunce... thinks to himself "Every day this guy tries to rattle the teeth outta my head. I've gotta be ready." And so he sees you going for the reins and protects himself by clenching everything from his teeth to his butt. Good luck with your turn.
Instead, put a smile on your face and get it in your head that he's about to do (something) perfectly. You do this on things you've practiced a million times; you do this the first time you practice something. Whether he's been doing sidepasses for ten years or you've never before...
keep reading this article
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If you're having trouble with links and want to continue reading today's edition, you'll find all issues listed here:
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If some of our emails reach you and some don't, here are some suggestions.
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Find Trainers
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State-by-state listings, including those certified by John Lyons, Parelli & Richard Shrake at
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Bucking Horse?
My Downloadable Book "Stop Bucking" can help!
Here's a sample
from Day Five:
"Is this you? You think your horse is about to slow down so you give him a good kick? That makes sense to you - but the horse figures he got kicked for no good reason. You’ll burn out your “move faster” cue quick that way. I need you to start thinking and riding differently.
Instead, continue this exercise by walking your horse forward and asking it to speed up; demand a “noticeable change of leg speed.” If your horse was traveling at 4 mph, ask for faster and make sure he does just that. It’s not a maybe it’s a definitely. If he doesn’t speed up, kick until he does. If he breaks into the next higher gait, ease him back down and keep trying.
If your horse begins to slow down on his own when you travel 30 feet at the increased speed, then ask him to slow down the next time at 28 feet. It’s key that you ask for the slow down - it’s not supposed to be his idea. Remember, you don’t want to be in the habit of kicking him when you “think” he’s going to slow down so you’ve got to make the first move. Ask him to slow a moment before you think he was going to slow down anyway. You’ll concentrate on building the range your horse first gave you; if it was 7 and 10, see if you can’t build that out in small increments to 5 and 14, 2 and 16, etc....
To read more, see this page
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