What's Your Horsemanship Tool of Choice?
29. Dec, 2008 
9 Comments
When I first began to learn about working horses in addition to riding them, I was taught to use a dressage whip with a plastic bag, a rope halter, and a series of lead ropes of varying lengths. There were a number of things that stand out about this method: first, I learned that if you really want to get the horse’s attention, that plastic bag will do the trick; second, I learned that I am not an expert rope handler and never will be. More often than not, I’d end up smacking myself in the face with the leather end of the rope. There were weeks on end when I sported red welts to prove it. My trainer urged more practice with the rope, tied to the fence: I was hopeless.
In the round pen, I was so klutzy that once, chasing an “impudent” horse around with the stick and bag, I fell and caught myself on a jump in the middle, collecting a splinter the size of a fountain pen. Even after a trip to the ER for removal, I didn’t think, “Hey, this type of training is not for me.” This was cowboy training, pure and simple. Natural Horsemanship, slightly feminized, applied by a skilled and powerful woman who taught me a lot. Still not for me.
And not enough. Not enough of the right stuff. When I took a clinic with Frank Bell, I had a grand old time. Because my trainer had recently been studying his methods, and went on to become one of his certified trainers, I had already learned most everything Frank taught in that clinic, and I was proud of my mare when she performed like a superstar. Frank is such a gentle man, who emphasizes safety above all else. But in addition to the crucial addition of hands-on work, he also uses the rope and rope halter in his work. So participants got to see me flailing about again. At least I didn’t hurt myself in public.
For a while I was enamored of Clinton Anderson and Pat Parelli. Both use sticks and rope halters in their training. After seeing Clinton Anderson in a demo in Texas, I left feeling that for him, a horse was a unit to be processed, and nothing more. There was no heart or empathy in his training, no emotional congruence. He only wanted the right behavior at the right time. Once Anderson was done with a horse, he was done with the horse. There’s one bit of equipment of Clinton Anderson’s I do adore, and that is his Aussie Tie Ring. Horses who pull back when tied are a danger to themselves and property. I don’t own tie rings because I’ve never needed them, but if I did, you can be sure I’d have a pair.
I’ve never seen Pat Parelli in person. I certainly know that his television shows and DVDs are inspiring, but it’s a fine bit of merchandising and showmanship. I love watching him walk around an arena moving a horse about with just his body language. Seems like magic. But what are we missing between takes? What’s left after that? I admire anyone who can teach themselves how to use all his tools and skills without attending the dozens of clinics normally required.
The woman who took over my old barn in Afton is Parelli certified, and boyo is she a skilled trainer. Her horses turn out beautifully. She is not a bully, and her horses reflect that. But when I moved on to a barn farther away, where most of the training is done in the saddle, I missed the opportunity of watching ground work. I was the only one who did anything like that, and it was frowned upon. No round pen, a very large arena, full of jumps of all sizes, and suddenly I lost the desire to do the work. It showed in Maira’s behavior. Until I met Linda Tellington-Jones.
I’d love to know what, if any, tools you folks out there use in your ground work, and how you use them.
✔✔
Enjoy what you’re reading?
Vote for Enlightened Horsemanship daily at The Blog Village Top 100. Thanks so much!
blogposts
ouch! that splinter sounds like a nightmare!
i couldn’t agree more with your observations about clinton anderson and pat parelli. i don’t doubt they are good horsemen in their own arena, and i respect what they can accomplish with their horses, but i sometimes question their motivations…
i do a lot of work from the ground, so longeing and groundwork are subjects on which i have a lot of opinions! these days, traditional methods have become unfashionable, but i’ve found they work well for what i’m trying to accomplish with groundwork, with a few modifications…
my favorite way to longe is with a miklem multibridle headstall (which has a ring on the nose and light padding, but no metal,) a 20m longe line, a longe whip with a leather lash and a good surcingle. i also longe the horse with boots/polos, and i always wear gloves.
i don’t use side-reins or anything like them, even though most h/j-dressage trainers swear by them. i also dislike the ‘pessoa training system’ as i think it’s basically a head-setting device and a poor design.
my favorite longeing tool is a chambon. when used CORRECTLY it encourages the horse to stretch down and round without force and is a very forgiving piece of equipment that encourages and rewards relaxation. if it is adjusted and used properly, horses don’t fight with it or get tense, they understand it instantly and go beautifully in it, developing all the right muscles without tension, force, or resistance. but it’s probably also the most misunderstood training aid…
the other thing i use is just a good old fashioned pair of long reins with a surcingle attached to either a cavesson or a soft bit. or if a horse is quiet on the longe i may free-longe in just a halter for a change…
i think all good groundwork uses some elements of natural horsemanship such as body language, but the idea of chasing a horse around until it ‘gives up’ has never really made sense to me, if the same end result can be had by just working slowly and patiently until the horse understands what you’re asking. sorry for rambling on and on! like i said, i have a lot of opinions!
jme
That splinter was more like an entire cavaletti stuck in me, and very funny even at the time. I was, and still am, known as crash at that barn.
The headstall you describe sounds very much like the one used by Manolo Mendez. I really like it a lot. I will write more about Manolo in my next post.
The Pessoa I don’t like because the horse never gets a release.
I am embarrassed to say that I have never seen a Chambon used. If you can find some good video, let me know.
I would love to watch you work with the long rein and surcingle.
I LOVE people with opinions! I hate having a blog where I”m the only one in possession of them. See? Now I get to learn about Chambons!
i’m such a spaz that my family wants me to set up a web cam at the farm so they can laugh at me when i do stupid things (or call me an ambulance
like when i forget to take my spurs off for longeing and trip over them, etc. and, of course, winter never ends without at least one of my neighbors driving by and witnessing me sliding face-down superman-style on the ice in my driveway… sigh.
i’ll look around for some video of a chambon in use or i’ll make one myself when the weather improves and the horses go back to work. maybe i’ll post on that one of these days too – it’s not a very commonly used item, so most people haven’t been exposed to them much.
i used to think i was pretty good with the long reins until i picked up phillipe karl’s book on longeing…. the stuff he accomplishes is amazing!
i don’t know who manolo mendez is, but i’d love to read a post about him.
i know what you mean about opinions, and i’m glad you don’t mind them either. i’m always appreciative of a new perspective on things, which is probably part of why i am enjoying your blog
I’ll have to remember to visit more often!
Hahahhaaaa! jme, I want video of you sledding! Maybe you should wear a cape, too.
I certainly would appreciate video of a chambon used correctly.
I’m going to check out Phillipe Karl if you promise to check out Manolo Mendez. Deal?
And come anytime. Often. Good to see you here.
deal! i’m going to look him up right now. back soon
I like using long lines. When I was pregnant with my first, my trainer taught me how to ground drive my horse. She also taught me the basics of in hand work. I’ve come back to those techniques time and time again. The other “tool” I use a lot is cavaletti. I’ve used them with several horses to improve their trots and help them develop more suspension. Ground poles are also a great help when teaching a horse to jump.
liz
you are so lucky to be able to make use of longlines. I’ve had a few ground driving lessons that always end up with me tangled in the lines and the horse dragging me like an unruly carriage.
I love to watch a person with skill do long lining work.
cavaletti, when not stabbing or tripping me, are good friends to me as well. I think it’s pretty amazing that a tiny pole can be used to accomplish so much!
Owww! Still wincing at the thought of that splinter!
I do like a nice rope halter and 10-foot lead (8-foot for Acey, who is little bitty!) because I can do just about everything with it — lead, send, tie, circle, drive, whatever. I don’t use an accompanying stick, though, unless you count a regular lunge whip for liberty work when the horse is learning or having a lazy day.
For gentling, I like a 12-foot, soft cotton rope that won’t stretch. Great for desensitizing, early leading before the horse can be haltered, picking up feet, and such.
Tamara
Tamara
Sounds so gentle, so simple. Just the way I like it. I’d love toy see you work.
There is a Starting Young Horses Tellington TTouch Training every year at the Bitterroot Ranch in Montana (can you say, luxury?) that someday I’d love to go to. I’d like to see exactly how LTJ does it differently from, say, the way you do.