Happy Halloween!

Samhain and All Soul's Day or Dia de los Muertos - Day of the Dead

I tried to find a photo with a horse carved on a pumpkin. I love carving pumpkins! Roasting the seeds and eating them as I gave out candy. What a great way to celebrate this special day.

As you enjoy having kids come and get candy on this night ...

it's also a time to light a candle (perhaps a Jack O Lantern) and honour our loved ones who have passed on including our horses and other loved pets.

I, being a widow for some years now, take this time to light a candle for my husband Steve who passed on. I also light a candle for other dear horses, dogs, relatives and friends who have touched my life in some way.

Since this is a website about horses, may we always honour those special horses who have made our life that much more endearing. Babe, Charm, Runt, Boogie.

May you always have a great horse in your life!

Reinersue
©Copyright KISS Reiners

Lead Changes - Part 2 - The Parts

Happy Halloween (or Samhain) everyone!

SO..... I want to talk more about Lead Changes and the secret to lead changes...

which is... TO DO YOUR HOMEWORK (Please see previous article for info here.)

I tell my students that IF you teach your horse the preceeding steps (or foundation basic steps) to whatever skill that you want to teach your horse, then the last part of the skill is easy. It's merely the next step in the process.

The horse is prepared and ready to learn the last step which is what you are trying to teach them.
And then you can move onto the next stage of training or skill that you want to teach your horse. And so on and so on!

And the beauty of teaching the foundation basic steps is that they often apply to more than one skill.

I also use this same step-wise progression method (ie. training scale) to teach my students as well. You start with the basics and work your way up to more advanced skills while learning effective horsemanship along the way.

It's a great confidence booster and there's no fear or concern. And let's not forget the fun!

"But I'm already doing that ..." say those frustrated riders out there who are having trouble.

I hear ya!

We all think that don't we! And it's true. We have done what we believe or have been told to do to get our horse to do something (in this case... lead changes)...

But. It's. Not. Working...*ARGH*.. (Can you hear that frustrated voice in your head saying that). Who hasn't from time to time.

What to Do?
If you find yourself doing all your can.... doing all you know... and you are getting no where or are afraid to try anything else for fear of screwing things up.... then

it's time to go back to the basics.

Something was forgotten. Something was missed in the initial or preceeding steps.
Go back and do your homework. Find the part or step that was missing, do it and then you can jump back up to the step you were working on.
In this case, we're talking about lead changes.. Let's get back to it shall we...
The Foundation Steps or Parts To The Lead Change
So the key, I think to doing a flying lead change effortlessly is knowing how to do all the previous steps or parts or basic skills that lead up to the flying lead change as I just mentioned.

Here are the parts or steps:

Step 1. Your horse has to know how to do a solid lead departure before they can do a lead change. This is a must. (The horse has to know how to pick up the correct lead on cue and lope off calmly in the direction requested.)
---But before they can do a lead departure, they have to know how to do a lope departure.
---But before a horse can do a proper lope departure, they have to know how to lope calmly on cue.
---But before a horse can lope on cue, the horse must know how to move off your leg willingly.
---(And to add to all these things the horse has to know how to do collection, flexing, steering and voice commands. ie. A solid foundation).

Step 2. Your horse has to know how to do a natural lead change before a flying lead change. The horse then knows the cue to change leads on request from the rider ( and also using a change of direction).
Step 3. The horse can then be taught how to do a flying lead change (not using a change in direction) on cue.

And then there are exercises like counter cantering and same circle lead changes that help a horse to balance and not anticipate a lead change.

Hope that helps with the understanding of the advanced maneuver or skill of a flying lead change.

They're not scary if you and your horse know all the steps or parts leading up to the change. It just tasks the time to teach the horse the foundation skills that lead up to it.

Good luck!
Questions and comments are always welcome.
If you need help with lead changes or anyting else, please contact me.
Reinersue
©Copyright KISS Reiners

100th Article!

The article titled "No Fear Lead Changes - Part 1 - The Secret' marks my 100th article on this website!

Yahoo! I'm so excited!

Please join me in toasting to the success of this website!

I hope people continue to enjoy and benefit from the information on this website!

Putting my own spin on things in writing.

Reinersue

Foundation Reining Training Centre

©Copyright KISS Reiners

No Fear Lead Changes - Part 1 - The Secret

I've been emailed recently from a visitor to this site (from Kansas) looking for information on how to train their horse to do a flying lead change.

I also have a perspective client locally here who wants help with flying lead changes as well so it's the perfect time to write about it. She can't get it done whenever she tries and the horse doesn't do them.

Fear About Lead Changes
We can have a fear about doing them. We're afraid that we might scare the horse, get them pissy and not be able to ever do them right. (Ooh... scary.... hay! good subject for Halloween. Scary stuff! :)

I know I did when I first started out. I was told by my coach at the time that I would never do them right. (Great help eh?) I became really self conscious that I was a failure with regards to lead changes.

I read in articles how flying lead changes are feared by lots of people.( No wonder with coaches who demoralize their students like that!)
It helped a little but still....

How was I EVER going to get them right. I was really frustrated. And of course, that only made things worse.
I remember that feeling... Not comfortable is it?

And if your horse doesn't do flying lead changes in competition... well... forget it. So, once again, needless to say, I wanted to learn how to teach my horse, any horse to master the flying lead change.

And I did! Bob Avila and Jack Brainard helped. And now I can help you. (Being nervous while competing and not getting the lead change is another story.)
Flying Lead Change - A Good Thing to Have
Doesn't matter if you not into reining, western riding or any other class at a competition that requires a flying lead change. It's a good thing to have on your horse.

It's part of the basic foundation that I put on a horse. You never know when you need it. And your horse has that much more training and knowledge.

The Secret to Flying Lead Changes
So what's the secret to eliminating your fear or whatever issues you have with doing flying lead changes and doing them with ease like the masters?

THE SECRET: DOING YOUR HOMEWORK

Remember in your school days when you were told to do your home work..... well... it's no different.

I believe the problem with most people who don't get their lead changes is because the rider or the horse are not ready for them. Their homework wasn't done. Most likely, riders don't even know there was homework to be done before the flying lead change.

The point to doing foundation training is to do all the basic or foundation steps that lead up to advanced maneuvers or training such as flying lead changes.
That way, it becomes just another step. You and your horse are ready and to learn the flying lead change is not that hard. (It's almost anti-climatic.)
I have 11 exercises leading up to doing a natural lead change which precedes the 1st exercise to doing a flying lead change. I also have 3 flying lead change exercises that teach a horse how to be balanced and flow effortlessly when they change leads on cue.

So you can see a horse and rider that doesn't change leads usually needs to go back to some basic or foundation work and review or revisit something the rider and/or the horse is missing.

More on flying lead changes in the next article.

p.s. This is my 100th article!
Questions and comments are always welcome.
Reinersue
©Copyright KISS Reiners

Good Confirmation in a Reining Horse

What Makes Good Confirmation in a Reining Horse? Or any horse?

(The picture on right gives a clue.... Can you tell? Answer below. Read on!)

I've been asked many times over the years to evaluate horses that might make a good reining horse. Or simply, asked for my opinion on what a horse would be most suited to do. I was asked to do that this week and thought I would share my ideas on conformation.

Stock Horses. Mainly Quarter Horses and Paints

Most horses that I look at are stock horses. Quarter horses and paints are used for many different events and both riding disciplines so the horses can range from a draft looking horse all the way to a sleek, fine race looking type.

 

If you are into confirmation like me, you enjoy any articles or programs that feature conformation examples. In the Horse&Rider magazine each month, I look at the conformation article and see if I can pick the order that the judge is asked to pick on best conformation. I get it every time! (Halter horses are a whole different story!)

Of course, I studied it in school as well. And it's something I do all the time when I see horses. I look at their confirmation to know their abilities. Just like I look at a horse's pedigree. It's something I check. (more on pedigrees in a moment).

Form to Function

Most people have heard of the 'Form to Function' concept. The horse has to be built to perform the job asked. It's truer the more the horse is asked to perform athletically.

The horse is able to do their job easily if they are built to do it. And importantly, we wouldn't want them to break down or become lame (or permenantly harmed) by performing their work.

If you have a look at websites and magazines or study in school (http://www.horsecoursesonline.com/) then you will learn what makes good conformation. It's a good thing to know! 

Good leg alignment. Good bone. 'No foot. No horse!'

Body in proportion. Short back. Sloping croup. Low set tail. Big, kind eyes.

Clear throat latch. Low set hocks.

The horse is a great mover. The horse floats when they lope. Changes leads effortlessly.

There is a list that you can find in a lot of places on the Internet.

Exceptions to the Rule. Or are they?

Why does it seem like there are exceptions to the rule with regards to confirmation? A horse with a poor neck or poor front legs or a straight shoulder or long back can become greats! Why is that?

Why We Look At Pedigrees

To me, a horse has to be trainable. The horse has to have the temperament and willingness to learn. That's why we look at pedigrees. A horse with champions on their pedigree will give us some idea if the horse will be trainable (but not always). ie. Will be willing and have a kind temperament and disposition to learn and go on to be a great horse. (Pedigrees also tell us the bloodlines quite suited to the event we want to do and the conformation that works.) Looking at pedigrees just increases our odds.
 

All horses have SOMETHING about their confirmation that isn't IDEAL. No horse is perfect. So some horses can over come their flaws if they are trainable. They have the temperament and willingness to work with you. THEY GOT TRY.

I'm getting really tired of trying to train or start a horse who's belligerent or unwilling to learn. I had horses this year who sent me to emergency and I can't keep doing that if I want to keep training. I'm getting smarter (thankfully). I shipped the horse back home. Some other trainer has been able to work with them. Update: The horse eventually broke the owner's shoulder in 15 places. Ouch.

Finally, Horses Gotta Have Heart

The really great horses have HEART. Literally, they have a hugh heart. (If I find the article outlining the study, I will put the link in here).

The great horse's like Secretariat and Northern Dancer were found to have a hugh heart.

Metaphysically, the horses with a great, big, kind heart with tons and tons of try, make the best horse's.

 

Humankind is blessed to have them.

As for the above photo? We're you able to tell what I'm talking about? They have PRESENSE. You can see it in the eyes..... The magic and mystery found in the eyes. 'The eyes are the window to the soul.'

May you always have a horse with a big heart!

Any questions on conformation or an evaluation, please contact me.

Reinersue

©Copyright KISS Reiners