Mr. Ross, I just discovered your videos. I truly appreciate your quiet style and calm way of explaining to me, the human, and to the equine partner. I've been binge-watching since 6 AM, it's now almost 9 AM! and I plan to come back. Anyway, I just got a new mare, and between new home, new herd and new people, she is pretty worried., so I was looking for ways to establish a relationship with her. I think you are going to help us a lot!
Oh wow! That's a whole deeper thought process!! It makes absolute sense though! I don't want my horse to just react. I want him to respond with his mind. That makes sure he is present and aware of the intent. Not just the movement, but aware of the purpose. So he is using his mind as much as his body. So he is focused on how, what, when , where and why. Being fully present and not just a tool?
I last watched this 2 years ago. In between there have been influences that have got me driving my horse instead of directing him. The difference in my horse was not as subtle as Guy’s. My horse bucked and roared. He was totally unhappy with that kind of pressure and made his opinion of it VERY clear. I did have to drive him harder to get his attitude turned around. I don’t want to go there again. That brought me back to your videos. We had done better before and I will pay attention to my approach. Thank you, Ross.
One of the most important videos I've ever watched. If you've had Parelli's Seven Games pounded into you, you view the "skill" of driving the horse as one of number of end goals. Here we see that there's a place for driving, but that it's kind of an intermediate skill, on the way to directing the horse, which is the actual goal. It's like when you're teaching a horse to neck rein, you lay the rein on the horse's neck and if nothing happens, which will be the case at the beginning, you support that by turning the horse via direct rein. Eventually the first cue is all you need. Thank you so much for this.
Thank you very much for this, definitely food for thought 👍! I just started riding and did a lot of research, the more i hear and learn the more i wish that we'd be taught like this from the beginning.
Deep insights. Thank you for sharing your immense wisdom. Ray Hunt said feeling a horse whilst riding was like balancing a broom stick on the end of one's finger. Calibration is one of my favorite words. Draw the mind.. the feet will follow..
Thanks for this! I use the words leading(directing) and explaining(driving). In my mind this ties in to the clarity of the feel I'm presenting. If I allways end up explaining the same thing over and over I'd better to look into the various parts of the whole process. Maybe use some outsider to pinpoint what I missed.
Great thoughts! I was trying to explain to someone how that "soft ask" becomes a cue that you want the horse to learn, just like you associate verbal cues with luring or your physical cues when you're teaching a dog to sit. Classical conditioning 101. Give the "new" cue before you give the "known" cue, but the "driving" cue can be inserted as well. Always good to put the focus on TRAINING vs. controlling. Your ideas about moving with or away from are excellent!
Wow! This talk is so important to me. I havent been happy with lunging for a long time. Too much driving means the relationship changes, falls apart. This explains it very well. Thank you. Much to think about here.
Excellent information! I live in North Texas and all the “cowboy” trainers are trying the Old School methods and driving to excess. I’ve always thought they were comprising their relationships with the horse. I’m told I’m too soft with my mare, but I feel we have a relationship that many don’t. I will be directing my girl with as little driving as I can. Thanks for your work in sharing these videos. They are appreciated!
Oh my goodness I want to get along and more ! I want my Young Horse to grow up confidence and not worried . Especially when He is with me . When I first walk up to Little Bear , I greet him and open the gate slowly. I know he knows to back up now . So I open the gate very slow to allow Him to do what He learned without me telling him. He does it is as if We are doing something together. No words or hand motions anymore . It’s great . Then I do lots of pets all over . And then ask Him to come with me with by my voice and Hand motion . He always thinks for a second , and lowers His head and walks with me .. Same thing on a lead rope . I need him gelded soon , so we stay in his corral . What I am doing so far , is that what you were talking about ? This video and all of the videos I have watched of yours , have been priceless. Hello to Michelle 💜🐴💜Laura and Bear
This is really very important stuff that you were talking about. A revelation to me that I can see I will constantly be revisiitng. I would so love to be directing most of the time whilst not being afarid to fall back on driving if I am teaching new ways of understanding to the horse or some major distraction is causeing problems fo rthe horse and they are not able to listen. I shall have to play this video quite a lot to get fully what you are saying. Many thanks Ross. Simple direct and very informative.
Good clip Ross well explained. The other ones are all worth watching as well.Keep up the good work . People should always be aware of the affect their ideas are having on the horses. Especially long term..
Ross, Would you address the value of a horse being soft and supple in the head and neck? Especially the concept of “Rolling the Jaw” or relaxing at the Atlanto Occipital joint.
What do you mean "the value of it.."? I see tension as an indicator of either physical or emotional problems. Personally, I don't break these issues into body parts. I know many people talk about relaxing the jaw and doing exercises to relax the jaw or the neck. I don't see the point. Fix the problem that causes the tension, not the jaw or the neck - they are just symptoms.
This is what I have been looking for - for 10 years. I've wanted a relationship with my mustang. I thought he would always be independent, just tolerating and cooperating more or less. I can see the desire of my heart coming to pass!
This has been a game changer for me and my horse. I love your instruction. Thank you for making these videos. My relationship with my horse is stronger and more enjoyable for us both.
The principle is the same whether on the ground or in the saddle. Ask a horse to think where you want them to go and that becomes directing. So if a horse won't go forward from the leg, you would ask using your seat and legs in a polite manner to encourage them to think forward. If the horse doesn't get it, do more and get them to move forward with you. Then stop, ask again to think forward. Keep repeating as many times as necessary until when you ask politely with the first ask, the horse looks ahead and it weighs nothing for them to move with zero emotional trouble or resistance. I'm doing a series of videos at the moment taken from the principles explained in my book, The Essence of Good Horsemanship. The next video on the list to shoot discusses this question and I will be demonstrating a few different scenarios of riding a horse and teaching them to be direct-able. However, these videos will only be available on a subscription site that I am building. Unfortunately, they won't appear here. Sorry.
Look at his sensitive sweet face. Love hot breeds love how attentive they are and how sensitive. They notice every, they notice your moods, I think why they are so spooky, is because they are so smart, they are constantly thinking and trying to understand things. Most loyal of partners. Arabians, Saddlebreds, Thoroughbreds, Morgan Horses, Hackney Horses. Have a Saddlebred and a Hackney both very much like Arabians. Saddlebreds are extremely sensitive and care how they are handled greatly.
Mr. Ross, I just discovered your videos. I truly appreciate your quiet style and calm way of explaining to me, the human, and to the equine partner. I've been binge-watching since 6 AM, it's now almost 9 AM! and I plan to come back.
Anyway, I just got a new mare, and between new home, new herd and new people, she is pretty worried., so I was looking for ways to establish a relationship with her. I think you are going to help us a lot!
Oh wow! That's a whole deeper thought process!! It makes absolute sense though! I don't want my horse to just react. I want him to respond with his mind. That makes sure he is present and aware of the intent. Not just the movement, but aware of the purpose. So he is using his mind as much as his body. So he is focused on how, what, when , where and why. Being fully present and not just a tool?
I last watched this 2 years ago. In between there have been influences that have got me driving my horse instead of directing him. The difference in my horse was not as subtle as Guy’s. My horse bucked and roared. He was totally unhappy with that kind of pressure and made his opinion of it VERY clear. I did have to drive him harder to get his attitude turned around. I don’t want to go there again. That brought me back to your videos. We had done better before and I will pay attention to my approach. Thank you, Ross.
I wish all horses be understood like you do understand them. Building from respect, trust not fear. Lifetime foundations. Thank you Ross.
Thank you Ross. I love your explanations. Lots to think about.
One of the most important videos I've ever watched. If you've had Parelli's Seven Games pounded into you, you view the "skill" of driving the horse as one of number of end goals. Here we see that there's a place for driving, but that it's kind of an intermediate skill, on the way to directing the horse, which is the actual goal. It's like when you're teaching a horse to neck rein, you lay the rein on the horse's neck and if nothing happens, which will be the case at the beginning, you support that by turning the horse via direct rein. Eventually the first cue is all you need. Thank you so much for this.
You explain fantastically! Just subscribed! Continue with you're amazing videos!
Wonderful video, thank you! Definitely gonna check out more :)
Thank you very much for this, definitely food for thought 👍! I just started riding and did a lot of research, the more i hear and learn the more i wish that we'd be taught like this from the beginning.
Thanks. That was really helpful.
Deep insights. Thank you for sharing your immense wisdom. Ray Hunt said feeling a horse whilst riding was like balancing a broom stick on the end of one's finger. Calibration is one of my favorite words. Draw the mind.. the feet will follow..
Thanks for this! I use the words leading(directing) and explaining(driving). In my mind this ties in to the clarity of the feel I'm presenting. If I allways end up explaining the same thing over and over I'd better to look into the various parts of the whole process. Maybe use some outsider to pinpoint what I missed.
Great thoughts! I was trying to explain to someone how that "soft ask" becomes a cue that you want the horse to learn, just like you associate verbal cues with luring or your physical cues when you're teaching a dog to sit. Classical conditioning 101. Give the "new" cue before you give the "known" cue, but the "driving" cue can be inserted as well. Always good to put the focus on TRAINING vs. controlling. Your ideas about moving with or away from are excellent!
Wow! This talk is so important to me. I havent been happy with lunging for a long time. Too much driving means the relationship changes, falls apart. This explains it very well. Thank you. Much to think about here.
Excellent information! I live in North Texas and all the “cowboy” trainers are trying the Old School methods and driving to excess. I’ve always thought they were comprising their relationships with the horse. I’m told I’m too soft with my mare, but I feel we have a relationship that many don’t. I will be directing my girl with as little driving as I can. Thanks for your work in sharing these videos. They are appreciated!
Oh my goodness I want to get along and more ! I want my Young Horse to grow up confidence and not worried . Especially when He is with me . When I first walk up to Little Bear , I greet him and open the gate slowly. I know he knows to back up now . So I open the gate very slow to allow Him to do what He learned without me telling him. He does it is as if We are doing something together. No words or hand motions anymore . It’s great . Then I do lots of pets all over . And then ask Him to come with me with by my voice and Hand motion . He always thinks for a second , and lowers His head and walks with me .. Same thing on a lead rope . I need him gelded soon , so we stay in his corral . What I am doing so far , is that what you were talking about ? This video and all of the videos I have watched of yours , have been priceless. Hello to Michelle 💜🐴💜Laura and Bear
Just found your videos!
You explain so well. No confusion here😊🐎🐎
excellent video. Thank you for sharing your knowledge
I'm afraid this will take me another couple of months to figger this out. If that's enough?
This is really very important stuff that you were talking about. A revelation to me that I can see I will constantly be revisiitng. I would so love to be directing most of the time whilst not being afarid to fall back on driving if I am teaching new ways of understanding to the horse or some major distraction is causeing problems fo rthe horse and they are not able to listen. I shall have to play this video quite a lot to get fully what you are saying. Many thanks Ross. Simple direct and very informative.
Good clip Ross well explained. The other ones are all worth watching as well.Keep up the good work . People should always be aware of the affect their ideas are having on the horses. Especially long term..
Thanks Mark.
Mark Langley my sentiments too
Great video. Alice, please find Ross. 😔
That is so sweet of you to feel that.
Excellent. I love this.
Ross,
Would you address the value of a horse being soft and supple in the head and neck? Especially the concept of “Rolling the Jaw” or relaxing at the Atlanto Occipital joint.
What do you mean "the value of it.."? I see tension as an indicator of either physical or emotional problems. Personally, I don't break these issues into body parts. I know many people talk about relaxing the jaw and doing exercises to relax the jaw or the neck. I don't see the point. Fix the problem that causes the tension, not the jaw or the neck - they are just symptoms.
Harry Whitney told me “ Driving is the last thing you go to and the first thing you stop if you want ‘with-you-ness’.”
Harry is one of the few that practices this principle. Many talk it, but few practice is.
What a breakthrough for me.
This is what I have been looking for - for 10 years. I've wanted a relationship with my mustang. I thought he would always be independent, just tolerating and cooperating more or less. I can see the desire of my heart coming to pass!
Someone please tell me who is Alice
Just curious who Alice is?
This has been a game changer for me and my horse. I love your instruction. Thank you for making these videos. My relationship with my horse is stronger and more enjoyable for us both.
A world of responses Ross. Thank you
Alice 👍🌹💕🌈
How do we “Direct” while in the saddle?
The principle is the same whether on the ground or in the saddle. Ask a horse to think where you want them to go and that becomes directing. So if a horse won't go forward from the leg, you would ask using your seat and legs in a polite manner to encourage them to think forward. If the horse doesn't get it, do more and get them to move forward with you. Then stop, ask again to think forward. Keep repeating as many times as necessary until when you ask politely with the first ask, the horse looks ahead and it weighs nothing for them to move with zero emotional trouble or resistance.
I'm doing a series of videos at the moment taken from the principles explained in my book, The Essence of Good Horsemanship. The next video on the list to shoot discusses this question and I will be demonstrating a few different scenarios of riding a horse and teaching them to be direct-able. However, these videos will only be available on a subscription site that I am building. Unfortunately, they won't appear here. Sorry.
Very helpful info. Thanks. Alice
I get it! This makes sooo much sense. Works with every living thing.
Really enjoy your videos! Such an honor to watch
Look at his sensitive sweet face. Love hot breeds love how attentive they are and how sensitive. They notice every, they notice your moods, I think why they are so spooky, is because they are so smart, they are constantly thinking and trying to understand things. Most loyal of partners. Arabians, Saddlebreds, Thoroughbreds, Morgan Horses, Hackney Horses. Have a Saddlebred and a Hackney both very much like Arabians. Saddlebreds are extremely sensitive and care how they are handled greatly.
They notice all the littlest differences and changes.
Thank You! ☺️