Dear Warwick. Great video. I relate to what you are saying. I had a bad fall at a Parelli Clinic in Condamine Qld Australia. No one wanted to talk about it afterwards. I was flown to Toowoomba Hospital and discharged the next day with 11 broken posterior ribs, broken collarbone, little fractures on spinus and transverse processes. Treated with little regard. There were 7 horses including me riding in a group. Just walking. Then all 7 horses got spooked and two riders fell off. I think it was caused by a thirteen year old horse that was restarted and it was behind, i think he got spooked and it made all the other horses spook, his rider fell off too but didnt get any broken bones. She fell off again 3 days later whilst being in a demonstration with the instructor . Thats when I realised, this horse may have caused the horses to spook the day I was injured. My horse that we bred and was started by this Parelli instructor prior to me arriving for the clinic. The clinic was a two week clinic "getting to know your horse" after being started. Anyway, it still niggles at me and makes me sad and disappointed. Weeks later I rang that hospital back to tell them of all my fractures that they didnt pick up on except my collarbone. I told them I was booked into surgery to get my collarbone realighned. I told them how one of their staff spoke to me condescendingly, telling me her name then saying, "I dont fall off horses to end up in hospital". I was discharged with only light painkillers and had to go back to that clinic to feed my horse ( the instructor drove 3 hours to get me from hospital) and wait a week until my family drove 8 hours or more to get me and our horse. Sorry for the long rant. I guess the story triggered my memory. Thankyou for reading this if you found it here.
I did the same with my first"green broke" horse when I was in my 50's. Lots of desensitizing and groundwork. People got impatient with me but Cisco was a 5 year old who needed lots of time to read his environment.
@@galloping3265 Gosh, what is the rush? Enjoy your time together with your equine, right? People got SO impatient with me too, when I was working with my then 4 year old racetrack rescue stallion. There were zero deadlines, no schedule, and nothing that I was neglecting in my professional or personal life. He and I were just having fun together and learning. He was learning how to be a saddle horse / safe companion animal, and how to just live outside of a very narrow set of parameters (the race track environment). Other people at the barn were push push pushing me to ride him. Why?? Meanwhile we'd go for long walks, lunge training, and just play games in the paddock. When I finally did ride him there were movement kinks to work out, but I felt very safe with him because our communication was golden. Within a few months of riding he was going bitless and I was mostly letting him have his head free 100%. Wow, did folks have a giant freak out then. First I was "too slow", then I was going "too far". He was the sweetest, friendliest, gentlest horse at that barn. People can be so short sighted and narrow minded.
This is so true!!! When I trail ride I tell folks before hand I am not a talker on the trail. Most women want to have long emotional conversation trail riding. Last time I got sucked into a "horse training" conversation and a black bear crossed our path. I ended up with a broken collar bone. If I had listen to my horse who smelled the bear many minutes before seen I would never have landed on the ground. I talk to my horse and stay in the moment with her. Thank you for this video and all your videos. I was waiting for the cat to crawl up the horses blanket... ;-)
Please never apologize for releasing long videos. They really are a treat, and I can't wait until I can save up and subscribe to your video series. Something that I need to learn is how to say "No!" to the folks at the barn where I lease. I came out to work on my horse's ground work and yielding to pressure, but the owner wanted us to hand walk our horses. When I went out to get him, I could tell he was really nervous. Even though I didn't want to go and he was nervous, we went anyway. The whole time he was speeding up ahead of me, pushing into me, and eventually he froze on the trail and tried to spook and run away. If I had just been firm and said no so I could attend to my horse, he and I wouldn't have had to experience such a scary and unpleasant walk. When I got back, I sent him around in a circle to blow off steam and he laid right down and rolled in the first 10 minutes. That would have been a much more pleasant day if we had stayed in.
EXCELLENT TALK @warwickschiller..I have been told many many times that I am a "fusspot" because of the way I handle every horse that I touch...That I should just get on and ride the damn thing..not lead it round all the time!! You just eased my mind that the groundwork and the way I act round horses is the right and safe way..Thank you
I've been helping a friend with her horses for over a year and still haven't ridden one. I'm feeling frustrated about that, but I'm aware I'm still just learning ground work.
The title should read "The theory about flying ducks and roller coasters, and how unlucky the number 7 is when you ride on a plane" This is absolutely fantastic, love how you talk, how you process information, and how you connect random dots and still, it makes perfect sense. You are an inspiration and I learn so much listening to you.
Well not a head injury - but I had a "freak" back injury a month ago. OK, let's look at the duck signs - 1) been clipped that day, 2)had the farrier, 3) not been out in the pasture for two days due to completely sodden ground, 4) allowed to spend twenty minutes licking sugary lick while being clipped, 5) not been ridden for a week, 6) i wanted to do a particular exercise in the school no matter what, 7) spooky about noises behind the tall hedge alongside the school - and what happened? Out of the blue, when I said please come back to trot - he said NO. I said yes, he said Go flying then mum! Who bucked - he did. Whose missed the signs that something was going to happen - I did. Now this 52 year old and this 20 year old are going to go back to school and learn how to do things properly. Thanks Warwick for making so much sense that we wonder why we never thought of it ourselves!
This is one of the best videos I have watched and should be compulsory watching for anyone starting their horsemanship journey. I have been following you Warwick for the past 2 years and it has transformed the way I interact and work with my horses. Your frankness and approach makes so much sense. I am so much more "keyed in" to my horses and I think they are just as happy about that as I am. I am so much more centered and patient and observant within myself when working with my horses. My confidence is really starting to develop. I find that I know how to approach issues and find the answers so much more effectively than before.I think through the "why" and "what next" so much better. I know that my knowledge and approach now (and as it grows in the future) gives me the best possible chance to have a safe and great relationship with my horses. I can not thank you enough for sharing all this with me and others. So appreciated.
As a driving instructor I can say the same thing applies to driving. People excuse their involvement by saying 'It was an accident' . My response is 'No it was more likely a carelessness.'
My Haflinger was a super spooky girl. She's awesome now, but every once in a while, she has a really bad day. One day, with many guests visiting our barn, kids, dogs, farm equipment, etc going on, I decided I would ride anyway, even though she was not acting calm. We encountered a quad, she was about to snap. I went on, took our favorite dog with us like a normal day. We were heading back to the barn and I called for the dog to come. The dog ran past us about 100 mph on the left side, with Spirit spooking so hard to the right, I was hanging sideways, she spooked again as I was reaching for the saddle horn, and there was no fixing it. I waited til a mud puddle went by and dropped myself off onto the hard, dirt road. Who's fault was it? Mine. I refused to pay attention to the signs aka the flying ducks. Lesson learned. Great video! 👍👍👍👍👍
Thank you! About to start an unbacked rescue mare I’ve had 6mths. My very un-horsey Husband asks why haven’t you got on her yet you’ve had her 6mths now shouldn’t you be off riding her down the village by now. I know there’s a lot of groundwork needed and trust issues to work on first. I have no help just me, horse is at home. So more difficult obviously. I have always been very cautious around horses and with this one especially for some reason, she gives me those vibes lol. This video has helped and emphasized for me why I am taking my time and that I’m right not to hurry. Thank you great video as always.
This video always stands out in my mind as the most profound as it helped me realize I don't have to stand by the old adage of 'being afraid and saddling up anyway'. There were many times I would recognize that my horse was upset, but rather than respond to that with patience, curiosity, and a desire to work on the fear, I would just hop on and expect things to sort themselves out. I could create some 'wet saddle blankets', and things would be ok. This clearly didn't work for my horse, and only made me feel frustrated, fearful, and out of control. After seeing this video something just clicked with me, and I was able to take my ego out of the equation. I realized that I didn't have to do things that way any longer. I could pay attention to what my horse was telling me and if that meant not riding, or getting off in the middle of a ride so be it. There is no shame in being smart and present, rather than stubborn and egotistical. Thank you for all of your videos! #journeyon20
I also relate to the part of talking to people about their accidents, and how it's difficult to really investigate what could have happened to cause it. I work as a nurse on a trauma unit, and we do get the occasional horse accident. Of course I am always very curious what happened, but try to tread lightly as people are typically quite traumatized. In one accident the first time rider was riding a dude horse on a guided trail ride. She said her horse spooked, ran away, and bucked her off at the very end of the ride, almost back to the barn. Of course a completely inexperienced person who assumes she is on a very gentle horse wouldn't recognize the signs that her horse was upset and likely suffering from pretty severe DA, but surely her guides should have seen the horse was getting overwhelmed, and there was an accident brewing. This video just opened my eyes to a new level of awareness, that in turn has given me more confidence in my ability to read my horse and respond appropriately 😊 #journeyon20
Good examples, makes sense to me. I'm in my 70ies and I sure as hell don't want to be a victim. I will take as long as it takes before I get on one of my young horses, that includes having a good quiet rider on them before I get on. I have been following you for a while, and really respect your evolution. Thank you. Jw.
Brilliant presentation clearly shows through great metaphors that we need to be more perceptive and aware. Learning to read a horse is an everyday process.
I had an accident three years ago that resulted in a broken pelvis and three fractured spines. Looking back now, it was easily avoidable. My horse had severe ulcers and would have been in a lot of pain, I was also in a bad mindset: I was determined to ride no matter what, because I wanted to blow off steam. I had also just brought my horses home from two weeks away at another property. I took my horse out into the bush alone for a trail ride. So many signs. I ignored them all. That accident put me in a wheelchair, not permanently thankfully, but I am lucky to be alive. I wish I had just taken the time to think, to reconsider my decisions, instead of just pushing on, so pigheaded and selfish. I am much more thoughtful now around horses, probably to the point of being too cautious, but the alternative is just not worth it.
@@sidilicious11thank you for asking! I have ridden since then, maybe a handful of times, but not for at least 2 years now. I'm currently working on my confidence and fitness, with a view to getting back into riding as a regular thing! Warwick's approach is helping a lot, I'm noticing the small things when working with my horses and so far it's making a big difference for me and them ^_^
@@rhythmandblues_alibi it’s so interesting that you wrote back now because I am recovering from a hard fall off my horse just over a month ago. Luckily no broken bones but it was shocking and kept me in bed for several weeks, and only in the last week have I been able to walk without hobbling and move without so much pain. I have had lots of time to see what I could have done differently, and what I might do to go forward with this horse in safer and more enjoyable ways. I’m really looking forward to it.
@@sidilicious11 oh no! I'm so sorry to hear that. Glad to hear that you're approaching things igoing forward in a philosophical way. I hope you are fully healed and back on your horse soon! Horses are truly humbling aren't they.
Great video Warwick! I really think this is the #1 thing I learned from you, to really notice how my horse is with whatever I am working on that day. Getting things perfect, taking that time, knowing when something is off. I used to be the person who needed their horse held to get on.
Yes Warwick evey accident I have had with my horses was "operator error" the signs are there and I am getting better , because of you to read the signs. thank you Val
A few months back I started riding my horse without saddle, halter or anything and I only do it when everythings "perfect": No spooking on the pasture, standing perfectly still while grooming, relaxed in the arena ... I just never connected it to awareness... that video will give me quite a lot to think about, thanks so much !!! oh, and LOVE LOVE LOVE your cat :-)
I couldn't agree more! I have thought about this so much. Not necessarily in the "outliers" 7 mistake sort of way, but in the read the signs and what happened before what happened, happened sort of way. I have been training horses and people for a number of years, and the longer I do it the more and more important this principle becomes. Horse riding can be an incredibly dangerous sport if you're not constantly paying attention. That's what my old boss used to always tell me, "Pay attention!". Thanks for sharing your thoughts, keep up the good work.
Good video! Reminds me of an accident that occurred with my horse, which could have been avoided had I thought ahead more. I hadn't been riding her for long at the time: maybe only a year, so I didn't know her very well, or at least as well as I do now. I was relaxing after working in the arena, and took her into the paddock for a little cool-off ride. On the way back I met up with two friends who had been riding off property, and had just returned. I tailed along onto the back of the ride, dropped the reins, happy to relax the rest of the way. In hindsight, a very bad idea! My horse is one of the lead mares in her paddock, and likes to be at the front of a ride. She tends to get very testy and irritated when placed at the back. She is also very smart, and she knows when she's been given the chance to act up. Loose reins, laidback posture: it's the recipe for trouble. And trouble I got. She decided she would be the first one back to the stables, kicked up her feet and threw me off in what I must say was a very impressive buck, which landed my in hospital with a broken collarbone; snapped clean in half! I wasn't able to ride for about 2 months while I healed, understandably, and we weren't exactly on the best of terms once I did get back to riding her: first thing she did when I went to catch her again was give my a nasty bite on my chest that's left me with a scar. But I learnt from all of that. I understand what I did wrong, in terms of reading the signs and knowing my horse better. 4 years on and we get on brilliant now. There's the occasional bump now and again, as she is known for having a bit of attitude when she doesn't want to do something (aka she's very lazy and doesn't like doing work) but she certainly enjoys being with me far more now, and I enjoy being with her!
I love to see a part two added with more tips , especially for riding safety. This makes a lot of sense what you are saying. I also plan to pass this idea along to my students.
This video is a treasure chest of information and observations that should be opened by everybody -- not just horse people. I have another book to recommend, Warwick: "How to Improve Your Thinking Ability". I admire you so much!
Sign: “Warning: I’f duck, duck. Specially Fabio”. Very good video. Half of the accidents I’ve had my brain was already telling me “this could be dangerous”. And I still did it. Now I’m older and thus more like you, very observant of even minor signs. Thank you, Javier. (P.s. I know Gladwell)
Thank you Yah for answering my prayers and bringing me to this channel. Thank you Mr. Warwick (and wife) for saving lives with education and heart. I am inspired to power watch your playlists, and put good use to what I learn. All the Best!
This old dog trainer has gotten some fame for something I say about biting dogs: It's never the first time. Meaning, when someone brings me a dog saying that the dog bit someone and it never did before, when I start asking questions invariably I find out that, while the dog may never have actually bitten before, there were plenty of signs that the dog was leading up to a bite. There was a whole series of prior incidents where the dog might have bitten but things just hadn't lined up quite that way before. Tangential thought: often people don't see the signs in their dogs because they've projected their own view of "this is what a dog is and does" onto their dog without ever realising that their dog had not read that book. Many dog owners don't realise that somewhere between 90% to 95% of all dog bites are motivated by fear. The owners often have the idea of biting as an aggressive attack that they totally misinterpret all the times the dog showed fear. They didn't realise that a fearful dog is literally about 1000% more likely to bite than a very self confident dog.
It gets up my nose when 'freak accident', 'suddenly' and 'without warning' gets applied to animals. No such thing, doesn't happen. People paying attention can see it coming a mile off. A series of events lining up to produce a particular circumstance can also be called a 'concatenation'
Golden Yup... my spooky horse bolted with me holding onto his lead rope about two weeks ago. I saw it coming. He got scared first by the other horses playing in the water, started freezing and looking around. I continued to lead him, and as we were walking and he was already nervous, a few of the colts kicked up and decided to canter over. The stampede spooked my already nervous horse, he feared and started circling, and I nearly had him under control when they bolted again- and he decided to bolt with them, I let go before I had the chance to get dragged, but I knew that wasn’t entirely my horse’s fault. He needs a few more lessons on respecting the person at the end of the rope, but he was already nervous, I know he’s spooky, and I’m still somewhat new to this. I’m sure I could have used better body language so he didn’t have the opportunity. It was a bit random, but I knew it wasn’t going to go well when they started stampeding, especially knowing he was already amped up. If you pay attention to your horse, you can see the signs. I didn’t expect a stampede- but I did expect my horse to panic.
Animals can do things suddenly or out of character but its being about being prepared. Easier to spot in a pet. I had a boar attack me once. But I never trusted any boar so had my plastic board/shield. Never did it before but I was prepared so I didn't t get hurt and sent him to the slaughterhouse.
@@nulla.9045 - I'm so glad both you & your horse are OK. I hope you subscribe or perhaps buy W.S's. training videos. From learning, I really hope you'll come to learn that your horse, esp. under scary conditions - doesn't need to "learn to respect you" - but rather needs to TRUST YOU to be his/her Herd Leader. Your horse needs to trust that you will protect him/her. THAT is exactly why your horse ran off w/ the other horses. It's primal in horses - that a herd keeps them safer... than remaining by your side. I hope you can reframe your goal that instead of respect (usually fear based) from your horse - that your horse chooses to remain by your side because he/she TRUSTS you to keep him safe. That's a worthy goal. Good luck & stay safe... and smart!
Ignored the signs could be deadly. In 2016, I had a significant fall (my first in a decade). Broke many bones (hips included) which did require surgery and took 6 months to recover (ride again). The perfect storm. A rainy day, windy (trees were cracking), slippery, loose saddle (because ...), very tight trail (trees all around), riding alone (deep in the wood), the mare was getting nervous and snored many times (she saw something threatening), and more ... I simply redirected her feet hoping to calm her (overly self-confident -- it always worked in the past -- my daily horse ridden for more than 10 years with no significant issues) and then booooom (a built up of anxiety). I had many many signs. The good thing, I have learned a lot for this experience. I now pay "more" attention and respect the signs, the environment, and so on). Nothing freak about my accident (just lack of mindfulness and too sure of myself and cocky). Being mindful (in a true sense) is a life saver and the only way to stay connected with your horse. Horse by nature live in the present moment (mindful) and they know when you are not (they can feel it). They feel left alone (no leader) and start worrying about their surrounding (my humble opinion ... I am no horse whisperer). Final note. I am French which explains my writing. Great video (as usual). Many many thanks.
Great video! We had a palomino mare in that had flipped over on someone last year. Just as you said, read the signs. All the little things make for big wrecks.
Warwick, your talk here brought to mind the term "normalizing deviations", used to describe one of the common accident precursors. Things which aren't quite right, or not well understood, are explained away and accepted as normal, and because there's often no immediate negative result this further justifies the acceptance behavior and continued operations. You get comfortable doing things you shouldn't be doing. Until the cold morning comes when those sub-par solid rocket booster O-rings can't handle the stress and just like that, your Space Shuttle and seven astronauts are gone. Recognize warning signs. Ask questions. Get answers. Act upon them, whether it's your horse or a rocket.
I’m a retired safety professional, having worked at chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturing sites where safety is VERY important. We only learn if we’re willing to openly discuss “accidents”.
I tend to agree with you, I was wondering if the cat was going to add to your number of incidents to go wrong, you have an interesting history with cats & horses!
Makes perfect sense. I wouldn't call it "reading the signs" though. I'd call it "listening to your horse." In all relationships, people need to be mindful and listen to what the other one (horse or person) has to say. I have found that when my horse knows I will listen, he doesn't have a reason to freak out; he knows that he just has to find a way to communicate his concerns to me, and that he does. Great video !!
This is the best horse safety video I have seen so far . Makes me think back to last week when I got fed up with my whip and threw it on the ground whilst riding a horse I’ve been told isn’t spooky but how do I really know that . So silly . Newbie with much to learn . Thanks a lot for the excellent advice .
It's worrying just how many people don't read their horses well. A lot of riders know their horse is worried about things and instead of dealing with it they just accept that's just the was the horse behaves and just get on and ride. So each time they ride they are already on 6. I spent 6 months of groundwork with my new horse (largely following warricks Thoughbred training techniques) and took the time that it takes. Warrick, Rick Gore on his Think Like A Horse channel just says it as it is. You both are very educational, much appreciated. Another great vid, thank you.
There couldn't be wiser words said! Watch the signs your horse gives and be consistent about safety and training! Wearing a helmet will help once it's all gone to hell but avoiding the hot spots to begin with is key. Experience is a tough teacher!
I have studied horses and riding for over 50 years. I see that you have managed to condense and combine the teachings from numerous high level horsemen from diverse disciplines. You draw from science and philosophy to bring practice into the 21st century in your own unique way. For me, and thus my horses also, this helps me to have a clear and progressive path towards goals and also remedies for any blocks encountered. So many of your films have had a huge impact on me that I could not mention them all but I think that the two on teaching collection were revelationary and have influenced everything I do when I ride and teach.#journeyon20
Brilliant advice as always and I think you probably are responsible for saving a lot of people from the most dangerous part of being around horses - themselves ;-)
Very Good Video - Its exactly why I get nervous trail riding with other people and generally make excuses not to. Because you can get pressured into avoiding the signs. I had a horse who people think is a gentleman with me who used to be known as unridable, but I still know he needs to be listened to very attentively so I can adjust things if needed.
A great book, which the authors wrote about accidents (and how they could be prevented) is Off the Wall: Death in Yosemite. But for any prevention to happen, accidents have to be looked at, accounted for and researched. If not, they're bound to be repeated again and again. We must heed this advice and learn, this point can't be made enough. Thanks Warwick! BTW, I will say, your spending 80% of this video within striking distance of a tethered horse made me nervous, especially with your back to him. Not something I'd do, but then, I may be overcautious.
I'm a HUGE fan of your videos, and this one resonated with me so deeply. I've been saying this till i was blue in the face to my equestrain team. Also, the interaction between your horse and the cat is super cute.
This is why I love riding. The only sport in which the older you get, the wiser and better you get with horses and riding. If you are a true rider and horse lover. I would take advice from this man over anyone else because he has had experience and he pays attention.
This is so true! Thank you for a great video with a very important message! I had an riding accident 6 months ago, (several fractures in the knee, still not riding or walking properly) that could have been avoided if I only had been present reading all the signs.
In my experience a useful tool to help people understand the signs they ignored before a wreck is hypnosis. I was in a serious wreck with my mule and afterwards I was concussed and guilty but I couldn't remember what had happened. I asked a friend to hypnotize me, and walk me through the hour leading up to the event. And THEN I was able to see my errors, what I needed to take responsibility for, and train against a repetition. Once I was able to understand what I had done to help cause the event I could take positive steps not to have it happen again.
So true well said I call it perceptual awareness I say if the horse hears something sees something is worried about something wants something I want to be fully aware of it and if possible before they are without looking for monsters everywhere buy knowing they are looking for preditors everywhere and besides we all have our good days and bad days. You put it so well .... who would drive their car with faulty breaks but we often get complacent about other things that are vital and when they accumulate well as the saying goes its an accident waiting to happen Be safe by knowing your horse being aware being observant
Interesting , when you were saying that the horse gives the signals /warning signs, your cat sniffed Bundies hind leg, Bundy gave the cat a warning by lifting his hind leg, the cat looked at the leg wondering if she should persue the sniffing, the horses leg was still up and the cat decided it was not worth the kick in the head if she pursued the sniff. Perfect example!!
I was told as a young child by an old horseman, something that I've never forgotten & it took me a few years to fully understand what he meant. I was sitting on the railing watching him work with a horse. When we were having lunch, I asked him if he ever gets scared working with dangerous horses. All he said was...Horse's aren't dangerous, just misunderstood!
This is an excellent video I got my pilot's license in 2013 so I've been flying for 10 years and one of the first things they teach you in avoiding accidents is to not make the first mistake because the first mistake will lead to the second third fourth so on I understand completely what he is talking about about trying to understand the sequences of events leading up to a bad accident this is critical information that if people knew ahead of time could probably potentially stop a lot of accidents from happening unfortunately with having information it is easy to blame somebody else which is what happened in aviation now a pilot won't fuel up then he will convince himself he has enough gas even though he knows he probably doesn't he crashes his airplane and dies then an attorney sues the maker of the aircraft then nobody can afford to fly anymore and unfortunately that's the way things go don't know what is worse dealing with the accidents or dealing with something always being somebody else's fault even though realistically it's not
Got the knee to the head, saw stars and had a crooked jaw for a couple of weeks. It fixed itself. Lucky! 🍀 🤣 Could have been a lot worse. Plus I learned that lesson. The hard way. Thank you, Warwick Schiller for your patient counseling. Definitely worth listening
I definitely need to be more observant I think I am but I really am not. It was a really superb video on reading the signs and I thank you for that reminder
A person I know died a few weeks ago while making her horse ready for a ride. It really is terrible and I feel so sorry for her and her husband and family. But now that I know the hole story I just know that there were many signs for that accident to happen. I always try to listen to my horse and there are just some few days where I don't go for a ride. A few weeks ago I headed for a ride on a green horse. I had a bad feeling that day and didn't do it. I took another horse in but still a bad feeling. I did not ride him either. I took the next horse in. Still a bad feeling that day but I still rode this horse. The whole time I was riding him I had this bad feeling. He was not working as usually. I headed for a canter and then just fell down because he had a problem with the weather and his feet and whatever else. I ignored the signs and got the bill. That reminded me of listening again...
AscotDollWins Yes, I would think that has something to do with this subject also. Because how can a person read the signs on their horse if they are so worried about what might happen? It is hard for them to be in the here-and-now to watch the what the horse is telling them and pay attention. I encourage my students to ride when they are scared and hopefully they end up with a better experience than they expect. The video makes me realize that it is a big responsibility for the teacher to watch the horse the whole time before and during the ride. So it makes me think I need to set up things to avoid distractions and reduce risks. I also try to get a second opinion about my horses and how I handle them when possible to make sure I'm reading them right.
@@KKIcons Hello KK. I've just found this channel and am enjoying it immensely. I realize that it's been five years since you posted, but I wanted to tell you it does my heart good to have an instructor understand this video to the extent you have and bring it around to how you can improve yourself and keep your students safe; that is indeed your job. In keeping students safe, confidence will naturally follow. Good job.
I completely understand this! My biggest issue is that I'm getting the issues, and trying to tackle them, but I have a lot of people pushing me to get on and ride, even though I'm aware of the signs. Like excess wind, dragging to grass when walking to and from field, constantly looking for her field mate. She's very anxious and it's made me anxious, so when we get into the school her anxiety level shoots through the roof again. She spooks at everything up and down the long side. But still people are pressing me to get on and ride her and after I fell and broke my collarbone last year (a car clipped horses back legs). I'm pretty much terrified to get on. We are a right pair! lol
Unfortunately horses do have a bad rap in emergency rooms; end of story. Thank you for taking the time to teach people to be aware and think and be in the moment. It would be grand if everyone could review this video before they open they even open the pasture gate! I appreciate your knowledge and ability to share it. Thank you.
Love watching these videos...great practical, thoughtful info and great humor as well...thanks for sharing your great insights...I always learn tons of things when I watch these...
Dear Warwick. Great video. I relate to what you are saying. I had a bad fall at a Parelli Clinic in Condamine Qld Australia. No one wanted to talk about it afterwards. I was flown to Toowoomba Hospital and discharged the next day with 11 broken posterior ribs, broken collarbone, little fractures on spinus and transverse processes. Treated with little regard. There were 7 horses including me riding in a group. Just walking. Then all 7 horses got spooked and two riders fell off. I think it was caused by a thirteen year old horse that was restarted and it was behind, i think he got spooked and it made all the other horses spook, his rider fell off too but didnt get any broken bones. She fell off again 3 days later whilst being in a demonstration with the instructor . Thats when I realised, this horse may have caused the horses to spook the day I was injured. My horse that we bred and was started by this Parelli instructor prior to me arriving for the clinic. The clinic was a two week clinic "getting to know your horse" after being started. Anyway, it still niggles at me and makes me sad and disappointed. Weeks later I rang that hospital back to tell them of all my fractures that they didnt pick up on except my collarbone. I told them I was booked into surgery to get my collarbone realighned. I told them how one of their staff spoke to me condescendingly, telling me her name then saying, "I dont fall off horses to end up in hospital". I was discharged with only light painkillers and had to go back to that clinic to feed my horse ( the instructor drove 3 hours to get me from hospital) and wait a week until my family drove 8 hours or more to get me and our horse. Sorry for the long rant. I guess the story triggered my memory. Thankyou for reading this if you found it here.
This is why it’s taking me so long to train my horse to ride. I’m taking my time so I stay safe.
I did the same with my first"green broke" horse when I was in my 50's. Lots of desensitizing and groundwork. People got impatient with me but Cisco was a 5 year old who needed lots of time to read his environment.
@@galloping3265 Gosh, what is the rush? Enjoy your time together with your equine, right? People got SO impatient with me too, when I was working with my then 4 year old racetrack rescue stallion. There were zero deadlines, no schedule, and nothing that I was neglecting in my professional or personal life.
He and I were just having fun together and learning. He was learning how to be a saddle horse / safe companion animal, and how to just live outside of a very narrow set of parameters (the race track environment). Other people at the barn were push push pushing me to ride him. Why??
Meanwhile we'd go for long walks, lunge training, and just play games in the paddock. When I finally did ride him there were movement kinks to work out, but I felt very safe with him because our communication was golden.
Within a few months of riding he was going bitless and I was mostly letting him have his head free 100%. Wow, did folks have a giant freak out then. First I was "too slow", then I was going "too far". He was the sweetest, friendliest, gentlest horse at that barn. People can be so short sighted and narrow minded.
This is so true!!! When I trail ride I tell folks before hand I am not a talker on the trail. Most women want to have long emotional conversation trail riding. Last time I got sucked into a "horse training" conversation and a black bear crossed our path. I ended up with a broken collar bone. If I had listen to my horse who smelled the bear many minutes before seen I would never have landed on the ground. I talk to my horse and stay in the moment with her. Thank you for this video and all your videos. I was waiting for the cat to crawl up the horses blanket... ;-)
Please never apologize for releasing long videos. They really are a treat, and I can't wait until I can save up and subscribe to your video series.
Something that I need to learn is how to say "No!" to the folks at the barn where I lease. I came out to work on my horse's ground work and yielding to pressure, but the owner wanted us to hand walk our horses. When I went out to get him, I could tell he was really nervous. Even though I didn't want to go and he was nervous, we went anyway. The whole time he was speeding up ahead of me, pushing into me, and eventually he froze on the trail and tried to spook and run away. If I had just been firm and said no so I could attend to my horse, he and I wouldn't have had to experience such a scary and unpleasant walk.
When I got back, I sent him around in a circle to blow off steam and he laid right down and rolled in the first 10 minutes. That would have been a much more pleasant day if we had stayed in.
Absolutely brilliant video...people often dont realise how much is involved in being a horse person.
EXCELLENT TALK @warwickschiller..I have been told many many times that I am a "fusspot" because of the way I handle every horse that I touch...That I should just get on and ride the damn thing..not lead it round all the time!! You just eased my mind that the groundwork and the way I act round horses is the right and safe way..Thank you
I've been helping a friend with her horses for over a year and still haven't ridden one. I'm feeling frustrated about that, but I'm aware I'm still just learning ground work.
The title should read "The theory about flying ducks and roller coasters, and how unlucky the number 7 is when you ride on a plane" This is absolutely fantastic, love how you talk, how you process information, and how you connect random dots and still, it makes perfect sense. You are an inspiration and I learn so much listening to you.
Well not a head injury - but I had a "freak" back injury a month ago. OK, let's look at the duck signs - 1) been clipped that day, 2)had the farrier, 3) not been out in the pasture for two days due to completely sodden ground, 4) allowed to spend twenty minutes licking sugary lick while being clipped, 5) not been ridden for a week, 6) i wanted to do a particular exercise in the school no matter what, 7) spooky about noises behind the tall hedge alongside the school - and what happened? Out of the blue, when I said please come back to trot - he said NO. I said yes, he said Go flying then mum! Who bucked - he did. Whose missed the signs that something was going to happen - I did. Now this 52 year old and this 20 year old are going to go back to school and learn how to do things properly. Thanks Warwick for making so much sense that we wonder why we never thought of it ourselves!
This is one of the best videos I have watched and should be compulsory watching for anyone starting their horsemanship journey. I have been following you Warwick for the past 2 years and it has transformed the way I interact and work with my horses. Your frankness and approach makes so much sense.
I am so much more "keyed in" to my horses and I think they are just as happy about that as I am. I am so much more centered and patient and observant within myself when working with my horses. My confidence is really starting to develop. I find that I know how to approach issues and find the answers so much more effectively than before.I think through the "why" and "what next" so much better. I know that my knowledge and approach now (and as it grows in the future) gives me the best possible chance to have a safe and great relationship with my horses. I can not thank you enough for sharing all this with me and others. So appreciated.
Thanks Fiona
Fi Gilkeson well said! I can relate.
The length of this bores me to tears.... I've split along the video in bits and not heard one thing that can help anyone!
@@brigittegeorg wow aren't you special.
As a driving instructor I can say the same thing applies to driving. People excuse their involvement by saying 'It was an accident' . My response is 'No it was more likely a carelessness.'
Probably the best, most intelligent, most insightful explanation I've ever heard. Total respect 👍
I agree. This video should be 'mandatory watching' at every riding school... worldwide.
My Haflinger was a super spooky girl. She's awesome now, but every once in a while, she has a really bad day. One day, with many guests visiting our barn, kids, dogs, farm equipment, etc going on, I decided I would ride anyway, even though she was not acting calm. We encountered a quad, she was about to snap. I went on, took our favorite dog with us like a normal day. We were heading back to the barn and I called for the dog to come. The dog ran past us about 100 mph on the left side, with Spirit spooking so hard to the right, I was hanging sideways, she spooked again as I was reaching for the saddle horn, and there was no fixing it. I waited til a mud puddle went by and dropped myself off onto the hard, dirt road. Who's fault was it? Mine. I refused to pay attention to the signs aka the flying ducks. Lesson learned. Great video! 👍👍👍👍👍
Thank you! About to start an unbacked rescue mare I’ve had 6mths. My very un-horsey Husband asks why haven’t you got on her yet you’ve had her 6mths now shouldn’t you be off riding her down the village by now. I know there’s a lot of groundwork needed and trust issues to work on first. I have no help just me, horse is at home. So more difficult obviously. I have always been very cautious around horses and with this one especially for some reason, she gives me those vibes lol. This video has helped and emphasized for me why I am taking my time and that I’m right not to hurry. Thank you great video as always.
This video always stands out in my mind as the most profound as it helped me realize I don't have to stand by the old adage of 'being afraid and saddling up anyway'. There were many times I would recognize that my horse was upset, but rather than respond to that with patience, curiosity, and a desire to work on the fear, I would just hop on and expect things to sort themselves out. I could create some 'wet saddle blankets', and things would be ok. This clearly didn't work for my horse, and only made me feel frustrated, fearful, and out of control. After seeing this video something just clicked with me, and I was able to take my ego out of the equation. I realized that I didn't have to do things that way any longer. I could pay attention to what my horse was telling me and if that meant not riding, or getting off in the middle of a ride so be it. There is no shame in being smart and present, rather than stubborn and egotistical. Thank you for all of your videos! #journeyon20
I also relate to the part of talking to people about their accidents, and how it's difficult to really investigate what could have happened to cause it. I work as a nurse on a trauma unit, and we do get the occasional horse accident. Of course I am always very curious what happened, but try to tread lightly as people are typically quite traumatized. In one accident the first time rider was riding a dude horse on a guided trail ride. She said her horse spooked, ran away, and bucked her off at the very end of the ride, almost back to the barn. Of course a completely inexperienced person who assumes she is on a very gentle horse wouldn't recognize the signs that her horse was upset and likely suffering from pretty severe DA, but surely her guides should have seen the horse was getting overwhelmed, and there was an accident brewing. This video just opened my eyes to a new level of awareness, that in turn has given me more confidence in my ability to read my horse and respond appropriately 😊 #journeyon20
Good examples, makes sense to me. I'm in my 70ies and I sure as hell don't want to be a victim. I will take as long as it takes before I get on one of my young horses, that includes having a good quiet rider on them before I get on. I have been following you for a while, and really respect your evolution. Thank you. Jw.
Brilliant presentation clearly shows through great metaphors that we need to be more perceptive and aware. Learning to read a horse is an everyday process.
I had an accident three years ago that resulted in a broken pelvis and three fractured spines. Looking back now, it was easily avoidable. My horse had severe ulcers and would have been in a lot of pain, I was also in a bad mindset: I was determined to ride no matter what, because I wanted to blow off steam. I had also just brought my horses home from two weeks away at another property. I took my horse out into the bush alone for a trail ride. So many signs. I ignored them all.
That accident put me in a wheelchair, not permanently thankfully, but I am lucky to be alive. I wish I had just taken the time to think, to reconsider my decisions, instead of just pushing on, so pigheaded and selfish. I am much more thoughtful now around horses, probably to the point of being too cautious, but the alternative is just not worth it.
I don't have the same exact story, but the ending is always the same. Distraction is a silent enemy.
rhythmandblues alibi thanks for sharing your story. We need to learn from each other! Hope you are all healed up now. I wonder if you still ride?
@@sidilicious11thank you for asking! I have ridden since then, maybe a handful of times, but not for at least 2 years now. I'm currently working on my confidence and fitness, with a view to getting back into riding as a regular thing! Warwick's approach is helping a lot, I'm noticing the small things when working with my horses and so far it's making a big difference for me and them ^_^
@@rhythmandblues_alibi it’s so interesting that you wrote back now because I am recovering from a hard fall off my horse just over a month ago. Luckily no broken bones but it was shocking and kept me in bed for several weeks, and only in the last week have I been able to walk without hobbling and move without so much pain. I have had lots of time to see what I could have done differently, and what I might do to go forward with this horse in safer and more enjoyable ways. I’m really looking forward to it.
@@sidilicious11 oh no! I'm so sorry to hear that. Glad to hear that you're approaching things igoing forward in a philosophical way. I hope you are fully healed and back on your horse soon! Horses are truly humbling aren't they.
Completely captivated by every word you said. Awesome vid. Very clear & concise. Made an awful lot of sense. Thank you for sharing that Warwick
Great video Warwick! I really think this is the #1 thing I learned from you, to really notice how my horse is with whatever I am working on that day. Getting things perfect, taking that time, knowing when something is off. I used to be the person who needed their horse held to get on.
Yes Warwick evey accident I have had with my horses was "operator error" the signs are there and I am getting better , because of you to read the signs. thank you Val
Just love this video and cant help but feel everyone should watch this.
A few months back I started riding my horse without saddle, halter or anything and I only do it when everythings "perfect": No spooking on the pasture, standing perfectly still while grooming, relaxed in the arena ... I just never connected it to awareness... that video will give me quite a lot to think about, thanks so much !!! oh, and LOVE LOVE LOVE your cat :-)
Thank you so much for these reminders , especially during the age of computer - trained numbness toward each other and our surroundings !
I couldn't agree more! I have thought about this so much. Not necessarily in the "outliers" 7 mistake sort of way, but in the read the signs and what happened before what happened, happened sort of way. I have been training horses and people for a number of years, and the longer I do it the more and more important this principle becomes. Horse riding can be an incredibly dangerous sport if you're not constantly paying attention. That's what my old boss used to always tell me, "Pay attention!". Thanks for sharing your thoughts, keep up the good work.
Good video! Reminds me of an accident that occurred with my horse, which could have been avoided had I thought ahead more.
I hadn't been riding her for long at the time: maybe only a year, so I didn't know her very well, or at least as well as I do now. I was relaxing after working in the arena, and took her into the paddock for a little cool-off ride. On the way back I met up with two friends who had been riding off property, and had just returned. I tailed along onto the back of the ride, dropped the reins, happy to relax the rest of the way.
In hindsight, a very bad idea! My horse is one of the lead mares in her paddock, and likes to be at the front of a ride. She tends to get very testy and irritated when placed at the back. She is also very smart, and she knows when she's been given the chance to act up. Loose reins, laidback posture: it's the recipe for trouble.
And trouble I got. She decided she would be the first one back to the stables, kicked up her feet and threw me off in what I must say was a very impressive buck, which landed my in hospital with a broken collarbone; snapped clean in half!
I wasn't able to ride for about 2 months while I healed, understandably, and we weren't exactly on the best of terms once I did get back to riding her: first thing she did when I went to catch her again was give my a nasty bite on my chest that's left me with a scar.
But I learnt from all of that. I understand what I did wrong, in terms of reading the signs and knowing my horse better. 4 years on and we get on brilliant now. There's the occasional bump now and again, as she is known for having a bit of attitude when she doesn't want to do something (aka she's very lazy and doesn't like doing work) but she certainly enjoys being with me far more now, and I enjoy being with her!
Thank you Warwick. I love your analogies and keep up the good work!
I love to see a part two added with more tips , especially for riding safety. This makes a lot of sense what you are saying. I also plan to pass this idea along to my students.
I plan to do a part 1, 2 3, 4 5 and so on
I've told the story so many times about those pilots. You're great Warwick. So many wisdom.
This video is a treasure chest of information and observations that should be opened by everybody -- not just horse people. I have another book to recommend, Warwick: "How to Improve Your Thinking Ability". I admire you so much!
As a horse trainer with still a lot to learn I really enjoy your channel
Sign: “Warning: I’f duck, duck. Specially Fabio”. Very good video. Half of the accidents I’ve had my brain was already telling me “this could be dangerous”. And I still did it. Now I’m older and thus more like you, very observant of even minor signs. Thank you, Javier. (P.s. I know Gladwell)
Thank you Yah for answering my prayers and bringing me to this channel. Thank you Mr. Warwick (and wife) for saving lives with education and heart. I am inspired to power watch your playlists, and put good use to what I learn. All the Best!
You're are so right. I'm not putting in the time to fix the signs I've seen in my gelding.
This is really good horsemen.
You truly listen to a horse, and read the signs. Thank you.
That cat ain't learned the signs yet.
hahaha
Cats don’t care to learn the signs; the signs should learn the cat. 🤣
Good thing he has at least 8 chances to do so...
I thought the cat was reading the signs very well! many dogs don't move away from the lifted hoof, but it did.
Good point about signs... we need to ask questions. We are all learners. Keep loving and riding
Thank you for this; and from someone who has been rendered completely deaf after a recent illness,thank you for closed captioning!
Warwick Schiller. You are so right no one seams to be in the moment. Learned to watch everything when with SAR
This old dog trainer has gotten some fame for something I say about biting dogs: It's never the first time.
Meaning, when someone brings me a dog saying that the dog bit someone and it never did before, when I start asking questions invariably I find out that, while the dog may never have actually bitten before, there were plenty of signs that the dog was leading up to a bite. There was a whole series of prior incidents where the dog might have bitten but things just hadn't lined up quite that way before.
Tangential thought: often people don't see the signs in their dogs because they've projected their own view of "this is what a dog is and does" onto their dog without ever realising that their dog had not read that book. Many dog owners don't realise that somewhere between 90% to 95% of all dog bites are motivated by fear. The owners often have the idea of biting as an aggressive attack that they totally misinterpret all the times the dog showed fear. They didn't realise that a fearful dog is literally about 1000% more likely to bite than a very self confident dog.
GrainneDhu and a fearful horses is more likely to spook or buck or do something dangerous to the rider.
It gets up my nose when 'freak accident', 'suddenly' and 'without warning' gets applied to animals. No such thing, doesn't happen. People paying attention can see it coming a mile off.
A series of events lining up to produce a particular circumstance can also be called a 'concatenation'
Golden Yup... my spooky horse bolted with me holding onto his lead rope about two weeks ago. I saw it coming. He got scared first by the other horses playing in the water, started freezing and looking around. I continued to lead him, and as we were walking and he was already nervous, a few of the colts kicked up and decided to canter over. The stampede spooked my already nervous horse, he feared and started circling, and I nearly had him under control when they bolted again- and he decided to bolt with them, I let go before I had the chance to get dragged, but I knew that wasn’t entirely my horse’s fault. He needs a few more lessons on respecting the person at the end of the rope, but he was already nervous, I know he’s spooky, and I’m still somewhat new to this. I’m sure I could have used better body language so he didn’t have the opportunity. It was a bit random, but I knew it wasn’t going to go well when they started stampeding, especially knowing he was already amped up. If you pay attention to your horse, you can see the signs. I didn’t expect a stampede- but I did expect my horse to panic.
Animals can do things suddenly or out of character but its being about being prepared. Easier to spot in a pet. I had a boar attack me once. But I never trusted any boar so had my plastic board/shield. Never did it before but I was prepared so I didn't t get hurt and sent him to the slaughterhouse.
@@nulla.9045 - I'm so glad both you & your horse are OK. I hope you subscribe or perhaps buy W.S's. training videos. From learning, I really hope you'll come to learn that your horse, esp. under scary conditions - doesn't need to "learn to respect you" - but rather needs to TRUST YOU to be his/her Herd Leader. Your horse needs to trust that you will protect him/her. THAT is exactly why your horse ran off w/ the other horses. It's primal in horses - that a herd keeps them safer... than remaining by your side. I hope you can reframe your goal that instead of respect (usually fear based) from your horse - that your horse chooses to remain by your side because he/she TRUSTS you to keep him safe. That's a worthy goal. Good luck & stay safe... and smart!
Ignored the signs could be deadly. In 2016, I had a significant fall (my first in a decade). Broke many bones (hips included) which did require surgery and took 6 months to recover (ride again). The perfect storm. A rainy day, windy (trees were cracking), slippery, loose saddle (because ...), very tight trail (trees all around), riding alone (deep in the wood), the mare was getting nervous and snored many times (she saw something threatening), and more ... I simply redirected her feet hoping to calm her (overly self-confident -- it always worked in the past -- my daily horse ridden for more than 10 years with no significant issues) and then booooom (a built up of anxiety). I had many many signs. The good thing, I have learned a lot for this experience. I now pay "more" attention and respect the signs, the environment, and so on). Nothing freak about my accident (just lack of mindfulness and too sure of myself and cocky). Being mindful (in a true sense) is a life saver and the only way to stay connected with your horse. Horse by nature live in the present moment (mindful) and they know when you are not (they can feel it). They feel left alone (no leader) and start worrying about their surrounding (my humble opinion ... I am no horse whisperer). Final note. I am French which explains my writing. Great video (as usual). Many many thanks.
Excellent observation of your particular experience!❤
Excellent!!! many thanks...riding horses myself for 22years now I would sign every sentence of yours in this Video!!
Wow. This has opened my eyes a lot, thank you.
Great video! We had a palomino mare in that had flipped over on someone last year. Just as you said, read the signs. All the little things make for big wrecks.
Warwick, you make so much common sense! You make perfect sense!
Yes, mindfulness is the key... Very Zen & awesome advice!... Grant (Gold Coast, Australia)
Warwick, your talk here brought to mind the term "normalizing deviations", used to describe one of the common accident precursors. Things which aren't quite right, or not well understood, are explained away and accepted as normal, and because there's often no immediate negative result this further justifies the acceptance behavior and continued operations. You get comfortable doing things you shouldn't be doing. Until the cold morning comes when those sub-par solid rocket booster O-rings can't handle the stress and just like that, your Space Shuttle and seven astronauts are gone. Recognize warning signs. Ask questions. Get answers. Act upon them, whether it's your horse or a rocket.
great video thank you for all of the information
I could listen to you all day
Dear warwick , i love you, you have taught me so much. Thank you thank you thank you
By far best video on youtube I watched for a long time. And I watch a lot ;-) Cheers from Austria Warwick.
Thank you !
I’m a retired safety professional, having worked at chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturing sites where safety is VERY important. We only learn if we’re willing to openly discuss “accidents”.
I’ve watched so many of your videos. I think this is one of my favorite!!! So important! Thank you!
I tend to agree with you, I was wondering if the cat was going to add to your number of incidents to go wrong, you have an interesting history with cats & horses!
Makes perfect sense. I wouldn't call it "reading the signs" though. I'd call it "listening to your horse." In all relationships, people need to be mindful and listen to what the other one (horse or person) has to say. I have found that when my horse knows I will listen, he doesn't have a reason to freak out; he knows that he just has to find a way to communicate his concerns to me, and that he does. Great video !!
ramona, thats exactly it ! When they know you are present and listening, they find great comfort in that and develop a great deal of trust.
This is the best horse safety video I have seen so far . Makes me think back to last week when I got fed up with my whip and threw it on the ground whilst riding a horse I’ve been told isn’t spooky but how do I really know that . So silly . Newbie with much to learn . Thanks a lot for the excellent advice .
It's worrying just how many people don't read their horses well. A lot of riders know their horse is worried about things and instead of dealing with it they just accept that's just the was the horse behaves and just get on and ride. So each time they ride they are already on 6. I spent 6 months of groundwork with my new horse (largely following warricks Thoughbred training techniques) and took the time that it takes. Warrick, Rick Gore on his Think Like A Horse channel just says it as it is. You both are very educational, much appreciated. Another great vid, thank you.
Oops, Warmblood stallion videos.
There couldn't be wiser words said! Watch the signs your horse gives and be consistent about safety and training! Wearing a helmet will help once it's all gone to hell but avoiding the hot spots to begin with is key. Experience is a tough teacher!
I have studied horses and riding for over 50 years. I see that you have managed to condense and combine the teachings from numerous high level horsemen from diverse disciplines. You draw from science and philosophy to bring practice into the 21st century in your own unique way. For me, and thus my horses also, this helps me to have a clear and progressive path towards goals and also remedies for any blocks encountered. So many of your films have had a huge impact on me that I could not mention them all but I think that the two on teaching collection were revelationary and have influenced everything I do when I ride and teach.#journeyon20
Brilliant advice as always and I think you probably are responsible for saving a lot of people from the most dangerous part of being around horses - themselves ;-)
Great video thank you!!
Very Good Video - Its exactly why I get nervous trail riding with other people and generally make excuses not to. Because you can get pressured into avoiding the signs. I had a horse who people think is a gentleman with me who used to be known as unridable, but I still know he needs to be listened to very attentively so I can adjust things if needed.
yes I agree, I had a few crashes on my young horse ,and every single one could have been avoided. She taught me a lot ,that horse.
So agree with you Warick, bless for speaking on this,🙏🕊️❤️🦄
A great book, which the authors wrote about accidents (and how they could be prevented) is Off the Wall: Death in Yosemite. But for any prevention to happen, accidents have to be looked at, accounted for and researched. If not, they're bound to be repeated again and again. We must heed this advice and learn, this point can't be made enough.
Thanks Warwick!
BTW, I will say, your spending 80% of this video within striking distance of a tethered horse made me nervous, especially with your back to him. Not something I'd do, but then, I may be overcautious.
I agree!! Was bothering me the whole time.
This id one of the very best things I have ever heard.
I'm a HUGE fan of your videos, and this one resonated with me so deeply. I've been saying this till i was blue in the face to my equestrain team. Also, the interaction between your horse and the cat is super cute.
I'm so glad I found this video ❤
I wouldn't put my knee in front of a horse's head either.
That's a really funny cat.
Wonderful video! Thank you for posting this!
This is so logical! I hope this will be common sense soon. Keep up the good work!
Once again thank you Warwick. I am curious what is your saddle proceedure please? Do you have a video on this?
This is why I love riding. The only sport in which the older you get, the wiser and better you get with horses and riding. If you are a true rider and horse lover. I would take advice from this man over anyone else because he has had experience and he pays attention.
This is so true! Thank you for a great video with a very important message! I had an riding accident 6 months ago, (several fractures in the knee, still not riding or walking properly) that could have been avoided if I only had been present reading all the signs.
Your wonderful and quite a caring soul!
In my experience a useful tool to help people understand the signs they ignored before a wreck is hypnosis. I was in a serious wreck with my mule and afterwards I was concussed and guilty but I couldn't remember what had happened. I asked a friend to hypnotize me, and walk me through the hour leading up to the event. And THEN I was able to see my errors, what I needed to take responsibility for, and train against a repetition. Once I was able to understand what I had done to help cause the event I could take positive steps not to have it happen again.
Really a great video! I did realize that I have put my head down at my horse’s knee while grooming, BUT, I won’t anymore!
Thank you Warwick 🤗
So true well said I call it perceptual awareness I say if the horse hears something sees something is worried about something wants something I want to be fully aware of it and if possible before they are without looking for monsters everywhere buy knowing they are looking for preditors everywhere and besides we all have our good days and bad days.
You put it so well .... who would drive their car with faulty breaks but we often get complacent about other things that are vital and when they accumulate well as the saying goes its an accident waiting to happen
Be safe by knowing your horse being aware being observant
As always, brilliant and insightful .... and bang on the money! Thank you so much Warwick :-)
One of your best
Thanks Rick.
Interesting , when you were saying that the horse gives the signals /warning signs, your cat sniffed Bundies hind leg, Bundy gave the cat a warning by lifting his hind leg, the cat looked at the leg wondering if she should persue the sniffing, the horses leg was still up and the cat decided it was not worth the kick in the head if she pursued the sniff. Perfect example!!
I was told as a young child by an old horseman, something that I've never forgotten & it took me a few years to fully understand what he meant. I was sitting on the railing watching him work with a horse. When we were having lunch, I asked him if he ever gets scared working with dangerous horses. All he said was...Horse's aren't dangerous, just misunderstood!
I so wish I could bring Warwick to Wales!
This actually made me realise a lot of things I have to work with my horse
Once again spot on Warwick!!!
It really pays to learn (and don't forget) the signs.
If not your horse will let you know.
wow this is such important information, thankyou so much
This is an excellent video I got my pilot's license in 2013 so I've been flying for 10 years and one of the first things they teach you in avoiding accidents is to not make the first mistake because the first mistake will lead to the second third fourth so on I understand completely what he is talking about about trying to understand the sequences of events leading up to a bad accident this is critical information that if people knew ahead of time could probably potentially stop a lot of accidents from happening unfortunately with having information it is easy to blame somebody else which is what happened in aviation now a pilot won't fuel up then he will convince himself he has enough gas even though he knows he probably doesn't he crashes his airplane and dies then an attorney sues the maker of the aircraft then nobody can afford to fly anymore and unfortunately that's the way things go don't know what is worse dealing with the accidents or dealing with something always being somebody else's fault even though realistically it's not
Got the knee to the head, saw stars and had a crooked jaw for a couple of weeks. It fixed itself. Lucky! 🍀 🤣 Could have been a lot worse. Plus I learned that lesson. The hard way. Thank you, Warwick Schiller for your patient counseling. Definitely worth listening
I definitely need to be more observant I think I am but I really am not. It was a really superb video on reading the signs and I thank you for that reminder
A person I know died a few weeks ago while making her horse ready for a ride. It really is terrible and I feel so sorry for her and her husband and family. But now that I know the hole story I just know that there were many signs for that accident to happen. I always try to listen to my horse and there are just some few days where I don't go for a ride. A few weeks ago I headed for a ride on a green horse. I had a bad feeling that day and didn't do it. I took another horse in but still a bad feeling. I did not ride him either. I took the next horse in. Still a bad feeling that day but I still rode this horse. The whole time I was riding him I had this bad feeling. He was not working as usually. I headed for a canter and then just fell down because he had a problem with the weather and his feet and whatever else. I ignored the signs and got the bill. That reminded me of listening again...
Please can you publish a video about dealing with Rider Fear? Thank you.
AscotDollWins Yes, I would think that has something to do with this subject also. Because how can a person read the signs on their horse if they are so worried about what might happen? It is hard for them to be in the here-and-now to watch the what the horse is telling them and pay attention. I encourage my students to ride when they are scared and hopefully they end up with a better experience than they expect. The video makes me realize that it is a big responsibility for the teacher to watch the horse the whole time before and during the ride. So it makes me think I need to set up things to avoid distractions and reduce risks. I also try to get a second opinion about my horses and how I handle them when possible to make sure I'm reading them right.
@@KKIcons Hello KK. I've just found this channel and am enjoying it immensely. I realize that it's been five years since you posted, but I wanted to tell you it does my heart good to have an instructor understand this video to the extent you have and bring it around to how you can improve yourself and keep your students safe; that is indeed your job. In keeping students safe, confidence will naturally follow. Good job.
I completely understand this! My biggest issue is that I'm getting the issues, and trying to tackle them, but I have a lot of people pushing me to get on and ride, even though I'm aware of the signs. Like excess wind, dragging to grass when walking to and from field, constantly looking for her field mate. She's very anxious and it's made me anxious, so when we get into the school her anxiety level shoots through the roof again. She spooks at everything up and down the long side. But still people are pressing me to get on and ride her and after I fell and broke my collarbone last year (a car clipped horses back legs). I'm pretty much terrified to get on. We are a right pair! lol
Unfortunately horses do have a bad rap in emergency rooms; end of story. Thank you for taking the time to teach people to be aware and think and be in the moment. It would be grand if everyone could review this video before they open they even open the pasture gate! I appreciate your knowledge and ability to share it. Thank you.
Love this advice! Thanks for the video.
This one was packed with great tips, thanks.
My boyfriend had his front tooth knocked out from putting his head in front of the horses knee. Good advice !
Great Video! You really gave me something to think about.We can learn a lot from your videos!
Love watching these videos...great practical, thoughtful info and great humor as well...thanks for sharing your great insights...I always learn tons of things when I watch these...