Welcome to the “Performance Through Partnership”™ Newsletter!

In this issue you’ll find:

A message from Dale.

Newsflash!!
Welcome to Dale's new facility, Free Spirit Farm!

Listen to this month's radio program, "How to Catch a Horse."

Upcoming Clinic Dates

Answers to These Questions about Horse Behavior and Training:
1. How do I help my reiner learn something new?
2. What do I do when my horse and trainer aren't connecting?

Also, remember to send in your questions for the next newsletter. Dale will choose at least two to answer in each issue. This is your chance to get free advice from Dale Rudin. This is only available to newsletter subscribers like you, so ask away!! Use your password to access the “ask questions” page at http://www.dale-rudin-horse-training.com/ask-questions.html

Also, newsletter back issues are posted on the archive page. Go to http://www.dale-rudin-horse-training.com/performance-through-partnership-newsletter.html and click on "newsletter back issues." Type in your password, and enjoy!

(If the above links don't work, please copy and paste them into your web browser.)

________________________________________________________________________

A Message from Dale

Hi Everyone!

I want to thank everyone for visiting my website and subscribing for my newsletter. It does my heart good to know that you are out there working to be better educated horsemen and horsewoman for the good of your wonderful horses.

I also want to apologize for the lateness of this newsletter, especially to those who submitted their questions and have been waiting patiently for an answer! I had a complete system meltdown and had to say goodbye to my once trusty computer. Getting its replacement up and running has been a painfully slow, and still continuing, process. However, things are now looking up on the technical side of things.

Additionally, I have been busy getting settled in at my new base of operations at Free Spirit Farm. I am so excited about what I'll have to offer at this wonderful facility. I'm looking forward to seeing you there!

Thanks again for your interest in "Performance Through Partnership" and enjoy the newsletter!

Be good to your horses and enjoy the ride!
Dale

Newsflash!

I am now offering training, boarding, and "Performance Through Partnership" clinics at Free Spirit Farm a beautiful full-service facility in Lewisburg, Tennessee. I hope you'll come by for a visit or join me at one of the many clinics I'll be holding there. Contact me about training and/or boarding your horse at this farm where his well-being and your success as a team is the highest priority.

Training with Dale Rudin on Internet Radio

This month's radio show, "How to Catch a Horse" is archived and ready for your listening enjoyment! Go to Natural Horse Network Talk Radio to hear the archived program. Next month's show, Trailer Loading will air on Natural Horse Network Talk Radio on July 11th. Call in or email your trailer loading questions and I'll answer them on air!

Leadership and Connection Clinics:

If you want to improve your relationship with your horse, these clinics are for you! You will come away with a better understanding of your horse, learn how to be a confident and effective leader, and be well on the way to having the cooperative partnership that you’ve always wanted!

My techniques are straightforward and easy-to-use. My approach is quiet, low-stress (for horse and human alike), and suitable for all breeds, disciplines, and levels of experience.

July 26th-27th at Free Spirit Farm in Lewisburg, TN.

Join us for a great weekend and learn how to truly connect with your horse and become a leader that he will follow anywhere! Go to my clinic's page for more information about the clinic. Or, send me an email to ask questions and to make a reservation.



Q & A's

The horse I ride was trained in reining. So she is used to loping circles. I have been working her to do pleasure and have been riding the full length of the arena on the rails. Every time we are loping and get to the half way point on the long part of the arena (the point where she usually is asked to turn to make a circle) she gets this stiff lope and she feels like a wooden rocking horse. Once we get to the end of the arena she relaxes out of it.

This is the difference between teaching a horse forward motion, balance, and flexibility under saddle and then building specific maneuvers on top of that foundation and teaching it by negative reinforcement and habit. By negative reinforcement I mean teaching a horse that every time he does something “wrong” with his body, in this case not slide, not spin, not lope circles, he’s punished. What he learns is to execute a reining pattern, but not how to be relaxed, maneuverable, and connected to the rider. You also lose the participation of the horse, because he isn’t involved in the process of being ridden. This horse does things because he has no choice, not because he wants to try for you. You end up with a horse that is under some degree of emotional strain. He can’t give you the 100% that a horse that is physically strong and emotionally secure can.

To fix this particular problem, use body control and suppleness to build this horse’s confidence in herself, develop forward motion, and her self-carriage. You want to teach her to respond to your leg and rein cues by thinking them through and relaxing her body into the direction, gait, or whatever maneuver you’re asking her to perform. You’ll start teaching her this by riding her on what I call a “deep bend.”

Begin by riding at the walk in a straight line. Shorten one rein to ask her to flex her head to the side, far enough that you can see the side of her face. Hold the rein firmly without pulling backward. She should follow her head and walk onto a small circle. Wait for her to release the pressure that you’re applying flexing toward the rein. If she elevates her head, raise your hand to maintain a straight line from your elbow to your horse’s mouth. If she pulls against the rein, resist just enough to keep your hand stationary. If she tries to stop or shorten her stride, urge her forward with your voice and gently bounce your legs against her sides. Remember, the purpose of this exercise is to teach your horse to soften when she feels rein pressure, so give her as much time as she needs. Don’t try to force her to give or turn her head.

Once she’s consistently relaxing into the contact, pick up the jog. Allow her to travel around the arena on a loose rein while you periodically take a hold of one rein, wait for her to soften, release the contact, and then let her travel straight again. Practice this until she relaxes every time you take a hold of her face at the jog. The next step is to ask her to soften on a straight line. Take a firm hold of the inside rein without shortening the rein. Open the outside rein to encourage your horse to keep her shoulders loose and elevated. You don’t want her to turn her head, just feel the contact on the inside rein, accept it, and then relax by softening at the poll and lowering and lengthening her neck. Again, wait her out. When she shows any sign of responding correctly, release all the pressure and praise her.

After working on this for a few days, go back to the lope. When she stiffens up on the rail, apply inside rein pressure until she softens to it. Open the outside rein if she stiffens in her shoulders or leans to the inside. You can also support her shoulders and help her to move forward and stay balanced by pressing your inside leg right behind the cinch. If she tries to quit, press or bounce your legs against her sides.

This work should help you get your horse to reconnect with you and soften her body, with the ultimate goal of retraining her mind to respond differently (softly instead of resistantly) to the cues she’s given by the rider.

I took my 4 year old mare (trail horse only, no show potential in mind) (which I had raised from birth) to a trainer to set some gaits whom after 30 days still says she can't make any real progress with her because she can't "latch"on - only done basic ground work. I was already riding her well, had done several trail rides and a lot of arena work myself with my limited knowledge of training from reading. Question is, why would my mare become so obstinate with another person, and what would my next approach be when my 60 day contract in up?

No matter a horse’s personality or experience, once they are in an environment in which they can trust and respect their handler they should show signs of what I call “connection”. To a connected horse is paying attention at all times (or will at least return her attention quickly and willingly when asked). She will readily follow your lead, or move away from you when asked, in a relaxed and confident manner. She sees you as her herd leader, and has no reason to doubt your authority.
On the other hand, when a horse is given a reason to distrust her human companion, or she isn’t being given the leadership she needs to feel secure in a horse-human herd, she will likely become disconnected.
Horses are very sensitive creatures and very expressive as well. It’s important to listen when your horse is telling you that something isn’t working for her.
I would recommend that you watch while your trainer works with your horse, several times if necessary. Pay attention to your mare’s expression and body language while she’s being worked. A high head carriage, consistently looking outside of the arena or being distracted, cutting to the inside of the arena or challenging her trainer, tension around the mouth, frequently pinned ears, a wringing tail, short choppy strides, frequent changes of direction, gait, a level of sweating that doesn’t seem right considering the temperature and the work, and excessive speed are signs that your mare is feeling stressed.
On the contrary, if your mare is traveling at steady gaits, carrying her head and neck straight, occasionally lowering and lengthening her neck, traveling with a long a fluid stride, relaxed through her topline (her poll-to-tail profile), exhibiting the “licking and chewing” behavior, and occasionally sighing or audibly blowing air through her nostrils she’s calm, confident, and relaxed. This is state-of-mind that your mare needs to be in to be willing to connect with her trainer.
Once you’ve seen for yourself how your mare and trainer are interacting can you decide how to proceed. Since things were going well when you and your mare were working together, it might be a good idea to reestablish your relationship with her and then find a trainer or instructor who can help you reach your goal to improve your horse’s gaits.