Horses are just like people, and they all have different personalities, different attention spans, different learning abilities and different physical capabilities. It is important for the rider/trainer to understand each horse's talents and limitations, and plan their program training at a level that the horse can master.
Recognizing these differences, and teaching the horse in the manner that is easiest for them to master will produce the best trained animal. Horses must experience a lesson learned in all variations and situations. For example, once a horse has learned to walk, trot and canter around a ring passing various objects, the objects which they have grown accustomed to seeing should be moved to different locations, grouped together or separately. Horses view objects differently with each eye, and to avoid spooking, they often must see obstacles with each eye. The same princpals apply to hand and leg signals given by the rider. For the slow learner, the signals may have to be repeated over and over, while the fast learner will understand immediately.
A rider/trainer must recognize all of these differences in talent and personality, help their horse to understand, and not give up on the teaching process. One horse may be thought to be exceptionally smart while another is considered slow or even untrainable, only because their individual differences were not recognized.
No comments:
Post a Comment