Ep 130: Simplifying the Signals You Are Sending to Your Horse
Have you ever heard the saying “a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step?” When it comes to horse training, the journey to the finish line can often seem a thousand miles long. When you look at where you’re starting and compare it to where you want to be, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed.
When you’re feeling overwhelmed, remember that you don’t have to travel the entire distance in one day. You just have to start with one step. Progression begins when we commit to simple, intentional actions. In the horsemanship journey, these simple actions are what helps develop muscle memory for you and your horse.
Muscle memory is a key component of developing consistency as a trainer. If you’ve ever been to one of my clinics before, you know this is a topic that we cover in depth. The reason that muscle memory is so critical to a trainer’s success is that muscle memory is what takes over during the heat of a competition.
The first step to developing muscle memory is to develop a deeper awareness of the signals you are sending to your horse. This is a practice that I have to remind myself of on a regular basis. When we slip into our training routines, it can be easy to lose awareness of what signals your hands and legs are sending.
When it comes to training, I live by the philosophy ‘less is more.’ If you take time to watch some of the top trainers in the world, it is very difficult to notice the cues they are sending their horses. That is by design. No matter the discipline, most of the elite trainers have developed such a high level of self-awareness that they are able to get more efficient responses from their horses by making subtle, intentional body movements.
The key to getting less with more is consistency. And, the only way to get consistent is to be committed. I once heard the quote, “if you’re interested, you’ll do what’s convenient. If you’re committed, you’ll do whatever it takes.” I believe this to be very true. It’s not always convenient to spend the time needed to develop consistency with your cues, but when we are intentional and aware while we are in the saddle, we get a lot further by simplifying the signals we are sending to our horses.
“Be Your Best Horsemanship” is brought to you by Silver Lining Herbs, Classic Equine, Martin Saddlery, Better Horses Network, Purina, Healthycoat, CINCH, Starbar, and Clarifly. These brands have been part of the Phil Haugen Horsemanship team for many years, and their products continue to play an integral role in the success of our performance horse training program. To support these brands, visit our Sponsors tab.
