Ep 134: How to Make the Desired Response Part of the Release
Do you have a horse that gets anxious in the corner of the box or in the alleyway? This is an extremely common issue in the performance horse world, and while there are occasions when this issue can be attributed to pain / veterinary concerns, I believe that it can oftentimes be attributed to an improper application of the release.
Your horse can’t be confident and anxious at the same time. Any time your horse is in an anxious state of mind in the corner, I don’t believe you will be able to get a consistently correct start. The same is true for the barrel racing with an anxious horse in the alleyway.
I see a lot of trainers and competitors that instinctively hold pressure on the bridle reins when riding into the box and/or riding down the alleyway. Picking up on the bridle reins is the trigger that tells that horse, ‘get ready–something big is coming up.’ Ideally, you want to have a somewhat relaxed rein in the corner. The goal is to let the box be the release point.
If you are inconsistent with the release, you are creating frustration, not confidence. Any time your horse provides the desired response and they don't receive the release at the right time, it confuses them.
We have to be very aware of the way we are asking for responses and be very aware of when we are providing the release. If your horse is becoming anxious in any given situation, the first question to ask yourself is, “am I providing the reward at an appropriate time on a consistent basis?”
When we are dealing with anxious horses, it is important to be realistic about the amount of time it takes to rebuild a horse’s confidence. Of course, you can somewhat improve the situation in a 30-60 minute training session; however, it can take months to fully repair that horse’s confidence about the situation. One session doesn’t create a habit. Confidence must be habitual in order for the horse to consistently perform at its best. You must be self-aware enough to realize when the practice session needs to be about building your horse’s confidence more so than your own.
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