Ep 167: Evaluating Your Results & Adjusting Your System
How do you evaluate your horse’s performance?
In competitive situations, it’s not hard to come up with benchmarks for evaluation. For example, it’s easy to determine what is a 1D barrel horse or an open/pro-level roping horse. It’s also easy to compare one horse against another – “this horse stops harder” or “this horse turns quicker” are easy evaluations to make. But, these benchmarks aren’t very useful when it comes to developing systems for winning performance. These metrics of evaluation don’t give us much insight into a horse’s specific strengths and weaknesses. Or, in other words, where the holes are in their foundation.
With each horse, we need to go through a simple evaluation process that creates a more objective way of analyzing the horse’s level of performance. This system does not need to consider where a horse is compared to another, nor how you feel about their progress. It is a system that is based on a simple question:
Is my horse’s performance in a specific area below average, average, or above average?
When I am evaluating my horses, I use a system that works on a scale of 1-3.
1 = Below average or “not very good”
2 = Average or “pretty good”
3 = Above average or “really good”
Using this scale, you can come up with various factors that you are evaluating for each horse. Evaluating the five body parts is a great place to start. You can ask yourself questions like:
How is your control over their head, neck, shoulders, rib cage and hindquarters?
How strong is their lateral flexion?
How good is their collection (vertical flexion)?
How well are you able to control their speed and direction?
How well are they able to transition between “thinking” and “reacting”?
While it seems like a simple system, I find it to be very effective at helping me determine the areas I need to focus my training on with each horse. I especially like using this system for my colts because it allows me to get a more accurate idea of each horse’s individual strengths and weaknesses, as well as where their foundation is at as a whole.
Ideally, after I evaluate each area of my horse’s performance, I want their foundation to be averaging 2.6-3.0. That’s when I know I am on track to having a great horse.
Not everyone’s evaluation system is going to look the same, and it shouldn’t. To create an effective evaluation process you need to look at all the different attributes of your horse, look at what you need your horse to do, and develop benchmarks accordingly. Develop an evaluation system that works for you and supports the individual outcomes you are aiming for with each horse.
The tough part about evaluating where your horse is at is that, oftentimes, the evaluation process identifies your areas of weakness, not your horse’s. It uncovers the areas where you are not communicating something well enough, and in turn, your horse is not understanding the desired response.
If you aren’t getting the results you want, some part of your system is going to have to change. Whether that’s in your horsemanship, business, finances, relationships, or any other area of your life, your system has to evolve based on your progress toward your goals. Don’t be afraid to revamp your system if you realize that your actions are not producing the outcomes you desire. Your ability to reflect, adapt and be resilient will be your strongest attribute.
“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.
