Ep 78: Overcoming Impatient Tendencies
By nature, we are very scheduled human beings. We always have deadlines. We always seem to be in a hurry. We always want to get things done as quickly and efficiently as possible. While these tendencies can often contribute to our productivity, these impatient tendencies can also pose challenges for our horsemanship.
Our horses are nothing more than a reflection of our own communication. Each day, we must reach a certain level of focus and self-awareness to make this communication effective. When we lose focus, we tend to fall back on our subconscious and muscle memory.
If you have listened to very many of these podcast episodes, you have probably heard me talk about the importance of developing solid muscle memory quite a few times. But, it is important to understand that overcoming our subconscious tendencies and incorrect muscle memory is just as crucial as developing correct muscle memory.
One of the most common issues I see with bad muscle memory is being too quick with our hands. Being too quick with your hands causes the horse to become stiff and brace on the bridle. This reaction is a result of something I like to call the “freeze mechanism.”
A horse’s natural self preservation mechanisms are either flight, fight, or freeze. When we are too quick with our hands, we engage the freeze mechanism. In other words, when we pull on our horses suddenly, it startles them, and out of self preservation, that horse gets stiff in the bridle, hollows out its back, and freezes up because it cannot find the release.
Our horses are very forgiving. Given the opportunity to find the right answer, they will find it. The key to allowing your horse to find this answer consistently is to overcome your impatience. Give your horse the chance to do it right before stepping in to help. If you step in too early, you’ll simply be in the way.
Muscle memory isn’t one of those things that once you’ve done it, you’ve got it. It is something that has to be continually developed and reinforced.
Creating, reinforcing, and maintaining great muscle memory is a constant battle, even for myself. Sometimes, I catch myself being too quick with my hands, and each time I do it, it just reiterates the importance of my self-awareness.
Over the years, I have learned that you can have great feel, timing, and balance with your body--but if you don’t have it with your hands, too, you won’t get very far.
When you slow your hands down, you give your horse the opportunity to find the right answer. When your hands are too quick, you change the horse’s thought process.
To learn more about the One Rein Stop and other exercises discussed in this episode, enroll in our Foundation to Finish online training program.
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