Ep 83: What It Takes to Make a Great Horse
What makes a great horse? A great horse, in my opinion, is a horse that has reached (or is close to reaching) its full mental and physical potential.
Over time, there have been truly great horses in every era. I believe one thing that sets this era apart from others is access to knowledge. Now, more than ever before, we have easily-accessible resources that help us build our knowledge and understanding of how to develop our horse’s potential. Our job is to apply this knowledge.
In my experience, there are three key things that factor into the development of a great horse.
1. Establishing expectations of effort
I’ll take effort over ability any day. And, I believe that effort is taught. Whether it be a trainer to a horse, a coach to a player, or a parent to a child...I believe that effort is a learned skill. As trainers, it is our job to set expectations for the amount of effort we expect out of our horses.
2. Maintaining physical and mental conditioning
One of the kindest things you can do for your horse is to have it in great shape.
The process of getting a horse in great shape is very similar to how humans get in shape. To improve our physical condition, we have to put forth effort and put our bodies through rigorous training and exercise.
It is a well-known fact that as our physical condition improves, our mental state improves as well. Physical effort releases endorphins and contributes to mental sharpness and clarity.
I believe these same principles hold true for our horses. When our horses look and feel their best physically, they are able to perform their best mentally.
3. The ability to handle boredom
It takes hundreds, if not thousands, of repetitions to establish a solid foundation with your horse. And, it takes just as many repetitions to maintain that foundation. I believe one of the reasons we fall short from developing our horses’ full potential is that we do not handle the boredom of these repetitions well. And, believe me when I say that these repetitions can and will become boring.
The things it takes to make a great horse are easy to do. But, because of the boredom factor, they can also be easy to ignore, move past, or simply not do. The frequency of these repetitions is what creates great habits--and these great habits create great horses.
“Be Your Best Horsemanship” is brought to you by 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.
