Maintenance Training

Brandy is engaged with me

This article accompanies my chat (10/18/22) with Jec Aristotle Ballou on this topic. Play Video What can we do to keep horse time interesting when we aren't working on any particular challenges or problems? This is an important question because if we aren't feeling focused or having fun, we can bet our horse isn't either! Too much repetition encourages both of us to get bored and tune out. So let's look at ways to spice up otherwise ordinary routines...
The Atmosphere Horses want to engage with us when they feel good in our company, so the emotions we promote are more important than specific activities. Instead of focusing on obedience and performance, experiment and see what engages your horse's interest, what prompts him to take initiative or experiment, what brings an extra spark to his eye, or causes him to puff up with the pride of "I can DO this!" This means focusing less on obedience and performance, more on making sure your horse feels successful and engaged. When introducing new things, start small and easy, keeping in mind that something that captures one horse's interest, might push another horse too far out of his comfort zone. Laugh a lot, even at mistakes. Horses know that laughter is a good thing. It encourages them to relax, experiment, show us what they like to do, and engage with us in our agenda. Suggestions for ground work and warm up:
1. Vary the exercises you do and the order in which you do them.
2. Play with synchronizing. If your horse already walks in step with you, does he stay with you when you change pace, take larger or smaller steps? Turn left or right? Lay the lead over his neck? For horses this is play and bonding, but we can also use it to enhance our training by tuning in to how we use our own bodies. Walk and halt in balance, and your horse mimics that, too. Your self-carriage is encouraging his, even before you mount up.
3. Play jokes. Instead of asking your horse to copy you, you copy him. They generally find this quite intriguing. Instead of asking your horse to do ground exercises, let him watch while you do them. Do something silly and unexpected, like put a cone on your head. See if he gets the joke.
4. Try Horse Agility. The focus of Horse Agility it communication and precision. Can you cue your horse to move with you, and execute specific movements at different obstacles with your body language only? That means your body language must be so clear to your horse that your lead never goes tight. If it isn't, don't "correct" your horse. Instead, adjust your body language until it makes sense to him. This awareness of your own body language not only improves communication on the ground, but also helps your riding, all while you and your horse are having bonding fun together.

Bronzz likes to check the mailbox

Adventures
1. Encourage Investigative Behavior whether it's an intense inspection or a casual sniff. This engages curiosity which is a powerful positive emotion.
2. Go for a leadline walk together, no agenda except to share observing whatever you encounter. Shared adventures are bonding.

Riding
1. Give your horse a job. Horses like to see a purpose to what they are doing, beyond just following our instructions. Opening and closing gates, for instance, is the practical application of multiple lateral movements. Trimming trail requires precision communication with your hands engaged in managing the job instead of working reins.
2. Give him the freedom to make some decisions. Which way would you like to go at this trail junction? What is the best way around an obstacle on the trail? This engages his mind in problem solving in a way that simply following directions cannot. When we return from a trail ride Bronzz often likes to detour around the pasture so we can check the mailbox. (I have no idea why since he never gets any mail!) In the process we roam around the front yard, and sometimes down to the hay shed. When he's done, he strolls down the driveway and back to the barn.

Obstacles require precision communication

Variety in the Ring
1. Mix up what you do. Get off the rail, and mix figures like circles and serpentines with transitions between and within gaits, halts, backs, and lateral moves. This takes more thinking and planning on your part, but it improves balance and condition at the same time. Watch your horse's responses, and make the changes often enough to keep him interested but not so often that he feels harassed.
2. Work on yourself. Pick a day when you say nothing to your horse about how he is carrying himself, just adjust your own body. It is amazing how much my horse's responses improve when I do this!
3. Try a new discipline. You don't have to give up your old one, but cross-training is hugely valuable both mentally and physically. My sister's Oldenburg Appaloosa was a talented dressage horse who preferred jumping. She considered jumping a reward.
4. Give your horse free time to do whatever he pleases (within safe bounds, of course). You might get a pleasant surprise. Bronzz, who normally dislikes trot poles, offers to do them when it's his choice.
5. Play with obstacles. Although Bronzz found agility boring (I don't move fast enough to suit him), he liked Equagility. As soon as I mounted up, he was all in on the obstacles. Always go for precision, not speed. If they are too easy, drop you reins.
6. Take a Yoga break on your horse.
7. Do patterns. You can do figures around obstacles, or sequences of strides, like 6 steps walk, 6 steps trot, halt, back, repeat. See how many repetitions it takes for your horse to start rebalancing himself for the transitions.
8. Music. Not just random music you happen to like, but look for music with a solid beat that matches your horse's stride. There are websites, articles, and several books on how to organize this. If you don't have the music skills, any musical friend will understand. Music that matches a horse's stride can really perk up his interest along with helping him maintain a steady rhythm. Notice what music your horse likes; they have very definite personal preferences.