K.I.S.S
If I was the type of person who wrote words of advice on my hand before a run this would be it: Keep it straightforward; simple. As riders and trainers, it is easy to get caught up in the “buttons” and “tricks” we can teach a horse as our skill level progresses. We’ve gained confidence in our riding capabilities, are better educated in the mechanics of a horse, and have the skills to add these cues to our repertoire. While these buttons are nice to have, they do not always prove fruitful in the show pen. In a lot of ways these are best used as tests of lessons already taught; to see if I have the horse’s attention, and ensure I have their mind focused on me before entering the show pen, not necessarily the physical maneuver being asked. In the show pen, everything is moving at a much quicker pace and there is rarely time to use these cues advantageously. As much as I may have worked at teaching that horse to hold their hip up underneath them and step back off my outside leg before turning with the cow, the chances of me having the timing to be able to implement that cue, the horse respond, and still stay in position on the cow during a run are slim to none. The delay between my initial ask and the horse’s response is too great in most instances to maintain position on a cow in a show situation. Therefore, in the show pen, I am better off trusting my training and keeping it as simple as possible- maintain my position and control on the cow. Remember, the show pen is all about the picture being presented, it is not a training session.
It’s human nature to want to overcomplicate things, especially when it comes to horses. I catch myself doing this all the time, whether a feeding regimen that takes twenty minutes to prep before each meal or fifteen different cues needed for my horse to pick up the correct lead. We want to feel like we are doing our part, being the best riders and owners out there and going above and beyond for these athletes. If it is too simple we begin to feel we are not doing our part, not giving our all to the process. There is a famous quote that addresses this, saying something along the lines: the beginner rider is working on advanced maneuvers while the advanced horseman is working on the basics. The confident horseman understands that a strong foundation built on the basics will be more beneficial in the long run than the more advanced buttons and tricks.
There are thousands of great teachers and resources out there to help us better understand the horse, but I think we get so wrapped up in the technicalities of a specific maneuver that we lose sight of the big picture and make the whole process way more complicated than it needs to be. Some of the most talented horsemen I know have the simplest approach to their training process because they have a strong grasp of the basics and understanding of the horse that they do not have to overcomplicate things.
I notice this a lot when giving lessons, people get so caught up in the individual mechanics that they forget to look at the horse as a whole, they forget to make sure all parts are working cohesively. For example, an average rider understands when their horse is on the correct lead and can execute the appropriate cues to catch a lead, but when they are struggling it is usually because they have focused too much on the cues and less on what the horse beneath them is doing. They focus on the cue before pausing to evaluate if that cue is what the horse really needs to maintain balance and position to be set up for that lead. In fixating on the cue themselves, they generally lose the fundamentals: forward motion and balance. When you have these, forward motion and balance, the correct lead will be the obvious answer for the horse and you will forego extra problems and frustrations.
Ever notice how most children have a natural gift on a horse? They are not so concerned with everything being perfect, or on each individual cue, but rather they ride the horse as a whole and think about the big picture- accomplishing their ultimate task (even if it’s just to have fun). As a trainer or advanced rider, focusing on the big picture can be one of the hardest skills to learn. We know enough to know what perfect should feel like and it can be hard to not get hung up on that strive for perfection in the day-to-day and in doing so lose sight of the big picture.
The same holds true when working a cow; as we become more advanced and confident in our skills we want to do more for the horse; stop, shape, draw - which are all great things but not at the expense of taking that horse away from their job of going with a cow. All these training techniques and skills are useful and beneficial to a horse’s training, but they cannot overpower the ultimate goal- control the cow.
I myself am guilty of it, sometimes I overcomplicated things for the horse and create unnecessary problems due to confusion. If I just focus on the basics- staying between my hands and feet (balance/softness), taking a pull (bring the nose first through the turn), go with a cow and stop with a cow my horse will remain confident and I will avoid a lot of unnecessary struggles. And as an added bonus, once the horse has caught on to our general objective, that draw I am wanting will become their idea, that shape will be their idea, and all I need to do is continue to encourage these actions. Horses are smart, they will pick up their shoulder and shift their weight to the outside in anticipation of that turn, they will begin reading that cow and get quick to the stop on their own, And because it is their idea it will be engrained in their minds rather than me forcing it on them.
This concept of keeping it simple is one I have really tried to make a point of in my current program, especially when it comes to the colts. The simpler I can make it, focusing on key fundamentals- stay between my hands and feet, full commitment to forward motion- the more confident my horses seem to be and the more willing they are to learn new things. In keeping this frame of mind, I can work myself out of tough training moments without having to rely on equipment or scaring my horses into submission. Then when it comes time to advance and begin training towards a specific performance career they have an understanding of these fundamentals strong enough to carry over. Whether it be in working a cow or turning a barrel, forward motion and balance play a key part in any equine athlete’s career. As their training advances, more advanced techniques will be implemented and need to be utilized, but these should not replace the basic skills instilled but instead be used to accentuate and refine what has already been established.
