I've had at least three people send me this video, and I appreciate the fact that they thought of me. If you can watch this without getting tears in your eyes, you're just not a horse lover. Notice there are no reins and no saddle. Watch, and be amazed.
I found it interesting that she seems to be wearing spurs. All of that control, physical and verbal, and she still wears spurs? I'm not being critical, I'm in awe, but it's worth a mention.
ReplyDeleteWell, I bawled. *Sniff....*
ReplyDeleteThank you! Your horse is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteWow, that horse and rider are amazing!!
Love seeing things like this (of course!) ;p
ReplyDeleteFor Rachel: She is wearing spurs, and there is a good reason. When you train a horse like this it is really important to communicate well and distinctly. The spurs give her a good way to communicate very subtle movements of her legs. The way I show this to someone is to take a pencil (not sharpened!) and your fist. Now, put your fist against their arm. Second poke them lightly with the pencil. You can get the message (cue) across with much less force and easier with the smaller area of the pencil. Same thing with your big heel and the much smaller end of the spur. It is just a much more subtle cue and easier for the horse to feel and takes less pressure to get your message (i.e. go this way) across. She is doing a good 90% of her control thru her legs, so the spurs just give her a little more subtle control. If I could give her a hint I would tell her that for the showmanship of the act, most people aren't going to get the spurs = subtle, so instead of wearing them you just put a screw in the heal of your boot. Still have the subtle (as in easy for the horse to read) control, and people don't see the 'offensive' spurs.
It's too bad that some people do mishandle things like spurs and whips and turn them into devices of pain instead of what they are intended for and that is an extension and more subtle use of your aids!
Eeeek! Sorry Donna for wandering off into a rant on your comments! :)
I cried! What a beautiful horse & an amazing bond between the two.
ReplyDeleteWow, Donna. That is QUITE impressive.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
~Toni~