Submission - obedience

Hi!
I've come to the conclution that true submission is an acceptance of the laws of nature: Where the rider sets an example by respecting these laws, the horse follows. Then the equipage can work together within the boundries of these rules; exploring, trusting, relaxed and playful.
A horse will willingly engage in any companionship that rests on the pillars of nature's own laws, because it's understandable, comforting and systematic, and therefor appealing to the horse. So the submission is not so mutch to the rider per se; as to the riders way of teaching with respect.
That means that if a horse shows signs of uneasieness, the rider must figure out, wether it's a question from the horse that requires a fair answere, or if it's the teaching in general that is performed in a way that creates negativity.
That's my thoughts, anyway :-)

Post edited by: LindaB, at: 2007/10/16 13:03

Hello Linda,
I enjoyed your very thoughtful message.You wrote......" That means that if a horse shows signs of uneasieness, the rider must figure out, wether it's a question from the horse that requires a fair answere, or if it's the teaching in general that is performed in a way that creates negativity ".
I am reminded of Captain Beudant's wise words...." Errors in equitation most often occur in attacking EFFECTS,instead of searching for,and destroying CAUSES ".He also advised us all to " OBSERVE and REFLECT ".
Someone else said riding isn't difficult;it's THINKING that's difficult.Perhaps we should sit and think a little more before going on?
Safe riding,and thank you,
Sandy Dunlop

Hi and thanks!
I'd just like to add; the relationship between *effect* and *cause* is indeed one of nature's laws! As riders, we "cause the causes", and that fact must never be forgotten. ;-)
I look at it this way: Breef episodes of 'disobedience' can be good; they'll give us valuable information about the situation so that we can "do better teaching" next time. It is also a question of degree of natural temper in the horse; they are all different and learn in different ways. But if the signs are more or less a habit, no matter how subtle, and even if the horse is kept under control by the rider at all times; it must be addressed just as Beudant describes; do not attack the effects; find the cause - and adjust. Remember; happy athlethe...
For many years, I trained dogs for competition obedience and other activities, and I must say that it really thought me how to teatch better; how to motivate, to put the animal at an optimal state of arousal compared to the task presented, carfully setting up an individual learning curve for that particular animal, make positivity an important part of the training. The animal should not be just an object on wich the trainer works; it should be a volunteer parttaker. This way, resistance can be kept at a minimum. The less mental and physical resistance, the more lightness.
But now I'll stop writing...this was more than I intended to put down!

Post edited by: LindaB, at: 2007/10/17 16:16

just a dobbel posting

Post edited by: LindaB, at: 2007/10/17 16:14

Linda écrit:

The less mental and physical resistance, the more lightness.

You are perfectly right. I cannot add more to this quote.
Vincent Delespaux

Message édité par: tradai1, à: 2007/10/20 21:29

True balance is manifested by lightness of the mouth.There can be no resistance or contraction when this state of affairs exists.-Garrett Hoelscher