Building Quality Maneuvers

Horses simply need the right experiences.

I know exactly what I want these maneuvers to look like. I want them to be consistent for every rider who ever sits on my horses. My goal is to teach each horse to perform the maneuver correctly without needing much help from the rider - even if that rider doesn't have a deep understanding of the maneuver or of reining itself. If an absolute novice can get the maneuver done correctly, that's a great thing. The challenge, however, is helping that novice understand just how much they don't know.

Horses, on the other hand, simply need the right experiences.

I spend a lot of time teaching the correct body position and movement: forward motion, elevation through the shoulders, frame, collection, flexibility, rate, cadence, the proper pivot foot, and the correct entrance and exit for every maneuver. Speed alone does no good if you can't shut it off when asked.

To develop all of these qualities, I need my horse's focus - but not too much. Too much can make a horse look angry or tense. I want to see a pleasant expression and a willing attitude.

The physical technique is usually the easy part. Horses can learn the mechanics. The harder part is maintaining a good attitude throughout the process. The key to attitude is reward.

When I ask something of a horse, it would be irresponsible of me not to follow through and get an answer. The horse has to at least try. As a horseman, that means I must be careful about what I ask for. I need to know the horse is enough prepared in his training to be able to give the correct response. There are times when I may need to insist a little, even when the horse doesn't think he's ready, but he still has to make an effort.

The moment I feel that horse try, I have an obligation to reward him. Out of respect for the horse and the effort he just gave, I must acknowledge it. Throughout my program, the horse learns that effort is rewarded. He learns to trust me and trust that his work has meaning.

I recognize that I make mistakes, too. I kick myself every time I miss an opportunity to reward. Sometimes a horse surprises me and learns something faster than I expected. Other times, I simply wasn't paying close enough attention. If I expect my horse to focus on what we're doing, then I owe him that same level of focus.

A horse can become frustrated when he doesn't see a light at the end of the tunnel. If he believes that no amount of effort will improve his situation, eventually he'll stop trying.

For me, reward is rest.

As horses become fatigued, they naturally become focused on finding relief. If a horse learns that making an honest attempt at what I'm asking earns him that rest, he'll walk through fire for me - or at least a good horse will.

Horses don't come out of the womb understanding what petting means. If you want petting to become a reward, pet them while they're resting and they'll begin to make the connection. A good pat means the world to a horse, but it's the rest that teaches him what that pat represents.

At the end of the day, quality maneuvers are not built by forcing a horse through a pattern. They are built through thousands of small moments where the horse learns what is expected, gains confidence in his ability to perform, and develops trust that his efforts will be recognized.

When the foundation is correct, the maneuvers become consistent. When the rewards are fair, their attitudes stay positive. And when a horse understands both the job and the reason for doing it, he can carry that knowledge with any rider who climbs into the saddle.

That's the goal - not just a maneuver that scores well, but a horse that understands his job, enjoys doing it, and can do it with confidence for years to come.