EveryRider

The Struggle of a Right Brained Rider

   
 
I am about as "right brained" as they come. I am intuitive, creative, and a very visual learner. As a child my favorite subjects surrounded art, music, and creative writing. I still remember my excitement when my fourth grade teacher finally assigned something I was good at for homework. We were to write a creative short story about whatever we wanted and present it in front of the class. I spent weeks on my project drawing artwork, creating characters, and devising props for my oral report.

My assignment was a huge success.  I got the chance to read the story in front of the entire school. That was to be my only A of the year.  As the subjects shifted to math and science, gold stars and smiley faces turned into notes of concern. All my report cards from that grade on read about the same. "Kelly is a bright and intelligent child, however we are concerned that she is not living up to her full potential." Growing up an extremely right brained child in a left brained education system can make for a less than pleasant learning experience.  

Since then I have learned to view my style of learning and intelligence as a gift rather than a disability.  My struggle as a student  led me to discover my strengths as a teacher and trainer. Fortunately today there is a much greater awareness of the different ways in which we all learn. Our methods of teaching should be as varied as the learning styles of our students.   

This realization in my riding did not occur overnight. I spent a long time trying to learn to ride like I was solving a math problem or following a recipe.

As most of us learn to ride we are met with left-brained, step by step instruction. This piece by piece approach is a necessary part of the learning process but it also has limitations.  Paying too much attention to individual body parts can interfere with the coordinative functions of the brain.  This has often been called "paralysis by analysis."  One of my favorite writers uses this old rhyme as example: 

The centipede was happy,quite,
Until the frog in fun Said,
"Pray, which leg comes after which?"
This set his mind in a pitch,
He lay distracted in the ditch,
Figuring how to run.

I look back now at how differently I viewed riding as a child.  I remember standing in the stirrups galloping through a field on an old quarter horse mare with no thoughts of how I looked or how the horse was going.  Just about the only thing I could tell you about the horse was that her name was "Cinnamon" and that she really liked to run.  In fact I  think thats all we did all summer long. My goal with Cinnamon was simple.  I just wanted to go as fast as we possibly could without falling off.  I think by summers end I had done a whole lot of improper riding and fallen off a time or two but I had a great time, and as far as I could tell I was a pretty damn good rider. 

Somewhere along the line riding turned into serious business.  Horses were my passion, and making a living with them was a life long goal. To realize this dream I had to develop skill.  I had to become a rider.  In fact how I viewed myself, my success and failure hinged on this great desire.

I have literally spent what equates to years riding in circles.  Trying to force my skill into reality through contortion, manipulation and repetition. Riding was no longer about fun it was about hard work, commitment and dedication. There was no more riding just to ride.  I was going to get this horse to go onto the bit if it took all day, all week, all month.

I watched naturally talented riders with envy and wondering what was taking my stupid body so long.  I was doing everything they were doing with much different results.  I worked harder, practiced more, read more books and still I could not rise to the next level.  I was still mostly a  passenger at the mercy of my mount, and I still knew more in my head than I could realize with my body.

Even worse I berated myself and cursed my body for being so useless and stubborn.  I rode around thinking about all the things I was trying to do, just did, and was about to do then berated myself for each mistake.  The harder I tried the more quickly it all fell apart. I had several instructors in my time at Meredith Manor and all were good but only one could really push me past this painful plateau.

She stopped me mid circle one day and asked me what exactly I was trying to do. To which I replied " I'm trying to get my horse to soften"  She smiled and said "Well thats not a very soft look on your face."

Slightly irritated and very confused I rattled off all the aids I was applying and the steps in sequence I was working on to achieve results with this particular horse.  I certainly did not see what my face had to do with it.  My instructor walked over and said "Stop trying so hard to ride and just ride."

My heart sunk.  I heard so many great things about this instructor.  I thought surely she had the answers.  The missing ingredient to my riding recipe.  I expected her to look at me and say.  "There is the problem.  Your left leg is just a few inches too far back."   All I wanted was the missing piece to my puzzle which would transform me from a decent rider into a great rider. 

The last thing I wanted was for someone to imply that it was easy.  There was certainly nothing easy about it.  I had been trying to get this horse to stretch down for weeks and not only had I not succeeded but my true teacher (the horse) was even more intent on running around with his head in the rafters. 

She began to ramble on about "finding the feel" about "setting the rhythm" about "directing my energy" and on and on.  I looked at her with a blank look on my face and said.  I understand what your saying but how do I do that?  I could not even begin to understand feel because I spent my entire time on the horse listening to voices.  Not only the voice of my instructor on the ground but also the little left brained instructor whispering in my head.  "OK get your stupid leg on, drive into the corner, He's going to try to stop at the gate again... Come on Push him past it...He's gonna stop...Dammit... Hes gonna stop...I knew it!...He stopped...

How can you do any listening to your body or more importantly your horse with all that noise going on in your head.  I couldn't feel anything.  I was far too busy barking orders at my body to process anything else. 

I was sent to the small round pen in the back of the arena alone.  My assignment was not to try to get my horse to soften but instead to just ride for 25 minutes collecting feedback from the horse and feeling responses of what I was doing with my body.  My only other instruction was to remain relaxed and rhythmic and to avoid any negative self talk. This sounded silly but It would change my riding forever.  I ended up riding for almost and hour and had an amazing ride. I just relaxed, rode and recorded.  Obviously there is more to riding than that but that one moment opened my mind to other possibilities. 

It was then that the same instructor led me to an absolute must read for any rider facing these challenges.  The "Natural Rider"  A right brain approach to riding. By Mary Wanless  It was if she wrote this book just for me.  It gives great insight into the mind body connection in learning to ride, offering right brained solutions to left brained problems. She provides great tools and exercises both for mounted and dismounted work.   

This approach is a tremendous advance in teaching and learning. It shows any rider how to organize her mind and body in the same way as the riders we call "€˜talented"€™. This enables each person to learn the same feels and to achieve the same results. By increasing the rider'€™s body awareness and using images which help her understand both what to do and how to do it, incredible improvements can be obtained in a very short time, defying traditional expectations.

This book is one of many must haves for the right brained rider.  I also suggest what I refer to as my riding and teaching bible; Centered Riding by Sally Swift.  CR is an invaluable tool for riding instructors searching for imaginative ways to teach self awareness, and effectively communicate the concepts that lie at the heart of good riding. Helping riders progress thru the use of vivid, unusual and creative images that go beyond mere mechanics.

There is no precise recipe for learning to ride.  Understanding how you best learn information (description, image or feel) can make all the difference in getting the most out of your sessions.  We all want to find the elusive "magic" that allows horse and rider to achieve true harmony.  I think we all have that potential, Its not a matter of learning the right way, it is simply a matter of finding the right way for us. 

"Feel is no black magic, and anyone can acquire it to a considerable degree." - Wilhelm Muesler

From Green To Great

I guess you could say that bad horse training keeps good horse trainers in business.  I know several trainers that earn their lively hood based entirely on re training poorly trained horses.  The job of re training a horse can be much trickier than doing it right the first time.  The process entails spending a  great deal of time  regaining trust and unlearning bad habits.  However, bad training is not always the root of the problem.  When someone takes a green horse to a trainer and expects to get back a finished horse in 30 or even 60 days they are setting the horse up for failure, and encouraging the trainer to take shortcuts.

I'm not implying that I have never or would never back a horse in that time. In 30 to 60 days I can give you back a horse that rides, and if the horse is nice enough and your not a competitive rider you might just get by. However, laying a solid foundation, or training horses to carry themselves, to collect or to perform well at a competitive level typically takes the average horse around 18 months. 

Taking Short cuts in  training horses is a bit like dieting.  There are plenty of ways to lose weight.  You may even lose a lot of weight fast.  Unfortunately, as many of us learn the hard way there is no magic pill or exercise free way to get in shape, and just because your thinner doesn't necessarily mean your healthy and It certainly doesn't mean its going to last.

Every now and then I get the opportunity to work with a young green horse.  A clean slate with an open mind.  They have no reason to be fearful of people and no real damage to undo.  Such is the case with my latest training project, a three year old Morgan named "Tucker"  He is full of youthful exuberance and curiosity.  He is eager to work and will do just about anything to hear the words good boy.  He is one of those horses with the rare combination of intelligence with great temperament. The best part about working with Tucker is that his owner is not in a big rush.  She knows she has a really nice horse in her hands and wants to bring him  along right, rather than right now.

That is the difference between breaking and training.  I consider Breaking as a sort of one sided conversation.  There is no real communication happening.  The horse is asked to do something it can not understand and then made to go through a series of wrong answers and correction until it stumbles upon the right one.  This often accompanies Force, restraint and correction until the horse finally gives in, gives up or submits.  Breaking horses may condition them to perform certain tasks but there is no real learning going on.  In fact the only thing actually being taught is what not to do.  Most horses will learn to do the "correct" thing eventually if for no other reason then fear of punishment for guessing incorrectly. 

The trainer I learned from used this analogy... "If you grab the handle of a hot pan, it doesn't take you long to realize your mistake. Your body reacts to the stimulus and you let go of the pan. You learned not to pick up a hot pan but since you didn't really have time to process all your options, your learning isn't very complete. Just like the horse getting "gentled", you got a negative education. You learned what not to do, what to be afraid to do. If you had had the time to process the situation, you might have gotten a more positive education and learned the way to pick up a hot pan so you wouldn't get burned"

Tucker has been in training for a couple months.  With the exception of some time off for his disagreement with a metal gate, and a few snow days he has been worked an average of four days a week.  While many trainers would tell you that he should be backed and well on his way by now, Tucker has yet to see a saddle.  He is making great progress and eagerly awaits his training sessions, actually running over to me  when he sees me enter the paddock with his halter and lunge line.  There are no treat rewards he just knows its his turn to play in the arena.

This past weekend I gave his owner a demonstration of all we have been working on in the time he has been in training.  She was elated to see his progress.  For the first time she watched her young horse paying undivided attention to his handler, patiently awaiting then performing every request on command from changing direction, backing up, transitioning between walk, trot and halt with and without a lead line, then doing the same while on a lunge line.  He has now accepted the bridle and surcingle and will hopefully be fully tacked up by weeks end.  He has established a great trust and gained much confidence all while developing the muscle and balance necessary to make a smooth transition into work under saddle.
I realize that training can be very expensive.  I'm not suggesting that its necessary to spend thousands of dollars nor am I implying that you need to send your horse to a trainer for two years.  I do suggest that you set realistic training goals for your horse.  Its also important to educate yourself as much as possible about the techniques your trainer uses.   I am constantly amazed at how many owners want to simply drop the horse off to be "fixed" or trained and have no desire to learn how to maintain what they paid for. Every time you interact with your horse you are training him whether you realize it or not.  Ask your trainer questions, take lessons, learn how to continue the work your trainer began.  There is no secret short cut to turn green into great overnight. That is the beauty and the challenge of working with horses, no matter how many horses you've worked with there will always be more to learn. 

The "Rollkur" Debate

Whether you are a Dressage enthusiast or just an occasional reader of equestrian magazines and message boards, chances are you have heard about €œ"Rollkur"€ 

Rollkur, now officially known as "hyperflexion of the neck," is a training technique used by several dressage riders today, including Athens Gold Medalist Anky van  UphGrunsven.   Hyper flexing of the neck was used in other equestrian disciplines, most notably show jumping, before being adopted by such well-known dressage riders.

In 2005, accusations of abusive training by Van Grunsven appeared in the German horse magazine St. Georg. The accusations were later found unjustified in court. Germany was the world leader in dressage for decades until the Dutch team, including Van Grunsven, won the nations cup in Aachen in 2005. Below I have included video of Anky riding Krack C. 

There is no doubt that Anky is a talented rider and that this is an incredible stallion. However, what is still being debated is how the results were achieved, and at what cost.  Is hyperflexion of the neck acceptable when utilized by a professional trainer?  Is this practice actually harmful to the horse either physically or mentally?                       

The FEI called a meeting of trainers, riders and vets in Lausanne in February of 2006 to discuss the issues arising from the allegations made by the press. The meeting concluded that although potentially damaging in inexperienced hands these methods were acceptable in the hands of experts. "Hyper flexing of the neck" was officially condoned by the recognized regulatory body the FEI.  This declaration seemed to only lead to more questions.  Is the system of judging part of the problem?  Are the results rewarded regardless of the how they were achieved?  Does the end justify the means?

Rollkur teaches the horse to lower its head and round its neck as it works. Working "deep" so that the head is pulled inward. As in the picture to the left, in the extreme, the horse's mouth touches the middle of his chest. This hyper flexed state is held for a length of time, through work at the walk, trot, and canter, including shortening and extension of the gaits. Rollkur is not just longitudinal flexion (nose to chest), but also bending to the rider's toe.  Most riders accomplish the head position by and fixing the hands in a low position until the horse yields its jaw.  This is a response to pressure on the bit.

I discovered an interesting documentation of this method by Dr.Ulrike Thiel which demonstrates the technique through pictures. It is a critical documentation on the Hyper flexion/Rollkur method of riding and training horses. The scenes are taken out of a longer video documentation being published on 3 DVD's which demonstrate the practical use of this method by experienced riders.  The short clips include eye opening visuals and very informative  explanations of the phases of hyper flexion.

I have also included several links to articles on the subject that I found interesting over the past two years since this debate began.  Below is the introduction to the documentation found on youtube.  For the entire series please visit http://www.youtube.com/profile_videos?user=ulrikethiel

Links related to rollkur/Hyperflexion

http://www.sustainabledressage.com/rollkur/index.php

http://www.walterzettl.net/pages/german_stgeorge.html

http://www.eurodressage.com/news/dressage/fei/06-02-workshop.html

http://www.hippocampus-nl.com/s2e.php?content_id=337

http://www.horsemagazine.com/CLINIC/J/NEWSJEF/NewSjef.htm

http://www.myhorsefly.com/read/9

 

(EHV)-1 Too Close for Comfort

Equine Herpesvirus Type 1 (EHV-1) has been in the news throughout the country recently, with outbreaks of the virus occurring in locations as varied as Florida, Connecticut and California.  A week ago we got the news that this nasty virus was closer than we thought.  The state ordered an immediate quarantine of the Virginia Tech Marion DuPont Scott Equine Medical Center after veterinary doctors reported a suspected infection of the neurological form of equine herpesvirus in three hospitalized horses.  By the next day it was being reported that the quarantine now involved 175 horses and 4 counties in the immediate area.

EHV-1 is a highly infectious disease that usually affects the respiratory system. Occasionally, the virus may also cause neurological disease. Transmission likely occurs by inhaling infected droplets or ingesting material contaminated by nasal discharges or aborted fetuses. The disease can prove fatal in approximately 40 percent of cases. In severe cases, the affected horse will become unable to stand; these cases have a very poor prognosis. To date, there is no effective treatment for EHV-1.

Local horse owners are taking this potential outbreak very seriously.  Proof is evident throughout Virginia's horse country and the region, with event cancellations, self-imposed quarantines, and the halt of all horse sales and auctions in the state of Virginia. The appearance of EHV-1 in Northern Virginia has affected casual horse-hobbyists to 4-H-ers; from fox-hunt clubs to top-flight trainers.  

My facility is less than 25 miles from the Marion Dupont Center, where the virus first appeared. I feel relatively safe knowing that none of the horses here have been off the grounds in the last six months, and no one is going anywhere until this thing blows over.  Unfortunately putting your barn on lock down isn't enough when dealing with a disease as dangerously contagious as EHV-1.  There is no fail safe way to prevent any horse from developing EHV-1.  Several types of vaccine are available for the four known strains of EHV (1-4), though none have proven fully effective against the neurological strain. Your best defense, as they say, is a good offense

There is an old saying: "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." Biosecurity is the best possible way to prevent the spread of EHV- 1 at your facility.  Biosecurity  means doing everything you can to reduce the chances of an infectious disease being carried onto your farm by people, animals, equipment, or vehicles, either accidentally or on purpose.  Many local stables are limiting visitors to one entrance and making a foot bath to walk through before entering the Barn.   

Instructions for preparing an easy foot bath
You will need:

1. A low plastic pan or bin, wide enough to fit an adult’s foot, shallow enough to step into easily

2. A plastic doormat (the “fake grass” mats work well)

3. A disinfectant that works when manure or dirt is present, such as      Tek-trol or One Stroke Environ or bleach

4. Water

Mix the disinfectant with water following label instructions. Put the doormat in the plastic pan. Add disinfectant so that the bottom of the “grass” is wet. Ask visitors to walk through the footbath, wiping their feet on the mat. The “grass” scrubs their shoes a bit as they wipe them, and applies the disinfectant. When the liquid starts to get dirty, empty it and put in new disinfectant.

There are several good websites with further information on EHV-1 and how to prevent it.  Here are a few that I found helpful.
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/pubs/HorseBioSecurity_final.pdf
http://www.canr.uconn.edu/ansci/equine/ehv_pfizer.pdf
http://www.canr.uconn.edu/ansci/equine/ehv_ppt.pdf

questions concerning the quarantine can call the center's toll-free hotline at 1-866-438-7235