“Mathematical Flash Cards And Horse Training Success”
Here’s trainer Andy Curry discussing some youthful
learning experiences….
Around 5th or 6th grade, I was having
trouble with math.
Truth told, I hated it.
It never added up for me. (Pun intended)
For some reason, I’ll never forget
the night my mom tried to help me with math.
We were doing flash cards in the living room.
She’d hold up a card with a times-table and
I was to say the answer.
She was getting real frustrated with
me because I didn’t know many of them.
It got where I’d say the answer and if
it was wrong I’d blurt out a back up answer
that was “ALWAYS” wrong.
When I couldn’t answer the problem, I’d say another
answer just because I felt dumb for not knowing
the actual answer.
Within minutes, mom saw I was guessing.
Made her mad.
“You’re guessing! Now stop that nonsense
and think. THINK!!!!”
The madder she got, the worse I did.
Within a minute or two, I was such a
nervous wreck I couldn’t answer any of ’em right.
In my youthful wisdom, I stood up and
said, “I’m going to take a shower. Then I’ll
come back and try it again. I can do better.
I just need to not think about it for a little bit.”
Luckily, my mom let me take a shower.
It was probably because she needed a break too.
When I came back after the shower, it
was nearly like I had studied for a week.
Honest to Pete, I answered nearly all
the flash cards correctly.
Good thing too. I didn’t like my mom
bein’ mad at me.
Now I told you that to tell you this.
Always look at your horse’s emotional
state while working with him.
If he’s gettin’ mad when you work with
him then it’s time to back off and talk him out of it.
How do you talk him out of it?
Just ride him around on free rein and
quit pullin’ on his face and stop the stabbin’
and jabbin’.
Just like when I was getting upset and
confused with the flash cards, I needed a break.
The break, as you know, did wonders for me.
That’s why your horse needs a break. Just cuz he’s
a horse doesn’t mean he doesn’t get upset.
I know there’s a tendency for many to
think something like: “By golly, I don’t care
if he’s mad. He’s gonna do what I say.”
You will find that won’t get you anywhere.
In fact, you’ll go backwards.
If you wanna fight with your horse, knock yourself out.
You won’t win – I promise you.
This is what Sam Burrell mentions as one the
many tricks he relies on when training.
You can see more about Sam by clicking on the following:
http://HorseTrainingResources.com/dvd-samburrell.html
Here’s another goody Sam reveals.
Do you know if your horse is burned
out from training?
If he is, do 2-3 days of no-stress riding to wherever.
Just have fun and ride.
How do you know if he’s burned out?
For one, progress starts to deteriorate.
Things they’ve done well will start to
get worse. (Like me and the flash cards for instance)
The body is uptight – that’s another.
Tail swishing is another.
Here’s a REAL BIG sign: The horse was
doing something well and you keep asking
and asking and it gets worse.
What do you do then?
Back off!
http://HorseTrainingResources.com/dvd-samburrell.html
That’s it for today… stay safe around your horses!
Charlie
P.S. New to horseback riding? Our book:
“Horseback Riding: The Complete Beginner’s Guide”
will take you from knowing nothing to ready to ride.
It comes with some great bonus books as well. And, as if
that wasn’t enough, it will save you lots of
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http://horsetrainingresources.com/RidingBook.html
