From years of being around Pat at his barn I have taken away a few things regarding safety. First of all ... as a Parelli Instructor, my FIRST priority with all of my students and horses will ALWAYS be safety, its Level 1, its the foundation of this program ... your progress ... actually comes second. This is tough for some students to understand, and sometimes that means I'm not the correct instructor for them. But it also means that I walk away from every lesson feeling like I did the best possible job I know how to.
After that one of the things that Pat has shared is how important it is to be constantly aware of "What's apt to happen?" especially around horses. He teaches us when we look at different situations to really analyze what is it that is APT to happen with your horse? For example ... when you dismount after riding and your reins are around your horses neck ... if they put their head down to itch their front leg... what's one of the things that is APT to happen? One time while traveling with Pat and Linda as their groom to an event with some dressage trainers in Wellington, FL, I learned another such valuable lesson. Pat and I were leading two of his best horses through a very narrow and semi twisted squeezey area. I was going first and I assessed the situation and thought that sending the mare through the gap and then following her would be smartest. Pat said, "Think about what's APT to happen! Just walk through ... swiftly, keep her back at least six feet and then let her have as much line as she needs, and let her decide where to put her feet." I thought I was doing the "correct" thing by squeezing her through, but I didn't look at the fact that that would reduce my leadership by causing me to stop and change my plan, and it would also give her less ability to take care of her own feet.
In yet another situation I had a Level 4 Student helping me to halter three young and very pushy horses. They were in a pen where the barn blocked their view of the road. As we were haltering, I noticed that she had positioned herself with the horse between herself and the road ... So what's apt to happen? As a noisy truck and trailer came around the corner of the barn, right behind the horses Hindquarters he spooked and she was in the way. Luckily she was just fine ... but it's another lesson in "What's Apt to Happen?"
How about horses tied long enough to put a foot over the rope? Opening trailer doors before horses are untied? Going through open gates when they are opened TOWARDS you as opposed to away? Circling your horse with your saddle girthed too loose? Leaving halters tied to arena rails?
So what was my recent story about what's apt to happen? Well ... When you have a 2 and a half year old horse that's been in the trailer all day ... and a year and a half old puppy who's been in the car all day ... You may learn a lesson! I had arrived at a barn I was staying at for the night after a full day of driving. I had taken Merrida (a two year old warmblood filly I had with me for training for a few months), out to allow her to move around in the arena a little bit before putting her in her stall for the night. I had also let Laila (my year and a half old Boxer puppy) out to have a run around since she had been in the car all day. As I led Merrida down the barn aisle to her stall, Laila ran up behind her, spooked her and she jumped forward and landed on my foot. OUCH!
Now, besides thinking about "What's Apt to Happen?" in a situation ... the other thing that Pat would always ask is "What'd ya learn?" I took away a few things from this injury. First off horses are prey animals and when they get scared there are lots of things can happen; however, I KNEW that I had a missing link in the respect piece of my rapport, respect, impulsion, flexion puzzle. This is because when the chips were down, she didn't respect my personal space like she would have with the dominant horse. She jumped INTO the herd, or in this case me, instead of putting effort into avoiding me. The cool thing though, is that this happens din the first week that Merrida was with me; I would be willing to put money on it that if you put her in the same situation today, she would avoid me, But I'd prefer not to test it! The other thing I learned was when you have a young and energetic horse ... and a young and energetic puppy ... and a tired human ... probably best not to try to divide the few brain cells you have left!
By reading this you shouldn't start walking around over-analyzing every situation that you and your equine partner are in. However, you SHOULD start to look at all different situations and pay attention to "What's Apt to Happen."
So true Lillan, have had two of these moments. Once swapping the lead rope between two people and the last step as the horse was slowing down was onto a foot. Inattention on everyone's part! Secondly asking for a very tight squeeze through a gate and a spook that ended up in a deep wound from a gate latch. Happens in an instant and again in a rush and not thinking the consequences through, not a good mix! Great article :) Thanks! Kristy
ReplyDeleteLove it! Thanks Lillan, always a good reminder! ;-) and of course I can relate! Carmen
ReplyDeleteI had one of these experiences yesterday. We have heaps of rich, sugary grass at the moment, which makes the horses jittery and fresh. I hard tied my experienced older horse, Keesu out of habit. Something caught his eye and he pulled back so hard that he broke the snap on his 12 foot line. I was cross with myself for allowing this to happen... But know that today I can better prepare him to be 'back to his old self'.
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