It has been my fortune to spend a great deal of time riding, and so I think myself versed in the horseman’s art. This makes me willing to set forth to the younger of my friends what I believe would be the best way for them to deal with horses. It is true that a book on horsemanship has already been written by Simon; I mean the man who dedicated the bronze horse at the Eleusinion in Athens with his own exploits in relief on the pedestal. Still, I shall not strike out of my work all the points in which I chance to agree with him, but shall take much greater pleasure in passing them on to my friends, believing that I speak with the more authority because a famous horseman, such as he, has thought as I do. And then, again, I shall try to make clear whatever he has omitted.
The NEBC
Philosophy
The principle goal of horse training is to have a controllable and predictable horse. The methods which are utilized to train the horse are said to differ from one discipline to the next; some riders rely on the traditional methods of the old west and yet others rely on the well trodden traditions of Europe. While these two styles of training may seem entirely different, they both hold an inherant similarity of principle. Western and English training both rely on the same principle qualities those being: Basic Control, Lightness, Rhythm, Line, and Connection to the rider. These five qualities assess the level of responsiveness from your horse to your cues. Connective Horsemanship represents these five qualities.
Connective Horsemanship is a unique training process. Its mission is to understand and communicate with young, misunderstood and behaviorally challenged horses. Connective Horsemanship is an accumulation of over a decade of research and development. It stands apart because it addresses the importance of the cueing language between the horse and rider. It is through this connective language that an understanding is built and communication exists.
This training process emphasizes the importance of the go and stop commands. I believe that all behavioral problems exist due to a lack of responsiveness to one or both of these commands. This program identifies the differences between those pressure related signals (cues) that are used to control our horses and those signals that the horse learns purely by association (body postures), then gives you a guideline from which to teach these cues.
The cueing language which we utilize to train our horses must be clear, concise, and consistent. When we fail to follow these simple guidelines the horse instinctively falls back to his root drive; fear. The horse embodies fear. Its survival instinct is the strongest and most readily available emotion the horse possesses. All behavioral issues are tied completely to this response. By redefining the cueing language you are more likely to rehabilitate the behavioral problems associated with them.
I have been fortunate to train and associate with many great horsemen. These great horsemen have taught me much of what I know, so what I teach is not solely my own, but a reflection of my experience and education and the experience and education of those great horsemen. Those that came before me have furthered my experiences and education and their words have shaped me in to who I am. They have taught me to be patient, kind, and honest but mostly these great horsemen justify my philosophies. I am a horse trainer, a behaviorist, a coach, a friend, a husband and father. I am simply a man, who has been given a gift that I must share for that is what brings me joy.
