TRAINING
EQUINE
EDUCATION
The training philosophy at Xenophon Equus Centre is to concider all facets of the horse including but not limited to, environmental conditions, physical abilities, emotional needs Individual character traits and other scientific approaches to enable us to help and train to the best of our ability. If we discipline ourselves to understand how a horse may think and view the environment from their perspective we can assist in the learning process in a much more positive way.
In order for us to have great basic horsemanship skills in the saddle we must establish great communication from the ground. Understanding horse psychology is the key to gaining rapport and trust with these animals. Every horse and human's situation may be different, however the horse’s instinctual needs are always the same. From the first ground work until advanced ridden work - everything aims at a clear 2 way communication so that we don’t inadvertently sabotage our success through thoughtlessness.
Everything we do with horses should serve their physical and mental wellbeing. Harmony in the relationship with the horse is first priority.
-
for the Good of the Horse.
THE MIND - The Psychological Aspects of Training and Riding
The horse is such a physiological creature, that the mind and the body are one and the same. Emotional tension is directly linked to physical tension. A horse’s emotions direct his thoughts and it is his thoughts that we should access and influence/direct during our training. There is little awareness about this aspect of training and yet it is the first place that education should begin. In order for a horse to learn something, he must be calm and relaxed to focus on achieving the objective. The relaxation will register the training session as a positive experience, which in turn will help him look forward to sessions. Training should begin with the horse’s mind and that starts with relaxation.
This means the horse should be emotionally calm and relaxed when you start. When something new is asked, the horse may show some tension/stress, but as soon as he understands what is being asked, and can physically perform the task, he will relax again. He should mentally return to a state of relaxation and in this way his confidence in himself, as well as his trainer will build. Only at that point should one move on to the next exercise/step. Again, the horse might show some tension/stress until the new exercise is settled in his mind and body. He then once again returns to a state of relaxation emotionally and so the pattern continues.
The goal should be to achieve relaxation with an exercise before moving onto the next level. So as the horse advances, he grows in softness, calmness and confidence.
"One who believes that he has mastered the art of horsemanship has not yet begun to understand the horse."
~ Author Unknown
 |  |  |
|---|---|---|
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
AN IDIVIDUAL
There will never be another horse exactly like yours. You know better than anybody that he's an individual with a distinctive personality and characteristics with little quirks and endearing habits. He's the product of a unique combination of influences: heredity, upbringing, training and living environment. And these differ for each horse, making our equine friends diverse and our relationships with them personal and special.
Still, you can generalize about horse temperaments and use these generalizations to strengthen your relationship with your horse. Once you develop a better understanding of your horse's basic nature—the good and the not-so-good—you can tailor his training to best meet his needs. Perhaps even more importantly, you can develop realistic expectations for him.
You can recognize and eliminate goals that are too lofty, freeing both you and your horse from the stresses of unattainable expectations. It's a win/win situation. Knowing your horse's personality type can help improve your relationship with him and help you tailor your training and goals to meet his needs.