To those who read my blog I know it's been awhile, which leads me to my next topic ... Patience.

Patience is needed in everyday life and it needs to spill over into teaching and learning. In order for the teacher to be effective they must practice patience. Because the answer to the question isn't so readily available to the student, equine student in this case, the horse must sort out the cues to find the correct answer.  I can never stress enough how much patience you need when working with and teaching horses.

     However, this lesson is going to take a different spin. This time we are going to teach the student, or horse, to learn patience.

This is a valuable lesson, the benefits you will see in your everyday contact with your horse. So how do you teach your horse

patience?

     It goes back to when I first started working with horses. Once I saw a trainer tie his horse up to a railing and leave. He didn't come back for hours. I was curious on why he did that, and on asking him he said "I'm teaching him patience". I couldn't see how this would be effective. I thought the lesson would teach the horse the opposite -- frustration, irritation, impatience, and restlessness when tied. First of all this trainer never saw his horses' reaction. I did. All the while this horse paced and switched back and forth as far as his lead would let him. I can only imagine what happened the next time this horse was tied, or how you tack a horse that is in constant motion. Also, how could this method give the horse any positive feedback on what he was to do. 

     So how do you start teaching your horse patience? Start with a simple lesson, when you tie your horse leave for a short time, keep him in sight, and return to him when he is standing still, give positive feedback with a pat or take him for a short walk.

Then repeat the lesson but don't overdo it at the start, slowing extend your time in future lessons. Another lesson would be to use sizzors to trim his bridle path rather than clippers. First it takes more time, and you get the opportunity to teach your horse to yield his head to you, allowing you to place his head in positions (side to side or lower his head) for longer periods. Don't forget to give him his reward and allow him to have his head back for a short time, then ask him to lower his head again. Give him many releases during the trimming until you have finished the task. Your horse will learn to stand patiently while you work with him and you will learn how to slow down when working with him. This concept can spill over into other areas like grooming, tacking, working with his feet, which will probably make your farrier smile.  

     To quote my wife... Patience is a virtue, posses it if you can, seldom found in women, never found in man.