Alli F. left the following comment after yesterdays blog.
“There are some people who like to hop from clinician to clinician always looking for the perfect solution and I think all they accomplish is to end up royally confused. In the situation you describe it sounds like the gal is a thinking rider and that she was able to determine what actions to take or change and was not trying for a new “method”. So it worked for her and that is super! But for a lot of people I think they are just never satisfied so they feel the need to get multiple opinions. Which most of the time is not very helpful–just tends to complicate things.”
I agree with this idea…i think. Let me explain what I see and recommend. First, I do agree that there is a segment of the population that hops around looking for a magic ‘cure’ or a simple fix. After my first bridleless ride (link here) people joked and said I should sell magic leather gloves…it must have been the gloves that did it. (As opposed to the hours and hours spent training, lol) There are no good quick fixes.
What I recommend is a two-fold approach. Follow someones whole program. Someone who has the end result you want. Pick someone…it doesn’t have to be me. It could be a TV clinician, a local you admire or someone who you show with. Follow that one program and study it from beginning to end. Then, also evaluate other methods. Try to figure out where they fit in with what your regular program is. Do they just explains something in a different way or are they really saying something different? I find both to be true. The real learning comes from trying to figure out how things work; whether that is a training program or a training method. The search and comparison will more fully engage you in the learning than just doing something because ‘someone’ said to.
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Over the years, I have been to different clinics and read different books/magazines and have found that not one clinician gives it all to me. I draw different ideas from each of them as on the whole I find them all to be fairly similar with some differences. Some people are too technical so I can’t draw from them but others show their way very clearly. Funnily enough, the one clinic I went to many years ago was done by a person I had never heard of. I learnt more from him than for any other clinic. But having said that, I have learnt a lot from all the others too. I feel you have to have an open mind and do what your gut instincts tell you is the right way. This has not failed me yet and if I do get stuck, then I look for the answers to help me on my way.
There is logic in what you say Stacy, but I have found that listening and learning from a variety of clinicians over my lifetime has given me the ability to pick and choose what I use. Some things work, others not so much. And it is so very true that we need to look within ourselves for the changes.
Linda-That is what I was saying when I recommended, “Then, also evaluate other methods. Try to figure out where they fit in with what your regular program is. Do they just explains something in a different way or are they really saying something different?” That is where I think the looking around at a bunch of people is a good idea. The only time I see this as a problem is when you have someone who is new to horses and they try to mix a bunch of stuff without seeing the ‘big picture’.
Love what you say about the learning being in trying to figure out why and how it works. So true…
People need to look at a mirror. If the horse is progressing, are they? Sometimes they need to adjust their riding skills. We expect the horse to grow but we still ride the same. I don’t think that helps the horse. I believe that is where a lot of confusion starts. The horse usually gets the blame but that is not so. I have done this. When I started changing the way I rode, things started coming together. The horse was learning but I stood still. Best wishes to everyone because horses are one of the greatest journeys in life. Work and play hard.
I have come to the conclusion some people just can’t make the changes within, so they are always looking for an excuse. They are looking externally for the magic cure that lies within. Often to really learn something new we have to give up an old idea, some just are not prepared to do that. So they hop around avoiding the truth.
Well said Janette.