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Initially,
there was a lenghtly write-up about our philosophy on horses, humans
and what we teach & why. We have come to the point where it does
not seem necessary to take up the web space. We are very straight
forward in our beliefs, especially those involving horses & humans.
First
and formost is that the human is more often in need of an education
than the horse. A horse will ALWAYS communicate the way horses have
ALWAYS communicated. They will always be prey animals. No matter how
hard humans try to impose antiquated, dominating, militaristic
traditions ~ horses will ALWAYS continue to communicate the way horses
have always communicated! And humans will always do what humans have
always done ~ resort to stronger and more inhumane force, run to the
tack shop for a more severe bit/tie down/spurs/crop (pick your poison),
make excuses etc. A whole culture from the back yard owner to the
elite competitor has evolved based on this uneducated perception of
horse handling.
Lessons are often taught with instructor on horseback. Instructor and students very often ride bareback with only a rope halter and rope reins ~ all to establish and promote a balanced seat, sensitivity of hands and lightness of response. Many of us grew up in it, we were taught as beginning riders to "sit up
straight" throwing our shoulders back and hollowing our back with
stiff hands and elbows, posed and smiling with our heals pushed waaay
down! We were taught to take a hold of the horse, show them who is
boss! English riders have been taught to compensate for their extreme
lack of balance by leaning waaaay forward - almost all the time, in a
constant state of two-point for all gaits but the walk, and needing to
balance on the reins for some semblence of support. Likewise, Western
riders lean waaay back their shoulders beyond the cantle and their legs
out stiff and braced in the stirrups as their horse wallows in the most
atificial manner imaginable, rider smiling at the state of perceived
perfection.
Students spend a great deal of time with groundwork as Amy and her horse Epoch show here.
On the ground we were told to hold them at the buckle and yank, yank,
yank when they walked all over us. To trailer load, we pulled, bribed,
you know the broom and rope trick - I've even seen a family try to pick
up & blindfold a pony to get it in the trailer... People wonder
why their horses don't come to them in the pasture? But there is always
that shaking bucket of grain. We have all heard or said the excuses,
my horse was abused, does not like (you've heard them all)
dogs/bikes/wind/umbrellas/mares/geldings/cars/trash cans etc.
Rich and Sandi discuss balance and response. Then there are the other symptoms of our misunderstanding - horses that won't go, won't stop, won't stand. The list goes on and on and the reality is that there are real solutions. There is real help! If "horse" pulses through your veins and the old way doesn't make sense or just doesn't work for you, we can help. Our methods are not new and you can see them at work in the pasture any time a group of horses interacts. Our methods are simple. Our methods work. No matter if you want your horse to simply have better ground manners or if you'd like to acheive tackless unity - pick your goal and we will help you acheive it. We will show YOU how. We won't take your horse (and your money) to train it and then hand it back to you months later with a smile & say "He's trained" only for you to go back to doing what you did before (with the same results!). Your horse does not really need trained. You need to be educated in horse behavior and communication. If you are one of the many horse owners who does not want to spend the time to forge a partnership
with your horse, someone who thinks of the horse as any other
possession such as a car, there only for your enjoyment, just worried
about the color of your ribbon, how high your horse can jump, just
wants to ride & does not have time to fool around with all that
other stuff, thinks your horses "issues" are OK because he is fine all
the rest of the time: then this is NOT the place for you!    Rich riding stallion Timely Devil, demonstrates during a learning session for student Jordan on her hose Tina. Notice the lightness and loose rein with which complex comands can be executed. What We Teach Our philosophy is one of communication. Never domination. We believe that horses speak a language ~ one different than ours. You may be able to condition a horse to "speak" our language, he certainly may be able to learn the sound of our words like walk, trot & canter and be able to associate what the sound of that word will require of him. But as long as a rider is closed to one-way communication - the rider ONLY - telling (more often demanding) the horse what he/she wants & never LISTENING to the horse and its response, there will never be a true partnership with the horse. Results will never be consistent and the response will never be rooted in respect and learning. At Roush Equine, students are taught to communicate with their horse on the ground and in the saddle. They are taught a WHOLE DIFFERENT LANGUAGE to interact with their horse for true results. We teach the owner/rider the language so that they are empowered with the tools for a lifetime of rewarding results with horses.
Preparing to execute the bale maze. Why We Teach It We practice and live Partnership Style Natural Horsemanship. Today, the wave of what has been termed "Natural Horsemanship" has many faces. Most if not all subscribe to the basic tenant that successful horse training revolves around the axis of respect. Most also build a foundation on the understanding and utilization of how the equine interacts with its herd. It is from this elementary stage that many of the philosophies split onto sometimes subtle and sometimes blatantly different "trails". After years of studying and hour upon hour of implementation we have found the teachings and philosophies of Pat Parelli to be superior in every way. The SAVVY which Parelli's method builds completely and totally knocks down the walls built and fortified in those of us who have been around horses all of our lives. No matter a life long horse person or one newer to horses it demystifies the equine, offers as close to a manual for understanding and communicating with a horse as ever imaginable. Unlike other methods we find this one to be most "complete". From ground to saddle, from trailer to trail - you will not be left wondering, "Now What???". In today’s world of "show me something shiny", instant message, of drive thru's and cell phones; everything MUST be instantaneous or we lose interest - we are lured to something easier, something more "interesting" (after all, we must be entertained at all times!!). Our attention spans are a millisecond or less. We repel anything that takes time, hard work - even effort is too much... Everything must be FUN & FEEL GOOD, Heaven help us, we can't wait and we loose interest in anything without immediate results. Results can be experienced almost immediatly but like the person who buys a giant breed dog & then says, "ugh I didn't think it would get sooo big", please absorb that if you are looking for a quick fix, this ain't it. What we offer is also not something to buy at the tack store, put on your horse & expect profound, lasting results. Not something you sprinkle on the horse & "Voila ~ Presto Chango!", after all the horse really isn't the problem ...
The results are amazing & come from FORGING A PARTNERSHIP, A TRUE RELATIONSHIP with your horse. If you view your horse as worth the time - this may be for you..... A Note On Youth A lot of folks who do not understand what Partnership Communication is about find comfort in saying that it is, "Too complex for children to learn/do". OBSURD! Children are voracious, determined learners.... And learning to be around, how to respectfully handle and the nature of horses is no different than any other subject children are taught. Kids who have a love and true interest in horses and who have been instilled with the character to commit to a goal and foundation of understanding that hard work equals worthwhile results have unquestionable results. This is not an age discriminatory method! Kids with determination and the understanding that a horse is a living, thinking thing, not only existing for their amusement, can out "play" circles around most adults - and the results, are well, RESULTS!!! Ashlyn demonstrates leadership while practicing trailer loading with Buttercup. Unfortunatlely, in this day of immediacy, pride in bad-attitude, a need for constant gratification and over indulgence, today's youth tend to take fast & resultless over positively challenging interaction with their horse which results in a extraordinary partnership.
We cannot teach the concepts of reciprocal respect to a child who has not even been taught what repect is.... Because the overwhelming mentatily of today's youth has been confirmed as thinking anyone trying to truly teach them something of value is a boring old wind bag, it is almost impossible to offer information they consider relevent. Come on, when you know everthing, you don't need mentors, role models or true teachers (yes, sarcasim implied!). And after all, slightly more than lets say ten or so years of life experience should qualify you as know’n it all!
A larger, even global lesson has been conveyed to & learned by us regarding what has been the evident waste of resources in offering this type of information to todays youth. We have learned a lot about what today's horse kids are made of. Kids have taught us a lot! They have taught us what we do & do not want in our students. We screen and impose the same expectations on a young student that we would an adult. Although many (youth & adult) prove a lack of interest and attention span to commit to building a true partnership with their horse, other young students have shown us that they can, will & WANT TO listen to explanations (their mind not blocked with, “I know it all, this is boring, how high is that fence, I wonder what I will wear to school tomorrow").
We share because we believe it is important to offer an alternative. We want to be clear about what we offer & why we offer it. What we belive and what we don't care to for. We will not waist your time or money. We will not make false promises ~ the results are UP TO YOU! Those that do not have success with this method are simply not committed, do not have the love or drive – it is not the horse – it’s the person. We will not promise or make claims we cannot make good on. We are not like instructors or farms where they promise you the “world”; by perceived prestige of name or just to get your business. We are honest, busy folks & prefer to surround ourselves, as much as possible, with those who, at the very least respect and revere the beauty, spirit & power of the equine. We are willing and able to help any committed horseperson achieve their goals be it simple ground manners or tackless unity…
The bottom line is in the results. What your horse does, what you do about it. How your horse reacts, how you handle it. Do you know what your horse is doing wrong, or better yet what you are doing wrong. If you can't or are afraid to ride or handle in any given situation - than you don't know it all.
~~~~~ Additional Resources.... Like many horse people who practice what has been termed “natural horsemanship”, a challenge lies in communicating to others, both horse & non-horse people, what it is we do. Some think it, as stated below, must be trickery while others who think they know all there is to know about horses blow it off as a nutty new fangled fad. We wanted to share this pivotal segment from an extraordinary new book to notify all those interested that an extensive, concise new book is available devoted to the subject of natural horsemanship. Heralded by the horse world’s most recognized names from David O’Connor and Al Dunning to Cherry Hill and Horse & Rider Magazine. Regardless of if you are a weekend trail rider or a professional trainer, if you ride or own a horse, this amazing book is well worth the time! Natural Horsemanship “In the final decades of the twentieth century, a revolution began in America and spread through much of the world. It wasn’t the usual sort of revolution. No shots were fired, no government was overthrown, and no geographical boundaries were changed. There were no casualties, however r. Ignorance and injustice, and behaviors born of them, died just as surely as if pierced through the heart with a broadsword. In their places arose new ways of thinking and acting informed by enlightenment and empowerment. When the dust settled, the revolution had dramatically improved relations between millions of people….. and their horses. For more than 6,000 years, man had tried to bridge the chasm that existed between his own species, the ultimate predator, and the horse, the ultimate prey animal. The reason, was simple; Man needed the horse. He needed its power, its speed, its stamina. He needed the edge the horse gave him in his battle for survival and growth. But nature had programmed the horse to be anything but a servant to man, and in (the) face of this challenge, man adopted his most familiar tool: brutal force. It was crude, inefficient, and unworthy of his noble purpose, but force was the basis of horsemanship practiced by the common man for millennia. The revolution in horsemanship that occurred at the end of the twentieth century had, at its heart, a simple theme: that horses can be controlled more effectively without the use of force. This was not a new idea. Time and again throughout history, good horsemen had proven the efficacy of humane, psychological methods of handling horses. Some shared their techniques; others did not. Some became celebrities and gave command performance for royalty. Others were accused of trickery or something much worse. In the 1600’s, God-fearing peasants in Aries, France, burned an itinerant Italian horse trainer and his trick horse Mauroco, in the marketplace. To them, real horsemanship was so unnatural that is could only come from an alliance with the devil. Whatever their contemporaries though of them, these horsemen failed to effect permanent, widespread change in the way the average human related to horses. Instinctively, man always returned to what was natural for a predator using muscle and violence to get what he needed from the horse. The revolution that broke this cycle did so at a time when, for most people, horses were no longer part of everyday life.” from
The Revolution In Horsemanship
And What It Means To Mankind
Robert M. Miller, D.V.M & Rick Lamb
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