Posted by Phil West/6W Ranch on 9/7/2009, 10:51 am, in reply to "training"
Board Administrator
Francis,
Great question, huge realm!!
This is where teaching the horse to work in "contact" becomes the main goal to where that communication is so light that it is almost unperceivable to the novice yet defined by the horse and rider. Where forward, stop, and reverse change with only the pressure on the fingertip pads without closing or opening the fingers.
A "Mechanical Hackamore," in my opinion, is a crude instrument relying only on crushing pain on the nose. There is no finesse, no contact, teaching the horse to flex at the pole, working in the movement being supple with engagement of the haunches for collection etc...
I start horses in a loose-ring solid mouth English bit. Ground work is the answer before putting anything in the horses mouth or being upon their back. Teaching the horse to give it's head both sides, flexing at the pole, the difference between walking forward and not being able to walk through the contact of the bit, backing up willingly in contact (the first part of "whoa" is to be able to back easily and without "pulling" on the horses mouth), etc...
I have more fear of a hack hurting than hands. If you practice the ground work/in-hand, you can develop that contact feel as you learn how the horse responds. Also, take some lessons on a schooled horse so that you can feel that response.
Phil
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