Monday, October 05, 2009
Natural Horsemanship? Cox, Anderson, Parelli?
I have recently had several people ask me if I was a Clinton Anderson fan for horsemanship?
My answer is I love ALL natural horsemanship! I think Chris Cox is an AMAZING horseman, but he has not packaged and marketed himself as aggressively as Clinton Anderson or Pat Parelli.
I don't follow any one trainer's ideas from natural horsemanship to barrel horse training. I have let my 40+ years on this planet develop my own program that includes only the "TLC" treatment of horses in training and competing!
I can honesty say horses have taught me the most! If you will listen and learn they can be your greatest teachers! I do however, love to talk training with my barrel racing peers. I love talking horses and what works or doesn't work with everyone from my shoer to my vet. I have learned from many horseman over the years. I have learned from many walks in the horse industry including barrel horse trainers, many natural horseman, reiners, english and even a trainer of cart horses. You can learn from everyone you met, if you are open. You may not use everything someone tells, shows or teaches you but you can considerate and you may store it away for a future situation or you may say NO WAY and never do it!
I believe you must develop your own style that works for you. I do believe your principles and theories should always remain the same, but your timing and technique will vary based on the individaul horse and rider you are working with.
I don't believe in training a horse, without the owner involved. I think you must keep the owner closely involved for the best outcome of the horse's performance.
I do love natural horsemanship over the cowboy way. I love horses to much to use force, pain or cruelty in my training. I will however make the wrong thing difficult and the right thing easy and use hard work for the fresh or rude horse.
I think the round pen is my favorite place to begin with a new horse or even a refresher for a fimiliar horse. I believe a horse should be educated to understand cues. Without good basics or a foundation you have nothing! You can pattern a horse, but as you add speed it all falls apart quick without a solid foundation. It's no different then building a home on a poor foundation, it will crack and crumble in time without it!
Horses are a gift from God! Children are a gift from God! I enjoy seeing them grow together. I enjoy clients that want to be their best and love the bond and relationship they build with their horse along the way.
Thanks for the questions, I appreciate when I am at a show and someone comments on an article or suggests something.
I recently met a lady who takes nothing but "PROBLEM" horses, or rebels/renegades as she called them. She fixes them, they really had people problems or poor foundations. She didn't want to share her story or methods as she was very private, but I think people like that are wonderful. To save a horse from a sad future is very special. I hope they have a special place for you in return carma or heaven!
Tina Spangler - TLC
www.tlcbarrelhorsetraining.com
