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Post by Deleted on Mar 18, 2010 12:24:02 GMT 1
I was thinking this morning about how far I've come in the last year. This time last year I booked my place on the 5 day course as I had no-one to go on holiday with. I'd been to a couple of demo's and thought why not give it a go.
I was mainly only interested in join up and the behaviour/ learning lectures - when I got there I found myself hanging off every word the tutors said all day every day and talking horse non-stop from dawn to dusk (literally - some of us camped together!). I learned that my horse's saddle didn't fit, that I had effectively desensitised him to the leg aids when riding, how to sit more securely in the saddle than I had for years, that I unnecessarily pulled and pushed him around and loads more than I can write here.
I went home and started groping inside every saddle I could find, got a master saddler out to my loan horse, disregarded everything he said, finally had the confidence to stand up for my views to my 'friend' who I shared said horse with, decided I no longer wanted to share with her, bought a youngster to re-start, and then loaded him into a trailer in a manner that made my friend ask me to go to her yard and practice loading three of their horses to build their confidence!!
I've read books on barefoot hoof care and saddle fitting and several of Kelly and Monty's books. I've volunteered at demo's and booked/ done more courses and hoping to complete my MRPCH.
I've long lined Talin, taken him for walks in hand all over the forest, taken the time to let him discover scary things won't hurt him and now I have a horse who, this morning, when i turned him out and stood back and watched him, he came back to me and groomed me!
So one year on, I have learned SO much it's unreal, but also discovered a whole world of interesting stuff I want to learn more about, but most importantly, now I am confident in my own ability to sit back, assess an idea and decide for myself if I like it, without always deferring to the opinion of someone who thinks they know better!
It seems crazy to think it's only been a year since booking that course!! ;D
Anyone else care to share thier IH journeys?
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Post by Catrin on Mar 18, 2010 12:59:10 GMT 1
It really does change your life doesn't it - and it goes on and on doing so. I started with the Foundation Course in 2003, have just got past the MRPCH and did Leading and Loading last weekend. But I know I haven't finished by a long way as the more I learn, the more I realise that there has to be so much more.
This morning, I had access to super fast broadband, so I watched all seven of Monty's longreining lessons on the Equus Online University, and guess what, I learned lots more that I had seen Monty do, but put down to his 'expertise.' He explains it so well, every nuance, every detail, so now I can add a lot more to the effectiveness of the long reining I've been doing since 2003.
As my Centred Riding Instructor said last week, "I wonder what we'll be saying in five years time, that we wish we had known five years ago?" There'll certainly be something, but if we hadn't had our eyes opened by IH, we wouldn't know it was there.
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Post by rj on Mar 18, 2010 14:24:28 GMT 1
Good thread - great reading. Not done any courses, but understand the whole concept of finding a world that you hadn't previously known existed, filled with like-minded people. And it's great! Michelle should write an article for the Listening Post!
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Post by Yann on Mar 19, 2010 12:10:04 GMT 1
Nothing particularly spectacular about my journey, but returning to horses as an adult and IH pretty much coincided and it's been something that's informed and inspired me all the way along. It started with my first share horse at the riding school, who was very difficult to catch. Being sceptical I thought that there must be some way of dealing with the problem more sensibly, and a web search brought up an article by Kelly. Very interested, I bought the catching horses made easy booklet, put the contents into practice and got a result, where all the far more experienced people around me had failed, so I was convinced it must be good stuff By coincidence our first horse Rio was also terrible to catch, but that was soon sorted, as was her loading issue a while later, when we met our first RA. Rio and I, and later on our loan pony Gem, and second horse Tess have all led a pretty harmonious existence together since then. I put that down in large part to the understanding and skills (be they pretty modest) that I've gained from watching clinics, studying things, discussing them and trying to put them into practice. I've also met some wonderful people and had some wonderful experiences along the way
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Post by mandal on Mar 19, 2010 12:33:36 GMT 1
I'm a 'born again' horse owner if you like! After years of no horses I was suddenly in a position to have one or as it turned out due to Hubbys bidding fervour some! Being an idiot and gullable I believed what the sellers said so my ride and drive gelding was going to be such fun! Well he was terrified of everything especially saddles and even fastening a girth slowly and gently produced aspectacular rodeo show. I was totally out of my depth and bumbled along for a while contining to get to know him and gain his trust but in the end I knew I needed help. I found Monty on the internet and then IH and read and read and practised. In the mean time all my horses were unshod and I'd starting looking for other things to support my feeling that shoes weren't for us despite what Farrier said etc. Found Jaime Jaime Jackson and with the confidence I was gaining in asking questions and learning from IH I began to have the courage of my convictions. I eventually plucked up the courage to get RA help with two of my horses now I'd aquired another one with behaviours that I couldn't fathom. I'll be forever grateful for the non judgemental and supportive approach from my (Lo)l RA. This was such a huge boost to my confidenceb and a major factor in helping me to relax and enjoy my journey. I can't begin to describe how empowering my IH journey has been and has been a rock solid foundation that underpins all my horsemanship which is of course very basic and low key. It has taught me to be questioning, listen and be flexible and have more faith in myself and my judgement.
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Post by portiabuzz on Mar 19, 2010 22:15:03 GMT 1
I feel im just starting! Love IH and everything its teaching me! Only been to 3 demos so far, since joining last year... Monty and IH have really given me some great tools and of course bought me to the DG!!
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Post by petethebee on Mar 20, 2010 0:08:59 GMT 1
IH also stands for "Incredible Horsemanship". I started with the 5 day foundation in 2008 and learnt so much I couldn't get enough. Sooooo, I did all the available courses that year and learnt even more. It really taught me to look at myself and the way I thought about horses thoughts(does that make sense?) I first came across Monty's methods about 15 years ago when we had a couple of youngsters here to start training for riding and Dee and I thought there has to be a better way than forcing them to obey. I have trained dogs in the past but the psychology is so different that those methods don't work. The dually halter has to be the most useful tool I have come across. Years ago can anyone remember the "Come along" halter. It was what the lady called Sandra used when training the youngsters using Monty's methods of "Join Up". Haven't seen her for years. If you're reading this Sandra do get in touch. I have always been fond of horses but now that I understand them better I simply adore them. I have come to the conclusion that there are no "bad" horses just ill-informed owners. Anyone who hasn't been on the foundation course really would enjoy themselves. Dee is doing one in May and Hooray I'm going along as a helper, if they'll have me that is. ;D It has also taught me to be more understanding of people in general too, and that is no bad thing. This is a wonderful DG that we have only recently discovered. It was the Starving Cobs that caused me to look here for help, and what lovely people you all are. On the foundation course you get to meet them too!
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Post by portiabuzz on Mar 20, 2010 22:03:16 GMT 1
cant wait to go on a course!
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Post by Kelly Marks on Mar 21, 2010 10:40:37 GMT 1
This is SUCH a nice thread! Thank you so much for starting it Michelle. Lou will definitely be getting in touch for a LP article! Kelly x
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Post by Catrin on Mar 21, 2010 14:05:55 GMT 1
… This is a wonderful DG that we have only recently discovered. … … so have you ever wondered why some of us have our names in green or even purple, blue or red. Once you tell the moderators that you are a member the grey world you live in is changed as you get to explore the secret world of the member's section, where you'll find even more delights in store!
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Post by wally on Mar 21, 2010 18:07:33 GMT 1
I had always worked with ready handled horses until 20 or so years ago. Handled horses are very forgiving and make huge allowances for "higgorant" humans. I had to stop, think and listen to the totally unhandled horses I started to work with 20 years ago. If I had carried on being the old person I was with these totally "wild" youngsters , and even middle aged horses, I wouldn't have got very far with any of them. One of my proudest achievements is a little, sweet itch tormented, unhandled, un treated 4 year old I "acquired" about 18 months ago. He was so terrified of people that when you actually got to lay a hand on him he nearly collapsed though fear. He went out with the confident guys, and, with their help,very gently we started to get him used to people . Now he is the one who brings them running to call, is first to volunteer to have his headcollar on, and is now accepting harness and working away gently and quietly, he's really a very loving litlle chap......and to the person who told me to shoot him
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Post by petethebee on Mar 21, 2010 19:39:47 GMT 1
Wally what a lovely story. Pretty much the same happened here with a poor frightened Welsh Cob. Without what I learned through the courses we would not have acheived anything with him. He's now riding and driving and anyone can stroke him, lovely little feller. The very first join up altered him almost beyond belief, he just waiting for a friend. ;D
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Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2010 19:47:08 GMT 1
;D
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Post by rj on Mar 22, 2010 13:53:02 GMT 1
Just upping for anymore inspirational stories.......
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Post by bryony83 on Mar 22, 2010 14:19:51 GMT 1
As Kelly always said when the pupil is ready the teacher will appear. I'd learnt about IH and been on the perfect manners course a few years ago but never really got much chance to practice till July when Raz entered my life and I've learnt so much from her and seen the positive ways that IH can help both horse and human. I've been riding for nearly 20 years but feel like I've just started
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