I’m often getting new dogs for training, so my pack is constantly changing. Actually… I got a new poodle on Thursday! It is very important to me that the dogs don’t meet inside the “territory” of my pack. That way they are both on new ground, so to speak, that doesn’t belong to either my pack or the new dog. …
Cooling Out
“Sometimes when the horses had quite a little work and kind of gets up a sweat – I like to just stay on him and while he is cooling out, drying off, just let him kind of be there to explore a little. It’s so much better than if you just unsaddle them hot. I really like to do that …
Dog Fights & Aggression
It can happen that even the friendliest of dogs growls at or starts a fight with another dog. Aggression between dogs is natural. It should never be a regular thing, but it’s a result of a dog’s natural ability to resolve any problem in the moment. Humans like to ponder, plot, and plan fights and arguments… We hold back from …
Looking Up & Ahead
If we can’t focus: how can we expect our horse to? We want them to be focused and “on it”. Even when we’re having a wild, freestyle moment – hopefully you are still together through that. They shouldn’t be like robot soldiers… Focus is something else entirely! Focus is something we have to bring. It needs to be worked into …
Amazing Footage
I stumbled upon this wonderful footage of Tom Dorrance – the legend of horsemanship. When I watched it, I could feel his kindness, calmness, and simplicity. Although it was hard to hear what he was saying at some points, I was captivated! Balancing a broom… he talks about how you have to try it a bit, then come back and …
Remembering Tom Dorrance
‘”Tom Dorrance is the only person I know of with the ability to put his emotions and motives aside and focus on the horse’s emotions and motives. Tom would say; “Before the inside of the horse can be right, the inside of the person needs to be right.” Tom had a gift from God. Money couldn’t buy it. Tom couldn’t …
My Job
I find my job so, so interesting. Not only the process of teaching dogs to lead their blind owners through busy cities and really watch out for them in general, but the people that are around me as I do that. It’s a whole new angle on our culture. There are people who stare (stop and stare, turn around and …
Sensory Nerves
“Horses are motor sensory creatures. Their brains tell us so. The brain area in which sensations are processed is referred to as the somatic sensory cortex. If we consider the somatic sensory cortex as a map, its largest areas would represent the most sensitive body areas because these brain areas are most densely-packed with sensory nerves. If we use the United …
This Is Basic
“The rider needs to get to the point where he realizes how important the hindquarters are; if they aren’t working just right, you may notice it more in the front end, but they both have to work, and each one has to complement the other. The problem may show for the rider more in front. It seems to appear that …
Training Guide Dogs?
Everyone has one of two deeply-set opinions when they see me train my guide dogs (for the blind): “Those poor dogs are slaves!” “They’re trained so negatively!” “So horrible… how could anyone be so strict with a dog and force them to work??” “Look at that cute dog!” “What a wonderful occupation for a dog!” “How beautiful – a blind …