| The more I listen to others, read books on the subject, | | | | all his life. He claims to have a gift with horses that |
| look at different articles, and watch and listen to tapes, | | | | transcend human understanding. After reading his |
| the more I discover how different people claim their | | | | book, I am inclined to agree with him. |
| methods of horse training are the correct ones. | | | | Blake even created a dictionary to help us humans |
| I often find one trainer will adamantly oppose a | | | | understand what the horse is trying to communicate to |
| technique where another will adamantly swear by its | | | | us. It's fascinating. |
| effectiveness. Even more interesting, each has his or | | | | One part in Blake's book talks about ESP with his |
| her own reasons why. | | | | horses. Blake contends he can get his horses moving, |
| On one hand, I find it fascinating that trainers think their | | | | stopping, and turning with just his thoughts. He doesn't |
| way is truly the correct way. On the other hand, I get | | | | claim to do this with any horse, only particular ones. |
| a sick feeling in my stomach when I think other people | | | | Especially if they are Thoroughbreds. |
| are persuaded to believe those trainers who push their | | | | When I read Blake's take on the ESP thing I tended to |
| methods as "the only one". | | | | discount it. Then again, I have had the ESP experience |
| Why? | | | | with my Paint horse. She and I are particularly close |
| Because I've discovered a percentage of the horse | | | | and there is a connection between her and I that |
| owner population think what they learned is all that's | | | | transcends words. I don't claim to steer her left and |
| available. The problem with that is this: Not every horse | | | | right or stop her with my thoughts but there have been |
| will respond to the technique in the same way. Then, a | | | | times where she's done something I wanted her do |
| different approach is needed. If the horse handler | | | | and I swear I didn't say or do a thing. Gives me chills |
| doesn't know another technique, he is now limited to | | | | when I think about it. |
| knowing something that doesn't always work. | | | | Anyway, Blake's book is fascinating reading. I'd suggest |
| But why wouldn't a trainer believe his is correct? After | | | | anyone read it who is into horses. One part that really |
| all, if it works for him then it IS correct...for him. | | | | grabbed my heart strings was when his horse ran to |
| Personally, I don't subscribe to any one trainer's ways | | | | greet him after not seeing him for months. That story, |
| completely. For example, if trainer "John Doe" taught | | | | to me, is the ultimate in having a horse as a friend. |
| his method and said "do it just like this" chances are I | | | | So far, it still isn't clear who we should listen to. Should |
| wouldn't. I have my own things that work and some | | | | we follow Hempfling's horse training methods? Should |
| them are similar to or the same as what John Doe | | | | we follow Blake's? Who should we listen to? |
| does. | | | | My suggestion is learn all you can from everyone you |
| I'm a BIG advocate of learning all you can from | | | | can. Use what works for you. Be careful to make |
| everyone who has something good to show you. | | | | judgments about a horse trainer's methods before |
| Never, never, never learn one person's techniques and | | | | understanding "why" he does what he does. |
| be satisfied. If you do, you will miss out on some of the | | | | For instance, I am a big fan of Jesse Beery who was |
| neatest techniques ever. You limit yourself and what | | | | a famous horse trainer from the 1800's. His methods |
| you could REALLY do. | | | | are so easy and straight forward you'd think they're |
| Although I push what I know, I'll be the first to admit I | | | | too easy. |
| don't know it all and that you MUST learn all you can. | | | | Beery pushes control and obedience and uses |
| Even if you learn different ways, then you must | | | | techniques to nurture it - some people don't agree with |
| proceed with caution because some of the things you | | | | his methods. My response to that is "learn all you |
| learn will seem hard to grasp. Sometimes, they'll seem | | | | can...use what you want". |
| unreachable. At times, they'll seem ridiculous. | | | | But for my money, Beery's methods are unbeatable. |
| Let me cite a couple examples. | | | | They are easy to do. They train a horse so well that |
| A while back, I ordered a video of a trainer from | | | | safety is the biggest benefit - for what good is it to |
| Germany. His name is Klaus Ferdinand Hempfling. The | | | | have and ride a horse if you get seriously hurt? |
| video is called "Coming Together". | | | | You can learn more about Beery by listening in on |
| Unfortunately, this video is more than a bit abstract. It | | | | Andy Curry's free teleseminars. To find out when the |
| doesn't teach a whole lot but what it does teach is a | | | | next one is, go to this web address: |
| bit unusual. | | | | How does one get a horse so safe with Beery's |
| Now don't get me wrong. I'm not putting down the | | | | methods? Simple. Beery shows how to get control |
| video. Actually, I kind of enjoyed it. Still, when it was | | | | and obedience from your horse. Without control and |
| over, I felt like I was left hanging. | | | | obedience, you won't have a horse you can trust. If |
| This trainer uses his body to establish leadership, | | | | you can't trust your horse, your horse will know it. You |
| friendship, and trust. Briefly, he describes what he does | | | | then put yourself in danger and risk getting hurt - even |
| but you don't really get how it all fits together. | | | | to the point of ending up crippled. |
| Clearly, the horses he works with have a connection | | | | But with Beery's methods, you practically eliminate all |
| with him. But his style of training is quite unorthodox | | | | risks. You transform your horse into a tractable, |
| compared to much of what I've seen and read. | | | | manageable, valuable horse that's the envy of anyone |
| Could the average horse owner do what he does and | | | | who rides him. Not only that, Beery shows how to |
| do it effectively? I'd have to say "no" because his | | | | eliminate numerous bad habits. |
| methods would require him to be right there with you | | | | His methods are straight forward, easy to do, and best |
| for weeks (months?) training the trainer. Not only that, | | | | of all...they are NOT abstract. You won't be saying to |
| much of what Hempfling explained on tape seemed | | | | yourself, "I don't get it." |
| so abstract. It wasn't easy understanding all his | | | | In fact, Beery's methods are so well thought out, |
| principles. | | | | tested, and proven that you can train a horse to |
| The worse part is once you've watched this you may | | | | "Whoa" under any condition, and under any excitement. |
| think to yourself you could never do what he does so | | | | What's so special about that? "Whoa" is the most |
| why try to be a horse trainer. That's one of the things | | | | important command a horse must know. Especially, if |
| that worry me about aspiring horse owners and | | | | you are a horse owner aged 30 to 60 because we |
| trainers. | | | | tend to "hurt" and "break" a lot easier and faster than |
| They see someone getting results with horses using | | | | when we were younger. |
| seemingly "not from this world" techniques. Then they | | | | If you can't control your horse to stop while fence |
| silently say to themselves, "What's the use...I could | | | | posts are whizzing past you when you're riding a out |
| never do that." | | | | of control horse, you risk severe injury, danger, and |
| Luckily, there are powerful alternatives. I'll explain in a | | | | perhaps...death. Having a horse that will stop under any |
| minute or two. | | | | condition despite any excitement is, in my book, training |
| Another I've studied is a man named Henry Blake. | | | | that everyone's horse should have - period! |
| Blake is from Ireland (I think) and grew up with horses | | | | |