I rode out in the field today although it was windy. The sun was unusually warm for February in Saskatchewan and I didn’t want to miss a chance to ride my horse. As we rode along the trail, we passed a track hoe with a tarp covering a broken window. The ripped blue plastic flapped furiously and erratically in the wind. We were able to ride right by with only a glance in that direction from my trusty steed. This wouldn’t have been the case before last fall.
In August of 2015, I was lucky enough to host and participate in a three-day Mountain Trail and Cowboy Dressage Clinic with Dee Myers of Oregon instructing and Kim Moats assisting. Both these horsewomen are Cowboy Dressage World judges and clinicians. This was an experience that changed the way my horse approaches fearful objects.
Dagobert D. Runes, a philosopher and author from the Ukraine, wrote, “You cannot train a horse with shouts and expect it to obey a whisper.” I believe this was brought home to all participants in the clinic. We were taught to safely approach and master each obstacle, first from the ground and then on horseback, bringing a quiet confidence to our mounts and to ourselves. Our horses approached the obstacles alert, but calm, and responded to our commands without fear.
The leg aids, reining, speed control and confidence all transferred to the Cowboy Dressage court. The horses realized that since we were trusted leaders as we guided them safely over the bridges, under curtains and through ditches, they could trust us to go where we are looking to guide them over the poles in the Challenge Court, and for some to open the gate and hang up the rope at “A”.
There are many steps leading to the well trained Cowboy Dressage horse and learning to trust us as leaders is crucial.
Vivian lives on a homestead ranch nestled in the hills on the natural prairie near Cardross, Saskatchewan. She brings us a unique and refreshing view of Cowboy Dressage horsemanship