I had this friendly debate the other day.
The other guy said when it gets hot out he works slower. I said I like to work faster at times so I can help create a breeze.
Two different ways of looking at things.
I once worked at a 28,000head beef cattle feedlot in Colorado where we used horses to ride the pens to sort out and docter the sick cattle. The foreman would remind us to ride faster between the pens and slower while we were inside the pens. We would naturally do the opposite if left to our own devices, but the boss was generally right so we did well when we decided to listen.
There is definitely a time to move slow or fast along with a myriad of speeds in between. In fact, a wide range of speed really determines how much quality training the horse has. It is kind of like the difference between a good electric drill versus a cheap one. A good drill is variable speed, whereas a cheap drill is either all or nothing.
Generally a slower speed will help the learning process with horse and rider. This goes with the saying “slow and right beats fast and wrong.”
I like to call it balancing and blue printing the race engine. The reason most people may not have control over their horse at the higher speeds is because they probably skipped through the slow stuff. This is where we are particular about how a horse responds to our signals.
We look for smoothness and preciseness before we add speed. Many people go wrong when they do not add speed. This is how we can test our basics and see what we need to practice at the slower speeds. People may not want to add speed because they are afraid that their horse will get too excited. This is why we increase speed in increments. We need to practice with speed because they will go there on their own when they get scared anyway. It is better to practice with faster movements in a more controlled environment than to wait for unforeseen situations where horses increases speed on their own. Then they are bothered with two things: Fear of the current situation and not being accustomed to speed.
Our best security comes from practicing on both sides of the speed equation. Our transitions to different speeds also help a horse think. It gives them more things to think about to stay focused on the rider. Every time we change direction or change speed we are checking in with our horse and they are checking in with us. I do quite a bit of this as I am getting used to a new horse.
But we also know the familiar saying “repetition is the best teacher.” So there also needs to be times when the horse is kept at the same speed for a while. This will help them gain confidence at all the speeds this is practiced. Generally lazier horses need more transitions to keep them interested and gain energy, and livelier horses need more consistency to relax them more.
To sum it up, “The Flash” and “Slow walking, slow talking John” can both grow each other!
Mike Daniels is a horsemanship trainer and barefoot trimming specialist from Raymondville. His columns are posted online at www.houstonherald.com. Email: rlhorse58@yahoo.com.