Clinton Anderson/Lateral flexion...

[jUmPingIsLifE]

:o
So, Tahoe brings his little head decent enough. Not perfect but getting there.
Part of the problem is i never practice it enough. I mean and mean to really actually work on it (not do it two or three times at the beginning and end of every ride) but havn't.

anyway, what to do when he bites your leg. Its not really that he is trying to bite me, i move my leg and he bites himself. its almost like he really thinks that is part of it all. shall i just keep moving my leg out of the way? or what should i do about this?

[Kate F.]

Just bump his nose gently with your toe until he stops trying to bite and relaxes. The biting is him trying to control the situation himself instead of turning his mind over to you. If you get out of the way - he has moved you and assumed the higher ranking, in his mind. Just discourage the biting and keep asking for the flexion until he relaxes.

[LodgeRopes]

I want to add to this post for 2 reasons,,,
conditioned response training relies on you asking for a specific response to a specific cue and accepting nothing less than the desired response. accept nothing less or the training session is being run by yr horse. Tahoe is compling 90%. build on the 90%.
and
to try and add something to a response by Kate F, after more than 12 years in natural horsemanship, Kate is one of the 3 most 'real' people we have met.
we are Kate groupies big time. She always attributes her knowledge to richard thompson..but she adds her own touch to everything and is willing to share that knowledge.

Yes kate, you are something special. Now back to your regular viewing.....lol

[LodgeRopes]

Just got over the Kate droolings, Doh!
jumping...go back at step, get the flexion right on the ground.
If it aint right on the ground, it wont be right in the saddle.
I have been getting our appy colt flexing like crazy, he loves it. ( it dont fool me, he's an appy)
get it right on the ground first.
hope it helps....
cheers