M Theory

[newforest]

This might first appear to be in the wrong category, but I have just bought myself a Stephen Hawkings book.
Not totally sure which brain cells will be kicked to understand it yet, but it's definately got me thinking in relation to horses and training.

It's fair to say that a fairly big portion of this book is going to be totally beyond my comprehension. How big I will wait and see.
Enjoying it so far, anyone else got one?
This applies to my riding, there are going to be some things I just can't grasp no matter how it's explained, shown or felt.
I am a quiet rider and I have feel, but pop me on a horse that's forward thinking and requires keeping between hand and leg all the time and I am in deep donuts! I just don't have the capacity to get everything working in unison in order to stay on let alone stay safe.

I have only just started the book and he is talking about M theory-a collection of different theories describing the same thing, a family of theories. That's what each horse trainer is actually doing.

The connection here for me, is what people have said about not swallowing one method hook line and sinker, but taking what works for them and ditching what doesn't. Having your own collection of ideas.
All trainers have different ideas and theories to work with the horse, if we take snippets from all of them, that's our own little M theory, which could just stand for Mare in my case.

If you are the type of person who swears by just one trainer, that's just one theory of training horses when we know we have a vast array of other options open to us. That trainer should be evolving their knowledge and understanding, but perhaps at some stage, we as horseman need to own/ train and ride with just our own knowledge, confidence and instinct, and be able to approach other theories.

The horse also has its own views and theories and you might find what you purchased with the intention of doing because you want to, doesn't sit with the horse's ideas. Can you persuade them or is it possibly, probably and patience time.

Ps. In case you haven't noticed I am back with Big Bang.

 

[Jessey]

Big bang alright! Good to see you back the book sounds very interesting, it's not something I would think to look at but I'm tempted to now

 

[mystiquemalaika]

Echo Jessey! Big Bang indeed amd most refreshing to see

I was lost with things in The Theory Of Everything amd it was very mild! The book sounds very interesting.

 

[Cortrasna]

Here you are back again and so great to see you making us all put our thinking caps on - but in a very nice way I do sort of understand the theory of the M thing and I guess it is pretty much where my current methods of handling/riding/caring for etc. etc. is at. That is to say over 60 years listening to many, many different ideas and theory's and as the years pass taking a little bit of knowledge from various horse men/women and my own experience and discarding some but eventually ending up with my own M theory that has more or less settled down to encompass all the different ideas and theorys that I find work in my little M world. I hasten to add that I am still bringing in new ideas and theorys on it all every day that I am still lucky enough to own and keep my own horse - so I guess it is a constantly evolving and changing M theory for me anyway

 

[newforest]

Echo Jessey! Big Bang indeed amd most refreshing to see

I was lost with things in The Theory Of Everything amd it was very mild! The book sounds very interesting.

It's interesting. My brain cells said well you read we'll let you know if we get anything.

 

[Trewsers]

I love the fact there are so many training ways to share and pick through.

 

[Jane&Ziggy]

Everything I have ever studied in depth (my degree, my profession, cooking, horses, and a couple of other things) I end up feeling the same about it: that there is this enormous, infinite mass of stuff relating to that subject and that any way you choose to learn about it is like shining a spotlight on it from one particular place. You'll see a lot and learn a lot but you'll see it from one viewpoint. Then you try another way, and you learn something else, and there is nobody who can say that they grasp the whole subject because it's just too vast.

I like scientists whose minds are open to all the different ways of viewing things.

 

[newforest]

Yes that's a much better way of saying what I was trying to.
This M theory from the science point of view has decided which other theories it accepts and how many torches you can have to be under its banner.

I suppose the bhs would be one torch because that's pretty much an accepted ok method for our horses.
One example is mounting from the left. I do both but on learning to ride it makes sense to be taught one side. There is more than one way to mount as I think one of those books I studied actually had some of us practicing.
I still recall my bhs exam on the correct way to use the mounting block depending on the size of the animal! If I learnt nothing else I learnt that.

I would add in the one rein stop, no idea whose idea that is, where it originates from @Jessey is this western based and maybe comes down the line from some trainers in states or Canada?
I know who taught me and it was an Australian but I know he was taught from an American.

I guess it's the same as asking for suggestions and getting 20 different replies. One of those will work but you need to be willing to look at something new or you just carry on making the same mistakes.

 

[Jessey]

I would add in the one rein stop, no idea whose idea that is, where it originates from @Jessey is this western based and maybe comes down the line from some trainers in states or Canada?
I know who taught me and it was an Australian but I know he was taught from an American.

I guess it's the same as asking for suggestions and getting 20 different replies. One of those will work but you need to be willing to look at something new or you just carry on making the same mistakes.

I don't know if it originated from America/western riding, but I never learnt it until I started riding western. The English (referring to riding style) way I was taught was if you were buggered off with was to pull the horse onto a circle and spiral it down or wait for them to tire but it wasn't really used at slow speeds which I guess is similar in effect. Def with a one rein stop if you try it at speed you can flip the horse and have a nasty wreck.

 

[newforest]

Yes I probably ride her between one and two reins all the time. Either can tip the nose.
I have done a one rein stop when she took off up a lane. It was more likely to be a slight flex and sliding stop and yield after that. One of those glad that worked moments because she has a rock hard set short neck.

 

[newforest]

Onto the section on reality, if I don't know this I am in trouble.
This applies to our horses though, they have a different view on reality even looking at the same thing we are at the same time.

This photo is an example of our realities.

Hers was totally focused on that grass and eating that grass. I'd like to think her reality allows for knowing where I am.
Mine was split between the focus on trying to photograph that flower, some focus on her so she didn't block my light, or step on me.
The books all get across not to walk behind the horse, some need to add in don't crouch in front of them to get photos as well, because some idiot will. Note I said I was focused on her blocking the light before the stepping me