Oct 212 min read

Horse-man-ship Mentality – Eye-Opening Horsemanship Experience

Horse-man-ship Mentality – Eye-Opening Horsemanship Experience

Cappel Cowboy Wisdom

In horsemanship, progress can seem like two steps forward and three steps back at times. You wonder if you're really gaining ground!

I had the good fortune to have a unique experience just recently that taught me that progress over time can be quiet and happening despite one’s awareness. What do I mean by that? Well, the experience I had was a unique opportunity because I got to ride a horse that I had trained but had not ridden for 9 years.

So, after some ground preparation (by the way you do not live to be my age and just crawl on without preparing them first, especially after a lengthy time off) with her, I got on and started our ride. This was an “eye-opening” experience for me. It taught me about “feel and timing.” I felt things in this horse that I had allowed to be there 10 years ago that I no longer allow to be in my horses today. Though she did seem to retain everything I had built in her, I noticed that there were places in her body that she was avoiding my communication. Thankfully, it did not take long for her to catch up to how my horses feel today.

It was interesting to me that I am progressing more than I realize and likely you are as well. I think all of us tend to forget where we were and how far we have come.

The horse I am speaking of was my 2015 Extreme Mustang Makeover Champion St. Louis, named Spirit.

You might be thinking, “What did I feel?

* Lack of respect for my legs when I asked for forward motion.

*When I turned to the left, I felt the hip shift slightly to the right, not what I was asking for at that moment. I wanted the hip to stay up under her and slightly to the inside because then the energy is coming from behind up through the body into free-flowing useful forward motion.

* She was going out through her shoulders. I wanted her to stay straight through her body moving forward into a soft feel. Spirit was decent in my hands but was lacking in respect and body part control.

This is my interpretation of where I am at today in riding and it is a deeper understanding of what it means for a horse to be between your legs.

The benefit of this is:

* Horse that allows you to ride them forward willingly.

* Better control of their feet.

* Readily isolate body parts to help a horse find proper body alignment.

* Enhance your ability to guide them resistant-free wherever you want them to go.

Closing thought:

Stay on your path to better horsemanship and know that you are improving more than you think you are, after all, you are reading this article.

Mindful Riding,

Dennis Cappel - Master Horseman

Cappel Training and Shoeing

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