THE HIGH COUNTRY SYSTEM.
The first horses arrived at Ardnadam in late 1995 and when we had time, post building, to handle and back them we did everything the conventional way - lungeing, mouthing, long reining and then riding the horses in bridles.
As time has gone on we have changed our whole mind set. Into our training has come a bit of Monty Roberts, a bit of Pat Parelli and a lot of common sense, after years of watching how horses behave with each other and us. These days all the young horses are started in a Parelli halter with lots of on the ground handling. The youngsters are still backed bare back and ridden bare back until they are happy with someone on their backs before we move on to adding a saddle.
Nearly all our horses are off the racetrack where their life has been based on, " Do this or I will punish you." If I would like you to make me a cup of tea and I turn round and shout ," Make me a cup of tea!" would you feel like obliging me or would you want to throw it in my face? But if I said, " Could you possibly make me a cup of tea when you have time?" wouldn't you feel more like doing it?
This is the way we try to treat our horses. There is no hurry, no impatience, no punishment. We ask them to do something nicely and use gentle repetition rather than rebuke if they don't understand first time. If something doesn't go smoothly we ask ourselves," What did I do wrong?" Not what did the horse do wrong.
We also try to make sure that the horses all get a chance to do something other than trekking. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, and our Mr Jack sure isn't dull!
As time has gone on we have changed our whole mind set. Into our training has come a bit of Monty Roberts, a bit of Pat Parelli and a lot of common sense, after years of watching how horses behave with each other and us. These days all the young horses are started in a Parelli halter with lots of on the ground handling. The youngsters are still backed bare back and ridden bare back until they are happy with someone on their backs before we move on to adding a saddle.
Nearly all our horses are off the racetrack where their life has been based on, " Do this or I will punish you." If I would like you to make me a cup of tea and I turn round and shout ," Make me a cup of tea!" would you feel like obliging me or would you want to throw it in my face? But if I said, " Could you possibly make me a cup of tea when you have time?" wouldn't you feel more like doing it?
This is the way we try to treat our horses. There is no hurry, no impatience, no punishment. We ask them to do something nicely and use gentle repetition rather than rebuke if they don't understand first time. If something doesn't go smoothly we ask ourselves," What did I do wrong?" Not what did the horse do wrong.
We also try to make sure that the horses all get a chance to do something other than trekking. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, and our Mr Jack sure isn't dull!
Tina On Jack 2011
Since he arrived here as an unhandled, untouched, unbroken four year old, Jack has always been fitted with a Parelli halter and he is by far our best example of how well the system can work when done properly. Sometimes when we have young Volunteers up here who are struggling with the whole concept of a horse without a bridle, how to brake, how to steer, we pop them up on to Jack to see how easy it is. No force, no straining, no battle over which way to go, and they get back on to their own horse with a better idea of how to do it.. Jack's steering is so light that to place just one finger on the clip of the Parelli rope and move it an inch one way or the other, he turns his head at once.
Sarah And Clonbern 2007
This is what all the trekking horses use with customers - a plain old leather halter, much softened by years of use and masses of saddle soap. To make it even more comfortable for the horses to wear we use removable sheepskin nosebands. These are washed whenever they get dirty or sweaty. The customers never use a Parelli halter on a trek, and never a bridle.. Both these items are totally unsuitable in the hands of a beginner, which a lot of our customers are. In the leather halter, well padded, it is very hard for someone to hurt one of the horses, albeit inadvertently. In the photos on this site, if you see Parelli halters or the occasional bridle, these are being used by the Volunteers whilst training a young horse or retraining one with a problem.
Sarah On Clonbern And Tina On Jack 2012
Sunday is the day all the Volunteers try to get up for the day. Sometimes we have as many as eight or nine at a time, with a mixture of owners who have bought horses from us that still live here, Woofers, [Workers on Organic Farms,], enthusiastic young teenagers, enthusiastic not quite so young teenagers and just anyone that likes being with all the animals. Particularly in Winter, when we are not so busy with actual trekking, when all the chores are done we pick a selection of horses and go and have fun in the paddock. Wacky races are devised with obstacle courses to negotiate and tricky little extras like removing the saddles and riding bareback, which slows down the better riders and gives the beginners a fighting chance! Even the horses realise it is not a working day and join in with gusto, some of them becoming very competitive and putting in a few hand brake turns to catch out the unwary. For the horses this is the fun side of being ridden and one can tell they really enjoy the experience.
Sunday Shenanigans
Coming In To Line For The Next Race.
Della With German Luisa In 2011. Lots Of Handling On The Ground Before Riding Begins.
Perkins Has Been " Asked Nicely " And Is Obviously Very Happy About The Situation.
Bareback Pottering Around The Countryside. Jaccka And Mervi 2012
