Event Review - Steve Rother Clinic

This weekend Leeann will be hosting a clinic with Steve Rother in Washougal. I asked that she write up a quick article on the event to share with you.

As a side note, I've been to a couple of Steve's clinics and have found them invaluable. He's a great teacher and I've learned so much about each of my horses because of these clinics.

If you participate in the clinic with your horse, you can expect 1:1 teaching from Steve. He will cover ground work techniques that build trust and respect between horse and rider so that the issues under saddle will be easier to combat. In addition, you'll learn tips/techniques to really communicate and build a partnership with your horse. After the ground working portion of the clinic, you can mount up and put some of those techniques into practice under saddle.

Event Details
Friday Aug. 1st
7:00 pm - Demo
Saturday Aug. 2nd
9:00 am - 12:00pm Foundation I
1:00pm - 5:00pm Horsemanship I
Sunday Aug. 3rd
9:00am-12:00am Foundation II
1:00pm-5:00pm Horsemanship II
Monday Aug. 4th
9:00 am - 12:00pm Foundation I cont'd
1:00pm - 5:00pm Horsemanship I cont'd
Tuesday Aug. 5th
9:00am-12:00am Foundation II cont'd
1:00pm-5:00pm Horsemanship II cont'd

Website: http://www.eastwindwalkers.com/steverotherclinic2008.html

Spectators are welcome and participants (horses/riders) are still being accepted.

Questions? Leeann - 360-619-2181

Here are Leeann's comments.

Have you ever been inspired by a video or a story and wished that you could do that with your horse?

Have you ever been so moved that you say to yourself…I'm going to get out there tomorrow and start working with your horse and that tomorrow never comes?

Or when you do finally make the commitment and you start working with your horse, within an hour you are frustrated and calling your horse bad names and you find yourself wondering why you even own a horse as your gelding or mare
is running away from you and you have just spent 45 minutes trying to catch him
or her only to have them side swipe you , run you over, knock you down or throw
a cow kick at you as they lounge around you in mindless circles?
At that point are you walking in the house looking up the number to your local auction house?

Have you ever been so mad at your horse that you actually smack him and swear he's the stupidest creature on earth because he just can't figure out what you are asking of them? Have you ever caught yourself saying" "He's never done that before" " He's never bucked before" " I don't know what got into him/her"
Then you find yourself reaching into your bag of excuses and start justifying your horse's bad behavior to save face.Does your horse paw in the trailer?

Does he dig big holes when tied?

Does he cause wrecks when he's tied because he pulls back?

Has he ever refused to load in a trailer?

Does he balk at water puddles, water crossings?

Does your horse send well under saddle?

Has he ever turned his butts towards you when you are approaching?

Does your horse run from you when he sees a halter and lead rope in your hand?

Does he get in your space? Is he pushy?

Are you a notorious treat feeder?

Do you think the horse should learn how to relate to us on our terms instead of us learning to speak their language?

Be honest when you are reading these questions as you silently answer them to your selves in the privacy of your own home where no one else can hear your answers.

And if you are finding it hard to be honest, that's okay because I've heard that Verizon now has cell service even in DENIAL!!!!!

Horses are not human and never will be human. They think differently than us and process information differently than us. They are prey animals and are hard
wired to fight or flight. This is how they have survived for thousands of years. Horses do not have the ability to reason as humans do. Horses do not have the ability to understand English.

Sit down in front of channel 409 and listen to the Spanish speaking channel for a few minutes. That's what we sound like to our horses. They don't understand words. They understand tones and more importantly, they understand body language. Horses live in a silent world. They have approximately 5 or six different sounds they make. Other than that, they speak to each other with physical body language. They have a different interpretation for every physical move we make than what we would expect. They view the world from the eyes of a prey animal where everything that moves is a threat until shown otherwise.

This is the very essence of Natural Horsemanship. This is the reason why we as humans if we want to give the gift of love to our horses, we will put aside our egos, we will put away our anger and will be humble enough to learn the art and the language of the equine. Then and only then can you start to work with the horse in a way that he/she understands. It is amazing how fast horses can learn. I want my horses to learn because they want to not because they fear. I want my horse to be a willing partner, not one forced by tie downs, harsh bits, and whatever
other crazy devices we as humans feel are acceptable to subject to a horse.

Make the right thing easy, make the wrong thing difficult.

Horses just want to get along. That's their nature and a horse will always choose the easier way to get along every time. Use as much as necessary and as little as possible to achieve the goal you are after. Working with a horse is all about FEEL. It's timing of knowing when to ask and when to give. Horses do not learn by pressure but rather by the removal of pressure. They learn by repetition. Erase and ReRecord. Give the horse a better option than the one he's been using.

There is nothing magical about Natural Horsemanship and anyone who wants to can learn it. It's all about timing and all about the feel. Know when to give and when to release. The definition of Insanity is" Doing the same thing over expecting different results. A horse will continue to do the same behavior until he is shown a
better way. All the antics and bad behaviors that horses on occasion will display are all linked to holes in their training and those are all linked backed to the basics of training…THE GROUND WORK. LET ME REPEAT THAT…All behavioral issues can be resolved by going back to the basics of Ground work with Intent.

If you get the opportunity to be a part of a Natural Horsemanship clinic do it. It will be the best gift you will ever give your horse.

Some useful links:

Leeann's website to sign up for the clinic.

Some photos of the 2007 clinic.

Steve Rother's website.