James R Brannon
Relation Foundation Horsemanship
Relation Foundation Horsemanship
Horse/Human Instruction to Better the Relationship With Your Horse
Course Outline:
Introduction:
My methods of teaching a horse and human to have a better relationship with each other are drawn from many people and methods gleaned over the years, but are mainly based on what has come to be known as natural horsemanship, specifically "Parelli Natural Horsemanship" (PNH), of which I have, at great expense, studied for a number of years and will continue to study. While I have no connection to PNH, I provide what I believe to be an effective, but cost efficient program with the goal of helping humans better their relationship with their horse during fun, feeding and fraternizing. If you want to have a safe relationship with your horse that establishes you as the leader of a willing partner, then I can help.
The tools with which I instruct (halter, lead rope, etc.) I call a "Connection Kit" and are made of particular materials and of a particular design to help one more effectively communicate with a horse. The price of these tools, which are made by a local craftsman, can be found on the "Tool Prices/Course Fees" page.
Affection, Connection, Direction:
To begin with, what I teach is not a quick fix. Rather than teaching tricks, I teach strategies, and my methods are as gentle as possible, but as firm as necessary.
To begin with, what I teach is not a quick fix. Rather than teaching tricks, I teach strategies, and my methods are as gentle as possible, but as firm as necessary.
I've divided my program up into three themed areas, the first being "Affection, Connection, Direction." This first theme will develop an attitude that will be with you from now on when establishing and maintaining a relationship with a horse. This part of the program includes basic ground skills such as catching your horse, putting a halter on correctly, leading your horse and moving your horse out of your space. Even if you don't have a problem with these areas it is still important that they be done in a particular way to help establish yourself as the leader from the onset. This is the foundation of the foundation from which I can begin to teach you a body language to use with your horse that will become second nature to you as you progress.
This body language I call "Notion, Commotion and No Motion", which is, repectively, steady pressure, rhythmic pressure and absence of pressure. It will be used to achieve certain tasks of ground play with your horse. I will teach you to teach your horse to move away from this pressure, either real or implied, and when and how to apply and release the pressure. Everything you do with your horse from then on and forever more, whether it is leading your horse or doing the most complex riding maneuver will be a combination of these three elements and the timing of their application.
Once the basic body language is understood and practiced by you, we will then move on to the ground play where several tasks will be taught and employed. Among these are: Going backward and forward; circling around you on a loose line; going sideways; squeezing between something in a calm manner. Mixed in with all of this will be a fun but useful task for you and your horse, which is to cause your horse to touch his nose to something. Without going into too much detail here, causeing your horse to touch his nose to something will help him to understand that there is a purpose to your body language, but more importantly, it helps you work on your focus and the clarity of your body language. Most people are amazed that their horse will actually do this for them the first few times they try it and it opens up a whole new world of possibilities in communicating with your horse in a manner that he or she understands.
"Leadership, Followship"
In this second portion we are going to refine our ground skills. By now the horse and you should be communicating on a basic level. Now it's time to mix it up and have some fun by asking your horse to do figure eights around two objects, side step over a mounting block or barrel, jump over a small obstacle, change gaits during a circle or even change direction without breaking gait. The possibilities are almost endless. We can even address trailer loading if it is an issue with your horse. Eventually, you will be able to ask your horse to do these things without the aid of a halter or lead rope, but this is down the line a bit. You will, however, begin to see how this is possible all by being a good leader and using good body language.
In this second portion we are going to refine our ground skills. By now the horse and you should be communicating on a basic level. Now it's time to mix it up and have some fun by asking your horse to do figure eights around two objects, side step over a mounting block or barrel, jump over a small obstacle, change gaits during a circle or even change direction without breaking gait. The possibilities are almost endless. We can even address trailer loading if it is an issue with your horse. Eventually, you will be able to ask your horse to do these things without the aid of a halter or lead rope, but this is down the line a bit. You will, however, begin to see how this is possible all by being a good leader and using good body language.
It is the goal of this portion of my program that you will begin to think for yourself and come up with some fun ideas for your horse. If you keep it fun for your horse, they will want to be with you. This is what it means to be a good leader with a partner willing to follow your lead, ideas and suggestions.
"Take Us There":
This is the final portion of my program. This is what it ultimately is all about; going for a ride, although the "Leadership, Followship" portion can be a whole lot of fun! This portion requires that you have established basic communication skills with your horse and that he is trusting in you. In this portion you will learn how to saddle and mount properly and then ask your horse to step out. You will do this at first with one rein attached to your halter. This is the safest way as it prevents you from pulling back on two reins, and it will get you into the habit of controlling your horse more effectively with one rein.
This is the final portion of my program. This is what it ultimately is all about; going for a ride, although the "Leadership, Followship" portion can be a whole lot of fun! This portion requires that you have established basic communication skills with your horse and that he is trusting in you. In this portion you will learn how to saddle and mount properly and then ask your horse to step out. You will do this at first with one rein attached to your halter. This is the safest way as it prevents you from pulling back on two reins, and it will get you into the habit of controlling your horse more effectively with one rein.
Instruction will be given in an orderly step by step manner with live examples on one of my own horses. You will never be pressured to proceed to the next step if you are not comfortable with the current step, and no one will think twice about it if you feel the need to go back a step. But it will be up to you to express these concerns to me.
You will learn about disengaging the hind quarters, moving the fore hand, backing up, transitions, and developing an independent seat.
And Finally:
Completing my program will not be quick or effortless. It will require time. How much time depends on how fast you want to advance. There will be homework assignments between sessions. But the horse must be kept in mind as well and you must not try to advance faster than the horse. Like people, some horses are quick learners and some take more time due to past baggage or intrinsic characteristics. This can only be determined after the horse has been observed for a few sessions. But anyone with typical life experiences and physical skill can learn from my program. You may even learn that your horse is not a good match for you. This happens sometimes. A playful warmblood may not be the be the best match for a first time horse owner who just wants to mosey down the trail. Conversely, a Belgian draft horse may not be the best horse for three day eventing. But one thing I am confident of; taking my course will help to make you a much better match for your horse.
Completing my program will not be quick or effortless. It will require time. How much time depends on how fast you want to advance. There will be homework assignments between sessions. But the horse must be kept in mind as well and you must not try to advance faster than the horse. Like people, some horses are quick learners and some take more time due to past baggage or intrinsic characteristics. This can only be determined after the horse has been observed for a few sessions. But anyone with typical life experiences and physical skill can learn from my program. You may even learn that your horse is not a good match for you. This happens sometimes. A playful warmblood may not be the be the best match for a first time horse owner who just wants to mosey down the trail. Conversely, a Belgian draft horse may not be the best horse for three day eventing. But one thing I am confident of; taking my course will help to make you a much better match for your horse.
Completing my program will not make you an expert horseman. There are only a handful of true "Horsemen" in the world and I hope to be considered one someday. But what I hope it will do is make you feel confident and safe with your horse and give you the freedom and desire to be with your horse for the three "Fs"- Fun, Feeding and Fraternizing.
This is for the sake of both of you!
Respectfully,
