SADLE UP -- LET’S RIDE!

a.k.a. FOLLOW THE TRAIL OF THE COWBOYS

                            Saddle up. Let's ride! Happy trails! Don West

Over my seventy years of living and learning, at one time or another, I’ve participated in, and often taught, just about every kind of outdoor recreational activity there is. I’ve been a hiker, a biker, a camper, a rock climber, a caver, a mountain climber, a kayaker, a river rafter, a skier, and ski mountaineer. I’ve made long trips on motorcycles, bicycles, canoes, and across the Pacific in a forty foot long sail boat. But horseback riding, especially trail riding and low-impact horse camping (traveling with my horse and dog through the wilderness without a pack horse), has proven to be the most rewarding, satisfying, inspiring, and even mystifying form of recreational pursuit I have ever pursued. 

For those of us who must heed the call to adventure, the relationship between man and horse cannot be duplicated: not by a man on a boat, a man on a bike, a man on skis, or a man on any mechanically powered machine can the magic of this partnership be matched. When adequately mastered, the relationship between human and equine becomes a true symbiotic partnering, a graceful dance done by two amazing, but dramatically different life forms, with the man gently leading, and the horse willingly following each request, performing the dance together, without resistance, joined in an embrace of perfect balance and harmony. To those few individuals who have perfected the art of horsemanship to this level, riding is more than a sport. It moves into the realm of an elating out-of- body experience, elevating the rider’s spirit to heights of transcendent ecstasy. It is Nirvana. It is Heaven on Earth!

Many of you who are reading this are familiar with the quote: “The outside of a horse is good for the inside of a man.” Easy enough to say, but just what does it really mean? Our artificial society has not only given us a fragile false sense of security from the inescapable impermanence of our fleeting temporary existence, it has insulated us from the reality of our interdependence and inner-connectedness with all our fellow living creatures. Bound together, as we actually are, as a complex living organism, and stranded here on the surface of this little speck of dust we call “Mother Earth”, drifting on an uncharted course in an unimaginably large, and mostly empty and lifeless universe, today, many people feel the shallow emptiness of the artificial manmade environment we humans have created for ourselves. Deep down inside they feel the need for reconnecting with our true nature. They need recreation, or more accurately re-creation. For some of us, the vehicle that carries us to this reunion with our genuine selves is “equis”…the horse.

At West Gait Equine Learning Center, nestled close-by the towering  rim rock walls of the West entrance to the Colorado National Monument, I am offering an unusual opportunity for those kindred spirits who feel the need to get their hands on horses. Over the past twenty years, many have come here to fulfill their fantasy and experience the happiness and healing that comes with handling and riding horses. With my “beautiful to behold, smooth to ride, and easy to handle”, home bred and raised, Paso Pleasure Horses being the teachers, and me, a professional horseman and teacher acting as their “equine success coach”, my students learn hands-on what I call “Horse Handling-Horse Sense”, “Sit-Down Equitation”, and “Synergistic-Synchronistic Riding”.

 Acquiring the necessary knowledge required to ride a horse is no harder than knowing how to drive a stick shift car. But mastering those skills to a level that allows you to safely head out on the trail takes time and commitment. Repetition is the Mother of skill, but only if it’s right repetition! And, because horses are big, strong, and easily frightened, without the proper instruction and the watchful guidance of someone who has already mastered those skills, horseback riding can be dangerous, even deadly. I have three main rules that I follow, and enforce on my students while they are working with me and my horses:

1.      We don’t get hurt.

2.      My horses don’t get hurt, and

3.      We’re having fun!

If you are one of those special people who have always loved horses, and felt yourself drawn to horses, but haven’t had the time or opportunity to fulfill that desire, or if you rode horses when you were young, but haven’t been able to ride for quite a while, don’t give up on your dream. You were “Born to Ride”. Whether you have come to realize this or not, now is the only time you’ve got! So don’t wait.  Just do it!  Make up your mind, pump up your courage, claim your power, and overcome your fears, take appropriate action, and walk you’re talk! (I guess I should have actually said “ride your ride”). But, by all means, do it the right way. Don’t just go out and buy a horse, jump on it, and start to ride. That’s a sure-fired recipe for a quick trip to the hospital…and your horse day dream will have become an overnight night mare.

Just like us, horses are living, breathing mammals. Humans, of course, are predators, hunters… killers. Anyone who watches the news knows that! Horses, on the other hand, are herd animals. They like to hang out together and look out for each other. But, they aren’t as smart as humans. That’s why they carry us instead of the other way around. They are, and have always been, prey (food) for various carnivorous, like us, for example. Consequently, it’s wired into their genes to run away from anything that seems frightening or suspicious to them. Horses, living in a herd, depend on the herd leaders to let them know when they can relax, or when they should run. In order to be safe when working with horses we must first convince them that we don’t want to eat them (win their trust), and then, we must convince them that we are above them on the pecking order and will tell them when they should be scared, and when they should run.

Unfortunately, these days there aren’t many folks left around who know enough about horses to understand the fact that we can learn how to think like a horse, but a horse can’t learn to think like us. In this relationship, if it is going to work right, we have to be the brains, and let the horse be the brawn. It just doesn’t work the other way around. Most horses that end up labeled “bad horses” are the unfortunate results of bad horse trainers; horse mechanics that have no “horse handling-horse sense”. After all, horse sense is just common sense, but these days not many folks have much common sense! Using my straight forward, easy to understand methods, my students learn to use patience and perseverance instead of pain and punishment, and finesse instead of force to train the horse. Applying my methods, they can experience the joy that comes from feeling that the horse, their dance partner, is enjoying the experience as much as they, the rider, are.

Take my advice. You don’t have to learn in the school of hard knocks, through the seat of your pants, like I did when I was a kid. You’re (probably) no kid now, anyway. And that learning method’s not the easiest on your body either. Do it the right way…the smart way.  Take lessons from someone who will teach you step by step, moving you toward mastery as you’re ready, step by step, following the rules I’ve just given you above. Remember, knowledge and mastery are not the same thing. So acquire your knowledge, and perfect your skills under the guidance of a riding master…me. Old Chinese saying: “When the student is ready, the master appears. When the master is ready, the students appear. Well, I’ve retired myself from traveling to horse fairs and expos as a speaker/clinician. Now I’m spending my time working with local “learners” here in the Grand Valley. Want to learn? I’m ready to teach you. But, I’m not getting any younger, so don’t wait too long. Just remember, spending money on riding lessons with me is much cheaper, and a lot more fun, than spending money on Doctors and Hospitals.

We are blessed to live in a part of the World that is surrounded by an unbelievable array of spectacularly scenic beauty, land that lends it’s self perfectly to being observed from horseback. Experiencing close up and personal our interconnectedness with the natural environment that comes from immersing yourself in the surroundings from the back of your horse is an experience without equal. But only when you have acquired the knowledge and mastered the necessary skills required to communicate directly and clearly with your horse, so that your horse understands that you are in charge, the benevolent master, and he can relax and be secure in your hands, your willing servant, ready to do your bidding, can you fully enjoy the experience without the distraction that comes from the anxiety of not feeling that you are actually leading this dance. O.K. Want to learn how to dance with horses? Come see me, Don West, and my smooth riding, naturally gaited Paso Pleasure Horses, and let me get you started out right on the path toward this challenge that will lead you to a most rewarding discovery. “Saddle up. Let’s Ride! Don West

November 28, 2009

Dear horse happy friends,

"Howdy" to all of you buckaroos and baccarats out there, from Maria and me at West Gait Equine Learning Center, the home of the World famous Paso Pleasure, naturally gaited trail horses, here in wonderful Western Colorado. Over the past few years the trails around here, the ones that I've had all to myself for years and years, seem to have been "discovered". On any weekend the horse parking lots at the trailheads are filled up and overflowing with big fancy new horse haulin' rigs! Seems like I'm seein' a lot more inexperienced riders out on the trail these days, too. That's great, of course, but the way some of these folks are handling their horses makes me doubtful for their long term success, and a little nervous about their safety. So, let an old hand pass along a few key concepts and training tips in hopes that they might help a few of you new trail riders build a more synergistic-synchronistic relationship with your horse; one in which you and your horse partner are working in balance and harmony, where you are the benevolent master and your horse is your happy, willing servant, and where you don't get hurt, your horse doesn't get hurt, and you're havin' fun! That's my goal, and I'd bet it's your goal, too.

 Once you master the basic principles that I call Horse Handling Horse Sense, you and your paso or naturally gaited horse will dance down the trail to the syncopated rhythm of those paca paca hoof beats, you and your happy horse totally tuned-in to each other, in balance and harmony! First and foremost remember that a comfortable horse is a happy horse, and a happy horse makes for a happy rider.  On the other hand, an uncomfortable horse is an unhappy horse, and an uncomfortable horse can soon make for an uncomfortable rider. When a horse gets nervous, the flight instinct starts to kick in and take over, and that soon makes for an unhappy rider. Knowing its place in the pecking order, and knowing that someone above it in that pecking order is in charge, makes a horse comfortable.  Not knowing where it fits, or who is in charge, makes a horse uncomfortable. If a horse doesn't feel like someone above them on the pecking order is looking out for what to a horse spells danger, they feel like they have to look out for themselves. What they do when they are scared can get a rider in big trouble real quick. An insecure, nervous horse between your legs spells danger for the rider. That's when things can turn to horse picky real quick. To avoid that you need to establish and maintain a relationship in which the horse recognizes you as above it on the pecking order…in other words, you're in charge. 

In the relationship between horse and man, you are (supposed to be) the brains, and the horse is the brawn. Even though you are a team, to be safe you must be the master, and your horse must be your servant. Still, at the same time, you want your horse to be your friend. You want to feel like your horse is enjoying being ridden by you. You want your horse to be your willing servant, so that you can be a benevolent master. To achieve that, whenever possible use finesse instead of force, and patience and perseverance instead of pain and punishment while teaching your horse with your Horse Handling- Horse Sense magic touch.

Keep in mind, horses are dynamic, not static. From a human point of view, they are always getting better...or worse. Your job, as a rider-trainer, is to make sure that your horse gets better with each contact you have with it. That means that you have to really ride your horse, not just sit on your horse. Remember, if you’re a rider, you’re a trainer, and as long as you are with your horse you are always training, weather you know it or not. Every time you touch your horse – you teach your horse. Every time you rein your horse – you train your horse.  With horses, repetition is the mother of skill, but only if it is right repetition. You can learn to think like a horse, but a horse can’t learn to think like you. Your job (as a rider-trainer) isn’t to make your horse the best – it’s to make the best of your horse. To do that you have to pay attention, and ride your horse the way you drive your car, not as though you are a passenger in the car.

What is a "good horse"? The right horse is the light horse. And light hands make a light horse. Start with whatever force it takes to get the horse to give to your aids: your hands, seat, legs, balance (weight), and voice. Then, as the horse responds, back off, and use less and less pressure. That is the horse's reward for good behavior! Fear and frustration are the horseman's two worst enemies. Fear makes a person shut down and not respond correctly. Frustration makes a person overreact. Neither you nor your horse can learn when you are scared, nervous, or angry. So, keep yourself, and your horse comfortable. As much as possible, reward good behavior, and ignore “bad” behavior. Keep your training sessions short at first. Don't push your horse to the point of frustration, or worse yet, anger. It’s always better to do too little than too much. Don't put an artificial time table on your training goals. You always have tomorrow. And, never get into a fight with your horse that you can’t win. The idea is to have the horse think that you are stronger than him (or her), so don't let your ego get you into a situation that ends up showing the horse otherwise. And always end each session on a good note!

If you will follow these few simple Horse-Handling Horse-Sense rules you will become a real "horseman". Remember my definition of success: " You don’t get hurt, your horse doesn’t get hurt, and you’re having fun!" The real joy of riding comes when your having fun, and your horse is having fun too! So, don’t forget that. Be careful out there, but don’t be too serious, too soft, or too sour.  May you always ride a good horse – and may you always ride him (or her) well. Saddle Up – Let’s Ride!