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The importance of consistency – The Natural Horseman
By Steve Stevens
Consistency is the secret to training horses. If you can’t be consistent, what can you do? This time of year, when it can rain every couple of days…when spring storms come as often as the mailman…what can we do? I think it is important to know how to get the most out of your time during inconsistency. For some, all you can do is the best you can do. We need to understand and allow our horses to make more mistakes during these time periods.
Wet conditions make it hard to stay consistent when riding your horse. (Photo courtesy of Steve Stevens)
We need to try not to get frustrated with the horse when he is only being worked every other couple of days. The best use of your time, I truly believe, is to find a patch of at least three days in a row. The first day you get the rust and edge off. The second, you start back on your training program. The third day, your horse will really be paying attention and ready to learn.
When you have one day of work, four days off, then two days on and three days off, et cetera, you never have the chance to get the best of the horse’s mind. If you really only have a day here and a day there, I think it is essential to focus on what is important. Really focus on foundation. Work more on the basics, like good stops and forward motion.
Don’t spend this valuable time working on tricks and flying lead changes. That will be there when you have time for more consistency. Lots of times, when we feel limited on time to train, we want to focus on the advanced. That would be like asking a sprinter to run the 100 meter dash without stretching. So what can happen when skipping the fundamentals is that we will push too hard and get into a fight with our horse. Then we lose more time trying to correct that.
Remember that when we are talking about the horse, we want to think ahead and set everything up for success. At the end of the day don’t beat yourself up about the limited time. Be fair to yourself and fair to your horse. And take advantage of every moment you have with your horse. Sometimes when time is limited we appreciate it more. In the words of one of my favorite country singers, Gary Allan- “Every storm runs out of rain.” Be Safe!
In the words of country music singer, Gary Allan- “Every storm runs out of
rain.” (Photo courtesy of Steve Stevens)
By Krista Lucas Wynn
Each year, when the professional rodeo season wraps on Sept. 30, the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and Women’s Professional Rodeo Association announce the Nutrena Horse of the Year, presented by the American Quarter Horse Association, in each event. This is a prestigious award, voted on by the members of the associations. To be named Horse of the Year by fellow competitors is a high honor only a few achieve.
To read more, pick up a copy of the November edition of North Texas Farm & Ranch magazine, available digitally and in print. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
By Heather Welper
Husband and wife duo, Heather and Calvin Welper, are the Co-Owners and Operators or Two C Livestock, located in Valley View, Texas.
The pair’s operation has a show cattle focus where they raise and sell purebred heifers of all breeds and club calf Hereford steers.
When it comes to show cattle, the Welpers know a thing or two including how to prepare for the cold winter months and the Texas major show season run.
To read more, pick up a copy of the November edition of North Texas Farm & Ranch magazine, available digitally and in print. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
By Tony Dean
Snow on the Mountain is an annual forb that is part of our landscape almost every year.
It is adapted to most of Texas and grows north to Montana and Minnesota and south to Mexico.
Although is seems to be most adapted to clay soils, this plant can be found on a wide variety of soil and moisture conditions.
To read more, pick up a copy of the November edition of North Texas Farm & Ranch magazine, available digitally and in print. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
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