More patience than most: )

I love this horse trainer and would send my horse to him if I could.

I used to drive carriage horses in downtown Seattle and I believe they should all have this patience training. Obviously mine did not (rearing at a red light on Elliot Ave!?) But not just driving horses, all horses should learn some self control.

Today I watched him drive an Arabian horse through the streets of England in heavy traffic (semis passing his cart!). They just trotted on. It was his first video with an Arabian and he acknowledged it, "The only thing that is different with this breed - not temperament, no - is the endurance. They will not tire." (And funnily at least two of the comments on that video said, "Arabians are not meant for that type of work." Oh, I see. They are meant to prance at the end of a lead line? *sigh*)

Barry Hook is inspiring to me, in the video below he says "This is training" - and they're just standing there, for an hour. I've never seen any other trainer follow the principle of "when in trouble with a horse - do LESS" than Barry. Is there any other horse trainer out there who offers video of the entire hour+?

As I watched, I realized the sun that was blinding the camera the whole time would eventually set. Spoiler: the sun sets before the horse settles.

About reward, "Many would give him a sweetie now. You must do what you think is right. But I wouldn't. You've done what you're told. what is expected of you. It's not like you need a reward for that. It's not wrong, it's just not for me."

I think it was Mugwump who said she doesn't reward her horses with an edible reward, because release is sufficient. Saying "Good job" while offering a food reward is silly. 

And, there is something to be said for setting the brake on a carriage, to make it nearly impossible for the horse to go forward or back. I've seen it on my street as a friend stops his carriage to chat, and the feisty Haflinger wants nothing more than to trot on.  He had his foot on the brake and his entire body pushing down on it, to be sure the mare wouldn't carry them away. Which I think is a trick simple-riders cannot employ, and a crutch, not training. If I had a brake (literally brakes behind him, not reins)  on my horse preventing his forward movement, that would be a safety I'd be able to somewhat rely upon.

See if you can endure what this horse did:



"Tomorrow he'll start all this nonsense again, but he'll remember, 'Ugh, they're not gonna give up.'"

"If you control him with fear, with the threat of a whip or a stick, one day you'll pay for that. Make no mistake, one day."

"Americans, Canadians, will come over and say why don't you (do something?) to make him not do it? Cuz I want him to *decide* not to do it. He needs to realize if he stops long enough, the world is a wonderful place." (Barry's accent is hard for me!)

I find it cute that he uses a cell phone to count the minutes, I always count in my head. But I would normally count to 20. *shame*

From the way the horse kept looking back at him, and all the other behaviors, I wonder if horses honestly think we're idiots, that we don't *get* their language. Sorry, but yes, we do, we just need you to understand our needs. Mag will look at the gate to the pasture, and look at me, and look at the gate, and look at me, over and over and over. He must think I'm pretty dense. I apologize to him, "I know what you're saying!"