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Tuesday, October 07, 2008
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Positive Training Solutions
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 Teaching and training at the Nexus Center for the Horse is under the direction of Sharon Foley. Our philosophy concerning training is closely linked with our philosophy concerning health and soundness. First and foremost is acknowledging that we must consider the whole horse during training. His state of mind is as important as the state of his body.
In order to be effective as a trainer we need to ensure that the pupil is in a learning state of mind. The horse must be relaxed, calm and focused before anything new can be absorbed. A large portion of our training time is spent on building trust and confidence. This is the foundation upon which all else will be built. Did you think we were talking only about horses? The same goes for people who take lessons with Sharon in riding or horsemanship.
We believe that the best outcomes are the result of taking a positive can-do approach to training. By focusing on what we want--and nurturing that--we avoid many of the problems encountered by other trainers. We make a commitment to taking the time to do it right the first time. This may involve more time 'up front' but the results are worth it. Again this philosophy applies to the people Sharon teaches, too!
Another crucial element to the horse's success is the balance, feel and timing of the rider. We believe that riding should IMPROVE the horse's soundness and well being. This is why we offer and stress the importance of lessons in horsemanship, training, and most of all, a classically balanced supple seat for the rider.
We all owe our horses the gift of being easy to carry. So, saddles (and other equipment) must fit the horse properly and we need to sit in a manner which makes it possible for the horse to move freely and do what we ask. This is all true no matter what kind of saddle you ride in or what discipline you favor.
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