In teaching the communication between rider and horse one of the most often used catch phrases is,”reward the slightest try”. If your horse’s attempt is in the right direction of what you are asking him to do, and you feel or see it happen, reward him with relief from pressure or dropping the energy back.
I believe that teaching humans is not unlike teaching horses, teaching is teaching. I like to reward my students when they show the slightest try. When they get a glimmer into what they are supposed to do, I acknowledge it. Horses or humans, the slighest try deserves reward and or praise, depending who’s getting the lesson.
We create energy by being positive, when we as instructors send out positive energy we create it and give it to our students allowing them to move foreward and send it to their horses. Reward and praise are positive forms of energy and horseback riding is all about creating energy. Positive energy allows us to move forward, negative does not.
The next time you are in a situation with an instructor, let them know that you work well with positive energy. A little bit of encouragement goes a long way, every time.
As instructors of horse or human it is our duty to be conscious. We have to take the responsibility of our own actions and be aware of how we are coming across to our student. Stay positive, have fun and be safe!
