Be aware
1. Remember that the horse is a living equal member of the earth;
let us respect this fact in all that we do with our horses.
2. We should understand that discipline is not force; it is something
which we all need if we are to live useful, constructive lives.
Just as our children thrive through fair, disciplined guidelines, so do horses.
3. We ourselves need discipline if we are to be able, sensitive friends.
This involves discipline of the mind as well as the body.
4.Abuse to horses is not always intentional; it can happen as a result
of uninformed thinking and uninformed riding. We should be prepared
to go on learning all our lives, as there is never enough time in anyone's
life to learn all there is to know. With NHE it is absolutely not okay.
Neither mental or physical abuse.
5. We should strive to think positively and look for the best in everything
around us. We owe it to our horses to be in a positive frame of mind.
If ever we feel angry, frustrated, pent-up, or even very
tired, we would do better to go for a hack, rather than to try to train or school.
6. Let us never be too proud to say sorry to our horse and to start again.
We can all make mistakes; so can he, so can we. Let us also forgive
him when he has done wrong. It may well be that he did not understand us.
7. Punishment should not be administered.He should not be punished when he refuses to do something because he is fearful, unfit or simply does not understand.
8. Remember that the only way we can tell him he has done something
correctly is to reward him. Touching the neck, praising in a low, kind
voice, means a lot to horses. This can be done several times in a
training session and will reap its own reward. It has nothing to do
with sentimentality. All the great masters from time immemorial
dealt in rewards in order to train better.
9. The training path of every horse should be done step by step - systematically and logically. We should never have to undo anything we teach our horses. Training slowly in this way builds muscles, mobilises joints and gives the horse time to develop physically and mentally. It also builds trust.
10. The proof of the trained horse is that he will grow more beautiful. You too will become centred in every sense of the word. This is more than art; it is a philosophy, a way of life.
