The horse had no opposition reflex but also had no respect for humans either. The point to this story is that while it’s one thing to desensitise your horse and take away *Opposition Reflex, it’s equally important to replace it with something and that something is Positive Reflex.
Realistically, you can expect to encounter some opposition reflex in all 3 levels in the Quantum Savvy Foundation Programme. This is because you are constantly progressing your partnership and asking for more fro your horse and your relationship. Some of you may find that you don’t have a lot of opposition reflex. In this case we encourage you to dig a little deeper, look harder. Horses are prey animals and people are predators so it makes sense that there should be some there somewhere. Better to find it now in these early stages and whilst we are still on the ground and left-brained than to have it suddenly pop up when you are riding and things are happening a little quicker.
Some people may even find that their horse gets worse before it gets better. Generally, this is a result of us asking more of our horses than we have before, of us asserting ourselves as the leader whereas before our horse pretty much just had his own way. Rest assured, whatever behaviour you encounter was already in there, latently waiting for the right circumstances to bring it out. If we are to truly gain excellence with horses, we need to take a chance, be bold and go in search of the truth. Ask yourself; “How does my horse really perceive me? Does my horse trust me / respect me, even under pressure? Am I a good leader?” Until we are brave enough to discover the truth, these oppositions will lay dormant just under the surface, just waiting for the right stimulus to trigger them. We know this to be true, from the experience of all those people who have had their horse for years, when all of a sudden he just decided to run off / buck / shy / kick / be hard to catch / bite.
By now you have your horses yielding in all six directions – forwards, backwards, sideways, left an right - for more than just a few steps. As discussed in the ‘Phases’ article, you may be finding that your horse is starting to get a little dull again, not really putting a lot of enthusiasm into his yields. You have taken away a lot of the opposition reflex, now it’s time to put the positive back in.
A positive reflex is when your horse matches your pace and follows your suggestions willingly and politely. In other words, he yields at the same pace you move, either fast or slow. He does it lightly with a ‘yes Sir’ kind of attitude. He goes when you go and slows when you slow.
Your phases will be paramount in this. It’s important to start at phase 1, which will probably be a lot lighter than it used to be in Level 1. Go through your phases as you need - a little quicker now - and get back to phase one and stop as soon as he tries. Remember your horse will learn by your release and when you offer comfort. If you are at phase 1 when you stop, he’ll learn to yield from phase one, so get back to it as quickly as you can when he tries and then quit. If you miss it, that’s ok, just start over again and work on your timing.
Your body energy is another important factor. Learning to bring your life up and project your energy, before you go through your phases, will give you an extra phase and make your physical phases even lighter.
Horses are very honest. They tell it just like it is. If he is going about happily, you’re probably doing a good job. If he is getting cranky, maybe he’s trying to tell you something about your offer or your phases. Listen to your horse, develop your phases and look for positive reflex in all things. Your reward will be a light, responsive and happy horse.
*Please refer to previous article on 'opposition reflex'
Read More Road To Horsemanship articles.
- By Meredith Ransley, Quantum Savvy.