The Big Savvy Book (1st Version)

Pre-Ride Checklist

• Toss your rope over your horse’s back and

around his legs.

• Swing the rope over your head like a helicopter

and then let it land on your horse’s back.

• Back your horse up with your hand on his nose.

• Ask your horse to lower his head.

• Turn the front end away from you.

• Press your horse sideways.

• Back your horse up holding the bottom of the

halter.

• Lead your horse at the trot, stop and back up.

• Send your horse in a circle for a couple of laps,

change the direction.

• Drive your horse’s hindquarters away to

disengage and have your horse face you

Emergency Dismount

• Shortening one rein quickly, bending to a

stop or tiny circle.

• Kicking both feet out of the stirrups.

• Sliding off quickly and athletically

The Lead Change Ladder

1. Confidence and relaxation are key

2. Canter-walk transitions

3. Count five strides of canter in the canter-walk

transitions

4. Swing the shoulders

5. Serpentines

Preparation Checklist for Riding Out in Open Areas

& Trails 1. Ask your horse to go backwards. 2. Ask your horse to go sideways. 3. Circle your horse around you and have him maintain

gait by (him/her)self, even if there are obstacles to cross.

4. Send your horse over a tarp, a ditch, a log, up a hill, down a hill, etc. Repeat until your horse can do it calmly and confidently rather than rushing in a panic. Try different speeds and different gaits and longer lines (ropes).

5. Drive your horse ahead of you over the same obstacles. This builds more self confidence

6. Motion Test: See if your horse can follow a ball as you roll it away from your horse and get to where your horse can put her/his nose on it.

7. Shake a raincoat, shake a tarp. Use a lot of approach and retreat to build confidence and even walk backwards leading your horse to you on a long rope as you do it. See if you can get your horse confident enough to be rubbed with the raincoat and make sure he’s relaxed and not frozen in fear. His eyes should be soft and blinking rather than hard and staring.

Remember that sending your horse over obstacles like tarps can simulate water and bridges. The more you can simulate the things you might encounter, the better.

Riding in Open Areas…

Think of fun things to do such as:

• Circling around trees.

• Going from tree to tree and having a little rest

stop (Point to Point).

• Do lead changes between the trees (and if you

don`t have trees use barrels or buckets).

• Practice going sideways and backing through

gates.

• Try to do these on a loose rein, it`s more

relaxing for the horse.

• Learn how to open a gate from horseback.

Trail Tips • Check your cinch every few hours and especially before negotiating steep

hills. • Use grazing stops to increase relaxation in a tense horse. • Stop a horse from grazing by asking him to trot. • Ride with your whole body, don’t just sit there. • Just like driving a car, watch the road and not the wheel. Focus well

ahead! • Prevent horses crowding you from behind by playing the Tail Gaiting

Game. And ask the person in front of you to do this if your horse tail gates!

• Fluidity tips: When riding uphill, lift your knees and push on your horse`s neck (standing in the stirrups actually disempowers your horse`s hind end). When riding downhill, lift your knees so you don`t brace in your stirrups, and push on the front of your saddle to keep your seat secure.

• To rest on a steep hill, turn your horse sideways. • To stop a horse running up or down a hill, use zigzags. • Tie your horse high and to strong branches or on a high line. Make sure

there is a swivel in the lead rope snap so the halter can`t tighten if he walks in circles. Never tie by the bit or by the neck unless you know how to tie a collar that will not tighten (as demonstrated with the Horseman`s or mecate reins on the Success Series Ride Out DVD).

• If you have to get off, do so on the uphill side. • If you need to turn on a narrow trail, face your horse down the hill as you

turn. • When on the trail, water your horse little and often. • Always check for pressure points or sore spots under the saddle. Make sure

you have a good saddle and pad that will not hurt your horse, especially the longer the ride you do. Note also that English saddles do not distribute the rider`s weight as well as Western saddles so in that case we recommend only short trail rides, 1-2 hours maximum.

• When your horse spooks, push on his neck and keep him facing the object so he can`t turn tail and run. Sit calmly and back up some. Then zigzag to approach and pass it, don`t punish your horse or force him to smell it, its not about the object, its about his self-confidence and his confidence in you as his leader.

What Horses Value

1. Safety

2. Comfort

3. Play

4. Food

The Seven Games 1. Friendly Game (trust me, trust my equipment and the obstacles

I present)

2. Porcupine Game (move from my touch)

3. Driving Game (move from my suggestion)

4. Yo-Yo Game (move backwards and draw to me)

5. Circling Game (run around me – and keep moving!)

6. Sideways Game (move over)

7. Squeeze Game (squeeze through, over or under a narrow space)

Horsenality Is Based On…

1. Innate Characteristics

2. Learned Behaviour

3. Environment

4. Spirit

A Horse`s Distribution of Weight HALT When standing still, a horse has the majority of his weight on his front end (approximately 60%).

WALK At the walk, a horse carries approximately 60% of his weight on the front end.

TROT While trotting, a horse carries his weight more equally: 50% on the forehand and 50% on the hindquarters.

CANTER When cantering or loping, a horse carries approximately 60% of his weight on the hindquarters and 40% on the forequarters.

GALLOP During the gallop, a horse`s weight can fluctuate, but it always tips towards the forequarters (anywhere from 51% to 70%).

BACK-UP In this gait, a horse carries between 51% and 70% of his weight on his hindquarters.

Three Reasons to Shim

1.To get human on balance point

2.To give the horse scapula clearance

3.Muscle Atrophy

The Five Areas of Confidence • In you as a Leader

• In Themselves

• In their Herd

• In their

Environment

• When Learning

Phases For Turning

1. Eyes

2. Belly Button

3. Legs

4. Rein or Stick

Phases To Go

1. Bring your life up

2. Smile with all four cheeks

3. Turn your smile into a squeeze (smooch)

4. Spank if you please (yourself and then the

horse)

The Four Elements of Success

• Talent – You are born with talent.

• Skills – You develop skills over time.

• Try - “Try” is intestinal fortitude (guts, to be

blunt).

• Luck - Luck is spelled “w-o-r-k”, and it occurs

when preparation meets opportunity

The Seven Keys to Success 1. Attitude

2. Knowledge

3. Tools

4. Technique

5. Time

6. Imagination

7. Support

The Ten Qualities of a Horseman

1. Heart & Desire

2. Respect

3. Impulsion

4. Flexion

5. Focus

6. Feel

7. Timing

8. Balance

9. Savvy

10. Experience

The Eight Principles of Horsemanship

1. Horsemanship is natural.

2. Make and teach no assumptions.

3. Communication is two or more indivuals sharing and

understanding an idea.

4. Horses and humans have mutual responsibilities

5. The attitude of justice is effective.

6. Body language is universal.

7. Horses teach riders & riders teach horses.

8. Principles, purpose, and time are the tools of teaching.

The Twelve Things To Do With Excellence

1. Haltering/Unhaltering

2. Picking up all 4 feet

3. Saddling

4. Trailer Loading

5. Bridling/Unbridling

6. Mounting/Dismounting

7. Nine Step Back Up

8. Soft Feel at Halt

9. Lateral Flexion

10. Direct Rein

11. Indirect Rein

12. Supporting/Fixed Rein

Rein Positions

1. Direct

2. Indirect

3. Lateral Flexion

4. Casual

5. Concentrated

6. Supporting

7. Control

8. Suspension

9. Jingle Bell

10. Steady

11. Fixed

12. Partial Disengagement

13. Butterfly

12. Bunny Rabbit

The Levels LEVEL 1: RAPPORT You Learn: Basic Skills and Safety LEVEL 2: RESPECT You Gain: Confidence and Enjoyment LEVEL 3: IMPULSION You Improve: Feel and Timing LEVEL 4: FLEXION You Master: Refinement and Precision

The Eight Responsibilities of a Partnership THE RESPONSIBLITIES OF THE HUMAN:

1. Act Like a partner, not like a predator. Become more mentally, emotionally, and

physically fit.

2. Have an independent seat.

3. Think like a horse.

4. Use the natural power of focus

THE RESPONSIBLITIES OF THE HORSE:

1. Act like a partner, not like a prey animal. Become more mentally, emotionally

and physically fit.

2. Maintain gait.

3. Maintain direction.

4. Look where you are going.

Zoneology

A Horse’s Range Of Sight

Mind

Flexion

Weight

Feet

Teach

Control

Reinforce

Refine

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Horse Footfalls Backup Halt Walk

Trot (Right Lead) Canter (Left Lead) Canter

(Right Lead) Gallop (Left Lead) Gallop Pace

‘Ambling’ Gait Lateral (Ambling Gait)

Diagonal (Ambling Gait) • Diagonal or Lateral

• 4 Beats : • 1,2,3,4

Or • 1,2 - 3,4

• There are many different names for it and breed specific ‘quirks’

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Colt S

tartin

g Skeleton

Part Rider / Trainer / Behaviorist / Horseman

Part Rider / Trainer / Behaviorist / Horseman

Part Rider / Trainer / Behaviorist / Horseman

Part Rider / Trainer / Behaviorist / Horseman

Play Day

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