Horse Training Tips – Muscle Memory

Dear Friend and Horseman,

Welcome to another Horse Training Tips Newsletter.

This issue may be the most important one I've ever written. If you will actively put this information into practice, it could improve your riding and training significantly. I would recommend reading it several times.

Okay, lets get started.

As a horse trainer who deals with non-pros, I am exposed to many of the problems that plague amateur horsemen… Both, in the training pen and the show arena.

Do you know what their most common complaint is?

Here it is in bold type…

“I Just Can’t Get My Horse To Do It”

Professional trainers who give a lot of lessons, hear this all the time. Most non pros will have some problems riding and training their horse. If you are one of them, please don’t feel like you are the only one having trouble.

You’re in the same boat as a lot of folks.

First, I’d like to make it clear that training a horse to perform at an advanced level is no easy task.

I’ve had students who were geniuses. And I’ve had students who were superior athletes. They all felt that learning to ride and train horses was one of the most challenging things they have ever done.

I’ll never forget this one guy in particular. He held multiple black-belts in several different marshal arts. He even taught martial arts. And, he was also a top business executive with a major company.

The man was as talented a person as I’ve ever seen. Yet, after a year of trying to learn how to ride performance horses, he quit. Why? His exact words were; “This is the hardest, most frustrating thing I’ve ever tried to learn”.

Truer words were never spoken.

Learning to ride and train horses is much like trying to master a martial art.

Like a martial art, it takes focus and concentration combined with timing and coordination. However, because there is another living being involved (the horse), it is more complex.

After reading the above paragraph, I want you to realize that if you’re having any success at all training your horse, you’re doing great. Even if your progress is painfully slow, the fact that you are progressing should make you feel good about yourself.

I’ve been in the business since 1980 so training horses is fairly easy for me. The reason it’s easy for me is because I’ve put in the time, plus I’ve had hundreds of horses to practice on.

But, don’t think for a minute that training was easy while I was learning it. No way. I remember well how hard I had to struggle.

Here's some very GOOD news…

Now, after elaborating on how complex it is to learn to ride and train horses, let me say this…

Just about anybody, who really wants to, can learn to do it!

That's right, its my belief if you can walk and chew gum at the same time, you have all the physical ability you need to be able to ride a horse well.

Plus, if you have enough mental focus to be able to analyze problems and read body language, you probably also have the ability to train a horse.

Here is the point I want to make:

You do not have to be a super athlete to ride well. And you do not have to be a genius to train a horse well, either.

There are some very successful horsemen who are short and fat with no more athletic ability or brain power than the next guy.

So, what sets these successful horsemen apart?

A strong desire to succeed and an acute awareness of what they are doing.

The big "success factor" here is the awareness of what they are doing and the ability to change when they discover they're doing something wrong.

This "awareness and ability to change" is so important it can't be stressed enough.

Below, I'll reveal how YOU too can use the power of "awareness and change" to dramatically improve your riding and training.

Okay, lets get started with the training tips

The hidden "secret element" to successful riding and training!

I know people who study every training technique known to mankind. They have attended many horse training clinics and watched many different trainer's videos. They know quite a few training methods by heart.

But surprisingly, none of the training methods they have learned seem to work for them. When they try them out on their horse, the horse doesn't respond right.

Why do you suppose this is? Why doesn't their horse respond to them the same way the horses respond to the pro trainers in the videos?

Well, its because there is a very good chance the non pros aren’t DUPLICATING the method exactly the way they’ve seen the trainer do it.

In other words, they are not using their HANDS, LEGS and BODY the way they THINK they’re using them.

Because of this, they practice the training techniques over and over but no improvement is made.

Undoubtedly, you have heard the old saying that "Practice Makes Perfect".

Well, no it doesn't. Only "perfect" practice makes perfect.

Let me illustrate a common scenario…

A guy came to me for some lessons. He was having trouble getting his horse to turn on the hocks.

The reason he's having trouble is because he’s taking the direct rein way out to the side causing the horse to walk a circle instead of doing a turn on the hindquarters.

During the lesson, I tell the guy to bring his hand in close to his hip, about the same height as his belt loops. I explain to him that using his hand at this angle will bring the horse back on his hocks.

Then, I demonstrate the proper hand movement 3 or 4 times so the guy can see it. I then tell him to repeat the maneuver and do it correctly. And what does he do? He does it wrong again!

In fact, he uses his hand exactly the same way he did before. And it’s not because he isn’t trying.

Is this guy an idiot? Is he a physical retard? No. The guy is perfectly normal. And his reaction to my instruction is the same reaction that 85% of the people have.

So why do people react this way? Why couldn’t this guy use his hand the way I showed him?

The answer is “MUSCLE MEMORY”.

We get in the HABIT of using our arms and legs a certain way. And this "way of moving" is etched into our brain like a deep neurological rut. It can be very difficult to overcome.

So how do you overcome it? Well, there are several different ways. In the case of the guy that was taking the lesson, I had to physically take him by the arm and move it for him.

I literally guided his hand forward and back causing it to go the way it needed to go in order to turn the horse correctly. He practiced moving his hand this way for about three minutes (just sitting on his horse).

I then asked him to try the maneuver again. He picked up the reins and turned his horse over the hock beautifully. A new neurological rut, though shallow, had been etched.

The most practical way to overcome undesirable muscle memory, is to have a friend video tape you riding your horse. Study the video closely and see if you’re using your hands, legs and body correctly.

If you aren’t doing it right, sit on your horse, concentrate and go through the motions correctly. Do this over and over until you get the feel of it. Then pick up the reins and try it for real.

After you've practiced, have your friend video you again. There is something about seeing yourself making the mistakes that helps your mind make the corrections. If you'll actually do this, in a short time you’ll be doing it perfectly.

Some common muscle memory problems.

Let me give you a few real-life examples of undesirable muscle memory…

Here is the #1 problem I see non pros make when trying to school their horse…

They ride with too long of a rein.

They have their reins so long that when they need to make contact with the horse's mouth, they can't. They end up bending their wrist and contorting their arm trying to get it done.

Of course when they use their hands like this, they won't have any luck stopping or turning a horse on his hocks. They won't have any luck with collection either.

They need to ride carrying their hands out in front of the swells of the saddle. The reins need to be short enough so that when they move their elbows back, they can easily make contact with the horse's mouth.

Pay attention to how professional trainers use their hands. They ALL ride carrying their hands way out in front of the saddle. They do this for a very good reason.

When they stop or turn a horse, they do not bend their wrists. They do not contort their arm and bring it behind their body…

Trainers simply move their elbows back!

Please read the above sentence again. It's a major key.

Here is another common problem…

No matter what purpose you use your horse for, the most important thing a horse can do is a good, strong stop on the hindquarters.

However, you can take the best trained stopping horse in the world and put the average amateur on his back and that horse won't stop worth a damn.

Why? Because the average rider doesn't ride the stop correctly.

You see, to get a good stop, its imperative that the rider sits relaxed in the saddle. He needs to sit on his jean pockets with his lower back rounded and shoulders relaxed. His legs need to be relaxed too.

The average rider does just the opposite. He is stiff. His back is arched and rigid. He sits on his thighs instead of the cheeks of his butt. His shoulders are tight and his legs are usually stiff too. Ride like this and no horse will stop right.

Now, even if the rider is aware of all this…

Even if he is instructed to sit the stop correctly, what do you think his chances are that he can change and do everything right within a few lessons? I'll tell you… slim to none. Why? Because muscle memory will override his efforts.

Here is another example…

When it comes to undesirable muscle memory, cutting horse riders suffer the most. The big moves, speed and quickness of the cutting horse makes it difficult for the rider to change bad riding habits. Everything is happening so fast.

If a person sits stiff on a cutting horse, all kinds of bad things happen. When the horse stops hard with the cow, the rider loses his balance, falls forward and accidentally spurs the horse in the flanks. Of course, this ruins the horse's stop.

If the rider is stiff when the horse is turning with the cow, it really messes up the turn and causes the horse to make a multitude of mistakes. Including ruining the horse's form, style and eye appeal.

Too many rides like this will cause even the best horses to come untrained.

Unfortunately, time doesn't fix this problem. The rider is in the HABIT of riding that way. His muscles are actually conditioned to tighten up when the action starts.

Unless he makes a concentrated effort to change, he'll ride like this always. For years and years.

Okay, now you understand the problem.
Let's talk about a solution.

You know, we all learn differently. And what works well for one person, may not work for another.

So, I'm going to tell you how I resolve my problems with muscle memory and you can modify it to better suit your needs.

First, I ANALYZE the situation and try to figure out what is causing the problem.

I become AWARE of how I'm riding and using my body. I try to FEEL how I'm riding. (Some will need to see a video of themselves)

If I find that I'm using my body in a way that is a problem, I CONCENTRATE on CHANGING how I use my body, changing my muscle memory.

I would practice to fix these problems but I'd concentrate on fixing only ONE problem at a time.

You see, are minds can only think about one thing at a time. Its impossible to concentrate on more than one. Try thinking about two things at the same time. You can't do it.

I would work on fixing the first problem until doing it correctly became a habit. Once it becomes a habit, I won't have to think about it anymore. It'll become an automatic response.

Then I'd move on the the next problem.

Let's continue with the example about "riding the stop" that I talked about earlier.

I would ask the horse to stop several times and I would pay very close attention to what my body is doing during those stops.

Let's say I found that I was arching my back and that my back muscles were tight. And, I discovered that I was sitting on my thighs instead of the cheeks of my butt and my legs were stiff too.

First thing I'd do is just sit on the horse while he's standing still and try to assume the correct posture for the stop. I would concentrate mostly on relaxing and rounding my lower back and sitting on my butt.

The idea is to just sit there completely relaxed and MELT down into the saddle. Let all your weight shift onto the cheeks of your butt. The feeling is one of sinking down into the saddle, kind of like a sack of potatoes.

Once I have it at the stand still, I would ask the horse to stop from just a walk. I would stop from the walk until I could do it and keep my back relaxed every single time. It may take 30 or 40 stops over several days before I can do it consistently.

Once I have mastered my body while stopping from the walk, I would work on the stop from a trot. Again, I would work on it until I had it down cold. Because you already mastered it at the walk, it won't take nearly as long to master it at the trot.

Next, practice keeping your back relaxed when stopping from the lope. If at any time you find yourself stiffening up during the stop, go back and practice at a slower speed.

Once you have completely mastered keeping your back relaxed during the stop and it has become a habit, you can next work on getting your legs to relax during the stop. Just follow the same procedure you used to get your back to relax.

I know this sounds like a long, drawn out process but in reality it really won't take more than a few weeks to master. And once you have mastered it, you'll seldom have to think of it again, as it will then be part of your NEW muscle memory.

Let's move on and try to help the cutting horse rider.

Here's the procedure I use to get my non pro riders to sit relaxed and in balance on a cutting horse. It works like a charm. Unfortunately though, few riders have the dedication to stick with it. In time, they fall right back into their old riding habits.

I tell my cutters to make sure their muscles are relaxed and loose before they ride into the herd. If they are not, I'll have them shake their shoulders back and forth and wiggle their fingers and toes until their body is totally relaxed.

The terminology I use to describe this exercise is, "shake yourself loose".

I then have them ride into the herd and cut a cow. Anytime during the run, if they start to tighten up, I have them immediately stop and "shake themselves loose". Once they are relaxed again, I have them continue working the cow.

This stopping and relaxing the muscles every time the rider stiffens up, is crucial. Even if the rider needs to stop every 10 seconds, that is what he should do. We are trying to train the rider's muscles to stay relaxed… under all circumstances.

It's impossible to build the habit of relaxation if the rider continues to work the cow while his muscles are stiff and tight.

At first, the stopping to "shake yourself loose" will be frequent. But in a matter of a few weeks the rider will have muscle memory conquered and will find the need to stop and "shake himself loose" happening less and less.

Eventually, riding a cutting horse doing the most violent moves will be easy for the rider because his body is trained to stay relaxed. And staying relaxed is the key to maintaining good balance and timing.

In closing, I'd like to leave you with this thought:

Learning to ride and use your body correctly is MORE IMPORTANT than the methods used to train the horse.

In any instances, just riding the horse correctly is enough to get the horse to perform correctly.

If you would like to learn more about muscle memory and how to ride your horse more correctly, check out the bonus video, The Essence of Horse Training.

I hope this information helps you. Let me know if you found it valuable.

Well, this wraps it up for this newsletter. I hope you liked it.

Until next time, have fun training your horse.

Larry Trocha
www.HorseTrainingVideos.com