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Mark Rashid, author of "Considering the Horse" and "A Good Horse is Never a Bad Color" talks about looking for and rewarding the simplest of tries from the horse. This includes getting the initial attention from the horse. Don't look for perfection. Does your horse run around you willy nilly never giving you a glance? No rewards for that fellow however, as you ask for attention with a particular cue he might turn an ear towards you. Success! You've succeded in getting his attention. Let him know he did the correct thing. Then send him off and try again. Next time you might get both ears listening for you. The next time after that the horse may turn his head and give you an eye and then the next, both eyes. Bingo! That's what you're looking for. Both eyes and both ears on you. Now you know you've got your horse's entire attention and some deeper communication can begin. Take some time and learn where to position your body with respect to the horse's position in order to direct his feet and movement. Learn when the crucial moment is to step back a step to take some of the pressure off the horse. As you study horses in a herd, try to think about how you can eumulate the horse's language. Don't be afraid to try it all out with your own horse. You'll be surprised when you get your horse's attention almost immediately when you start "speaking" his language. It's pretty incredible as the language pieces all begin to fall into place and you realize your horse is understanding exactly what you are asking of him. Remember, also, that the leadership and partnership you set up by working with your horse on the ground will carry over into the saddle. Most likely you'll find a horse with a new attitude!
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