Taking the easy road..............

Question

Why is it that when people post questions about training , like collection, slowing gaits, which bit to use, ect That when it comes down to solutions most opt for they easy way......I have seen and written extensive answers on proper training like ground work, bitting,long lining, ground driving and hard work to get real, consistent, life-time results and people choose short-cuts. I wonder the motive for choosing some of these "best answers" Why do some shy away from hard work and just try moving to a harsher bits instead of going back to basics?

Answer 1

Same reason students read 'cliff notes' instead of the novels, books, or plays.

Pure laziness...hoping to get A+ results with no actual work.

I answered this without seeing other answers...so, this is my own opinion...now I'll go look.

Answer 2

I think a lot of the problem is lack of knowledge...they don't understand what you are talking about.  I mean, if they did, would they really be asking on Y!A?  I think people pick up terms and ideas from other questions, get half the idea, and then think they can do it all on their own.  I don't think the kids realize that half of us on here have 20+ years experience, that we didn't learn things overnight.

My personal favorite was the question the other day about how you cue for all the dressage moves...I just can't explain that via internet.  That is something to ask a trainer.  But people want it to be simple, they want it to be something you can spit out in a few sentences.  They don't want to hear that it may take them years in formal training to do those moves correctly.

I think we are in such an age of technology and instant gratification that people think they can get an immediate, simple answer from the computer, as though the computer is some magical thing that will solve their problems.

My horse is missing the bottom half of one of his legs.  What should I do?  Hmm, I think I'll go look on the computer, it's better than dealing with a vet, plus it's quicker and cheaper.  Genius.

Answer 3

E, I know we've talked about this a bit one on one and I'm SO glad you posted this question.

I've often wondered the same thing myself, but all I can own it up to is laziness and the lack of initiative to actually work to make it to the top. In this new day and age, more than ever, people want everything to come to them without having to do a d**n thing to get it. They want things handed to them on a silver platter. Changing bits is soooo much easier than taking time to go back to basics and fix the real problem.

Problems cannot be fixed by bigger bits only masked. Sooner or later that same problem will rise its ugly head again if the REAL reason it's happening isn't addressed. And then what? For these slackers, it's moving to an even harsher bit. They just don't want to put any effort until the situation gets so out of hand, sometimes even dangerous that they HAVE to face the problem... But even then, the solution is to get rid of the horse and claim he's bad or dangerous. Horses that are bad or dangerous rarely start out that way.

Ahhh I'm ranting...LOL... Anyway, my point of view is both that people are just plain lazy as well as the simple fact that people want to hear what they want to hear. If all they want to hear from you is the bit they should use, when you tell them to go back to basics instead of switching bits it goes in one ear and out the other.

I really have TONS to say on this topic, but If i make my answer too long nobody will get through reading it...LOL

Btw....HI EQQUUS! And ALL!! :-)

Answer 4

Good gracious, yes! I hear and feel your frustration. It is just pure inexperience and a gross lack of knowledge in the fundamentals and foundation of communication and control and it irks me to no end when so many people here demonstrate their ignorance and inexperience by relating their control problems to the bit only and seem incapable of understanding that the bit is barely 1/3 of the fundamental communication and control aids. And fact is, in barrel racing for example, knowledgeable, skilled, and experienced riders can very easily control and teach the horse to run the barrel pattern without a bit and brideless, understanding that a full 2/3s of communication and control, the main communication and control aids, is the seat and legs and that a properly trained horse will listen to the seat and legs before it listens to the hand and bit. So, yes! I hear your frustration with people who "shy away from hard work and just try moving to harsher bits instead of going back to basics." And here is an example of what basics and hard work can produce... Bridleless Barrels:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MEzhRVNc...

Answer 5

Bravo for posting "taking the easy road"..I've noticed the very same thing and am now less inclined to post an answer....you also might consider that many don't have the time in the saddle that you do and may just not understand what you are saying and are too "lazy" to engage the brain and look some things up on their own.  Who KNOWS for best answer...you can nail all points on the question to your answer; and cross all your t's and dot your i's and you'll get blown off like dried out manure...go figure.  I'll be glad when troll season is over...school...actually it should be hunting season, don't you think?  Give 'em a paltry head start to make a run for the border.  LOL

Edit:  Thanks......!

Answer 6

anymore i just ignore those questions.i was trained to use a progression of bits in order to train a horse and some training to a finished bit can take years,i don't use shortcuts,it doesn't pay to take a shortcut if you want a soft mouthed horse.everything in training takes time and patience and if you dont have either,you have no reason to be training a horse.i have said over and over on here that bits arent something you throw into a horses mouth to correct a problem,a horse has to be trained to use that bit.the problem isnt the bit but the one on the other side of the reins.

Answer 7

Your my freaking hero!!!!!!!! I work in an office during the day to pay for my horse LOL! Anyway, I read all these questions about training and wonder why people dont put some elbow grease into their horses and work hard, go back to the basics and work from there. People who resort to  side reins, harsh bits, long lining, martingales, I am not a fan infact I refuse to use any of those things. If it takes me 3 extra days, weeks, months to get the horse where I would like them to be the hard way, then so freaking be it. WHy rush and do things *** backwards? I agree with you! Amen to a brain on here!

Answer 8

cause they are lazy

Answer 9

Because they need an instant result. Maybe they don't have the facilities - arena, round pen or whatever that the best method would involve and need to be able to make a difference straight away so that they can go out onto the trails or whatever without risking their necks.

They would probably love to have the opportunity to take their horse back to square one but unfortunately not everyone can do this. Some of us cope with a field and a run in shed and consider ourselves lucky.

I would bet money that a lot of people opt for the quick fix but try to incorporate the long term solution as well so don't give up with the highly detailed answers but don't take it personally when the best answer goes to the one who says " shove a Pelham and a standing martingale on it."

Also, don't forget that a lot of questions don't actually get Best Answer chosen by the asker - it goes into voting in which case any one ( even those who say IDK can go and vote their answer as best ( and ask all their mates to do it for them too)

Answer 10

Let me first start by saying, I appreciate your question.

I have found myself less and less inclined to log on to the horse section in Y/A due to the volume of tiresome question, troll drama and overall lack of mental stimulation. (end rant).

To answer your question, the American Rider (sorry, but true) has a fast and impatient mentality as a whole. Take the 90 day broke to ride special as an example. It is simply not possible to give a horse a good education fast.

The way I was taught back in the Jurassic era, was communication between horse and rider starts on the ground. You don't proceed until your student understands the ground basics first and only then do you proceed to mounted work.Ground basic include bitting, long lining, lunging, ground driving. If your student slips up, you go back to basics. This takes time and patience.

I was also taught that a good rider rides with their mind first, their seat second and their hands third.

The most significant trainer I worked with was Lillian Roye, she was a Danish Dressage Champion and old as dirt when she worked with me as a teenager in the 1970's. She was the first women trainer to train high school and liberty horses for Barnum and Bailey circus in the 1940's. She told me it was impossible for women to make a living training horses in her day (the 30's & 40's) and this type of training position was virtually unheard of before she broke through.

Through her I learned how a young horse develops mentally and physically and why waiting later to start mounted work results in a horse that will stay sound longer later in their life. She rarely started mounted work with a horse before the age of 4. Who does that now?

A well trained horse requires experience, time, patience and education. It is sad to say that the proper training process necessary for a truly broke horse is side passed (pardon the pun) in todays equine industry.

My feelings on this is because  many horses are expected to join the "work force" at as young as 2 in some cases and many (not all) trainers in an effort of make a living simply don't have the time to devote to the full investment.

Answer 11

Thanks for you question.  I have always wondered myself.  After all going back to bascis is the solution to lots of problems people are creating for themselves with their horses.

If they would spend the time, it would pay off in a long run instead of all these "quick fixes"  LOL

Answer 12

There are a lot of different ways to do things. It doesn't mean your answer was wrong, but another answer may have been easier to do, or your answer seemed too complicated. Maybe they didn't want to read a long answer. As for shortcuts its like comparing trainers John Lyons and Clinton Anderson. I like both of their methods. I think John Lyons's methods involve a lot more time to reach your goal than Clinton Anderson's. Neither are wrong, but I don't have the time to spend to use John Lyons training methods. Clinton Anderson's ways get me there faster. I have gotten a lot of good things form John Lyons and other trainers, but Clinton Anderson's methods work better for me most of the time. So don't get discouraged not everybody is going to like your answer just like only 16 percent of all my answers only get picked as best answer.

Answer 13

because people are slack, lazy and ultimately in it for the quick fix...stupid expletives

EDIT

Lol E it's either you or Paris Hilton

Answer 14

Haha, I feel your pain. I spend hours answering people's questions, and only twice have I been chosen a best answer. :-( I think some people just don't like reading long answers. Sux for them, they're missing out on some great advice.

Answer 15

because it's easier not to take the hard way and put work into it?

but you know, anything worth having/doing is hard work, they just havent learned that yet.  what i cant understand is why dont they go to a trainer and get help in real life from someone who knows what they're doing and can show them step by step how to fix/correct the training problem? wouldnt that be easier then trying to take a print out of the "best answer" to the barn and doing it yourself. . . i guess i'm old fashion or something but for all my training/serious questions i STILL go to my first trainer and ask her EVERYTHING  . . . hmm she must find me so annoying by now (16 years later...omg it's been that long already? isnt that like common law marrage or something? JKJKJKJK)

edit: had to change the 18 to 16, thank god i'm not that OLD yet(yeah i feel that old tho)

Answer 16

Love your question and the responses.  To add to all the excellent answers - People do tend to over-estimate their own abilities, this often shows up when they buy a horse that is too much for them.  So, they look for a quick fix, so they can "save face" and go on their merry way.  If they were to read your in depth answers and attempt to apply your suggestions they would actually have to learn to ride.  Novel concept.  We have been in the professional training business for 30+ years, our parents were breeders before that...amazing who can call themselves a "trainer".  Show a few horses as a junior rider.  Gallop some youngsters for an established trainer and BINGO - hang your sign up!  No one learns by "paying their dues" anymore. They just become clinic junkies.  Marketing geniuses.

Anyway -  people just don't understand what it really takes to properly train a horse, and it isn't done in 90 days, sorry!

Hope some of the people who need to read these are listening!!!

Answer 17

Eqquus for President!!!!!  It takes energy to type out all that information only to have it tossed into the proverbial waste can!  Is this about developing horsemanship, or just entertainment for the time being?

Eqquus....Laugh??? What makes you think I was kidding?????? Somebody's got to save us all !!!!

Answer 18

Most people want a quick answer because people have become overly concerned with what results can be achieved with the least amount of time, work and effort.

Answer 19

Well that is because there are many many many people out there that have no concept of how to really train a horse. That an absolutely no work ethic. I feel your pain. With all the good reasonable, thought out, responsible, helpful, answers that get posted and not picked take comfort at least, those people don't want real help, they just want to feel better.