If you want to be a great rider, let go your ego!

       PLEASE: Not meant to be a rant, rather in response to a recent (and seemingly recurrent) experience; a new rider who claimed 1.20m show experience, came to ride, yet failed to do simple canter departs and had some basic issues on my former Grand Prix level "school master" and so I limited the lesson to flat work, focusing on position and aids. Some days later, the student called me and ranted on that they expected a "jumping lesson" and felt I had insulted, in some manner by working on such "basic"work, insinuating a "beginner" and had expected to "Jump Big". I explained my thoughts as carefully as I could and yet don't expect to see a return.

 I am often perplexed by the enormous variety of expectations I encounter as an educator of riders or "horse enthusiasts".  What I have had a hard time accepting and perhaps that's been my own obstacle is the fact that "EGO" plays such a huge role in the process. This single thing has caused me much consternation. A perfectly able student is suddenly up in arms or retreats away from a simple correction, one that they may have known and dismissed or just didn't ever realize, perhaps another teacher missed or dismissed the importance of a BASIC riding error, but upon my illumination it's slanderous.

        I am not perfect nor do I consider myself the very best as I look up to so many other riders, but I believe I have after five (5) decades of horsemanship, enough solid experience, knowledge and ability above the average. Without fear of contradiction, throughout my life I have studied hard the smallest of idiosyncrasies of any job or sport I have undertaken in order to do it to my best ability limited only by time or money or previous obligation. I write now about Equestrianism, something I have devoted the majority of a life to. 

 To support my indulgence, here is a short list of accomplishments: I have in my life in order to make a living and for my own interests, became certified as a USHJA trainer, I also certified in piloting light aircraft, as a commercial driver, scuba diving,  I played soccer through high school to intercollegiate competition, I studied multiple forms of martial arts, earning my belts and even teaching for a short stint, I rock climbed (free solo) crazy cliffs and mountains,  I learned to do freestyle downhill skiing, became certified in advanced lifesaving.  I have over several years now, thanks to my love, Pam (100 ton Master Mariner licensed captain), learned to crew and be helmsman under sail an 18 ton, 51' ketch rigged yacht, even in 40+ knot winds in rough water, I may even sit for a Captain license.   What does this all lead up to? What does it mean to horsemanship? Riding?

Training with Susan Hutchinson

       In order to achieve any competencies in the above; I had    to drop the"EGO", I had to be the "STUDENT"every time I was training. To this day, I hold the desire to learn, to absorb any and all the information I can, by watching, reading and actually doing well, whatever it is I set myself upon or am taught by someone above my ability or knowledge!  I am so surprised that in the business of horses how many "EXPERTS" I am presented with. It is the most frustration I think I have encountered, when trying my best to pass along the information I learned,  my many countless hours, years of studying, my mistakes (YES) and by my MANY successful efforts, just to be confronted by an eruption of an EGO. Stopped cold in my efforts to share, because another is suddenly an emotional puddle or worse a belligerent, stuck in the mire of their vanity.

Rich Fellers and Flexible

       I love conversing and learning from George Morris because he is a realist, just like my good friend and mentor Col. Julian McFadden was, like my friend and teacher pictured (left) Rich Fellers is, like Susan Hutchinson (above) is, like my Mother and many other great people I have learned from are..... They were the students with the white heat of desire to learn, they achieved so much and they have become my teachers, they passed along VITAL information and you bet, I grab on to as much as I can! THAT, is my foundation, that is now my knowledge I teach from. Yes, we all need to make a living,  but why do so many teachers (trainers) become so very complacent? To be a mediocre teacher spreads mediocrity to the student. I will not, I must hold my students to a standard, that desire to learn must be ever present and to learn you must put your "EGO" aside in my program.  

      SO, "everyone" has an (ego) right?And the best way to serve it healthily, is to better yourself, honestly. To put forth your best effort and wherever you reach a new threshold, you have that to be proud of! Your self image, can be a result of your open minded, harvested education! In my belief, until I pass on from this world, unless I am incapacitated from understanding, I will always be learning and then teaching. If you allow your pride alone to rule your action,  chances are you will suffer the indignation of your "EGO" stopping or at least hindering your life's ambition. 

We all struggle, even the wealthy, the gifted, someone, everyone alive always has a problem. But we have choices.....

Don't pass it onto the horse, we have the EGO, they have the HEART and those in my opinion are often diametrically opposed by many. I am very proud of my accomplishments and I will be damned if I let my ego ever stop me from learning something new, even about myself (which can be the hardest lesson) and then suffering a student or horse by ignorance or closed mind.

Knowledge never ends....... so ride on!

Clayton  Jackson

Time for a good start     By Clay Jackson

(This is a rewrite of an article I formerly published in California "Riding"magazine)  

     This is the time of year that many people are thinking about starting their young horses with the hopes of a show career…. Spring has sprung and summer is coming, it’s drying up outside soon and the season brings out the desire to compete or just plain ride the countryside!

You might have a young horse you bred standing in the paddock, pasture or like some, you’ve picked up a prospect from a breeder or an off the track or OTTB as they are commonly known, like the one in this picture to the left who ran several times before a change in careers. If you have not been down this road before I strongly suggest working with an experienced trainer or breeder who has; as this is one of the most crucial points in your horses life, the point where it learns to trust your direction and whose relationship with humans can be made wonderful over a lifetime or severely compromised in a matter of minutes.

    That may sound a bit dramatized, but it is the reality of training horses, we either make them good or bad and that is mostly by experience or ignorance, so if you chose to go down this path, pay attention to details, pay attention to everything, especially yourself;  Why, you may ask?…. Because, lack of self-discipline or one’s ability to control the process,  is often the resulting factor in turning your training program from a well-meaning attempt into a mess and this is more common than most understand.

      I have over the past 45 or so years worked with hundreds of horses, from young weanlings on my parent's active Quarter horse ranch to a large scale Thoroughbred breeding farm, as a trainer for those young horses bursting with energy and a bright eye on the new world, eventually to re-schooling seasoned show veterans whom have been made difficult to handle or have shut down and want nothing more to do with any work.  I have witnessed riders in 1.20m jumping classes on young horses who surprisingly, barely know the basics and are getting around on the horses shear natural ability rather than proper training and conditioning of both partners to seeing riders on the trail taking ridiculous chances, lacking the skills and sustaining injuries.

     So the first principle I highlight is “time”. It is one of the most valuable assets available to you. Do not waste it nor rush it when it comes to training a horse. When I mentioned earlier "self- discipline" as one of the hardest for many to even conceive of as a factor. Let me say, if more people used self- discipline many horses would be saved the experience of pain, frustration and FEAR! This holds true as well to anyone who works with horses, from handlers, farriers, and veterinarians, any and all being professionals, should already know this.

    Put yourself in the horse’s shoes, would you want to be rushed into doing something you don’t understand? How about packing your own parachute and getting ready to jump out of a plane? I had to pack my own parachute when I was 17 yrs old and I darn sure wanted to understand completely what I was doing, before I jumped from that plane and plummeted towards earth from 3500ft., that may seem like overkill in comparison, but hitting the ground with 1000 lbs. of horse landing on top of you will yield some nasty results. So your safety and the horse’s (sanity) need to be paramount. Take your time, give your horse a chance to learn, and give yourself a chance too! When you methodically, slowly progress in a training program there is much less chance you will miss something.  I train horses and coach riders continually and (often) find in every new horse or person I work with a missing step, one that has been overlooked in some very basic part which is inhibiting the progression forward. Being in a hurry to JUMP, being in a hurry to get COLLECTION, being in a hurry to just to go FAST….. These often lead to ultimate failure.

    Timing is one of your best learned tools, being quick to see a problem and perceptive enough to move a horse along when they are ready or to wait will produce much better results, often lasting a lifetime. My concern has always been seeing so many good horses quickly pushed to competition, burned out by the pressure of it and then disposed of like an unwanted dessert. The idea is all sugar coated and looks like something easy and desirable, but even some professional trainers can spoil a horse and often many young horses start down the path of ruin, not by the hand of an abuser but by the hand of ignorance. The worst is the person who accepts this as a way of cycling through horses till they find a rare one that can take whatever the person is dishing out and still perform.

"Metro" a re-schooled Holsteiner, who
I brought back from the brink of ruin, he sold
and moved to Canada with new owners,
now happy with his life again in 3-day.

     I always caution new horse owners to check out the trainers they choose, make sure they have a strong background of working with young horses, there are far too many who assume since they are good show riders or riding instructors, they must be good horse trainers….when they can’t get the job done they advise the owners to sell or dispose of the horse and buy a “trained” horse…. Thus making their job easier and the horse ends up with a trainer like me.  I can’t stress enough this is wholly unnecessary in most cases and if you take the time the reward of patiently training your horse will never be forgotten and you would be contributing to our sport a well-balanced and happy performer. 

    

     As an example I was asked to work with a young mare, which had been bred impeccably for her destined career, but had shown difficulty in training and after being with several different trainers, the last gave the owners advice to “put her down”.  When I met the mare she stood facing the back corner of the stall and would not engage with anyone. Within one month of patient work, I had gained her trust and we began to work successfully together.

"Darcy" in her early canter work. Love this horse!

I finished after a time with her and sent her back home.  Nearly a year later I happened to run in to the owners at a local show who exuberantly came up and gave me a hug! They told me the mare was training beautifully and was very happy, the “Belle” of the barn, to my astonishment they said the current trainer thinks she will make Prix St. George…. I couldn’t have won any more of a prize; no blue ribbon replaces the feeling of training a horse to fruition.

      

I love training Hunters, Jumpers and Equitation horses but actually all horses and along with that, my background from working with so many young horses early in my life has helped me to understand and develop horses in the basics from day one to walking through the "in gate" at an "A" rated competition. No matter what discipline or use is intended it all starts with the basics and what I have learned is; it is a lot easier and rewarding to take your time, be educated in your decisions, read, watch others, go to clinics and ALWAYS pay attention to different methods and the results, in the end; your horse will tell you if you got it right!  Ride on!   

I currently train out of Santa Rosa, California and travel to teach clinics regionaly, you can reach me at:  www.jacksonshowjumpers.com

Schooling Liverpools

Young horse training; Liverpool

Introducing the Liverpool and natural elements to a young horse is something I like to do after I have had good success with basic training i.e. Flat work with laterals, and jumping simple gymnastics and short courses confidently at low levels (2’9”-3’). When I have established a confident and willing relationship with my young horse I will start testing them with new obstacles, I like to start out with a solid object like a wall or small roll top, spooky shapes and ultimately I bring them to the Liverpool.          

  I have had great success working with young horses on the Liverpool, even though they are definably challenged and some don’t take to it at first, the trust I established early on, allow them to explore and ultimately conquer their fears! If I don’t have the option of a small, shallow dry ditch to start on I will use a freestanding Liverpool which is movable and useful later to create new course arrangements. You could build a permanent one and I actually have plans for one in my next outdoor course, now under construction; but it isn’t needed and is far more involved.

I start out with a preformed pool, and dry at first, folding it in half, about 2’ wide and the average width of 12’(a blue tarp that is secured on all sides can simulate this also), by folding it in half it is much less intimidating, using a low 12” height in an “X” arrangement of poles in front of the folded tarp with a ground line and expect that my young horse with some leg support, will jump it the first few times with a little extra height! I don’t ever rush training, but prefer that the horses let me know that they are consistently improving before adding to the game.

I am always very careful to not catch the horse in the mouth, no matter how ugly the jump gets as it a sure way to ruin the whole school and render him with some fear. After I have taken my horse over it enough times that I have it relaxing, I will unfold the Liverpool to a full width usually (4’) and continue to school till my horse isn’t concerned too much. Next I will continue to move it higher, keeping the horse centered and when it’s a consistent even jump I will build a vertical in front and school the horse over several sessions to gain confidence. Each change is going to challenge the average horse; I may at this point remove the poles and jump it like an open water jump, each time it’s a learning curve.

Coaching my student over the "spooky" liverpool

When it’s time to introduce actual water in the liverpool it takes on a new look and believe me, almost all of my horses will approach with confidence and about the last stride will bury their head between the knees and “have a cow” as they say, jumping with a little more “snap”, adding substantial lift off the ground, yea haw!

I would suggest an X as before and then working to a single pole in the middle of the actual water element as it gives the horse a little perspective (before) you jump it as open water.

 I have had great success after a few goes and I believe they like the excitement; horses hate to be bored, so I change it up a bit and introduce new schooling to them often enough to keep it interesting, but never overdo any jumping or schooling movement with a young horse, that can undo everything I worked so hard for and twice as hard to re-school then to keep it right! Just get it done and move on to something easy; later I bring them back to it and incorporate the Liverpool into my short course work. It’s so easy to address it early on, why be in show and suddenly realize it’s in the course plan and having never been schooled, face elimination. Do the homework! Even though I mostly concentrate on showjumping’s technical aspects, I am not surprised to see horses face a Liverpool or other natural obstacle in the equitation ring and with the popularity of the hunter derby, horses must be keen and versatile to any number of fence types. I have more than a few of horses I have worked with, having gained their confidence in my program and are now out in the Gran Prix and Equitation rings; that is a huge reward to me as a horse trainer.

All my young horses hit the trails and also experience many types of obstacles as I believe that a horse needs to have many experiences and challenges to build confidence. I believe constant schooling in the ring can ultimately be inhibiting or even devastating to a young horse’s development.   I keep it fun, for my horses and they are always eager to explore!

  Clay Jackson - March 2016