3."The course was fantastic and a real eye opener on how you can achieve good results in a very short period of time.From a BHS instructor point of view and teaching in a very commercial yard I found the calm, quite approach was fantastic.  I am constantly running around the yard looking at the clock and working to very strict time lines.The course taught me that in reality the horses and ponies do not have my time schedule and when we demand them to perform at a certain time and for a set period of time this is rather unfair on them.  If I take anything from the 3 days is that if you respect the animals and give then the time and respect they deserve you will get far better results.I don't know how many times I have pulled a horse along the yard instead of asking him to walk calmly as we are running late.  It made me think of how hectic we are around the horses and no doubt we add unnecessary stress on their day and don't stop to think on how they are reacting to us.For example picking up feet - do we really give them enough time to re balance themselves before trying to lift the foot.  Probably not we just think they are being awkward and not willing to lift the foot.Do we appreciate how much pressure we put on the horses by the questions we ask and do they really understand?  I think we are too quick to tap with the stick or put more leg pressure on when riding appose to thinking about what we have just asked the horse to do - did they understand?  Probably not so why should we expect perfect movements when we have asked the wrong question.Regarding the first handling of a new foal.  After the course I believe everyone should adopt similar methods to Vanessa and Dru as it clearly showed it worked.  The first imprint you make will clearly stay with the pony for life and if this is a good one we can only have well mannered and well schooled riding ponies.

We have on our yard a number of both horses and ponies that will not load.  What we do is then try and force them in instead of asking and being patient and normally all because we load at the last minute before the show and don't spend time before hand trying to load and unload in a calm manner on a day that we have no where to go.

To summarise I think that if we were to approach situations calmly and in a timely manner the end results would be far greater.  Introduce new things and situations to our horses in a controlled environment so if we need to let go they are in a safe place.  Be patient at all times.  Re asses what you are asking and find another way if the one you have does not work.

Be very careful when you praise as sometime when horses spook we pat them and they then get the message this is good behaviour then get confused when they do it again and we give them a telling off.

Be constant with your behaviour as a reward one day for example giving a treat on your hand the next day you may use that same hand to push them back do they really understand.?

The course has made myself ask allot of questions about my horsemanship and riding skills that I need to keep reviewing on a daily basis as I as a riding instructor need to give the right answers and impression to my younger riders and clients as if they think I can do it so can they.  As they say lead by example. 

As far as the course itself it would be good to have the next stage for older ponies, how to break to saddle etc as not only is the basic excellent and needs to be taught to all horsey people as the next stage is just as important." Gillian