Читать книгу Finding the Missed Path. The Art of Restarting Horses онлайн

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Rusty responded well to the bodywork, which we did with him about once a week, and which we were coupling with some light ridden work (figs. 2.1 A & B). My primary goal while riding him, even though it was clear he had dental issues, was to try to help him relax his jaw a little and feel a little less defensive about the bit. We stayed primarily in the walk and anytime I picked up a rein I would do so as softly as I could, then just wait for him to respond and relax before the release would come. While a difficult concept for him to understand at first, he was not only able to pick up on the idea fairly quickly, but seemed to welcome it once he understood.

2.1 A & B — Having been trained in the Masterson Method of equine bodywork, one of the first things we do with a new horse is check for any physical issues. In photo A, I begin the Masterson Method by checking the horse’s bladder meridian that runs from just above the horse’s eye along the topline, down the hind leg, ending at the horse’s coronary band. A horse that holds tension usually lets us know by blinking when we reach a spot in the meridian where he is holding tension. By simply waiting at the spot where the horse blinked, you can encourage him to start letting go of the tension. It’s much easier for a muscle to stretch when it is in a relaxed state.