 ‘Cause
She’s Got Personality.
What if I
told you that the key to training your horse
successfully relied solely on personality? According to
Yvonne Barteau, unlocking that personality door will
create an environment in which horses can learn in a
realm that is compatible with their inherent nature. Of
course, training requires teamwork and Ride the Right
Horse gives you the tools to look hard into that
mirror to define just what type of personality you bring
to the equation.
I recommend
this book for every type of rider. Although Yvonne
Barteau is a FEI level rider, instructor and trainer as
well as an USDF Bronze, Silver and Gold medalist, her
words of wisdom will ring true for all disciplines and
levels of riding, whether you are a weekend warrior or
an aspiring Olympian.
In the
first few chapters, we learn about the four, core, horse
personality types: Social, Aloof, Fearful and
Challenging. Case studies are helpful in illustrating
each level and type of personality. For example, because
the Social horse may have a shorter attention span, he’s
often a quick learner that enjoys a varied training
regime. The Aloof horse is characterized as a hard
worker that enjoys a steady routine. With those traits
in mind, the reader learns valuable training techniques
on weaning and starting the young horse that exemplify
what works best for each trait.
Ride
the Right Horse gives readers the opportunity to
evaluate and assign a personality type to themselves as
well as their horse. There are bound to be some “aha!”
moments that might even be gasped out loud!
While the
information may sometimes seem repetitive, Ride the
Right Horse makes a great reference book. Each chapter
is neatly summarized and indexing is a breeze. It
certainly offers a unique approach to recognizing
behaviors. Who knows, after reading this book, you might
find yourself meeting your horse for the very first
time! |
