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 JP Giacomini, from the Equus Academy site
Jean Philippe (JP) Giacomini is an internationally recognized teacher, training, author and coach. His latest project is Equus Academy, an educational subscription website dedicated to teaching the classic principles of horsemanship.
Among his many training accomplishments, JP is also an innovator. He developed a method for cultivating improved relaxation and movement through a percussive massage technique called “Endotapping”.
I experimented a bit, about 10 years ago, with JPs endotapping technique. At the time I found it “interesting” but put it on a back burner for lack of real certainty about what to do with [more...]
Anybody remember the old Dressage & CT magazine? It’s been defunct for years–a fact that is very unfortunate. It was a magazine that marched to its own drummer and included articles about such controversial topics as French lightness and how to train the Spanish Walk. I miss that magazine, I learned so much from it.
Making a good effort to fill the gap in support of classical dressage is an online magazine called “Horses for Life”. The recent Blue Tongue controversy gave the magazine a platform to show their stuff. They launched a campaign to support Dr. Gerd Heuschmann by giving [more...]
 I just watched this DVD. I really enjoyed it! I didn’t learn anything earth-shatteringly new because I’m already on the positive-reinforcement-works bandwagon. However, it was a delight and inspiration to see and hear of someone who trains horses to an advanced level insist that gentle positive methods are best. So, on that alone I can recommend it.
The video isn’t really a how-to program. Instead, a variety of topics on how to inspire horses in the most effective manner are discussed and illustrated with him as well as his pupils working a wide variety of horses [more...]
Much of my appreciation for classical dressage training comes from my lessons with Karl Mikolka. One of the (many) things I remember him saying (probably while my horse was having a fit) was, “the horse is allowed to say NO!” I’m not saying that fits are desirable! Of course, what we’d prefer is a resounding YES. But if you want to be more than ‘just’ a rider you need to be willing to listen to the horse and if he says No then you need to accept responsibility for that feedback. Then you [more...]
I had occasion to revisit one of my favorite books, Xenophon’s Art of Horsemanship. Xenophon was a Greek general who lived 2500 years ago. This is the first book on horsemanship that has survived the ages.
What I love about this book is the chance to take a glimpse into another time. We experience a little of the day-to-days with horses as they were then. And, really, they have not changed at all. This first passage is a perfect example:
[5.9] Washing down of the legs we disapprove of; it does no good, and the [more...]
In my Secret Weapon post I talked about how important it is to remain focused on what we want and rewarding that and only that.
Read it here if you want to be reminded about it or missed it the first time.
In her article in Psychology Today titled, Trainers with Jackhammers Need Not Apply, Susan Friedman, Ph.D. talks about this very issue from a slightly different point of view. And, hearing the same thing said differently is always a useful learning strategy. She brings up two key points to consider when training (any animal, horses included):
Identify what you want the [more...]
Lots of rain and mud means I’ve only managed to say hello to my girls at feeding time. On nicer days I’ll visit, groom and massage. Actual riding is a distant memory. Ha! So posts have been thin at best as I await the inspiration of spring and more riding exploits! Something interesting did come up recently in conversation, though, that I thought I would share.
The topic was what I call my “secret weapon”. Do you want to know the secret to getting along with pretty much every horse? It isn’t a [more...]
Hey, how cool is that? Katherine Blocksdorf, the Horses Guide on About.com has written a nice review of my book and given it five stars! You can read it here. If you have read my book, too, you can add your own review to hers. If you haven’t read it (what??) you can get it on Amazon (among others).
Thanks Katherine!
Here’s the thing about using clicker training for stuff that the horse is afraid of (demonstrated by some escape behavior), like using electric clippers on whiskers, if you try to click ‘for’ letting you approach with the buzzing thing you are invariably going to get the timing wrong. They are already thinking of leaving long before you click and if you click when they are thinking of leaving then you will only make matters worse.
So, what I would do, is pretty much the same as what I said last time about mounting. It isn’t about the mounting (or [more...]
Those who have hung around me for some time will know that I’m very fond of saying, “If the horse knew what I wanted and believed he was able to do it, he’d BE doing it.” I used to say “…and was able to do it…” but people would just say that they knew a horse who knew very well thank you very much what they wanted and simply didn’t WANT to comply. So, I adjusted the phrase to include the word “believe” because it is my opinion that those horses who “don’t want to” usually have something else on [more...]
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