The Principles of Training Season 3 Episode 9: "Observing The Ears"

[@anndiederich1991]

There is no end to the amount of learning you are gifting to the world. Since you show the whole process, without a lot of editing, it really helps us to see the techniques and the real-time changes. Thanks!!

[@bsnhilow]

My thoughts exactly. Thank you!!!

[@rickm7555]

What I love about this channel is the high degree of consciousness about horse and human demonstrated time and time again. Look forward to seeing you in my town one day.

[@WarwickSchiller]

Thanks Rick.

[@dsergt]

Gosh, that was genius. This gives you such a good 'tool' to work with when you're riding a horse and you feel a tension problem building in their bodies. We've all had to deal with a horse feeling like this, and to find a way to let the horse know, so precisely, that we see how they are feeling and also notice/release when they relax for a second is beautiful.

[@jenniferlehman2464]

I was on a trail ride with someone once, with my horse and a friend's horse. We were going through some woods, and my horses head and ears came up. I stopped her, and I stopped my friend's horse as well. The reason why my horse reacted was because there was 2 white tail does and their fawns. As soon as my horse, and my friend's horse saw that I knew they were concerned about something, their heads dropped and they almost fell asleep in the middle of the trail!! LOL I've been around horses since I was 3 yrs old. And rewatching this series has made me realise that I've been doing 99% of what Warwick is saying in all these videos. I now work rehabilitating horses from injury or surgery. I work in conjunction with the veterinarians, chiropractors and nutritionists. As well as do foaling in the Spring for a select few customers. I love my job and I still ride at age 65!! Best Regards and Stay Safe Everyone!!

[@This1LifeWeLive]

First thing I noticed: head set. At the beginning, the horse had his head/kneck braced ready to fight the direction BEFORE it was asked. By minute 9:00 head was lowered, relaxed and no more bracing. I had been thinking about the ear thing 2 weeks ago so this breaks it down perfectly and demonstrates how effective it is!

[@mdselimreza546]

3446⁶⁶we

[@serenityhorsemanship3365]

Great example of working with the mind rather than his ‘hard’ physical 1st so that you in fact get the ‘soft’ physical. Horses want their feet to be where their mind is.

[@WarwickSchiller]

That last sentence is a great one Tom.

[@serenityhorsemanship3365]

WarwickSchiller I should have put the sentence in quotes as it comes from Harry Whitney

[@WarwickSchiller]

@@serenityhorsemanship3365 Makes sense that its a Harry quote.

[@MsDormy]

This is wonderful - can you imagine the hours of schooling, lungeing and the host of ‘training aids’ it could take to get that responsive bend, in traditional horsemanship? I’ve seen a lovely thoroughbred ruined as a riding horse by using draw reins, which must have caused him pain, and resulted in evasion, bucking, and aversion to the sand school.

[@vickihazle7687]

So glad you posted this yesterday as I had an immediate need to use it! We had to exit the barn out of a different door than normal. My horse was fixated on the shavings pile and equipment he hadn't seen before. So I used your method of applying pressure and releasing it as soon as an ear flicked back. In two minutes we walked past the scary objects with almost no tension. Thank you!!!!

[@mdee860]

Love it. The old addage is so true & you made it so clear: nip it in the bud! Everything comes back to being present with (& for) your horse, pay attention to what your horse is telling you that day. Thank you so much, great video & lesson.

[@Mjaetee]

You explain things so well! I admire your ability to follow through with a task until the horse feels comfortable and safe and the rider understands the concept you are relaying. Thank you!

[@joannamcguire4103]

Love this trainer💜

[@M1ra6e92]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge . This helps me a lot.

[@ricardoandresrojaschaparro2136]

Amazing!!! Thank you from the bottom of my heart this information is pure gold.

[@shmeeden]

Thank you!! The normally relaxed horse that I ride has recently developed a "thing" about one end of the arena, and trying to fix it with DA work didn't help. Tried this instead, and had a much more relaxed an attentive horse. I think I'll see continued improvement with this method. This was exactly the video I needed for this situation!

[@AllooshO]

I come here to learn wisdom, although I don't have a horse but dealing with horses has a lot of aspects that can be very useful in dealing with each other as humans.

[@yvonnejinks3660]

What a great quote from the Navy Seals. It really does sum up training a horse and why we run into problems,. As always a great video.

[@melaniepervier9024]

Love love love your video s so lovely and inspiring 👍🙏🏼☀️🌈🐎🐎🐎

[@acceptingWhatIS]

so cool i am about to start re train a new hours who is spooky so this is invaluable!! Presence presence - genuis!

[@МаксимСушков-ь8х]

Thanks u alot Warwick!!!

[@pennylane428]

I watch your channel faithfully, “Zen horsemanship”. 🙌🏼 Would love to attend a clinic in Utah. thank you.

[@myhillslife27]

This was fantastic

[@kathywarwick5603]

I wish i had known this when my 17.2 warmblood was spoo,I g at the neighbor behind the bushes!

[@jessicastegert8934]

Genius!! I will get my daughter to try that on her "little red pony" this afternoon

[@louisecassidy5991]

Wow! I almost didn't watch this, (very busy following WuFlu) I'm always watching ears for demeanour, maybe nothing to learn here, stayed with it, then see this....ears from the saddle, our response to their ears. A totally brilliant way of showing them we know what they think. Thanks Warwick. Stay safe. Am I seeing masks here? Well done, not enough masks on Aussies, mine is the only one I've seen.

[@WarwickSchiller]

This was in 2019, no maks needed then.

[@janeallan3485]

My 'new' 5yo QH mare consistently keeps her ears flat at a trot & even flatter at a lope. I will certainly start 'reading' her ears after watching this episode but what else could this mean? Her previous owner said she always put her ears back. Thank you. (I love your videos & methods!)

[@fayconroy3625]

Hi Warrick, Thanks for the vids, marvelous material and so generous of you. Not sure how to raise this question as it is not really related o this topic, but perhaps you could address it somewhere in the future. I have a TB mare who is ticklish about the rug or grooming over her ribs. Not sore, its not in the area where saddle sits, as it is behind the girth and in front of loins both sides. Now 3 years on and still pinning ears and curling one side of her lips when I put rug on and if the rug needs to be pulled forward, she becomes quite demonstrative about her displeasure. I have tried moving her feet, backing her up each time or making her circle, all pretty difficult when 2 hands are required to place the rug. I have tried to rug her when she is feeding and when not feeding; tied up or loose, always the same, Rugs are not heavy or uncomfortable. I've tried inch by inch etc etc all to no avail, have you got any useful ideas about how to fix this, please? I'm only just controlling something I'm sure will get worse. regards, Fay from NSW

[@comesahorseman]

As Ross Jacobs tells us, "reward the thought.". 👍

[@TamiVroma1]

Been watching your vids for a while now. So is this what you would use for a barn sour horse to get away from the barn combined with...oh gosh cant remember principle name of pick where you rest?

[@horseygirl70]

Fascinating 😄

[@steselector5643]

The horse I often ride (school horse) tend to keep both ears facing towards me. Is it a good thing? But the vid still make sense. Good to keep an eye on their ears.

[@serenityhorsemanship3365]

I have been told that horses learn almost as much (sometimes more) by remembering than they do by the actual doing. That’s why it often seems that today is better than yesterday if yesterday was a good experience. Same thing goes in the other direction if yesterday was a bad experience. Do you agree?

[@GeriTherese]

I have a mare who pins her ears continuously in the Canter... still not sure what to do about that :-(

[@susancountauthor4155]

I can't wait to try this with my fella. But, I thought putting the scary thing behind him was a good way to have him jump out from under me.

[@jessica-walt]

Why aren't you wearing spurs?

[@marianne.holmen]

Why should he wear spurs?

[@colleenlazoruk9305]

PPLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!! Come help me in northern Alberta Canada 🇨🇦 HELP!!!

[@ellengarvie2725]

Why do you braid the tails?

[@cathycondon7087]

I would like to see a horse that really spooks instead of a well trained one.

[@WarwickSchiller]

That is the start of "really spooking". I don't need to show you a big spook, when all it is is little spooks that weren't recognised early enough. A horse that "really spooks" have just been poorly prepared for the situation into which the human has placed them so preparation is a huge part of it.

[@louisecassidy5991]

If a young horse spooks and the rider falls off, he maybe learns to spook to dump, some big spooks are designed just that way, those sorts will always do the same thing, just wait for an excuse, and dump. If you're not the falling off type, that horse might try harder and hander to loosen you. I had one in a trail riding outfit I was working in Thredbo, back in the 70's, people were falling off her. Rode her myself and got quickly dumped by a green plastic garbage bag. I wasn't hurt, she didn't do it again to me, just had to prove her point, sport to her. Lovely little thing otherwise, but I put no more paying riders on her, told the boss he was a horse short. Accidents happen, but if the horse has a "trick" it is not an accident.

[@janepotts9666]

WarwickSchille