Note: I am catching up on my Sedona blog. This video was taken the day after the last one (back in the spring). We are still working through filling you in on the first 30 days of training.
I cannot stress enough that this is not a how-to video. This Sedona series is a look inside at our training program so you can know what to expect when sending a horse to us. Flanking is a fabulous technique when done correctly and can be disastrous when done poorly.
Why do we flank horses? At the core of our program, the single-most-important principle, is to teach our horses to manage their emotions. By that I mean their fight-or-flight response. It is also important to us to have a full and real evaluation of a horse before swinging up into the saddle for the first time. This means knowing what the horse’s worst-case-scenario reaction (loss of emotional control) might be. This is a method we use to create a controlled situation where we trigger a flight or fight response from the horse. We teach the horse how to control their emotions and how to come off of an adrenaline spike and calm down and relax.
The video goes on to explain that at some point your horse will get triggered on to adrenaline. It might be when a deer jumps out on the trail, it might be when he leaves his buddies for the first time. Wouldn’t you want to own a horse that knows how to calm itself down in stressful situations and doesn’t continue to escalate? As a horse owner myself, that skill development in a horse is a must for me.
Please watch the video below for a more in-depth explanation.
Ashley Purdin
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