Neither because you're mad, nor by the force of your aids, nor by the force
of your personal energy. When your horse makes a mistake, it is not your
business to punish, but to teach - and re-teach.
THOU SHALT NOT GET THY HORSE IN TROUBLE
So that he loses his perfect inner comfort; nay, not even because you
yourself are brave. Your main aim is to help your horse stay 100% OK 100% of
the time. For your bravery does not help him; what he needs is help finding
courage within himself. Nor does he understand your "performance
requirements." For truly, no amount of performance nor degree of obedience
is justified when it is not the horse's idea as much as yours.
THOU SHALT NOT REST AT THE BARN
Neither should you always get off your horse there. Instead, either tie your
horse up at the barn, or find some busy work to do there. Don't ride him
away from the barn in order to work him - ride him away from the barn in
order to rest him!
THOU SHALT NOT WORK THY HORSE HARD
Without thorough warm-up, nor ask of him more work far away from the barn
than at the barn, nor overmuch at any time. Remember that your horse learns
only upon release and reflection. Blessed is the time of quiet unity which
often comes at the end of a ride; blessed is him who would rather play with
his horse's tail. And blessed are the little children, for they know not the
meaning of hardness and contest.
THOU SHALT NOT RENDER THY HORSE'S BODY HARD
Nay, not even in quest of "fitness." Remember that the horse's heart is
already created bigger and his muscles stronger than those of any other
creature. Hardness of muscle deprives your horse's joints of range of
motion. O vain human! Your plans for fitness are no more than legs upon a
snake, and your failures in competition are the result of your own errors.
THOU SHALT NOT PUT THY PETTY AMBITIONS AHEAD OF THY HORSE'S WELFARE
For truly, no horse knows the cut of your saddle, the style of your hat, the
color of your ribbon, the time on your watch, nor the smell of your money.
THOU SHALT NOT HANG UPON THE REINS
Neither through thoughtlessness nor because some "authority" has taught you
that this is necessary. Never pick up the rein unless you intend to wait at
the same pressure until there is a change in the neck and a change in the
feet. And when there is a change - then you shall release!
THOU SHALT NOT PULL
You shall not turn your horse's head and neck away from the direction of his
attention. For truly where his eyeballs point, there also shall his feet be
pointing -- no matter how hard you drag on his head. Horses do not steer
from the head; they steer from the brain. Therefore shalt thou call the
birdie.
THOU SHALT LEARN TO USE THE OUTSIDE REIN WELL
You shall not steer; but instead, you shall prevent the horse from turning
away. You shall call the birdie into the turn, knowing this will turn the
feet as well as shaping up the body. You shall guide the inside forefoot by
connecting that rein to it, and you shall anchor the outside hind foot by
feeling of it. And to stop you shall stop the feet, not the face. And when
thus for a time you shall have turned and stopped, so that the horse's body
and postural habits shall have developed, truly will you call that
collection.
THOU SHALT LEARN TO WAIT FOR THE HORSE TO RELEASE
And if he does not release, you shall continue to wait at the same pressure.
And while waiting you shall not move your hand forward, neither shall you
move it back, nor yet shall you repeat your first request, but you shall
simply wait!
THOU SHALT NOT TRY TO OBTAIN COLLECTION BY "CAPTURING THE FACE" OR MERELY
BENDING THE NECK
Nor through a "head set," nor by means of a "frame," neither by "pushing the
horse forward from the seat and leg into a fixed hand," nor yet by leaning
back to "weight the hindquarters." For these are the dictates of ignorance.
Thou shalt remember that a horse is "on the bit" when every change in the
rein creates an equivalent change in the hindquarters. This saying is
correct, and implies humane and intelligent technique; but even technique
shall pass away. Yet unto those that live all these commandments, collection
shall be given: for the truth is, the horse collects from his innermost
self, out of the joy of his being; he teaches people what collection is, and
for this he needs no help from you.
THOU SHALT MAKE THE WRONG THING DIFFICULT AND THE RIGHT THING EASY - BUT
THOU SHALT EMPHASIZE MAKING THE RIGHT THING EASY
How easy it is for us to make it tough on the horse when he makes a mistake!
How difficult to create ways to make doing the right thing easy and obvious!
THOU SHALT STRIVE TO GET YOUR HORSE TO WHERE HE WANTS TO BE WITH YOU MORE
THAN HE WANTS TO BE ANYWHERE ELSE
