Nervous system regulation is the key to outstanding results and success with horses

Үй жануарлары мен аңдар

RELATIONSHIP BEFORE HORSEMANSHIP.
I'm starting to see a lot of questions asked on Facebook that follow a similar path. They start out "I feel I have great connection with my horse but..."
And then the person goes on to ask a question about a problem that's not about connection, but about a lack of process. I'm not saying they are wrong for asking, it's an easy trap to fall into, the "all or nothing thinking". There's the camp that is only about process (that used to be me) and there's the camp that's only about relationship. But in reality, the magic lies somewhere in the middle. It's a blend of both.
One of the chapters in my book The Principles Of Training is called "Relationship Before Horsemanship". It is not "Relationship Instead Of Horsemanship" It's about relationship FIRST, and that's what makes the training easy.
Nervous system regulation, or a lack of it, is often the reason certain techniques are used in training horses. Since I started on a relationship first based approach, I have found the training to be so much easier, even with highly sensitive horses like the Andalusian mare in this video.
My first priority is to have them feel safe around me (not just obedient, there's a BIG difference) through attunement, and that helps regulate their nervous system. Many horse's nervous systems regulate just fine out in the pasture, and are either continually outwardly anxious or inwardly anxious around humans. Once they have a regulated nervous system around me, I initially ensure that in between each interaction or ask, that they return to relaxed (once again, not just standing obediently still) before asking anything else.
If you've heard my 13 rabbits story, it's about teaching them to "spit out their rabbits" (you can watch the rabbit story at the start of this video ( • How to avoid freak acc... . This is slow work, but not technical at all, and anyone can do it.
This video talks about this, and shows some of the nervous system regulation with a sensitive Andalusian mare.
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Пікірлер: 62

  • @BMRWilliams
    @BMRWilliams5 ай бұрын

    I've applied this method with a horse that's a very anxious trail rider. It only took a few sessions of doing this on the trail before she was trekking with a nice relaxed walk, as though she had never left home. Any moment there was concern, or something scary, we stopped and waited. Any moment her ears stopped flicking back and forth for over 5 seconds, I bent to a stop and drew her back in. The result was a complete transformation.

  • @C.Hawkshaw

    @C.Hawkshaw

    5 ай бұрын

    Wow!

  • @user-dg7er6ck1v

    @user-dg7er6ck1v

    5 ай бұрын

    I did the same thing with my mare! She would freeze up and not want to go forward and i just waited for a lick and a chew before asking her to go on. Sometimes it took a few minutes. Now she walks forward nice and relaxed and if she gets worried, it might only take less than a minute before she licks and chews and continues on

  • @BMRWilliams

    @BMRWilliams

    5 ай бұрын

    I would add that the only time this didn't work was when she got excited about feeding time. She could hear the other horses being fed on our return trip. Expecting her to stop and wait in this instance was not helpful. What I ended up doing was "carefully" taking her back, then I worked her in the arena for around 10 minutes before untacking her.

  • @Kas873
    @Kas8735 ай бұрын

    Update: She loaded fully into the trailer today!! In total, around 3 months, 4-5 days a week (10-15 mins a day), of low-to-no pressure, with treat rewards. Today, we walked up and into the trailer with no hesitation, no stopping at the threshold. Once we were in, I gave her an apple, and she just hung out for a while, looking out the windows, and assessing the space. Zero signs of stress or anxiety. When she decided she was done, we walked out! This is from a horse who once reared and landed on her back to avoid going in. I'm so proud of our progress, and of her ability to overcome her fear! Original: This is how I'm trailer-training my mare! She hates the loading part. We just go and hang out near the trailer. If she shows any sign of stress or anxiety, we stop and walk away, and come back when she's calm. Yesterday she put her two front feet in on her own!! 😄

  • @kerronvince1753
    @kerronvince17535 ай бұрын

    This is one of the best videos I ever seen. I hope everyone sees this.

  • @user-bc5xq4cg5c

    @user-bc5xq4cg5c

    13 күн бұрын

    Agreed. 8 days. Patience - for the win!

  • @sadmimikyu8807
    @sadmimikyu88075 ай бұрын

    Great video! I started looking into this a while ago and finally earned the trust of a 4 year old mini shettie. I gave her time and attention and boundaries (don't eat me) with the help of a trainer. I noticed how she never showed any sign of fear - just pony ideas that people said was stubborness. Now she shows her vulnerable sides and I can show her what she was afraid of is not dangerous so we explore the world together. All this came about because I stopped trying to teach her anything. We just went on walks together, enjoyed our time, lots of grounding for me, lots of trying to feel her next to me and earning her trust by letting her see that she can count on me. I want to be even more patient and take even more time with her. This seems slower to some but it is the opposite in the end.

  • @jenniferlehman326

    @jenniferlehman326

    5 ай бұрын

    Like the Tortoise and the Hare. The Tortoise won that race. Slow and steady will win the race every time!! Great job!! Keep doing what you're doing, be the leader that she knows she can trust to keep her safe by doing exactly what you're doing right now. Well done you!! Happy New Year to you and your family!! From a Retired Paramedic and Horse Trainer in Ontario, Canada, Jenn 💖 🇨🇦

  • @sadmimikyu8807

    @sadmimikyu8807

    5 ай бұрын

    @@jenniferlehman326 Aww you are so kind! To you and your family as well: Happy New Year from Germany! Yes, slow and steady and lots of relationship work makes it easier in the end. Also this method is more in sync with my nature and what comes easy to me.

  • @jenniferlehman326

    @jenniferlehman326

    5 ай бұрын

    @@sadmimikyu8807 As my family is from Germany on my fathers side, I have to say Danke!!!

  • @ndopfi-ne8vn
    @ndopfi-ne8vn5 ай бұрын

    …It‘s slow and it‘s boring. But, and it doesn‘t take any skill, it just take patience… Tausend Dank, people should believe! Großartiger Mann, Mr. Schiller😊

  • @daniellefinkable
    @daniellefinkable5 ай бұрын

    This is so validating, thank you. I've always worked this way, coming from an equine massage background before ever riding.

  • @chti341
    @chti3415 ай бұрын

    I have practiced the nervous system regulation stuff for only a few days through the videos on the subscription page and it’s working out really great for my horse and for me as well. We’ve both made huge chances in little time and I think I can’t imagine what the outcome in a few weeks or months will be. It’s gonna be more than I can think of… such wonderful work Warwick, thank you so much for sharing all of this with us.

  • @sidilicious11
    @sidilicious115 ай бұрын

    I will be looking for these things next time I see my horse!

  • @TheCactusTreeStudio
    @TheCactusTreeStudio5 ай бұрын

    So lovely to see this mare again ❤

  • @hunterG60k
    @hunterG60k5 ай бұрын

    Fantastic video, thank you for the reminder that, however patient I think I am, I can be more patient! So important for those horses that go inside themselves and pretend to be ok. On another note, something I noticed when the mare was anxious was the triangular shape of her chin; I work as a bit fitter and this is a sign of tension that I look for when assessing horses. When they are being ridden, this can be a sign they're not happy in their bit - it can also be plenty of other things as well! But I just thought it was interesting :)

  • @SheriBentley-no7fz
    @SheriBentley-no7fz4 күн бұрын

    Whew, what a great eye-opener for me. Now I know what my mare is telling me. Thanks!

  • @amandaparon5687
    @amandaparon56875 ай бұрын

    Thank you! So important to the horse & us humans need to learn how to regulate our nervous systems as well! Thank you for all you do for horses & their people ❤

  • @bsnhilow
    @bsnhilow4 ай бұрын

    This is EPIC!! Brings together so many little pieces of the puzzle. That same "great connection, but..." is the same situation I had with my first mare, that feeling that she was always looking somewhere else. I tried to figure out why and/or how to break through. I finally did with basic ground work, hanging out, playing with her, and discovered a truly fun loving personality! And then she left me... Another mare became my "ride," while my new mare was coming on board. The "new ride" came with a lot of baggage which I've slowly begun to peel away layers using much ground work, massage (Masterson - watching for the same lip quiver, lick&chew, yawning releases). I've recently quit trying to move forward and have gone back to the beginning, working on being able to stand. And relax. Both were nearly impossible for her! I've known this mare since she was first bought. She would do what was asked (and she was asked a lot), until she blew up (13 rabbits), often disciplined for being naughty, and finally was left as a pasture pet since she wasn't working out. She is teaching me so much!! The other mare, my youngster, came basically unhandled. (What was I thinking?! ;) ) Have spent over a year just doing ground work (learning how to) to prepare her for riding. She had to be taught ALL the things a foal should have learned. And she was very opinionated about it! Both these mares are super sensitive, pushy, and I might add large! Your principles of training are helping me so much with the tools, patience and confidence to work with these horses. And THIS is going to be the next best thing to back up and work on!! It will help to solve problems, break through the crust of the older mare and, even better, help me to do a better job with my new mare as I stuart under saddle. Thank You for your excellent books and videos, for taking the time to share it with the rest of us!

  • @liamrooney5314
    @liamrooney5314Ай бұрын

    This is such a great example of how effective nervous system regulation is. I'm thinking it would do wonders for the rider as well (speaking from experience).

  • @calista1280
    @calista12805 ай бұрын

    Fantastic insight into the horse's physiology! I hope you work, a few weeks or months with the owners, too. Getting them connected to and in sync psychologically with their horses... It would make a much more successful outcome possible and build a long-term deep relationship as a true partnership if they have built the foundation of trust & understanding with their horse. I'd love to have this experience myself to see how amazing the horse/human connection can be!

  • @WarwickSchiller

    @WarwickSchiller

    5 ай бұрын

    I work with owners through my online video library and clinics.

  • @chfgypsy
    @chfgypsy5 ай бұрын

    Time and patience is so important. Thank you for making this video.

  • @johnberry1107
    @johnberry11075 ай бұрын

    Vocabulary words aside the key is understanding.

  • @krismaggs7488
    @krismaggs74885 ай бұрын

    I really enjoyed hearing your ideas and relate to it tremendously/ it’s in our dna to understand as you so kindly share…. I’m touched by my furthering my education about horses / people . Thank you

  • @Obsidianoak
    @Obsidianoak5 ай бұрын

    Midset is important accross the board Thanks for the video!

  • @Sniff_K9_Coach
    @Sniff_K9_Coach4 ай бұрын

    Such great information. I have been doing this with my green appy mare. She has been getting tense when working. She is not like this in the paddock. I looked at her lip and yes was tight. So i have been patient and waiting for the chew for the past several sessions. Our sessions have been great. I can rush as am a busy person, this is relaxing me more as well 😂.

  • @horseygirl70
    @horseygirl705 ай бұрын

    Wow. That is amazing! I guess I'm doing okay. My mule yawns a lot when I work with him. My mare does not. I will have to watch her more carefully. She is probably okay. As her attention is usually good, she does not seem worried. But she also does not lick and chew that much. Thanks so much for showing that.

  • @christinafragis7224
    @christinafragis72245 ай бұрын

    Thanks for sharing !

  • @lisakuehn6436
    @lisakuehn64364 ай бұрын

    Thank you for these examples. I’ve been following you for several years and you have helped me with my mare who came to me with these “locked-up” tendencies. She would be obedient, however she would twitch her skin over her withers and shoulders area when I was with her. You helped me recognize that this was tension and to honor that to help her relax. She no longer does this.

  • @WarwickSchiller

    @WarwickSchiller

    4 ай бұрын

    Great work.

  • @cynthiahowden4165
    @cynthiahowden41655 ай бұрын

    Thankyou!

  • @bliss5133
    @bliss51335 ай бұрын

    Thanks ❤

  • @vj-xc4qc
    @vj-xc4qc5 ай бұрын

    Great insights. Thanks for sharing. Very meaningful. 👌

  • @wendylow5748
    @wendylow57484 ай бұрын

    That was really cool to observe. I'm having a super fun time reading your book (3rd time to because it takes a while to sink in..) and applying to my OTTB. Taking my time too.

  • @tessmonro7102
    @tessmonro7102Ай бұрын

    Don't know what you have a whole lot more subscribers!!

  • @oranges8302
    @oranges83024 ай бұрын

    Thank you. I learned so much from this video. My nervous system calmed just watching the video!

  • @AhavahFarmProductions
    @AhavahFarmProductions4 ай бұрын

    Well done, Warwick-!

  • @traceymiller2038
    @traceymiller20384 ай бұрын

    Being just allowing patience WOW thank you I recently have a 16yr old thb come to me who from the start i realised had shut down.... your video's have been a great help and especially this one .... others I have been doing not knowing to put into words just been my way all my life with horses .... but this is new though not unknown just not done because soooo boring not enough patience thank you

  • @veronicasmith1147
    @veronicasmith11474 ай бұрын

    Thanks fpr this steve time is the answer

  • @rainydays4673
    @rainydays46735 ай бұрын

    Thank you so much.

  • @sophiesaraby1105
    @sophiesaraby1105Ай бұрын

    Very wise words

  • @zenergizedequine
    @zenergizedequine5 ай бұрын

    ❤❤❤

  • @kaja3131
    @kaja31314 ай бұрын

    Hi Mr Schiller, good day! I commented on a tiktok video of yours but i will do it here as well maybe you will see the comment. I was working with this horse that would have lines underneath the eye, like worry lines over the eye, but they would appear underneath the eyes. It looked a bit like one of those little hairs underneath the eye would get pulled on and the lid would slightly get pulled down and lines showed ( nobody would pull on anything of course im just explaining how it looked like). Very unusual to me. He would mostly charge at me when he gets that look in his eyes. ( it happens when i lead him, feed him, lunge him, brush him, no rules when he would attack. He jumped on his now ex owner, ripped his shirt and jacked of him. I never could turn my back on him. Anyway I couldn’t find anything about it, and i never saw it before, he was a stallion at the time, we did a vet check because i thought maybe he was in pain, found out his hooves were a bit on the shorter side so that could have been the pain part?Maybe it was a combination of fear, aggression and pain? Not sure. It mostly stopped now, he got gelded, his hooves are fine, he is out in the pasture, but definitely a bit cheeky with the other horses, even though he is the youngest and smallest, pushing them around, overstaying his welcome, nothing too bad but he has some dominant energy towards them.

  • @OriginalEllie777
    @OriginalEllie7773 ай бұрын

    Less is more ..I love it

  • @C.Hawkshaw
    @C.Hawkshaw5 ай бұрын

    OMG my dog does this. She got kicked in the head by a mother deer.

  • @yolanda-xm5py
    @yolanda-xm5py2 ай бұрын

    During the 8 days of working with her at the fence, what was your response to her scooting away? Start again from scratch?

  • @faithbrogger2720
    @faithbrogger27202 ай бұрын

    I’m not sure how to apply this to my mare who is not calm if we leave the pasture at all

  • @LouiseDyett
    @LouiseDyett4 ай бұрын

    can I ask why you were carrying the flag when you were riding her in the beginning ?

  • @gnp4360
    @gnp43605 ай бұрын

    No volume for your last few videos😢 All others have sound

  • @SonjaBruenzels

    @SonjaBruenzels

    5 ай бұрын

    Must be s.t. in your setup, I had no problems with sound

  • @jessicavindstierna6014
    @jessicavindstierna60142 ай бұрын

    My biggest problem is that my horse will not stand still. As soon as I ask her to do that, she stays for a few seconds and then walks away. What should I do to train that?

  • @WarwickSchiller

    @WarwickSchiller

    2 ай бұрын

    Loose or on line?

  • @ronmccabe7164
    @ronmccabe71645 ай бұрын

    Your connection first philosophy pretty much negates all the previous gymnastics that were needed to get a stable horse plus they are even more stable than the best old techniques.

  • @SonjaBruenzels
    @SonjaBruenzels5 ай бұрын

    Words of wisdom, and a beautiful mare. But wouldn't it make more sense to teach her OWNERS how to handle/work with her than to work with the horse again? Surely a horse is not a car that you take back to the garage every time something doesn't work.

  • @ronmccabe7164

    @ronmccabe7164

    5 ай бұрын

    My observation is that is what he is doing with his YT channel and his online video subscription library.

  • @SonjaBruenzels
    @SonjaBruenzels5 ай бұрын

    She seems quite thin:(

  • @sarahwagland1559

    @sarahwagland1559

    5 ай бұрын

    She lacks muscle but yes, she looked plumper in the older pics.

  • @anneflynn9614

    @anneflynn9614

    5 ай бұрын

    It is the camera angle.She isn't thin.

  • @stevebarlow4448
    @stevebarlow44485 ай бұрын

    What a load of baloney,

  • @WarwickSchiller

    @WarwickSchiller

    5 ай бұрын

    Thanks for your support Steve!

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