The Concept of “Feel”
It’s one thing to learn new techniques, but the thing to really learn is “feel”. The quality of your feel is what is going to mean the most to your horse and your advancement in all Four Savvys is heavily reliant on this aspect.
What is “feel”?
Its the way you touch a horse, the way you handle the rope or reins, the way you deliver pressure, the way you release it… you can do it with feel for your horse or you can o it with insensitivity.
Feel does not mean being flimsy. It means applying the kind of feel that’s necessary to be effective and the best way to do this is through phases.
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- Phase 1 needs to be as soft as possible
- Phase 2 is double that
- Phase 3 is double that
- Phase 4 is double that again, to the point that it is effective
Each phase is applied smoothly without sharp jerks or jabs of any kind, and at any moment you are ready to quit and take all the pressure off.
Here is an example of the phases applied in the Porcupine Game:
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- Phase 1 Press the hair
- Phase 2 Press the skin
- Phase 3 Press the muscle
- Phase 4 Press the bone
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It is evident that each phase gets stronger but note especially the lightness of phase 1 and the power of phase 4. Unless you are consistent about always starting with phase 1 and being prepared to go to phase 4, your horse will become dull, unresponsive or over-reactive, especially if you unconsciously start somewhere around phase 3!
When you reach down the rope or the rein, you do it with open fingers that close one by one to a firm fist. This offers a smoother feel to the horse and the increasing pressure resulting from each finger being closed is akin to phases. Again you are ready to release some or all of your fingers to positively reinforce the desirable behaviour at any moment.
Your horse is your mirror
You can tell a lot about the rider or handler of a horse by the way the horse feels to your touch. Fast, strong hands that close quickly and open slowly produce a horse that braces and resists in self defence. Flimsy and weak hands produce a horse that pushes against pressure. Savvy hands that have feel and timing, that close slowly and open quickly, that work in phases produce a horse that is soft, yielding and responsive.
Your legs do what your hands do
The same goes with your legs. Learn to apply them in phases, smoothly and effectively, and to be just as quick in releasing the pressure when the horse responds. This is the secret of sensitisation.
In accomplishing Level 3 you will produce a horse that gives and yields without resistance because your quality of feel will have improved dramatically.
By Level 4, your horse will feel like a dream in your hands, at the end of a rope and through the reins and to your legs because you will have released Finesse.
Do it like you are on Valium!
So start now. Become more conscious of the feel you are offering to your horse. As your mental, emotional and physical control and fitness advances, you’ll gain the ability to reach down reins and ropes smoothly without grabbing, even if you have to be quick. Become acutely conscious of phases and, always take up the feel slowly: “do it on valium”! This means in slow motion. This will help you to realise just how slowly you need to bring on the feel in order for the horse to learn to think his way into it and to no longer feel the need to brace or resist.
Summary
The quality of your feel is going to mean a lot to your horse.
“Feel” is the way you touch a hole, the way you handle the rope or reins, the way you deliver pressure, the way you release it.
Feel does not mean being flimsy. You need to be applied smoothly without sharp jerks or jabs and to always be ready to quit.
Note the lightness of phase 1 and the power of phase 4.
If you start at phase 3 your horse can become dull or over reactive.
Close fingers one by one, like phases themselves to give good feel.
Your horse will reflect your feel or lack of.
Fast hand = bracing and resistance.
Flimsy and weak hands = a horse that pushes against pressure.
Your legs do what your hands do.
Learn to apply them in phases too.
Good feel produces a horse that feels great.
Teach yourself never to grab quickly, do thing more in slow motion… “do it like you are on valium”! It will give the horse the change to think his way through.
