Principles to Purpose Clinic
PRINCIPLES TO PURPOSE CLINIC with Pauline Cowey from Whispering Sands, Crystal Brook April 1st — 3rd 2017 at Ceduna Equestrian Club Home Grounds
YEAH BUT WHAT’S THE POINT ? ? Do you find yourself wondering why we train our horses as we do?
The accepted term in horsemanship circles is “Principles to Purpose” but what does that mean?
Principle: to develop the horse’s understanding of “HOW” to do something, which is the development of communication through language and techniques. An example of this would be, teaching your horse to side pass.
Purpose: to develop the horse’s understanding of “WHY” to do something, which is putting the communication and techniques into practice to give them meaning. An example of this would be, once you have taught your horse to side pass, you can give it purpose by opening a gate and moving through it.
The purpose can be cutting or working cattle, but as we don’t have a cow laying around, we will be using obstacles, games and challenges to give some purpose to the skills we and our horses are learning.
This clinic will focus on giving you a purpose to your horsemanship, because a purpose gives it meaning. Long term this purpose may be a sport; or it can be whatever gives you a goal, a reason for progressing.
Similar to humans, if horses never find out what the purpose behind all the time and effort is, it's very easy for them to mentally and emotionally check out; but when your horse understands the purpose, when there's a real point, that's when their heart and desire turn into exuberance.
Over 2 or 3 days you will solve problems, work your way through challenges, make progress and improve your understanding as well as having fun!
This clinic will be an experience that deepens your connection, increases your horse’s confidence and results in a deeper bond between the two of you!
Think like your horse …. Become one with your horse... Then there is nothing you can’t do, when your horse becomes a part of you.