by Mary-Lynn Wardle
Peter Campbell recently held a Willing Partners Clinic in Cochrane with a class that included 18 extremely focused individuals. As one of those individuals, I would like to share what I learned:
During groundwork, Campbell illustrated techniques to get our horses to respond with respect. We worked on backing our horses with feel, using “air” to move the horse instead of having to take slack out of the rope until we hit hair, muscle, or bone. We also had the horses “give” to us – mentally and physically – by doing things like lowering their heads to the ground without pulling on them.
Although I had been in several of Campbell’s foundation classes before, it was the first clinic for my young Oldenburg mare. However, I was about to learn a few more things myself…
Previously, I had been lowering my mare’s head with my thumb correctly pointed down as suggested by Campbell, but I was facing the wrong way while I was doing it.
Campbell said to never face the horse because if it rears up and strikes, it will paw you on top of the head. But, if you are facing forward, it will paw your butt – a much better choice if the horse falls apart.
Refinement of these little details makes a big difference to the horse. By 10:00 a.m., I had already received my money’s worth out of the clinic.
Cow working came next, and there were several ways Campbell got our horses to “be” with us mentally, and to feel what we were feeling.
Working cows is about horsemanship and keeping your horse soft and willing, said Campbell. So, we picked out a single cow and followed it until the horse rated (went the same speed as) the cow and made nice turns rolling over behind.
Working in partners and groups of three, we took turns picking out a cow and penning it. Getting it to look at the pen with the eye on that side was really important, and so was watching the ears “hook on” the gate. The work was both fast and slow, and laughter was the order of the afternoon.
Colt starting ended the day. One colt was so terrified it kicked the lady working it. Campbell worked it in the round pen and it tried to climb out. He roped a foot and it worked hard at understanding. There was a point when it even sat down as it couldn’t think of anything else to do!
During the clinic, one lady grew frustrated as her horse was constantly “pushing” on her. There was even a time when she had to go and take a break because she was becoming so upset. She hung in there, though, and by the fourth day, you couldn’t pick her nice horse out from all the others. It was quiet, calm, and relaxed, and not pushy at all.
The Cochrane clinic has grown into one of the larger Willing Partners clinics with a supportive environment of learning, safety, fun, and memories.
The next Peter Campbell clinic will be held there from November 3 to 6. For more information, visit www.willingpartners.com.
