Session Tips | KV Equine

Video Recording Tips

Tripods are helpful if you don't have someone with a steady hand to film you
You don't need a fancy camera. Cell phones take great video. It is best to film in wide angle rather than up and down.
Both Android and Apple have editing software available so that you can crop your videos. They also often let you record voice over top so you can describe what is happening. (I personally like iMovie which is free and does both!)
Upload to YouTube - you can make your video "unlisted" which allows me to see it with a link, but doesn't share it with the world.

Don't be self conscious about mistakes, it's amazing how much we learn from watching our own videos.

I have learned a lot from watching myself.

Before you begin

If you are having behavioral issues, always check for pain and equipment fit before addressing the behavior. Sudden negative changes in behavior often indicate pain.

Bring out a vet and if necessary a body worker or specialist (chiro, acupuncture, nutritionist, dentist). Also consider equipment specialists such as saddle and bit fitters.

It may seem expensive, but no amount of advice or training will change a horse who is acting out due to pain or poor equipment fit. Even poor nutrition can cause a wealth of problems.

If your vet is not helpful and you still suspect something is wrong, don't be afraid to seek second opinions or talk to specialists. I've known a few people where the vet said "nothing is wrong" only to find out their horse was in severe pain.

There are no quick fixes

Horses learn things at different rates, but some things are harder to learn than others.

Overcoming a strong phobia due to a trauma is usually the most difficult, as we can never truly erase a fear pathway in the brain. Physical pain memories can take a while to overcome as well.

Classical and counter-conditioning are the usual ways through these, but be aware that it can still take months or even years to overcome a strong fear. Training steps must be broken down into tiny pieces and plateaus and regression are common. Creativity and a lot of patience are required.

Don't try to address a major problem two weeks before a significant event! We let the horse to progress at its own speed and using force is not conducive to progress. Getting frustrated and resorting back to force can ruin that progress, so be prepared to adjust your plans if you really want to fix the issue.

In certain cases, we must also adjust our expectations. Some horses may simply never be suitable for the task we want them to do. (i.e. trail riding out alone) There are a lot of factors besides the mechanics of training, such as previous traumas, trainer skill, horse-human chemistry, personal limitations, physical limitations, environmental restrictions and so on. It is up to the human to be realistic about their expectations.