Foundational Communication

[Carl Russell]

There have been several posts of late, and over the last few months, about animals that are for all intents and purposes beyond the “training” stage, and well into the “working” stage, yet they are demonstrating unacceptable or confounding behavior.

It got me thinking about the purpose for training. On the surface it appears that we want animals that can perform tasks, and therefore we are training to accomplish them. It can be frustrating when they have already been trained to take the bit, or stand while being hitched, or pull a load, or walk calmly, or hold their feet up to be trimmed, and they begin to exhibit behavior to the contrary.

The way I look at it, they HAVE already been trained to do these things, but what was the real foundation of the training? To do the ultimate task, or to understand the process for achieving that ultimate goal? Are we training them to become trained, or are we training them to be trainable?

In my mind it is training to be trainable. I am never done training. It can be seen as stepping backwards to go back to fundamentals when so much has already been achieved. I know from experience that can be a roadblock in and of itself. But in the bigger scheme those basic steps of training are the foundation for all other things that are dependent on the effective communication of intention.

These “set-backs” can ultimately be beneficial re-enforcers of the basis of the working communication between animals and teamsters. It is always difficult for me to remember this, especially if I’m in the middle of work, or a project that requires that trained performance, but in the long run, I ultimately find that success relies on my ability to release expectations and go back to common ground before I can move forward again.

Carl

[jac]

Thanks for airing this Carl.. over the years I have noticed the very things you mention and have questioned my own approach.. I recon animals experience the same feeling we got as kids when we built a model plane for example.. the build was the interesting bit.. then when it was done and on the shelf.. ok , what now ??..even recently I had my 2 mares going great on the “no pressure” style as written by Donn in SFJ, but just the other day the older mare wasnt so settled… every day a school day….
John

[Michael Colby]

Nicely put, Carl. And it hit home with me as I continue my recently-started journey with my new mare. I’ve had to constantly remind myself that taking a step back after two steps forward is not only okay but required for the relationship we’re building. But it takes a lot of patience and a lot of counting to ten or walking away when the communication starts getting wacky. Hmm, kind of like marriage….

[OldKat]

@Michael Colby 26078 wrote:

Nicely put, Carl. And it hit home with me as I continue my recently-started journey with my new mare. I’ve had to constantly remind myself that taking a step back after two steps forward is not only okay but required for the relationship we’re building. But it takes a lot of patience and a lot of counting to ten or walking away when the communication starts getting wacky. Hmm, kind of like marriage….

Good observation. 😉

[near horse]

Carl – I think you have touched on a major point in teaching/learning philosophy. Some will use the terms “process” vs “product” – process being understanding how to learn something and product being the knowledge/ability to do a particular thing.

IMO – to get on my soap box here, we don’t do a very good job teaching people how to learn, instead we provide factoids to BE learned.

The advantage of a process is it can be used or applied to new information to achieve a new goal (ie. bitting, standing, working 3 abreast …).

[Tim Harrigan]

In some ways I always welcome and am thankful for these “set-backs” because they reveal gaps in my understanding of how complete our communication is as a team. And it helps me develop a better understanding of how my steers understand our relationship and the tasks/situations we encounter. Acting out is an attempt to communicate clearly, maybe because of developing physical issues, perhaps because of new situations that challenge their comfort level, maybe I just failed to read other more subtle messages.

Because I am the leader of the team I bring my own logic to the process and mistakenly think my logic is transparent and also logical to the animals. I can become puzzled or annoyed when they act erratically, but I should be thankful that they have found a way to reveal the knowledge gap. I recall an interesting situation where a young team of steers bolted when crossing a gravel road early on in stone boat training. The logical conclusion was that the team was frightened by the stone boat and this was baggage that the young steers would carry with them (teamster logic). The lesson the young steers took away was that place where they were frightened was dangerous (cattle logic). Turned out the steers had no bone to pick with the stone boat. Teamster logic is linear (depending on who lays it out..:confused:), cattle logic is spatial and contextual.

Our animals have a completely different set of decision rules to guide their choices, interpretation of events and reactions than we do so we can’t assume their understanding of why things happen is the same as ours. If a gap exists, as leaders it is up to us to close it by presenting our logic in a more effective and meaningful way. Anger, being impatient, etc. make the gap wider. So a set-back is not really a set-back, it is just a bend in a winding road and an opportunity to become a more proficient leader.

[mitchmaine]

We probably all let get caught up in “getting’ er done”. Harnessing is an important part of the process, and if we need to adjust a hame strap or take a link in the tugs, its part of the job or process. No big deal. So maybe adjusting the horse is equally important, each day. Not saying its as easy as adjusting a strap and not saying I actually do it, but I think we all do it with or without knowing it. Making it a conscious part of the process is the important part. Donn made a coment back awhile ago about saying “line pressure” too much, or was it no pressure? Not sure, but it ought to be part of a daily list we all make up to suit ourselves while we work. And donn, I don’t think you overuse that phrase. I like it and don’t mind being reminded that the process is really what its about. Just an observation.
mitch

[near horse]

With regard to line pressure I always think of the acronym ALARP I learned back in radiation safety class 😮 referring to using radioactivity in research – As Low As Reasonably Possible.

[Carl Russell]

Tim Harrigan;26083 wrote:

In some ways I always welcome and am thankful for these “set-backs” because they reveal gaps in my understanding of how complete our communication is as a team. …… So a set-back is not really a set-back, it is just a bend in a winding road and an opportunity to become a more proficient leader.

Thanks Tim, this is a big part of what I was getting at…. it isn’t the animals that take the step back it is us, so we need to constantly exercise that humble bone, be open to what the animals are telling us about what we are not telling them… After all they are only doing what they think they are being told to do.

Carl

[Jay]

I have heard it said that every time you are with your animals, they are learning something, and it can either be something useful or not useful/helpful. It is up to us to make sure that every time we interact with them, we are teaching our animals (by doing) useful/helpful (in the long run) lessons. I lead my horses out and into the barn every day and that is the time I spend training them – every step of the way– no shortcuts that I woulldn’t want them to try later. In my experience that is time very well spent. Jay

[Carl Russell]

Yes Jay, that is right. I too use any opportunity with my animals to advance constructive communication.

I had a mentor who used to say “Don’t make over your horses”. He didn’t mean that you couldn’t be kind or caring, just not cooing and all “jelly belly”, because that just is not leadership behavior.

It may seem like a lot, to pay attention to your approach and demeanor at all times, but it goes a long way to successful leadership.

Carl

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