Ep. 28 - On toolkits, tantrums and leg aids

Trainers will always be prejudiced against the toolkits they don’t understand, can’t be bothered with, or do so brilliantly (and easily) that they fail to recognise their brilliance. This complicates the ‘map battles’ between the proponents of the various toolkits. It pays to ‘outframe’ the zero toolkit to include saddlery, farriery, bodywork etc. - the supporting arts that help your horse to not be one of the ‘walking wounded’ who doesn’t limp, but is not physically robust. If he throws tantrums, suspect a physical problem as you ask yourself if the issue rooted in pain, in his brain, or in his training. A kick or whip tap needs to change your horse’s brain chemistry (and can do so ethically) so that he has more ‘get up and go’ chemicals. The aid needs to rebound like a slap, and not be a nudge or squeeze.