Breaking VS Joining Up Discussion

Breaking VS Joining Up Discussion

I am a college student writing a research paper on the benifits of the Join Up method. I was wondering if you caould tell me the difference if any between breaking and sacking out, and the details involved with each. thank you i appericiate any input you can offer. sincerely heather
Answer:
Heather, Hi! I will divide this into the "Old Tyme" Methods of Training VS the "New Natural Horsemanship" or Joining Up, methods that have evolved. Old Father Tyme's Methods: Cowboys, and horseman from years gone by believed that a horse had to be dominated, to be controlled; and since horses' use force with one another, these trainers believed that force was necessary with mankind towards horses as well; in order to earn/deserve a horses' respect. You will note that horses in a herd will sniff nostrils, and "talk" to one another. If one disagrees with the leadership of another, he will "snort" "squeal" and generally be quite vocal with his disagreement. That is where the conflict ensues between them. Usually the newcomer is the one challenging the hierarchy of the other. The established horse will usually use a)charging, b)biting, c)kicking to reinforce his position within the herd. It is from this behavioural pattern that "old tyme horsemen" believed that horse's would only submit, respect, obey if you could prove to the horse that you were more aggessive or dominent. This method worked most of the time, and with most of the trainers. But, what if you were not an aggressive, bold, or dominent personality? I am sure you can see that you would hate horses for forcing you to behave as they do in order to influence their minds and hearts into believing that you were the one to follow, that they could trust you to take care of them~?! Thus came development of "Natural Horsemanship". Natural Horsemanship or "Joining Up" is focused on the premise that horses have a mind, a will and an ability to reason choice. This method is allowing them to make "controlled" choices in deciding that they want to obey, submit and let the trainer take control of them. This method does not use force, or belittling tactics of man or animal, or abuse, or severe training methods/equipment. What it is though, is running out the energy of the "student". {In my personal opinion, horses, adults, children are rebellious, and aggressive from a build up or imbalance of energy. This method, simply runs out the energy, and then the trainer is still there, persisting with the original request.} Proving to the horses' mind, that yes, he can refuse to obey, but "he will then be run from the herd until he changes his mind, from lack of energy to continue to run/or to disobey. In the "run from the herd" the trainer will constantly change the horses' direction, and run the horse in a small space {which uses more energy to repeatedly change direction & then run again in a "tight" space. Generally wheat this means is that the horse must moved collectedly, which again is a larger energy burner than to run wide open & free. Running free is also employing a lower stress level, than running in a small space. Stress is another employ of high energy burn. The natural horsemanship is reported to be faster, purportedly from the lack of abuse; whereas isn't it really from the rapid energy release that comes by the horses' choice to refuse to obey, and therefore be "run out". My only statement is that if you are working with a hot or high energy horse, it will still require sufficient amounts of time, and repetition, due to the energy level still being able to instill a stronger will of refusal, for a repeatly longer period of time. The proven argument against the "old tyme" method is still: in the times of stress, in times of difficulty, or "when the rubber meets the road", the horse will not be there for you; if it is at all hot or high energy, due to the abuse factor, combining the deep ingrained memory that horses have, and the negative memories at that moment controlling the will. Breaking is generally referred to as the "old tyme" method. Sacking out is what is done with a horse, in order to allow it to realize that what is being done to it, although scary at first, once sensitivities subside, realize that NOTHING BAD is happening to it. Sacking out is where the trainer takes a non hostile object (such as a saddle blanket or pad), and moves it all over the horses' entire body in a slow but steady fashion until the horse is no longer in objection to the object or the motion/movement of it on the horses' body. Did I answer your question? Does this make sense? Don't hesitate to contact me if this is confusing, or does not answer what you had in mind. Bye, Best, Mary.