Over the years saying “good boy!” has become an unconscious habit. So I am trying to do all my riding without using my voice, so that it doesn’t happen in a test. (at my last show it became obvious I’m losing points here and there for this unconscious habit). I’ve even tried putting tape over my mouth when I ride. Any ideas? Thanks!
Switch to Western Dressage, we don’t get penalized!
Apart from that, can’t help because I am guilty as well.
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Here’s how I broke my own habit…
I can’t remember which test exactly, but I had to I think do a canter or trot lengthening, and we did it, and I was going away from the judge, and he was REALLY good and I exclaimed, good boy! He deserved it.
At that point, upon hearing this, he promptly stopped. He was done. Good boy means stop and so he stopped. I had to continue cantering and it was difficult and it was my last test of the weekend and it was all I could do not to bust out laughing because at home I said good boy and we would stop. Never again, LOL.
But he really was a good boy. :lol:
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Two suggestions. My dressage guru was trained at the Dutch national school where they would ride holding a wooden match in their front teeth (head sticking out of course). Makes you very aware of unconscious habits!
And once you’ve done that, convert yourself to giving a low hum instead of a “good boy”. Horse will hear it, judge won’t. :winkgrin:
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yes you have to start with not using the voice at home. a stroke of the hand can be ample reward and frugalannie is right, you dont need to speak to communicate .
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Oh man I am so glad you posted this! I am constantly using my voice and my trainer is always yelling at me about it. It’s terrible. I’ll try the match trick and can’t wait to see them rest of the replies!
No clue. Haven’t fixed it myself.
As an aside, I do rally trials with my dogs and I’ve lost up to 10 points on a single test doing the tongue click as a signal to go … apparently that’s too much like a clicker (although I don’t use it in the same way) and is Not OKAY! So yeah … I’m with you there.
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I guess if you get penalized enough, you’ll stop using your voice.
I don’t use my voice much when I ride, but I do regularly give little wither scratches. By default it also comes with a small rein release so it’s two rewards in one.
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Wear a COVID 19 mask while riding!!! I haven’t tried this riding but I sure dislike talking in one in the grocery store!
However my big fault is clicking too much and I don’t think a mask would stop that.
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chew gum. harder to talk with something in your mouth
Just don’t choke on it.
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