I have the 7 Clinics DVD from Buck Brannaman, and I really enjoy them. Since they are footage from clinics they aren’t really set up in a step-by-step format. I am looking to introduce my horse to the training flag, but I didn’t see anything about doing an initial introduction on the DVDs (maybe I missed it??). I want to her get used to me using it without totally desensitizing her to it. She is very level-headed so it gets easy for her to get ho-hum about things. Does anyone have any advice?
I introduced it to my filly by first just leaving it on the ground outside her stall/paddock. That way she could see it and advance/retreat on her own. Then I started carrying it around with me so she’d see me with it. Then I introduced it to her by me holding it and letting her check it out. This was maybe over the span of a few days - a week.
One thing you’ll learn - and teach your horse - about using the flag is that a lot of it has to do with YOUR energy and what your intention is with using it. I can stand in front of my horses and non-chalantly wave it around, touch them with it, rub it all over their bodies, etc. But if I ask them to follow a feel with the lead rope and move out or move a certain part of the body, then if I put more energy into it, the flag acts as an extension of my energy.
I’ve also used it to introduce my filly to a tarp. In addition to the flag, I cut up a big tarp and put a small corner on the handle. Once she got used to that I took it off and put on a bigger square. Now I can take the smaller square (not on the handle) and rub it all over her and she’ll stand still and won’t freak out because a tarp is touching her (I think the crinkly noise is what freaked her out at first).
I can ride my mustang while holding/carrying the flag and use it to flag my filly from on his back - just gives her a different perspective and also is an interesting exercise in using my energy toward one horse but not another.
It is a great tool to learn how to use effectively. I love the 7 Clinics DVDs.
What pocket pony said. I have to do balloons as part of the mounted patrol training I am going through. We had to walk over 4 poles. Each pole had a traffic cone at the end, and tied to the cone was a big helium foil Elmo balloon. During our training clinic, I actually dismounted, went over to one of the cones, and desensitized my mare to the balloon by touching her all over with it. My concern about just trying to go through the poles was the wind - what if she was OK with being near the balloons, but got upset if the wind blew one into her belly or legs? So I did ground work before getting on and tackling the obstacle.
