Tristan Tucker and the TRT Method Reviews/Results?

[ohioeventer]

I am generally not a “method” type of person. As in, I don’t generally buy into a one size fits all for horses, but after watching a few videos and reading a few blog entries, my interest has been piqued. I currently have a young horse who is very agreeable to training but will throw in spooks at the most random of times. I’ve gone through the checklist of issues (vet, teeth, farrier, chiro, etc.) and it just seems that his young, mostly happy brain just needs some education in this area on how to respond to outside stimuli. In my internet searches, I came across Tristan and his TRT Method.

I am hoping that maybe someone on here has tried it or has some experience with it and is willing to share before I decide whether or not to pull the trigger on enrolling. I like that he very specifically says you have to figure out what your horse needs and apply the principles to suit your horse. It’s not your typical run the horse in a million circles until they can’t take it anymore. It’s more of teaching a horse to be responsive and to respond in the manner you would like. Anyway, if anyone has anything, let it fly. Thanks!

[Scribbler]

I can’t view the videos because I don’t want to hand over my email address and get spam for the next decade

In general, I’d say that working in person with a trainer is more beneficial than just following an on-line program. One of the big problems with self-study in horses is that you miss a lot of the details of your own body language, posture, and timing that a trainer standing next to you would correct.

IME, body language, posture, position, form, for in-hand or ground work is a lot less complicated than in the saddle, but it is *equally important." If you are standing in a way that invites behavior you don’t want, your training won’t work. That includes inadvertently blocking your horse from going forward, or the opposite, inviting him to follow you when you don’t want it (“invade your space”). Or not being quick and precise enough, or not standing up tall enough, or not asking enough, or asking too much.

I did a good “training for courage” clinic a few years back with regional trainer, and have seen some other groundwork clinics and trainers as well. Basically, no matter how much they claim to have a system, they are basically working with the same set of concepts and techniques. In particular, keep your horse’s exposure to new, potentially scary, objects at the level of curious and interested. Stand between him and the object. Don’t act like you are training a puppy and use your high=pitched excited “what’s this? what’s this? OOO!” voice. Rather act like you don’t care about the thing, don’t even notice it. Go at the horse’s level of comfort. Walk by the tarp ten feet away multiple times before you start getting closer. If he starts to goggle, stay at that distance until he relaxes.

Don’t let the horse actually get afraid. Show him that you will recognize his comfort level and work within it.

Etc.

I see that Tristan has a dressage background, which might make it easier for a dressage rider to communicate with him. Also it might help with the transition to under-saddle work. But I would expect that he’s using the same basic techniques as the better sort of western horsemanship person.

The big question with anyone teaching humans how to do ground work, is how do they transition back to the saddle? Some ground work trainers (as we know) seem to keep their students out of the saddle permanently. Others, I’ve seen IRL, don’t have the feel and tact in the saddle that they have (and teach) on the ground. So if you want a program that integrates groundwork and riding, the riding component also matters.

[ohioeventer]

Thanks for the input One of things I liked about this method is there are modules specifically for transitioning to under saddle work and then working under saddle. I currently train with a wonderful dressage specific coach, so I do get the “in person” assistance through her, but I travel to her and am often on my own when it comes to going to shows, hacking, training at home, etc. I’ve been riding for 30 years now and am always looking to better educate myself especially in areas I haven’t had to deal with much before.

[Scribbler]

[QUOTE=ohioeventer;8824145]
Thanks for the input One of things I liked about this method is there are modules specifically for transitioning to under saddle work and then working under saddle. I currently train with a wonderful dressage specific coach, so I do get the “in person” assistance through her, but I travel to her and am often on my own when it comes to going to shows, hacking, training at home, etc. I’ve been riding for 30 years now and am always looking to better educate myself especially in areas I haven’t had to deal with much before.[/QUOTE]

OK, if you are experienced, then you probably have the background knowledge to usefully use videos.

Many good riding coaches/trainers aren’t that sophisticated with their understanding of groundwork. They have enough experience and authority with horses that no horse gives them trouble on the ground, but they haven’t thought through how to communicate the ground work aspect to someone less skilled and experienced.

IME, the really key things with groundwork training are your posture and body language, and your timing — just like in the saddle. Plus you need to “do” your groundwork basics all the time when you are with the horse, not doze off and let him pull you into the grassy ditch while you are talking on the phone, then expect him to lead nicely the next time. So really pay attention to those aspects in the videos, to how the person is standing, to timing, etc., not just to what the horse is doing.

[ShannonLee]

From what I have seen TRT has the expertise to break down how to work in hand (and that doesn’t mean piaffe) with all horses. I find it exactly the same stuff every great horsemen in all disciplines do naturally - but it’s packaged for dressage types. I get my back up when people think it’s something new, it’s not. But it is packaged well and if it helps someone understand how to build a relationship with a horse from the ground up it’s great. Better than Parelli but some similarities.

[eternalbeginner]

I’ve followed some of TRT advices on groundwork with my pony. He was very spooky but also was very overreactive about things. If he had a tiny scratch and you had to put some ointment on it, he would react as if you were trying to kill him. He would spook to things they saw everyday when they were out of their ordinary place, and he would spook at the place where they should have been.

Since I started the groundwork, he seems to have increased his trust in me, he stills spooks sometimes but his reactions are more within the “normal” spook reaction.

I had an accident on early July and I have beeen unable to keep working with him, so he is untrustful of people again, but somehow he has not reverted to his behaviour under saddle so far.

[colorfan]

Now you have me curious and will go check out Tristan when I have a chance. Like previous posters said I think good groundwork from any instructor has similar ideas just packaged or worded differently.
While it is impossible to present every possible scary scenario to a horse I believe it is possible to teach them how to handle a scary situation. John Lyons calls it ‘spook in place’.
I also agree not all ground work transfers to the saddle but I have found that many things are easier to teach from the ground and if they don’t know it on the ground it is harder (generally) to teach from the saddle.
I guess this doesn’t specifically apply to your question re Tristan. lol

[scruffy_the_cat]

I compared the TRT method and Warwick Schiller’s teachings- they have some commonalities- and I decided to go with the Warwick Schiller stuff. The video access was a good deal cheaper (just $300ish for a whole year of access, including video lessons, clinic footage, and FB discussion groups that WS answers himself) and I found Schiller easier to understand. He is a reiner, but often quotes the dressage masters and his goals are the same as any good horseman anywhere- forward, lightness, self-carriage, and self-control. His training method is pretty standard operant conditioning, which has been around for a long time, but I do find his teaching and speaking style to be pretty easy to understand. My horse has gotten dramatically more settled and confident since we’ve been adding some of this training to our regimen- no more spooks, threats to bolt, bucks, or rears, and he has become a joy to lead and now gets compliments from the barn staff- and his dressage fundamentals have improved as well.

[scruffy_the_cat]

I compared the TRT method and Warwick Schiller’s teachings- they have some commonalities- and I decided to go with the Warwick Schiller stuff. The video access was a good deal cheaper (just $300ish for a whole year of access, including video lessons, clinic footage, and FB discussion groups that WS answers himself) and I found Schiller easier to understand. He is a reiner, but often quotes the dressage masters and his goals are the same as any good horseman anywhere- forward, lightness, self-carriage, and self-control. His training method is pretty standard operant conditioning, which has been around for a long time, but I do find his teaching and speaking style to be pretty easy to understand. My horse has gotten dramatically more settled and confident since we’ve been adding some of this training to our regimen- no more spooks, threats to bolt, bucks, or rears, and he has become a joy to lead and now gets compliments from the barn staff- and his dressage fundamentals have improved as well.

Schiller also understands that groundwork is just one component and riding is another. His groundwork isn’t for groundwork’s sake- it feeds into successful riding. Then he has tools and approaches for getting rid of trouble under saddle. It’s all very practical- it helps that he’s a competitive rider himself and not just out to make a fast buck.

[tabula_rashah]

Tristan is fantastic. I have worked with him and watched him work with many other horses. He is the one trainer I know of that can bridge the “natural” horsemanship stuff with dressage. It’s amazing to watch his feel and his timing with the horses. And he’s just a nice guy to hang around with too.