My Horse Training Philosophy !

I have spent a lot of energy and ‘thinking’ time building on the knowledge of generations of horsemen in my own family and other exceptional horse trainers in Australia. I have always had a strong desire to understand the teaching and learning processes between horse and rider, and although I am continually ‘tweaking’ my ideas, my methods have evolved into a system I describe as ‘MO:RE ⁴ Training’.

MO:RE 4 Training

Mo tivate

Re sult

Re ward

Re flect

Re peat

I see myself as a teacher, and this system could be described as the basis of a teaching concept that could be applied to children, adults and animals alike.

In practical terms, my approach very much follows traditional Australian and ‘natural' horsemanship methods with the concept of ‘making the right thing easy and the wrong thing hard' and ‘ pressure - release '. However, by considering the definitions of these words;

Pressure is ‘the exertion of force against a thing; influence or persuasion of an oppressive kind'

To Motivate is ‘to stimulate the interest of; to inspire' (Oxford English Dictionary)

… it clicked that good teaching is not just about the lessons you give, but the positive and motivational mindset in which you deliver them!

My Personal “10 Commandments” of Training Horses…!

1. Horses need to be taught acceptance until it becomes a habit
2. Horses need boundaries and a leader
3. Horses need work if they are to be reliable
4. Horses learn in a building block fashion, each block being linked to the last
5. Horses learn from their mistakes/experience
6. Be polite but firm
7. Understand (watch and feel) how your horse moves, recognising strengths and weaknesses
8. Understand how each horse's disposition affects your approach to its training
9. For the trainer, timing and feel is everything
10. Never stop trying to learn to be a better horseman!

My inspirations!

I have great admiration for a number of horsemen from all over the world, some famous, some very local to me. I find greatness in any discipline inspiring, from dressage to racing, and showjumping to western riding. However, I have picked four Australian horsemen who have taught me a lot and inspired me to develop as a trainer and follow my own instincts…

Douglas !

My father, Doug Webb, is a fantastic horseman, who has a natural eye for a horse and an incredible knack for getting the best out of each and every one. His mantra is “wet saddle blankets make good horses”… and I totally agree (think about it…!).

J.D. Wilton

If there is one person I would have loved to have met, it is the late J.D. (Jim) Wilton . Described as ‘ Australia 's Greatest Master Horseman' Jim Wilton is a legend in Australian equestrian circles and today's top horsemen refer back to his methods. Although my grandfather once saw him perform, the closest I will get is reading his book, ‘The Horse and his Education' (1972), which follows his two week method of starting colts and provides a rare insight to a true genius and snippets of information that I try and pass on, for example,

“Never pat him at any time whilst he is nervous, as it only makes him jumpy and afraid. In fact, never pat any horse at any time; he learns to suffer it, but never likes it. Close his eyes gently with a little pressure of such horse your hands if you want to show affection.”

Gerald

Gerald O'Brien is a successful competitive rider from Australia who is also in great demand for his demonstrations. He even performed at the Sydney Olympics, with highlights being him jumping a horse over another horse lying down and has appeared on those infamous Aussie TV programmes Bourke's Backyard, Harry's Practice, The Today Show and The Footy Show. I have spent time with him in Australia and the UK (where we conducted clinics together), and alongside his horsemanship, he is also known for his gift of the gab, with some great sayings that ring true and should become a mantra for riders all over the world! Here are a few choice ones…

“Requirements of a horseman : Knowledge, Balance, Feel and Timing” (99% of us do not have these four things and so we are riders)

“Horses aren't pets…”

“Ride it like you stole it!”

“When in doubt forget all feel and drive the steel, put your mind in the middle, two legs either side and ride like the wind!”

“Horses need a leader… make sure its you”

“The eyes, ears and feet are the windows to a horses mind”

“Give your horse a purpose”

“Your horse should move as free and easy as you do with your own two feet.”

“Horses are claustrophobic animals. Think of them as being trapped in a box, that you have the keys to get out of.”

“Horses are stronger than any man, you have to make what you want to achieve the horses idea.”

“You have to find your own way, don't go home and do exactly what I do, take the idea and build on it”

Darryl Smith

Darryl is probably the best trainer of polocrosse ponies the world has ever had, as well as being one of the greatest players I have seen. Although I haven't spent as much time with him as I would like, watching him play a mare called ‘Miracle' was probably the turning point in my training aspirations, where I went from loving playing the game to wanting to know what it felt like to ride and train a horse that exceptional. I will never forget it.