DIY Video Trainers

 

 

Over the years, I've had a lot of people ask me why I never made a training video, and there's only one honest way to respond to that question:  with a hearty knee-slapping belly laugh, and telling the kidder what a hoot they are.  Too Funny.

 

I find it very difficult to respect DVD selling trainers.

They're packaging a set-in-stone method of horse training that they've had success with themselves, without considering the wide variety of horses and people who will be trying to mimic them.

 

I don't even understand how anyone can HAVE a "method".

I know I don't.

I have techniques I tend to use more often than others for certain horses and temperaments, but I can list at least 10 different ways to address just about any training issue... and I use them all depending on the circumstances.

 

Each horse I ever trained was an individual that required tweaking my approaches and responses accordingly... often during sessions and without any forethought.

The *correct method* is the one that works for the specific horse in question, and NOT something that can be recorded in a "how-to" video... because the dynamic is always evolving.

 

So I guess the #1 reason I never made a video is because I don't have a *method* of training that works universally for every horse and rider... and I don't believe anyone else does either.

 

Realistically, it is NOT POSSIBLE to instruct novices in training techniques via DVD for many reasons, and of course, I'm gonna throw a few of  'em out there.

 

1]  You don't hand a loaded gun to a 5 year old.

Since you don't know the age or basic horse experience of your viewers, you have to be very careful in regards to what information you share and what you withhold.

Let's face facts: Horses can be very dangerous if mishandled.

 

2]  You have no idea what *core issues* are present in your viewers' horses... things that must be recognized and corrected BEFORE the topic of the DVD can be effectively addressed.

For Example, as a video trainer, you make a trailer loading DVD... but unless you include cures for every ground issue in the book from not leading properly to being a sullen jackass, your video will fail to educate.

You know good and well that if these horses came to you in person for trailer training, you'd be teaching them some ground manners before you got them anywhere near a horse trailer.

 

3]  If you make another DVD instructing people how to resolve disrespectful ground manners, you'll end up either A} horrifying the unicorn huggers by actually correcting the disrespectful horse; or B} offering poison kool-aid in the form of irrational, unrealistic, and ineffective methods that are "unicorn hugger friendly" ... it's a no-win situation for both the horse and its owner.

Of course, with proper marketing,  you can become rich and famous... so there is a plus side.

 

4]  Every horse trainer worth the title knows that being capable of reading a horse's most subtle body language is the absolute KEY to success... and that accurately "reading" horses is an art, not a science. 

Now how do you teach THAT to your DVD viewers?

Body language from my horses always tells me when to apply pressure, when to back-off, and when to turn tail and run.... sometimes all three within the blink of an eye. 

 

5]  *Always leave yourself a way out*...  an experienced horseman tries to never be put into a compromising situation with a horse, or at least takes calculated risks.

A novice puts herself into all kinds of dangerous positions without ever even realizing it.

How do you protect the safety of your viewers when they don't realize the risks?

Yes, you sell them a stick that's a little longer than their horse's back leg (hopefully) to use along with your video.

Doesn't solve the basic problem though.

 

6]  You cannot teach someone to be a horse trainer until they have at least a grasp of the basic skills and a modicum of confidence in themselves.

Nervous people are ineffective horse trainers (unless the goal is to turn out a psychotic horse).

 

Puhleeze... with very few exceptions, these videos help no one but the seller of them.

In reality, some novice horse owners become more frustrated than they were before, some become mired in endless groundwork unsure of what to do next, and some are actually injured during "training".

A few people claim success, but their horses often indicate otherwise through their neurotic behaviors... I've seen many of them.

 

I find that most video clinicians assume a level of expertise in their viewers that doesn't exist... setting novices up to fail due to lack of basic skills that can only be learned one-on-one with a real-life instructor and plenty of practice.

 

 

 

I just fail to see the benefits of DIY training videos to those who purchase them the most and need instruction the most...

usually people who are intimidated by their horse, and/or grasping at straws to save the relationship by *bonding* with them during DIY training sessions.

 

With the exception of basic "how to" stuff, like how to saddle a horse properly, how to braid a mane, how to apply bandages (to themselves after their horse injures them), the typical horse owner simply cannot digest or utilize the information in training videos successfully because they have no core of knowledge or basic skills to build upon.

I can drive a car, but you certainly don't want me overhauling your motor... same thing.

 

Actually, these video clinicians are making DVDs that address horse training issues, when in reality, the average person usually needs training far more then her noble steed.

 

This is not to say that videos can't be helpful to intermediate or higher skill-level horse owners who merely need ideas or alternate methods to incorporate into their already existing program... these people are capable of selecting the tidbits of information that are useful to them and discarding the rest... but typically, these aren't the people buying the lion's share of the videos... frightened and frustrated minimally skilled novices ARE.

 

My advice:  Use your time and money wisely by investing in educating yourself with a real-life instructor rather than buying DVDs.

 

There it is... my opinion on training videos.

More harmful than helpful in the wrong hands, and that's usually where they're found.