Step 17 – Common Problems You Might Encounter When Working On Flowchart
Step 17 - Common Problems YOU MAY ENCOUNTER WHILE WORKING ON THE SSAP Flowchart
You have tried the Standing Still & Present Flowchart for a couple of days now. Did you know that you can easily print it from the FAQ page if you haven’t already. The following videos are some of the common problems that you may encounter while trying to get to the Standing Still & Present phase.
As you continue to practice this foundational exercise, if you find that your horse isn’t standing still and present as soon as you enter your usual working area, continue to practice the flowchart until they consistently achieve this state.
Additionally, explore more videos that demonstrate the flowchart in action, often recorded at clinics and expos. This will provide you with a deeper understanding and more practical knowledge to apply with your horse.
Remember the valuable tip about recording yourself during these sessions. It’s an excellent way to further analyze and refine your technique.
Keep working on the flowchart exercises until your horse transitions smoothly from the moment you catch them to leading them to the working area, where they stand still and remain present for the majority of the time. You’ll know it’s time to move on when you no longer observe your horse twitching for extended periods, and you start feeling that it’s becoming routine. Trust your intuition and reflect on the insights from the passing grade podcast as you progress.
Then and only then will you move on to Step 18.
Remember how to navigate this course? Just click on the topics below under Lesson Content. Then at the bottom of each topic, there will be a button to move you to the next topic. If you click on Next Lesson at the bottom of this page without going through all the topics, you will feel lost! LESSONS = STEPS and the TOPICS = What we want you to learn about during that step.
When leading my horse from one paddock to another, he became very anxious…following the flowchart :- get the horse to follow the lead rope …instead he kicked out & ran off …i couldnt get his attention …any tips what i should do next time? Thanks 😊
h have you perfected this before trying to use it in this scenario?
have you dont the Creating Connection Through Change In Focus? How good was he with it?
I’ve been working through the 30 day program for several weeks and have felt that my horse and I have been doing well. Bandit is an 8 year old Appaloosa gelding that I’ve had since birth. He and I do trail riding in the Alberta Rocky Mountains and he is a good steady trail horse. I made the decision to restart his training this winter because last fall I felt he was becoming increasingly shut down. Lack of energy, unresponsive, disconnected.
So…the 30 day seemed to offer a positive program for rebuilding connection.
My problem- having made good progress, connection through change in focus, the Flowchart, moving into F & B and then Leading with energy – we have become stuck. I can no longer achieve the standing still and present. Bandit will not stand still. I get him in position and after a brief pause there (no longer any signs of let down) he walks passed me. I use both techniques of waiting for him to hit the end of the rope and then redirecting him back to me and the method of walking along his body to his hind end and bringing him back around. I can get him back in front of me again, but he very quickly walks passed me again, and again…. I have heard your message regarding if something is not working stop doing it, but have no idea what to do instead, or if I should just continue with the suggested methods. I also do the matching steps and the just hanging out.
Your advice on how to unstick us would be most appreciated.
It sounds like he is anticipating being asked to go, which is great for a horse that was shut down. When you say ” I get him in position” I think you are subtley cueing him that you are about to ask for something, in your energy or posture. Try lookin g at the ground, and not at him, and try keeping your energy low, like you are very tired and worn out. If he walks past you, redirect him back to you but make sure you then back up to draw him to you
Thanks for your response to my question. It had occurred to me that perhaps ‘getting into position’ had become a cue for the focus and bend exercise which I have spent a good deal of time on, I will try what you’ve suggested.
Thansk Wendy, let me know how it goes.
Update on progress with the standing still and present. I focused on completing relaxing my body and looking down not at Bandit. So interesting -worked like a charm. It seems that my stance and eye contact were cueing him to begin the focus and bend and then causing us both to become confused, me because “why won’t he stand still” and him because “why does she keep correcting me”.
Such a small thing and yet such a big difference. Many thanks.
Great work. Now you have an awareness of how much awareness they have!