Step 22- Common Problems with Focus & Bend (FAB)
Step 22 - common problems with focus & bend
We often hear that it’s valuable to observe people making mistakes, as it can be a more effective way to learn. While Warwick can explain what might go wrong, sometimes seeing it happen serves as a better teacher. In our video library, there are clinic videos and virtual lesson videos available, organized in a separate section following a process order. However, when Robyn began teaching Rey the “Leading with Energy” exercise, it unexpectedly turned into a highly instructive video series. We decided to do the same thing with Focus & Bend.
For this reason, we encourage you to watch the video of their initial day working together and see if it resonates with your own experiences.
We understand that every horse is unique, and Rey is no exception. He presents his own set of challenges and quirks, just as your horse does in its own distinctive way. However, by watching the video, you can observe how we tackle some of the more common issues related to this exercise, often connected to the human’s body control and understanding the necessary steps for the horse to perform the exercise correctly.
After watching, go out and work on this exercise again. Don’t skip watching these videos because you don’t have any perceived problems. Having this information is important so you know what to do if a problem arises.
Consider whether you can relate to any of the problems that Robyn encountered. It’s essential to remember that Robyn made several mistakes, even though she is married to Warwick. So, be kind to yourself and grant yourself some patience and practice as you work through this exercise. Mastery takes time and learning from your mistakes is part of the process.
If you encounter any problems with the Focus & Bend, work on them until they are solved and then go back to the Focus & Bend exercise.
You will continue working on the Focus & Bend exercise to the left until your horse goes off around you, off of the point (not having to use the flag) every time and maintains the correct bend. Then you will keep them walking around you (we are not lunging them, but they are going to circle around you). This will be a tool you can use if you ever need to show a vet your horse in a circle – we do not teach it for that purpose, we teach it for collision avoidance purposes and to get them to read your energy, amongst other things.
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.
This was perfect. I made ALL the mistakes.
Warwick, I am trying this with a horse that has been taught to “lunge for respect” by another training method (before I owned him). As a result, he is very sensitive to pointing, etc. On the one hand, he is really teaching me to be very careful about my energy and body language during this exercise, but it’s difficult for me to get him to stop when I release. He also anticipates a direction change (consistent with the lunging for respect method.) Suggestions?
Are you stepping back to draw him in to stop?
I’ve tried that, with little to no success. He seems to become robotic the minute I raise my hand and expects an almost immediate direction change (consistent with that method). What did work last night, as I was thinking this through, was to quickly flash the flag in front of him after 1-2 steps away, then release. He stopped, straightened out and was totally focused on me then, rather than the gesture. I could see the wheels turning as he looked at me. I went through the steps again, repeated the flag and he did the same. I left him the night to think about it and we will try again tonight.
I believe I asked if you step back and draw him in. Your reply was ”He seems to become robotic the minute I raise my hand and expects an almost immediate direction”.
Im unsure what you mean by “raise my hand”?
I’ve tried stepping back to draw him in, but that doesn’t seem to be effective. “Lunging for respect” means taking off at a trot or canter from the lift the lead and point to the left, so it’s hard to step back in time to stop that–he’s already past me. What I mean by “raising my hand” is the part of the Focus and Bend exercise when I lift my hand with the lead in it to point to the left.
Last night I tried the steps of Focus and Bend again and this time, he took one step, I lowered my hand and energy and he straightened out perfectly and stopped. I’ve had this horse for several years and he’s eager to please and tries to anticipate every move I make, so slowing him down to focus on me (rather than immediately reacting) is helping us both.
“so it’s hard to step back in time to stop that–he’s already past me.”
You need to rotate always so you are facing him, then there is no “past you”.
Hi Warwick, I’m half leasing a retired trail horse. He currently has more draw than drive and I elected to try focus and bend before leading with energy. Yesterday was my first attempt and I’m seeing that he freezes when I get to waving the flag. Maybe he had frozen earlier and I missed it. Anyway, after 3 fails, it was clear I should stop. Do I try leading with energy or go back farther?
How is he with the flag in the Creating Connection Through Change In Focus?
I had thought he was ok with it. I stayed further away from him than I was when trying the focus and bend. Is there a video to get him ok with the flag or did I miss something important with Creating Connection through Change in focus?
Ok, so I want you to slow down your flag, dont get so big so soon, but also make sure that your body language communicates that you want him to move. Make sure you are effective.
I failed to be effective again and it dawned on me that he has been desensitized with a flag in his prior life. It feels like he is gutting it out and not responding to the flag as if that’s the test I’m making him do. He is a clingy horse who’s been taught to be stoic and obedient, I think. What would you do with him? I’d love to teach him to be more of what I think I’m hearing from you is normal and not on top of me.
The focus and bend is not a place to start with a horse on top of you. You would work through the flow chart first, and in that if you cant get them off of you, then you work with them through a fence.
OK thanks. I’ll go back to the flowchart and work through a fence if I need to.
Hey Warwick,
Im working on the focus and bend with my horse and leading with energy. He tends to do what you see in the video series with Dulce where he leans his shoulder in like you said foals do to their mothers.
I have had success with getting him to move around me with the focus and bend and working on the crab walk. However is there a cue you can train them to move over when you are leading them in a straight line for which you don’t have room to bend them around you. Like a stall hallway that is narrow? The crab walk seems to be a better cue for these scenarios as it’s just a pick up on the lead rope vs having to turn them in a circle which is difficult in a more confined space. But what to make sure I’m teaching the right thing.
Thank you.
The leading with energy is what teaches this.
Hi Warwick,
I have a sensitive 3yo filly who I’m working through the process with.
We have previously had ear pinning issues so I’ve taken things right back to the start. I have always acknowledged if she pinned her ears whilst I approached her or did something and I would step back.
She used to be a bit pushy and march up to you with her ears flat back. Over the past few months I’ve spent time working on this in the paddock. If she tried to approach me with ears back I would initially try click/slap my leg /gently move flag to change her thoughts. (I would never step backwards)Sometimes this worked but sometimes I had to get very big with my energy and flag to make sure she didn’t continue to march up with a pissy expression. . Now I have gotten her to where she will approach softly with her ears forward and licks and chews as she says hello.
She then got a bit defensive about the flag so I started CCTCIF to get her engaging with it again. She will now draw to the flag without the pissy expression.
I can catch her easily she will put her nose into the halter and lick and chew after. Our standing still and present is good we have spent lots of time on this.
Now currently I’d like to start some training again. Previously she obviously hadn’t past grade as I had overlooked the pissy ears in the paddock and I think it had escalated from there. Previously when I had asked her to do FAB she would yeild away from the slightest halter pressure with a perfect bend however she would flatten her ears. I was never sure what to do in this situation. I always released at the slightest try however was unsure if releasing whilst her ears were pinned was ideal?
She would do the same with leading with energy, she would move forward off my energy however would flatten her ears. Again if I released she would bring her ears forward and lick and chew.
I haven’t tried FAB since I’ve done the extra work in the paddock with her, before I do I would love a clear idea in my head of what to do in both these situations if she does pin her ears again. She previously seemed almost inconvenienced I’d asked her to do something.
Would really appreciate your advice. Thankyou so much,
Tash
“)Sometimes this worked but sometimes I had to get very big with my energy and flag to make sure she didn’t continue to march up with a pissy expression. . Now I have gotten her to where she will approach softly with her ears forward and licks and chews as she says hello.”
This is a prefect application of the principles.
“I haven’t tried FAB since I’ve done the extra work in the paddock with her, before I do I would love a clear idea in my head of what to do in both these situations if she does pin her ears again”
It really depends how she does it. If she goes off with a lot of energy from a subtle ask, then I’d suggest doing nothing, BUT if she doesnt go right from the point, I’d stop sking when she recognises your ask, before she actually moves.
Thankyou Warwick. She sure is testing me. The last few days I have gone in , she’s walked up with ears forward put her nose in the halter. Licked, chewed and yawned. If I stand in front of her for standing still and present she’s fine but if she goes to walk off and I match steps she will flatten her ears here also. If I stand beside her I can scratch her neck etc and she’s happy however if I even bring my energy up to ask her to step forward she will flatten her ears and crinkle her nose. I have then waited till she shifts her weight or shows a sign of going forward and then I’ll release . Then her ears will come forward. Unsure if I’m doing the right thing here. I always make sure I’m in a good headspace and relaxed when I work with her but It’s hard to not become defensive myself when she acts so pissy however I’m really trying.
“but It’s hard to not become defensive myself when she acts so pissy”
Dont assume that with her it means shes pissy. Sometimes horses can learn the habit of it, but it doent mean they are pissy. If you are getting good willing responses, maybe ignore it for a while, and not judge it as pissy, and see what happens.
Thanks Warwick , that has helped me a lot. I really appreciate your time , Thankyou again!