b'Changing EyesBuddy UldriksonBuddy Uldrikson Training at Rancho Rio Bonita: buddyuldriksonhorsemanship.comD irectly behind himself,Step 1 neck toward you, the horse cannot see. Towhile his hindquarters prevent predators fromroll or disengage entering this blind spot aaway. Once you are horse is hardwired to instantlyable to move the horse take flight. It is his prime means of protecting thisfreely from either vulnerable area. His fallback defense is to kick. side, you are ready to begin the exercise. In the wild, these instinctive reactions serve a horsePlace yourself on well. In contrast, staying safe in our domesticatedthe horses off (right) world requires a thought-through response instead.side. With the horses Therefore we need to focus on developing the horsesrear positioned near ability to change eyes. Using a variety of exercises,the fence, perform we help the horse become comfortable about seeingthe disengagement an object with one eye, allowing that object to be in ormaneuver.pass through his rear blind spot and picking up the object and resume viewing it with his other eye. STEP 2: Send Off With EnergyAs the horses head comes towards the fence, stop yourStep 4The exercise here illustrates a way of using the round penfeet but not your energy. Let the horses head pass in fence to assist you when teaching your horse to changefront of you. Now send the front quarters on through eyes. An additional benefit that the round pen offers,and away from you by raising your hands and projecting given that the horse is free from the influence of a leadyour energy toward the horses leaving eye. This actionAn additional benefit that the rope or lariat, youll see a truer picture unfold of how hisis referred to as pushing on an eye. How much youround pen offers, given that ability to change eyes is developing. must push to send the horse off will vary. As you experiment,the horse is free from the STEP 1: Bend and Disengagekeep this inStep 2First, become comfortable with reaching your arm undermind: the horseinfluence of a lead rope or the horses neck and using just your fingers, bring hisneeds to be sent off with enoughlariat, youll see a truer picture momentum to carry himunfold of how his ability to through the turnchange eyes is developing.and have you hook him on as he comes outSTEP 4: Through the Blind Spoton the other eye. In order for him to change eyes, theres a brief moment when the horse is straight and you are in his blind spot. STEP 3: Moving Off, Feeling Back Dont betray him. To make it easy on him, drop your Youve arrived at the moment of truth. Its during thisenergy level, remain aware, and stay motionless forphase of exercise that your relationship will be tested. Asthat instant.the horse leaves, he should bend his neck slightly toward you so he can watch you out of the corner of his leavingSTEP 5: OntoStep 5eye. Hes feeling back to you for direction, guidance,the Other Eyeand support. Yet, with the round pen fence coming upThe horse will ahead, the horse is faced with a decision. He is aboutplace you onto to place you in his blind spot, that area directly behindhis new eye by him where he cannot see you or keep track of you.bending his Should he remainneck in this new Step 3 connected to you?direction and Or should he fleepicking you up out instead? By watchingof the back corner his ears, his eye, hisof that eye. Watch head carriage andfor this moment. the level of tensionIts your signal to in his body, you canhook the horse on. monitor his thoughts.Step away from If you remain steady,the fence and back confident, focusedto draw on that and non-threatening,eye, thus hooking you can often supporthim on and having the horse throughhim come up to this decision andyou. After a short have him remainbreak, that includes a reassuring rub on the horses connected to you.forehead, set the situation up again but now from the If he leaves, set theother side. By making this and similar exercises a part of same situation upyour routine, youll enable your horse to become relaxed, again and try again. comfortable and confident about changing eyes.42 December 2019'