In this DVD, the first in a series, Mark Rashid discusses the difference between softness and lightness in both horse and rider.
He also demonstrates several exercises for ways in which riders can develop softness in themselves and then be able to present that to their horse.
He demonstrates with several horses the effects of softness in developing communication, and presents some practical applications of the information presented.
'Developing Softness Volume 1' has a running time of one hour, thirty minutes
Working in America, Europe & Australia with a multitude of breeds and riding diciplines, he focuses on what is happening on both sides of the horse/human relationship and how the rider can clearly communicate while building trust.
Mark Rashid has commited himself since youth to finding quit but effective ways to work with horses. As seen in his books, Considering the Horse, A Good Horse is Never a Bad Colour, Horses Never Lie, Life Lessons From a Ranch Horse and Horsemanship Through Life, Mark Rashid conveys his lessons in a practical, concrete manner - but with feel and understanding for the horse.
In two specialty sequences, Mark Rashid first works with a two-week old foal on some basics of handling, haltering and leading, illustrating how the same principles of 'Finding The Try' apply from the first horse-human interactions. Then mark demonstrates in close-up the kind of feel in handling reins needed to help a horse (and rider) succeed.
Mark's instruction on communication involves always searching for the least amount of cue or pressurepossible. Key to this is recognizing the horse's earliest tries to respond, because finding and building on these efforts allows the horse to learn faster with less confusion and struggle. Hence ... Finding The Try!
