My Journey Testing That Viral Horse Training Thing
Alright, saw this headline popping up everywhere – Chad Brown horse training, secret method revealed, blah blah. Honestly, got kinda curious and maybe a little skeptical. So many “secrets” turn out to be nonsense, right? Figured I’d actually give it a solid go myself and just see what happens, no fancy promises.
Step one was figuring out what the heck people were even talking about. Didn’t buy any courses, just hunted for free descriptions folks shared online. The main points seemed to be:
- Super focused groundwork before even thinking about riding.
- Lots of tiny, clear signals instead of big, forceful moves.
- Making the horse truly relaxed, not just scared into being quiet.
- Way more attention to the horse’s tiny reactions than I was used to.
Then came trying it with my own mare, Dusty. She’s smart but can be stubborn as a mule. Started simple, in a small round pen.
First thing I noticed? I talk too much! Seriously, I chatter at her constantly. This method demanded quiet focus. Shut my trap and concentrated purely on my posture and breathing. Weirdly hard at first, felt awkward, like holding my breath. Dusty looked confused, like “Why’s the human being so quiet suddenly?”
Started with basic sending. Asked her to move around the pen, just walking. Instead of waving my arms wide, I kept them closer, used little flicks of the wrist, shifts of my hips. Tried to make my energy do the work – picture her moving forward instead of yelling at her. It felt subtle, maybe too subtle. Dusty ignored me flat out a few times. Had to back up, be a bit clearer without yelling or waving big flags.
Patience became key. I spent what felt like ages just asking her to soften her eye, lower her head a fraction, relax a shoulder. Tiny, tiny stuff. Noticed things I never paid attention to before – was her jaw tight? Were her nostrils flared slightly? Did her tail swish nervously?
Used quiet rubs for rewards, barely touching her sometimes. Felt silly at first, like “How’s she gonna know this is good?” But slowly, she got it. Saw her lick her lips when I got it right, saw tension melt away from her poll. That was the big clue – seeing that physical relaxation happen.
Built it up super slow over weeks. Kept sessions short, maybe 20 minutes tops. Focused on:
- Getting her truly relaxed and attentive just standing with me.
- Moving her hindquarters and shoulders softly, little steps at a time.
- Following light pressure without pulling back or bracing.
Honestly, sometimes it felt like moving through molasses. No flashy results. Just small, quiet moments where she felt softer, lighter.
So, did I find the big “secret”?
Nah, not really. There’s no magic trick someone hid. What I found, though, is a whole different level of paying attention. It forced me to slow way down, be quiet, and actually see my horse. It’s about building trust through consistency and understanding tiny signals, not forcing her. Dusty feels different now – more connected, more relaxed. We didn’t learn any fancy moves, just started talking better. Honestly, worth the effort. It wasn’t a secret revealed; it was a way of working patiently uncovered, piece by quiet piece.
