My perspective on training horses has deepened over time and has developed into the strategies and methodologies that I currently utilize.  Although my training utilizes physical maneuvers or exercises, it is strongly connected to the horse's mental and emotional stat.  In order to control the horses's body, you must have a mental connection to their mind.  This connection is established through effectively reading the horses body language.  This comes back to changing the horse, the horse is nturally in a reactive state of mind and I shift their mental state to a "thinking" state of mind through a series of physical approaches or exercises.  So again, I change them from a reactive state to a thinking state.  I use these physical exercises and appoaches to reach deep enough into the horses' mental physiology to truly shift how that horse operates in the world.  In order for me to accomplish this, I had to develop a set of techniques that are very different from some of the current strategies that are used to work with horses.

 

My program is all about preparation.  The first thing I do with a horse is to gain the horses' respect.  Once I have established a respectful relationship, I can build on this and move to develop a relationship built on trust that is grounded in respect.  If the respect is not established, then one will never create a relationship build on trust.  If they trust you, but they don't respect you, you will not have a safe relationship.  I will restate this, "trust without respect is not safe" and not healthy for human or horse.  Then I strategically pdrepare my horse for every type of stimuli that they may encounter through their human/horse interaction.  I break down into little pieces every challenge and stimuli that the horse my encounter in their human/horse relationship.  These pieces become the building blocks of preparation.  In each of these blocks of preparation, I strategically build confidence and respect in the horse effectively preparing them for the next level of training. If the horse has issues at any level of training that is only feedback that the horse needs to return to the last block of development.  I have the ability to move backwards and forwards through my blocks of preparation which effectively prepares my horse.  If I encounter any issues at the next block of training, that provides me feedback that my horse needs to return to the last block of training and prepare more thoroughly.  Thus, each horse can be effectively trained to their needs, and their issues can be identified and eliminated through effective preparation.

 

Effective preparation means that I allow the horse to create a low level of trouble in a controlled space.  Then I keep them in trouble until they figure out how to get themselves out of trouble.  The release that I offer is always when they get more confident, soften up and get into their thinking brain rather than their reactive brain.  This begins to change a horses' mentality from a reactive brain, over time, to a thinking brain.  In my program I am constantly preparing horses to think and handle all kinds of situations, through preparation.  I create a very firm foundation for the horse before I move onto the next level of development.

 

Within my program I ensure that I provide enough challenge to keep my horse connected.  There is a danger in preparing the horse without challenging them.  The consequence of not challenging a horse is that they become bored.  They can shut off, lose respect and become unconnected.  The goals of my training program are to create a relationship built on respect, trust and connection.  If the horse shuts off, you will lose that connection.  Another goal of my program is to have horses prepared in a manner that they are confident so that they can handle adverse situations opposed to desensitizing or shutting off.  Quite often horses that are numb or dull or bomb proof, so to speak, are not safe.  In reality the safest horses are the ones that are respectful, trusting but also have learned to live in their thinking brain and through this process have become very confident horses.  A horse that is shut off or dull but doesn't respect, still has the ability to expole or leave their human partner, especially when the horse becomes uncomfortable.  A respectful, thinking horse will look to their human as their leader and will seek their help when the horse is in trouble.  Again, this is what I create in my program, a relationship first built on respect which is dependent on trust, teaches the horse to move from the reactive brain to the thinking brain and establishes the human as an effective and safe leader.

 

Cains' Preparation Horse Training Program is available on a monthly basis for your horse:

 

Cain wil consult with you and your horse and develop a program schedule that is appropriate for you and your horses needs.  Cain establishes training goals, benchmarks and feedback mechanisms for you and your horse throughout the training.  Owners are welcome to come and view their horse during their training period.  Once the horse has developed far enough in the training, the owner is encouraged to become part of the program.  A one hour free coaching is provided for each month of training.  Additional coaching hours may be purchased.  These coaching hourse ensure that you and your horse are on the right path together and will continue in a grounded respectful and trusted relationship.

 

Training fees (horse) 850.00 plus GST per month.  This provides 1 hourse of individual training with Cain.

 

Tune-up training fees - These are provided to horses currently boarding and are available on daily, weekly, or monthly basis.  Costs calculated based on monthly rate.

 

Additional coaching hours (human) $75.00 plus GST per session.  These sessions are one-on-one with Cain Quam and provide depth to the riders ability to read and effectively work/ride their horse.