Quantum Savvy, Moreton Agency

Hi All,

One of the discussions on our student forum is about what to do with all the tack that some of us have accumulated over teh years of horse riding and competing. I can not say much towards it as my tack shed has always been rather meagre looking as I 'only' ride for pleasure and the saddles and bridles seem to be the only gear I possess, though I found that I really only use one saddle, so I have since sold two of my 4 saddles. I do still have my dressage and treeless saddle, but ...

As we study the Quantum Savvy Release Focused Training Programme we discover, that some of our tack has become surplus and is just sitting in the shed looking pretty... pretty dusty in some cases. One of our Quantum Savvy Agents has written a lovley article about her Tack Shed and I would like to share it with you all ...

My Tack Room  

by Liz McLean (QS Agent Central Vic)

Isn't it amazing how we often 'assume' that what we are doing is the right thing, or how we sometimes just do things because that'swhat everyone else does!

I recently decided to clean out my tack room, as  like most of us, Ihad accumulated odd bits and pieces over the last few years. What started out as a simple clean up became an inspiring example of thebenefits of Quantum Savvy.

Before I started with QS I had just started competing in various local events, and as such required specific items of tack to cover specific tasks. For my dressage training I had the compulsory lunge rope, lungeing whip, side reins and the dreaded 'pessoa' to 'make' my horse go round! Once on board of course I needed the dressage whip and the spurs, and of course leather gloves to help with my 'grip' coz you have to hold the horse in you know.

Then there was the showjumping gear- the martingale was THE most important item along side the stronger bit, the dropped noseband and the whip. Of course I had to have the body protector as you never know when the horse might run-out or refuse and just about everyone then topples off their horse.

Lastly came all the bits and pieces- various soft cotton lead ropes (they never last),  nylon headstalls (ugh!) of various colors with dodgy buckles, different reins for more grip, different types of gloves for more grip, set of spurs, several different bits  and even a medieval looking anti-cribbing collar!!! 

I sat and looked at all this 'stuff,' all these contraptions and suddenly realized that I didn't need ANY of them!!! All these items were ways of FORCING my horse to do what I wanted, most of the time asking him to go forward and stop at the same time! (Jumping whip but holding him back with stronger bits???) It was really an enlightening moment- I too had followed what everyone else did as 'normal' ways to 'control' my horse. I felt sad and angry that as horse lovers we as a society have seen these contraptions as not only normal but necessary.

Well, not anymore! I am pleased to say that ALL that stuff is GONE for me now, and replaced with just simply the things I need.

A rope halter and leadrope with LIVE  feel that  will well and trulyoutlast me, 2 longer ropes, and a savvy stick to use as an extension of my arm- NOT as a whip. That is all I need.

And with those few items I can do anything and everything that everyone else can do while maintaining a vastly improved relationship with my horse. I have better skills both on the ground and in the saddle. I can now ride better, my horse moves better and ultimately i am SAFER than I ever was with all that unnecessary gear.

So next time you go into your local saddlery, or someone suggests you try one of these contraptions to help you with a problem, just stop for a moment and think, no FEEL, what you would rather have- a calm,willing and happy horse that you can do anything with with as little as possible, or a few more 'items' to try and keep your horse under CONTROL. I know what I prefer.

Thank you Quantum Savvy, the only item I need in my tack room is you. 

Visit Liz' website.