A cordeo is simply a neck rope. It can be
made out of virtually anything: rope,
leather, beta, or even baling twine. It is
placed so that it lies loosely around the
base of the horse’s neck. If you are going
to be riding with it, you will need it a
little longer.
One of the benefits of using a cordeo in
most of your training is that you can almost
never force the horse into doing what you
want. Sure you can use a lot of pressure,
but with almost no control or pain. This
allows you to use it as a tool to increase
your bond with your horse. By using it only
as a communication tool and not a pain
inducing tool, you can gradually gain more
of your horse’s trust. It allows your horse
to be confident that he will not be hurt. It
also allows you an opportunity to train
without having to use controlling pressure.
You cannot get harder and harder or use
physical pain.
It is also a measuring device. It allows you
measure how much your horse desires to be
with you, trusts you, and listens to you. If
you can’t lead your horse in the most basic
of circumstances with the cordeo, then it is
time to go back and work on your
relationship with your horse. If you can’t
lunge your horse with the cordeo, then you
might want to go back and work on lightness.
You can begin using the cordeo to teach your
horse to do a few simple things. You can
teach him to back up with light backward
pressure on the cordeo. You can teach him to
break at the poll with a light upward pull
of the cordeo. You can teach him to turn
left or right by just laying the cordeo
against his neck. These things probably will
take time, but, by its very nature, the
cordeo will not let you rush anything.
Teaching your horse to respond to the cordeo
will take as long as it needs to take. You
will have to learn to watch what your horse
is telling you. Is he telling you that you
are using too much pressure, even if it is
only a pound or two of pressure? Is he
telling you he doesn’t understand what you
are asking? I had to learn these things when
I taught Jackson to sit down. I used only
the cordeo. No whip, halter, or confining
paddock. There were times when I had used a
little too much pressure and saw my horse
stop trying. I had never seen that before. I
couldn’t when I was always using controlling
pressure.
The cordeo teaches you to be softer and
lighter. If you have to pull, it is too
much. The pressure shouldn’t be pressure at
all; it should be a feather light touch, as
the training progresses. By beginning with
lightness, you will end up with lightness.
Using a cordeo allows the horse to make a
choice: whether to listen or not. He learns
that if he doesn’t want to do something, you
can’t make him. This opens a world where
horse begins thinking for himself. It allows
him a certain amount of free choice. When
your horse knows he has this freedom, you
can really learn whether your horse wants to
work with you or not. Then you must endeavor
to find ways to get your horse to turn to
you on his own. Turn to you of his own free
will, without restraint.
Using a cordeo
can teach you to be light. It can teach you
to watch what your horse is telling you. I
can help your horse to begin thinking and
interacting with you. It can be the
beginning of a fantastic relationship
between you and your horse.
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