Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (July 11/01) - The old-fashioned value of patience and paying careful attention are pivotal to dealing with horses, says Larry Nelles. The horses seem to appreciate old-fashioned treatment, too.

Horse training expert Larry Nelles takes a flag, one of the tools he uses to strengthen the bond between horse and rider, from North Country Stables instructor Stephanie Laversin. - Richard Gleeson/NNSL photo

"You get into a vehicle and turn a key and it goes right away. Turn on the tap and the water runs. You flick a switch and the lights go on -- we're programmed to expect an instant response," says Nelles.

"With an animal, that doesn't work."

Nelles was in town over the weekend to pass on his training technique to riders at North Country Stables.

Nelles has taught the same equine communication theory to riders across North America and in Europe since 1971.

He has been in contact with horses all his life. Growing up in the mountains of Alberta and British Columbia the son of a park supervisor, he skied in winter and rode in summer.

Now a resident of Cave Creek, Ariz., Nelles has given seminars in Whitehorse each of the last 10 years. This is his first time in Yellowknife.

Seeing him in action in the indoor riding arena, you quickly realize it's the riders, not the horses, who are being trained.

"They have to kind of get in tune with the horse and say, 'This is what I want,'" explains Nelles, who seems to apply much the same teaching theory he has developed for the horses to the riders.

To increase the need for communication between horse and rider this day, everyone is riding bareback.

Reins are attached to a halter around the horse's head instead of to a bit in its mouth. Removing the physical tools used to control the horse forces riders to pay more attention to communicating with the animals.

"You've got to let the horse have fun," says Nelles. "You want to rub her and reward her and let her know she's a good girl."

Someone comments that the odd assortment of pet dogs that occasionally sneak into the riding ring could use a little training themselves.

Using co-ordinated pressure applied with knees and reins, the riders guide the horses frontward, backward and sideways through an obstacle course. Everything is done at a slow walking pace.

"The average person needs to slow down," he says afterward. "Get their feet back on the ground."

In other words, we would all do well to ease up on the reins a bit from time to time.