Can you Compete with R+?

"Can you compete with R+ training?" 1000% YES! So why don't we see more R+ in competitions?

Many people are out successfully competing in traditional competitions while using R+ approach as a part or most of their training. They're in all levels and styles of competitions, but often we hide and use our R+ discretely when at these events because of the strong cultural bias against us. Where so many people have strong opinions and feel the needs to tell us, its easier to keep our training quiet.

We also want to be able to influence some progress in these industries towards Allowing kinder methods. These brave R+ trainers are working hard from the inside to move these sports into the 21st century. So we can be more free to choose gentler tools and using food without being disqualified or bothered socially.

Many of us however don't want to risk public scrutiny, so we don't go public. We avoid competitions or working with our horses in any public spotlight where people can see.

Many more of us also find what we are looking for with R+ and lose the desire to compete. That's what happened to me. As a child i dreamed of riding into the show ring, taking off the bridle, and winning the sport with just the magical bond with my horse. But what i really wanted was that magical bond, it wasn't about the spotlight. I found that relationship with R+, its different with each horse i've worked with, but its uniquely beautiful with each. Once i reach that type of relationship i lose any desire to show anyone or compete or be the best - because my focus has become about my relationship with my horse.

Many are also not willing to make the compromises it requires to compete. Not the sacrifices to ourselves, i'd wake up at 3am and trailer up if it was for the good of my horse. But the sacrifices to our horse and the risk of damaging the precious relationship we've built. Can we teach our horses to trailer up and leave their herd, spend a few scary days among strangers and other horses not being treated as kindly? Sure, but will this damage our relationship? Will it cause unnecessary stress to our horse just for us? Most competitions still require the use of tools most R+ trainers aren't willing to compromise using.

Very often when we learn to read and understand our horses and work with them in a way that’s mutually fun, competing stops being fun, but sad and stressful. We used to bring our ponies to the Equine Affaire to demonstrate R+. They went together for company and to reduce stress. They did all R+ walks, demos, and painting for people, we never used and different handling then at home, in fact we were much more generous. But the environment was inherently stressful. The worst part was watching Punk watch the other horses. He stood in horror watching another horse be whipped into a trailer, he kept circling and calling to the horse, he was distraught. We tried to distract him and focus his, but he was overwhelmed by how upsetting this was. This happened frequently throughout the weekends, where he would become upset because another horse was being treated harshly. Marshmallow was the opposite of Punk, she enjoyed the stimulation of the environment and made it her job to explore every inch of the grounds, smell every poop, see if any other horse around dropped any food. She was so deeply engaged. But, the final straw was when an unmonitored dog attacked Marshmallow and tore her blanket (thank goodness she was wearing one!) Because there are things in these environments we can't control. We have to make the choice of what's best for our individual horses not just what we want.