<< I'm trying to reconcile this bumping with Bill's admonition against
jerking.>>

My perspective on jerk vs bump..... Jerking leads to more pulling and a
tug-of-war you generally lose and which the horse learns is effective and
successful for THEM. A bump is swift, effective and OVER (rapid execution &
release).

Jerk and/or continued pull: starts from a condition/state where there is already
resistance/pressure on the line (either caused by the horse and/or the human).
Example: Horse is pulling on you to get that blade of grass 6 inches away, just
outside the length of rope you've granted him to graze within. You respond by
'jerking' the lead to 'get his attention'. When you did this, there was already
tension/no slack/pull in the line. So when you jerk it, the result has limited
energy; is what I call 'spongy', because the horse already has their own
pull/pressure on the line when you add pull from your end. So the energy and
'attention getting factor' is reduced and is spongy, like pulling on a bungee
type line. Your jerk will often travel toward yourself a long distance in
'space' because you are just literally dragging the head quickly from one point
in space to the next. (remember times doing this and the horse's head moves 2
feet, but their nose/mouth never quits touching the grass <smile>)
Since the horse probably continues to lean on/pull/resist throughout the jerk
action, it often turns into a continued pull from you, and a tug-of-war ensues.
This method has therefore, in my opinion, little to no effectiveness from your
perspective and a lot from the horse's perspective.... learning that continued
leaning/pulling/resistance usually works in their favor eventually.
The pressure/energy you apply is distributed throughout the line and halter and
the horse's head, neck & muscles. It becomes kind of a tug of war, push me/pull
you action that really doesn't impress the horse much, and he'll generally go
right back to whatever it was he was doing that you were trying to correct, if
he ever actually stopped in the first place.
I think it is important to visualize the mechanics of this 'jerk' action so
you can better understand and contrast to the next description further down ....
the 'bump'.
Mechanics of the 'jerk'- visually: Imagine that when you start your
jerk/pull, the line is already taunt, and you observe where your hand is at in
'space'. You start the jerk/pull FROM THAT POINT IN SPACE, and jerk/pull away
from the horse.

Bump: This action has a definitive beginning and end, and actually starts from
a condition/state of a neutral line/connection. Even though the horse may be
pulling/resisting, you must create a momentary 'neutral' state by pushing the
rope/your hand TOWARD the horse, before bumping/snapping/popping the line a very
short distance in 'space' back towards yourself. When you apply this type
'bump', ALL the energy is there for the horse to feel. No sponge. All crisp.
Timing, feel and release are essential for successful execution (along with
possibly increasing angle, especially in more intense situations).
I'll try to explain how I view the bump, visually, in contrast to my
previous thoughts on the 'jerk'/spongy pulling.
Mechanics of the 'bump'...visually: Imagine the initial scenario from above.
Horse is pulling on you to get that blade of grass 6 inches away, practically
stretching your lead line and your arm to get it <smile>. Observe where your
hand is at in 'space'. Instead of pulling/jerking from that point in space, you
PUSH your hand toward the horse.. a few inches is all that is necessary. That
push immediately creates a few inches of slack in the line.... you've now
created a momentary neutral line/connection. Now, sharply snap your hand back
toward yourself, right back to the place in 'space' where you first observed
your hand to be .... so again only a few inches. (this is the release). This
creates a crisp bump that the horse FEELS. He gets all the energy of that bump
and the subsequent complete release. Done properly, you will get his attention,
a stop in his pulling, a lift of his head and eyes/ears on you. ie: no
sponge... no constant/continued pull/resistance/dragging-the-head tug-of-war.
Pushing rope/hand toward the horse first to create neutral state, THEN toward
yourself crisply sends the energy and the 'message'/request.
I also want to make it clear that these descriptions are my perspective of
the difference in a jerk vs a bump, (a consequence, to me), not a description of
how to teach leading up or maintaining float in the lead..... but rather how to
get back attention or get the horse NOT pulling away or dragging you, so you can
work on these those things and get back to a place of feel. I really like how
the book pg 98 decribes a horse's right to exercise his concern for
self-preservation.... and how it is our job to handle situations and get back
to the place where the horse is feeling of you. To me this is where we are
tested in our ability to rapidly understand, acknowlege his view and then
support the horse through a situation.
Using this type bump is such a tiny, suspended moment in time, but can change
everything to come in the next moment for you and the horse.
I consider this type bump/action/technique a consequence , used in a specific
situation. It isn't done in increasing phases or levels. In my opinion, when
I've needed to use this technique, there is no 'please', but more 'hey!'. I
should have done the please's with the previous requests that the horse
ignored). Many times it is the definitive point in maintaining my safety and
the horse's safety. It is strong, crisp and serious right off the bat, though
it can be applied in varying overall levels of intensity determined by the
situation or horse (ie: maybe you can stand relaxed and can execute the entire
technique with just your hand,(as Bill said, the slightest touch) with only your
arm as your brace/leverage/wall if necessary.... ...or if a horse is mightily
lunging away from you, it might require you to increase your angle, and use your
full body by spreading your feet wide, 'blading' (angling) your body to theirs,
use both handsm, bend your knees and drop your center of gravity real low to be
able to execute the technique and maintain your balance after the force of your
'bump' (as in doubling). All depends on the energy and determination the horse
was initially putting into their pull/resistance).
*** I feel the use of this type bump action should only be in response to when
the horse has ignored you and your previous requests that you normally have
success with and have applied, for requesting their attention/reaction.
(preferrably those previous requests were 'attention requesting or re-directive'
requests, like Leslie sending a wave or vibration down the lead, or by moving
the shoulders or hips). I rarely have to use this 'consequential bump' on
horses that I've been working with for even a short time and already have a good
foundation developing or in place and good communication with. Usually if I do
need it with them, it is because we are in a new location, with new/more
distractions, strange horses around or irrisistable, better grass than home
<smile>.
More often than not, I have to use it on new horses that come in and who
are in the habit of pulling away, dragging folks, trampling or invading the
space of those around you, and ignoring/disrespecting a request on the line,
like to check in, lead up, etc (usually the reasons they have landed here to
start with <smile>). It is generally not a technique I wouldd use for moving a
horse away from you or out of your space; though a modified application could be
used if a horse doesn't move away from other, preferrable techniques. I
generally only use this 'bump technique' when horse continues to pull/resist
away from me.
Once their initial foundation work has gotten rolling, there is rarely a need
for this type bump, other than the situations or similar, mentioned above.
What I like about it is that it is a swift action... fairly executed (after
other requests were ignored), swift execution, swift response, and has a
'situationally' lasting result when executed properly. I execute the action,
then unless I need to ask for a subsequent movement or specific action from the
horse, my attention/focus/mental energy immediately leaves the horse and I go
back to what I was doing or focusing on originally.... repeating the action
again only if absolutely necessary. The key to succesful use/execution is
remembering to PUSH the rope/your hand TOWARD the horse first, then bring the
rope/hand sharply back to where it started, thus ending the duration of energy
sent to the horse..... a neutral stage is essential and a definite end to the
energy is essential (the release). That's a lot of words for what is an
actually simple, effective technique, but :) ... 'the devil is in the
details', especially one ... ie: start by first pushing the rope toward the
horse to create a momentary neutral state.
Submitted as food for thought and for what it is worth.....
<'\___~ Tami McAdams
( \ )\ thesticklady@...




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