Sometimes I love self-discovery. Sometimes I just want the answers.
Self-discovery is easier if you have a straightforward horse that gives you consistent answers when you ask similar questions. However, when the answer is consistently "No!" and you've run out of tools in your toolbox where do you turn if you aren't consistently paying a professional?
Eventually I will run out of tools in my toolbox and have to consult with a professional when it comes to certain aspects of riding. I am perfectly capable of riding on a trail without professional help, at least with Odin the Mustang. That same exercise simply was not true for my late Thoroughbred, Beege. He had more things to be afraid of than I could possibly address. Sometimes the goblins were the same thing day after day, month after month. He had too many other issues, likely related to arthritis and a gut slowly going bad, for me to move beyond simple target training and sometimes he preferred to worry than engage. Eventually, maybe after the Stay Home Stay Healthy order is lifted, Odin and I will take riding lessons so that we both understand body control in order to safely navigate jumps or ride patterns or try mounted archery. I can teach him basic steering but there will be a point when the maneuvers are more advanced.
In the meantime, my favorite resources are:
1) Alexandra Kurland, The Clicker Center: My favorite tools are her book The Click that Teaches and her podcast, Equiosity. The book offers a step-by-step approach to positive reinforcement with a lot of photos. I have been able to move fairly quickly through the book with Odin the Mustang and started target training baby mustang, Bragi the Mustang.
2) Stacy Westfall: She wants to teach all of us to train our own horses. Mostly I listen to her two podcasts, the one on Horse Radio Network and her own.
3) Shawna Corrin Karrasch: She also has a monthly, podcast on Horse Radio Network that teaches the listener how to use positive reinforcement, step-by-step. The podcast format has an introduction and then a "laboratory" portion where you can listen and train your horse at the same time that Shawna is working with one of her horses.
4) Mary K Kitzmiller Horsemanship: Another monthly podcast host on Horse Radio Network, she answer listener questions, sometimes live during the show. I called in one time and received great feedback on helping Odin the Mustang load in the trailer when I was about to move him from one location to another. Mary is able to explain when and why to use positive reinforcement and when you might need to apply pressure and release training.
5) Horse Radio Network: if you are a fan of all horses all the time podcasts, this network has at least a dozen shows that are educational and entertaining. Show topics range from specific disciplines to horse care and nutrition to marketing and entertainment. I never would have entertained the idea, much less adopted two mustangs, if I hadn't listened to hundreds of their podcasts.
These are all my go-to resources for where I am right now in the training process. Eventually I hope to use my books on arena exercises and be able to describe those successes when I get there.