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QUOTES BY E. F. SEIDLER: (page one)
On the philosophical aspects of training
"We have to be patient with the weaknesses of the horses, until they gradually acquire the ability to conform to our wishes."
(1837; 44; translation: T. Ritter)
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"It is art, not force, that should lead the horse towards the goal. Then, even a weaker rider will succeed."
(1837; 244; translation: T. Ritter)
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"We call a horse obedient, when, upon completion of his education, he responds immediately to the rider's rein and leg aids, and, if necessary, surrenders all of his strength to the rider's will, without holding anything back, provided that the latter's demands do not exceed the horse's possibilities.
"We achieve this obedience:
"If we proceed in the education step by step, corresponding to the horse's strength and abilities;
"Never ask more than the horse is able to give,
"Do not try to bend by force what can only yield in due time;
"If we do not confuse the horse's lack of understanding with lack of cooperation, nor freshness with malice;
"If we do not punish unfairly, nor administer excessive punishment, if he deserves a light punishment, but always match the punishment to the disobedience.
"On the other hand, we must be able to determine the correct intensity of the sharper aid or punishment, if the horse should really show bad character, so that he respects the former. Unconditional obedience arises only out of the horse's complete trust in his rider that the latter will never demand more than the former can give, that nothing unfair will ever happen to him, but that, on the other hand, the rider does not tolerate disobedience."
(1837; translation: T. Ritter)
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"...If I have always worked honestly, my horse will carry me to the end of the world."
(1837; translation: T. Ritter)
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"One has to adhere to the principle that the punishment is aimed only at the malicious resistance, not at the horse; as soon as the resistance ceases, he is our good horse."
(1837; translation: T. Ritter)
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"Never leave a resistant horse without reconciliation, even if you had to treat it very strictly on that particular day. Do not put it away until it obeys, but then a friendly relationship must be restored between trainer and horse.
"Always adhere to the principle: "The punishment is directed only at the disobedience, never at the horse;" as soon as the disobedience is over, it is our good horse.."
(1846; translation: T. Ritter)
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"Any type of work that the horse does when he is tired brings disadvantages. When the horse becomes tired, the rider would have to apply heavier aids that border on punishments in order to get more energy out of the horse. This makes the horse afraid of the aid, it dulls him to finer aids, and sullen towards the work.
"One of the main goals must be to awaken love, eagerness and freshness for his work in the horse. The horse must like his work. Therefore, our demands must always match his strength and conformation; better more moderate than too much."
(1837; translation: T. Ritter)
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"Bad impressions caused by hurried training methods, oftentimes cannot be erased in months.
"With a few days of patience, they could have been avoided altogether."
(1837; translation: T. Ritter)
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"The horse should not comply with our wishes because he is afraid of punishment, scared, but because he understands our will. He should submit to it trustingly and without fear. He should not be jerked, pushed, whipped into any frame, but he should rather be prepared by adequate exercises to assume and maintain these frames without feeling any discomfort.
It may be possible to force a horse momentarily into a desired frame; it is not possible, however, for him to maintain it. He will hence immediately try to evade it by resistance. If the rider continues to apply force, the result will be ruined legs and lungs."
(1837; translation: T. Ritter)
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Last Update: January 13, 2007