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From his days riding his ‘stick horse’
and playing the Lone Ranger to the animals on his Grandfather’s
Indiana
farm, Ryan Gingerich has a love of horses that seems to transcend the normal
horse and rider relationship. His ability to get into ‘the mind of the horse’
allows him to rehabilitate horses others have decided are hopeless. He often
says, there are no bad horses, only bad training.
Ryan began his professional horse career as a trail guide. His love affair
with the horse then led him to complete a national certification program
where he continued working after graduation. His ability to work with
troubled horses was put to good use there, and he continued to develop the
bond with these horses that today has him branded as ‘The Behaviorist’. This
title is well earned not only through his natural ability but through study
and the application of scientific research into horse behavior. Ryan
frequently refers to Dr. Andrew Mclean, Director of the Australian Equine
Behavior Centre. Dr. McLean was so impressed by his communications with
Ryan that he paid his own way to the
United
States to work with Ryan in
person. They continue to share knowledge.
Ryan has developed his training program, Connective Horsemanship, using a
marriage of science and tradition. His five elements of Connective
Horsemanship offer a simple language for the rider and the horse. These
five elements consist of Basic Control, Lightness, Rhythm, Line and
Connection. This language, used exclusivly by Ryan and his students, requires
that the horse need give only one response to one cue. When used
correctly, Ryan's methods lead to a “deletion” of the incorrect behavior.
This eliminates confusion in the horse and owner helping both to relax and
learn. Ryan uses this technique to rehabilitate horses with behaviors
that range from bolting and bucking to buddy sour. His method crosses
all disciplines and is used at his
National
Equine
Behavior
Center in
Troy,
Missouri to
rehabilitate every breed of horse from off track Thoroughbreds to Quarter
horses.
Meet Ryan Gingerich, the Behaviorist
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