Ozrural - Horses, Farming and Chat
Jeffrey Method - Sort of Book Review
Well this page has been up for a fair while now, and I admit I have neglected it. But in a new burst of energy, I have decided to give OZRURAL a makeover in 2009. I will try to do a book review every week, and I may even get the book listings (and links) up to date. What would be even better is if you and other Ozrural regular visitors start to contribute your stories, pictures of your horses or share the great horse links you may know about.
The Jeffery Method by Maurice Wright.
Working 9-5 and sitting frount of a computer all day, I sometimes ask myself 'how did it come to this"? Well mortgages, families, and a few horses to feed I guess. I don't ride a lot any more, but I do love to handle a youngster from time to time and I have one now. Lily, a chestnut thorougbred 3yo mare. She was given to me by friends who are breeders. Lily is a bit small for racing so arrived she has. For the last 30+ years or so I have used the Jeffrey Method to handle my horses. Well like all methods I guess you adapt and use the bits and pieces that suit you. The Jeffrey Method, is all about gaining a horses trust, never giving them a reason to refuse anything. The toolkit involves a rope. About 20 feet long, with a heavy ring in the end of it. Kel Jeffrey (and later Maurice Wright the author of the Jeffery Method) use rawhide ropes, which I would love, but I just use a good quality woven rope.
When I picked Lily up, she had only been lightly handled for the occasional drench and she didn't lead. I put her in a round yard, with a rope around her neck, and pulled her around for about an hour I guess. Taught her to lead, respect a rope, and to lunge (a little). Then it was straight down to the horse float which she had never seen before. How long does it take to float? Well my attitude is always as long as it takes. I just had the rope around her neck, and then gently lunge (Parelli style) getting closer and closer to the tailboard. Takes a while, and when the horse starts to get tired they usually have a bit of a tantrum. Lily did but it was pretty half hearted. She reared and through herself on the ground, had a sulk then got up as though nothing had happened. After that she started crossing the tailboard and very soon was self loading. She is so smart. Since then at home, she has progressed rapidly, and you can see she now has a saddle on ok, complete with Jeffrey rope. I will mouth next, using a running rein.
And this all started because I bought a copy of the Jeffrey Method many years ago. It is a small, simple book, mainly photos, but with excellent text. When I was 18 we taught 12 bush thoroughbreds to lead so they could be loaded on bloodstock transport the next morning! That was my introduction. I used to sell the video as well, but not many people still have video players and it is not on DVD (although I have offered to make them for the copyright owner). Well this is not really a book review I know, but it is a wonderful book. I only have about 10 left, but hope I can get something sorted eventually. Here is a photo of lily, out of focus, but with a saddle, after a few days at home.
Day 2 under saddle - I was asked when do you teach your horses to tie up? The answer is, I don't. Respect for a rope does. Lungeing is the same - the horse should never want to hang on the end of the rope.
The Jeffrey Method is $29.95 and is a hardback. Click here to order a copy.
The Jeffery Method by Maurice Wright.
Working 9-5 and sitting frount of a computer all day, I sometimes ask myself 'how did it come to this"? Well mortgages, families, and a few horses to feed I guess. I don't ride a lot any more, but I do love to handle a youngster from time to time and I have one now. Lily, a chestnut thorougbred 3yo mare. She was given to me by friends who are breeders. Lily is a bit small for racing so arrived she has. For the last 30+ years or so I have used the Jeffrey Method to handle my horses. Well like all methods I guess you adapt and use the bits and pieces that suit you. The Jeffrey Method, is all about gaining a horses trust, never giving them a reason to refuse anything. The toolkit involves a rope. About 20 feet long, with a heavy ring in the end of it. Kel Jeffrey (and later Maurice Wright the author of the Jeffery Method) use rawhide ropes, which I would love, but I just use a good quality woven rope.
When I picked Lily up, she had only been lightly handled for the occasional drench and she didn't lead. I put her in a round yard, with a rope around her neck, and pulled her around for about an hour I guess. Taught her to lead, respect a rope, and to lunge (a little). Then it was straight down to the horse float which she had never seen before. How long does it take to float? Well my attitude is always as long as it takes. I just had the rope around her neck, and then gently lunge (Parelli style) getting closer and closer to the tailboard. Takes a while, and when the horse starts to get tired they usually have a bit of a tantrum. Lily did but it was pretty half hearted. She reared and through herself on the ground, had a sulk then got up as though nothing had happened. After that she started crossing the tailboard and very soon was self loading. She is so smart. Since then at home, she has progressed rapidly, and you can see she now has a saddle on ok, complete with Jeffrey rope. I will mouth next, using a running rein.
And this all started because I bought a copy of the Jeffrey Method many years ago. It is a small, simple book, mainly photos, but with excellent text. When I was 18 we taught 12 bush thoroughbreds to lead so they could be loaded on bloodstock transport the next morning! That was my introduction. I used to sell the video as well, but not many people still have video players and it is not on DVD (although I have offered to make them for the copyright owner). Well this is not really a book review I know, but it is a wonderful book. I only have about 10 left, but hope I can get something sorted eventually. Here is a photo of lily, out of focus, but with a saddle, after a few days at home.
Day 2 under saddle - I was asked when do you teach your horses to tie up? The answer is, I don't. Respect for a rope does. Lungeing is the same - the horse should never want to hang on the end of the rope.
The Jeffrey Method is $29.95 and is a hardback. Click here to order a copy.
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