Ok, let me redefine what I meant by "headset." I did say that what I was stating was simplistic. She's not asking for the head to be in a certain position. What she's asking for is a softness in the jaw, reaching for the bit, etc. Antihero has said it much better than I do. This trainer is all about "getting Holly to carry herself, reaching under her with the hindquarters, stretching the topline, etc."

The reason I just used the term headset is because when I "picture" what the two trainers do differently, it's what I "see"...as in, just the external. For example, Trainer A might be asking Holly to soften at the canter. Instead of asking for the canter and letting her toss her head in the air, she'll ask for her to be on the bit first, soft and relaxed, then ask for the canter. If she starts to toss her head, she'll ask for the softness, etc, then ask again...until Holly gets the idea that she can't transition to the canter with her nose in the air.

Trainer B might let her rush into the canter with her nose in the air, but once there, he's asking for her to soften...and until she does, he keeps her at the canter. As soon as she gives to the bit and relaxes, he lets her drop to the trot.

So that's what I mean by approaching things from 2 different directions.  Trainer A might ask for a softness in the jaw first, then the movement next, Trainer B asks for the movement and then the softness in the jaw.  Again, that's pretty much a simplistic example.  But it's the same for "where" they work.  Trainer A's philosophy is if you have a light, responsive horse trusting you IN the ring, then when you take it outside the ring into "spooky" situations, you already have the cues and techniques in place to help the horse calm down and deal with the unknown. Trainer B puts the horse on the trail right away, let's the horse get into spooky situations and then calms him down. 

But Trainer B has ridden Holly several times since Trainer A has worked with her and he thinks that Trainer A is doing an excellent job...and vice versa.  And I'm obviously NOT going to do a good job of describing what they each do...if I was that good at it, I could be them.   And I'm so NOT!

Last Edited By: Jun 14 12 5:39 PM. Edited 1 times.