FistFree Language™: How difficult is it to learn FFL?

................. FistFree™

How difficult is it to learn FistFree Language™?

FistFree Language™ is a combination of knowing what’s involved, what works and how and why it works. And it’s all wrapped up in that wonderful thing we call language.

If you’re wondering what it will be like to learn all this stuff, let me take you back a few years. I was at my first lesson with my new riding instructor, Carol. I was just starting to get on my horse, Jaunty. I had my foot in the stirrup and was about to jump up onto my horse when Carol told me to stop right there.

Carol:	“Where’s your foot?”
Me:	“In the stirrup.”
Carol:	“Where’s your foot?”
Me:	“In the stirrup.”
Carol:	“Where’s your foot?”
Me:	“Obviously, ‘In the stirrup’ is not the right answer. What do you mean?”
Carol:	“Look at your foot.”
Me:	“OK,” dutifully looking at my foot hanging there in the stirrup.
Carol:	“Where is your foot in relation to the girth?”
Me:	“It’s in front of the girth.”
Carol:	“Your foot needs to be on the girth, not in front of it. That’s why your horse starts walking off every time you mount. As you’re getting on, your left foot gives him a little kick which tells him to move on, which he does. Then you drop onto his back and yank on his mouth, punishing him for doing exactly what you told him to do. And you get mad at him when all he’s done is to follow your signal!”

How did I feel? Well, a bit embarrassed. And thrilled to discover such a simple solution to one of my many riding challenges. Just by moving my foot a little bit when I got onto my horse, he wouldn’t move. It was simple and easy to do. I could do it. And what a difference it made! My hope is that FistFree Language™ will be like that for you. Things you can do. Things that seem obvious once they’re pointed out, so they’re easy to remember. Things that are easy to use and that make your life better.