Posted in Advice on Mar 12th, 2009
Connection is a two way street. To truly get along with a horse in shared partnership activities we need to have the social leadership skills. If we can keep adjusting our leadership to be more flexible, understandable, and intelligent the horse is more willing to form a loyal partnership and put a great effort into his performance. It’s all about being present in the moment and fully awake and knowing exactly what to ask a horse to do that starts the dance, backed with the belief that your horse will perform and then letting the horse perform without holding him to it.
A good equestrian rule to follow is that force and resistance should almost never be met by force in the training of a horse. When you lose the dance you make the connection back rather than using pressure. Slowing things down gets rid of the need to force. You can make a strong demand without force when the horse feels responsible and knows the rules. Horse love rules and boundaries and even enjoy having them enforced. The most important part about enforcing a rule to a horse is to use proper timing and attitude.
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Posted in Observations on Mar 5th, 2009
If you can keep adjusting your leadership to be more dependable, flexible, understandable and intelligent, the horse is more willing to form a loyal partnership and put a greater effort into his performance. The biggest mistake people make in their relationship and communication with horses is to not understand that the development of leadership with horses should be spent in managing the connection, bond and trust through attentiveness. Being attentive, you can take care of the changing attitudes in the horse and to the changes in the environment and how to keep a horse willing before he gets out of hand. If you do not have respect and trust on a horse, you are not likely to be able to tell him what to do and in the same breath expect him to take care of you. This kind of horse is hard to find.
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Posted in Q&A on Oct 8th, 2008
Hi again. Today’s post is another question, which I think many of you might find interesting and valuable. It concerns an arab mare that is alternately fearful and aggressive and is generally uneasy around other horses. Tami writes:
Hello
I have really enjoyed reading through your posts about making learning fun for horses. I took your quiz and the question on keeping her attention no matter what stood out to me. I wonder if you have any techniques or any reading material you would recommend for this issue:
I have a lovely 17 year old arab mare who I acquired as a green-broke 10 year old and have spent lots of time working with over the last 7 years. She is very bonded to me and when I moved the east coast and then up to Canada from San Diego a few years ago she came with me. She lived most of her life very happily on a farm where each horse stayed in an individual paddock and only socialized over fences.
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Posted in Advice on Aug 25th, 2008
Hi again. Here are some tips on how to connect with your horse on a daily basis so that you can warm up the working bond between you before you ride.
1. Before you get to the barn remember to clear you mind and make a mental outline of all the things you are going to do with your horse. Be prepared however to change course depending on how the connection with your horse goes and how he is feeling. Be in a good mood and happy to see your horse. Remember to give him your full attention as a horse finds it hard to follow your lead without your full attention. Try to see him around the same time each time so he looks forward to your arrival.
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Posted in Advice on Aug 13th, 2008
Today what I would like to talk to you about is horses that shy and I’m sure a lot of people would like to have an idea of why this can happen. There are of course many reasons why a horse shies and it is sometimes very complicated to say exactly what it is. Many times however the horse shies because something spooks him and he wants to get back some control. So instead of performing the act that he is being asked to, he shies. In those circumstances, the best way to get over it is opposite to what most people do. The traditional thing to do is try to to get the horse used to the object in question. Instead, try this. Ride your horse past the object, do not pay any attention to it and continue on your way. This way gets the horse over the idea that he needs to control the situation.
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Posted in Q&A on May 5th, 2008
Time for another question. This one is from Alexandra who wrote to me from Germany.
I read about you in the german magazine “Cavallo”, then I bought your book ” Tochter der Mustangs “. I am very enthusiastic about the way you work with horses. I own an arabian horse mare, she is 17 years old. I am scared to do anything wrong, so I often do things, she wants to do. If she wants to graze, I let her graze. If we go for a walk, she always overtakes me. I can wave my whip or the knot, she slows down for a moment, then she overtakes me again. She doesn`t pay any attention to me… I am looking forward to your answer very much!!
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Dear Alexandra,
My advice for now is stop letting her decide her direction. Ask her to stand at your side and wait till she relaxes. When she is relaxed, begin walking in a direction of your choice and not hers. The minute she wants to be in charge and tries to pass you, stop and lead her back to the spot where she stood quietly and wait till she settles, then begin again.… Read more
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Posted in Q&A on Apr 25th, 2008
Hello. Time for another question. This one is from Jackie in New Mexico who wrote:
I have just started working with horses and have two colts both going on one year. I have had them about eight months. I am told by most everyone I talk to that I would not be able to work with this horse if I do not get him gelded. I do not want to get him gelded but will it be that hard if I don’t get him gelded?
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Dear Jackie
There are four reasons why you would geld:
1) It can be inhumane to leave some horses as stallions because living by our standards can be abusive without our even realizing the unfair lifestyle we expect them to tolerate. For example, some stallions cannot accept not having their freedom to do as they would choose. Some can be highly aggressive and you can’t get their attention on anything but what they want to focus on. If you have a stallion with a super aggressive nature, in time he will become more than you can handle.
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