Refining Ground Work with the Horse

 

Whenever I show up to work with a horse I go through a mental checklist assessing things such as:

Where is the horse’s mind today?

How is the horse looking/feeling in his postures, breathing, and movement?

What was the feeling or energy he offered when greeting me in his pasture or stall?

Does he seem mentally available as I ask to halter, lead, and stop at the gate?

If I ask for him to change his focus, "let go" of a mental distraction, decrease/increase his energy, step on/at a specific spot, or pause while I "fix" something else, is he getting defensive for my opinions or his he willing to try?

Empathy + Horses 🚫= Weakness

 

There is a constant human imposition upon each other and horses... 

 

Unrealistic ego-based demands without having accountability as to how a person's clarity of thoughts and intention, quality of communication, adaptability in energy, accuracy of timing, and everyday mindless interactions, are constantly "teaching" horses unwanted responses that people then criticize and chastise the equine for.

Alternative Horsemanship™ December Livestreams

 

 

Join the Alternative Horsemanship Locals community to watch. Replays available throughout the month.

Horse Maturity- Is the horse too young?

 Gentle Reminder...

Although most equine enthusiasts want to do right by their horse, many people are pushed into starting to ride horses at far too young of an age.

Improving Horse Skills

 Links of Communication 

 

What does the mounting block, walking out a gate, loading into a horse trailer, crossing over a tarp, or passing through a stream have in common?

None of them are about the actual task. Instead, they can all reflect if there is quality, intentional, specific communication or if one lacks having the tools to present scenarios without overwhelming the horse. Each is an Opportunity to refine first engaging and directing the horse's focus, then asking for adaptable, specific, intentional movement.

Each allows for an Opportunity to help the horse learn how to think their way through a scenario to offer reasonable behavior. Instead, many people are only focused on getting physical compliance, accept mindless responces due to familiarity, or create fear-based participation in the equine.

The horse's physical feedback "afterward"- all reflect what he experienced during the scenario that was presented. Examples: once the rider is in the saddle if the horse immediately moves forward, the horse that rushes after passing through the gate, the horse that unloads from the trailer in a hurry, the horse quickens and shortens his steps across the tarp, the horse lunges across/away from the stream, etc.

But most people fixate on the task, rather than taking the time to initially address and educate the horse how to mentally stay present and be physically adaptable. The following are just a few questions to assess the horse's education and skills:

How does the horse respond to physical and spatial pressure?

Can his mind be directed WITHOUT  him moving his feet?

Can different area of his body move independent without  a heaviness,
brace or imbalance?

Are there varying degrees in his energy,
When asked to halt does his mind pause with his feet?

Ignoring checking-in with where the horse's thought, or addressing if he is mentally directable- meaning can you redirect his focus from what he initially offered, before presenting a scenario,limits the ability to influence his energy and physical movements.

Asking for movement without engaging the horse's mind creates a, "Let's see what happens," or a unintentional challenging of the horse to get "it" right, rather than using previously established "tools" to help the horse think, search, and try, with fear.

Even if a horse begins unsure or is in a new situation, if he is offered communication that has value to him, it can be a confidence-building, learning opportunity.

Without that support, scenarios can quickly escalate into a stressful and overwhelming event for both the horse and human that can lead to defensiveness in future learning.

Imagine each thing you ask of your horse is one small link in a "chain" of events. If you are hopeful or "waiting" to see what the horse will do, you are leaving it up to him to take over and decide how he will physically respond.

If you intervene after the fact, it creates a critical interaction causing defensiveness in the horse and diminishes his willingness to try in the future.

Aggressive Horse Behavior or Pain

 

Meet Peggy. (Re-Post shared by follower.)

Peggy is the skeletal remains of a polo pony mare that was euthanized due to dangerous behavior. It was said that she, and I quote, "was trying to kill people". 

Human Emotions and Horse Problems

 Emotions have been "high" here in the USA... and the residual effects will remain. Some folks are feeling very confident, while others are devastated. Either way, many equine enthusiasts "seek refuge" in spending time with their horse as a reprieve from politics, daily life stresses, and the future unknowns...

Horse Help- Fear of the Barn

 Question:
I decided to have stables built and they are now ready for my horses to use. The ex-racer will be fine as he is used to being stables, but the other horse has not been stabled for many years! I am worried he will refuse to go in the stable he gets anxious and skittish when walking through gates as well. How can I make him feel safe and encourage him in this task? I have been leading him to the stable to allow him to look at the space but now I  need to introduce him to actually entering the stable without getting frightened or panicking.

Answer:
I have lost track of how many folks have built their horse a barn, that the animal has refused to go into. Multiple aspects need to be considered and addressed that influence the "how" you help the horse work through concern.