Horse Training: Illusions & Misperceptions

 The Illusion of "Horse Training" 

One of the greatest negative contributors in the horse industry (to both the human and horse) is the misperception of "Horse Training."

Factors like the owner's experience, perspectives, goals, understanding of horse behavior (or lack of it) despite however long they have been riding, create a misunderstanding as to what Training means to them, versus what the horse experiences with the trainer. 

For some, whose "world" is very small, much of the Training is creating conditioned responses in the horse. This approach involves repetitiously presenting patterns and routines in the interaction to the point that the horse's mind frequently shuts down. His curiosity dissipates as he is grilled into being a "broke" horse. 

Others rely on the human-convenient 30, 60, or 90 days " Horse Training Program" under the guise that the horse can now do "anything." The horses are often bombarded and "driven" with with so much stuff, tasks, and stimulus, they start stuffing their emotions, get defensive, and are unavailable to try, think, or adapt. The unsuspecting owner gets them home, does something in a way the horse didn't expect, and all the pent up emotions coming pouring out in dramatic physical behaviors.

If owners are not actively communicating or working with the equine professional, most have no idea as to what is being "done" with their horse. 

It is all too common that many "horse trainers" use one approach or method in working with all horses, irrelevant of if it is appropriate for the individual equine. The human's inability to adapt to the horse's maturity, mental state, and physically abilities leaves the horse often in a worse place than when they started.

Rarely do professionals have the skills, follow through, or desire to communicate clearly with the horse's owner to keep them informed as to how, what, and why certain things are taught and done with the horse. Owners bring home their horse with no idea as to how to interact with him, and then things fall apart because the owner isn't doing things like the trainer did.

There's also the varying quality (or lack) of in the horse trainer. I've encountered far too many "professionals" whose scope, experience, and availability to work with the horse is incredibly limited. 

When most owners consider Training, they have a no understanding in what they should be asking, seeing, and communicating with a trainer BEFORE enrolling their horse in a program. 

This leads to all too many people getting their horse back from the trainer in a defensive, defeated state. 

I wonder what the concept of "training" would be if people viewed every moment of Interaction with the Horse as both a teaching and learning moment for BOTH the human and horse.

What if there wasn't the illusion or sales pitch that training would create an obedient, submissive animal? 

What if there was priority for the owner to invest time and effort into their own education and understanding of the horse?

And I won't even delve into the toxic, bullying relationship that often occurs between trainers and their clients. Especially if owners question or try to learn why the trainer is doing something and how defensive and hostile they get in defending their practices.