Weaponizing Horsemanship "Tools"
"It" has been called a variety of names, has multiple different styles, and in the name of imitation without understanding, so many good intentioned horse people are using "it" in a destructive, aggressive, critical manner teaching the horse fear, flee, containment, and defensiveness.
There are far too many examples of the "big names" showing fast, strong, and unrelenting use of it with a horse. The unknowing public then tries to imitate what they've seen as an example on their unsuspecting horse.
No one talks about how many people get hurt because they, "don't know what they don't know," as a client once said.
So when the mis or un-educated, or inexperienced horse person adds in a potentially destructive "tool" presented in a "making the horse comply" manner, at some point it becomes mental and emotional overload for the equine, causing him to literally take out, run over, or potentially hurt the human as he is trying to defend himself.
If Quality is the goal, there should not be a continuous need for more "stuff" to communicate with the horse. It should not take more effort to get less willingness as his "training" progresses.
There can be a time and a place for everything. But the human's intent and emotional state can completely alter the horse's experience when something is presented to him. It can influence creating either a specific, clear understanding, or more often than not, instilling fear and distrust in the horse.
Trouble is that a lot of people own horses and have never read the British Manual of Horsemanship. They treat horses in the same demanding, top down way they treat other people. Then put a video on FB on how to train horses....
ReplyDeleteYes, the human's mental availability (or lack thereof) to consider, acknowledge, and address the horse in a manner that has value to the equine changes everything in the interactions.
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