I've had many comments over the years about how I seem to never lose patience with the horse during moments that for most people would trigger a rollercoaster of emotions... such as in the scenarios of when a horse:
Resists being caught
Difficult to Trailer Load
Bolts when Led
Won't stand quietly tied
Avoidant towards the farrier
Has excessive movement when tacked or mounted
Is sensitive about fly spray or bathing
Is buddy or "barn" sour
None of the above "problems" are the horse's actual issues. Instead, they are symptomatic responses reflecting the many missed "building blocks" that go into the equine's education that create a solid foundation.
When I see these and numerous other unwanted behaviors, I translate the responses (feedback) from the horse showing his fear, defensiveness, and anticipation, due to the "holes" in or lack of Quality education.
I see many horse training videos referring to all of the above-unwanted behaviors as the issue(s)- and offering quick "solutions"- without EVER teaching, discussing, or educating horse owners on how to recognize addressing the contributing root cause(s) of the undesired equine responses.
Far too many equine "answers" is to basically teach conditioned response via a degree of constantly imposing driving pressure or using food incentives without ever actually addressing the horse's fear.
When the human priority and value system is to learn to read the horse's subtle physical communication- the ear, eye, jaw, muzzle, neck, topline, shoulder, knees, ribcage, hindquarters, hocks, and tail, all constantly change offering real-time reflection of the horse's everchanging mental and emotional state, "guessing" what will happen diminishes.
Prioritizing learning and refining one's horse skills of creating mentally available and directable equines completely eliminates hopeful interactions.
Understanding how to check in with the horse to assess his feedback, and delegate what to address and when, to help him release physical tension and decrease his mental avoidance.
This emotionally neutral communication is what creates a two-way Conversation. This allows the human to address the horse's concerns, build his trust, and encourage his try when asked to participate.
Especially in previously triggering or unfamiliar scenarios, the Quality of the communication (and if it has any meaning or value to the horse)- is what influences mental, emotional, and physical changes in the equine leading to desired responses while building his trust.
The more emotionally neutral one is, the faster their ability is to observe, assess, and make decisions. Believing the animal's honest communication without inserting a human emotional filter of how it makes you feel- or judging it, the more specific and supportive one can be in helping him work through his fear and defensiveness.
The irony is when people remove the emotionally triggered "I want" it now demands, and addresses the horse in a way that has meaning to him, the equine will offer far more than the human could have ever imagined.
Have you struggled with emotions that cause you to become impatient?
Learn horse behavior and improve horsemanship skills. Alternative Horsemanship™ with Samantha Harvey the Remote Horse Coach developed her horse training philosophy over three decades. She coaches riders of all experience levels in clinics worldwide and offers distance horse coaching, instruction, and consults. Her horse video learning catalog has webinars, courses, classes and more. Subscribe on all social media platforms #alternativehorsemanship
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