Honest Horse Conversations & Considerations

 Everything I had been working for my entire life seemed to have come crashing down.

My belief system, values, the approach and perspective in how I viewed the horse.

I still remember it very clearly decades later; riding under some of the best athletes in the world in the Equestrian sport. The lectures that had begun once I started questioning why there were so many horses physically breaking down.

The abusive behavior towards me based on my questioning "the system," and the complete contempt towards my attempt to consider what the horse was experiencing.

Despite the outward appearance of glossy magazine covers spouting kindness and equine partnerships, the reality behind the scenes was absurdly opposite.

Time, money, life, sponsorships, and society pressures all demanded that the horses perform and respond like machines. 

But what about those that wouldn't comply? Or those that would consistently have physical issues?

The concept of "teaching the horse a lesson," making them "give in" and quit their physical resistance, trying to contain unreasonable dangerous behaviors from the ground, was a standard and a norm.

This idea that for generations things have been done this way, and so this is how "we" shall continue, was basically based upon the unspoken idea that there would always be more horses. Meaning if the one you were working with was not strong enough mentally and physically to "tough out" the human experience and demands, there'd always be another one to replace him.

No one ever talked about what happened to the horses that didn't make it, the discarded ones, the ones who couldn't handle the approach and therefore became dangerous and violent or crippled.

Despite it being decades later and me offering a completely different approach, rehabilitating hundreds of horses who have been discarded as violent, dangerous, and unworthy of the effort, I still struggle.

I see so many subtleties in everyday interactions that humans who are doing the best that they can based on what they know, are oblivious to the equine's communication because our society doesn't value slowing down, being present, believing the horse, or assigning value to the animal's feedback, before imposing our agendas and demands.

And it is very much swimming upstream against society that values the instant gratification or the concept of "I paid for it, I should have it," that is demanded or expected in creating the obedient, subservant horse.

 The subtleties, the delays, the slight resistance, the hesitation, the avoidance, they all are indications that the horse is trying to communicate that there is potential concern, fear, or defensiveness.

 Please for the sake of your equine partner don't keep ignoring him just because you can currently "power through it." 

 Don't impose your criticism and judgement towards displays of fear when asking something completely foreign of the animal that hasn't been prepared with the skill set or understanding of how to navigate the human world.

It isn't a matter of if, but rather when, the slight resistance will evolve into much bigger and more dramatic behaviors that often lead to a dangerous and unwanted outcome. 

Most human imposed emotional urgencies are completely made up and are not a reality. 

Returning to the basics and seeking quality is not a negative concept, irrelevant of how many years you've been riding.

 Prioritize refining your education and understanding of the of the horse, starting with a consideration of how often you may be communicating things unintentionally influencing and reinforcing unwanted behaviors in the horse.

 And finally, for most people, this is a pastime that is supposed to be fun. If you're miserable catching your horse, leading, tacking up, trying to get on, trying to load him in the trailer, trying to ride out on the trail or enjoy riding in a new location at a clinic or a show, something major has been missed. 

Most horses I meet are living every day in a state of mental chaos, often fear, and stress. This limits their ability to try, search, or trust. 

The more you start to value taking the time of supporting and addressing the horse in a way that has value to him, the greater the fulfillment it is to participate in the equine partnership.