Horse Considerations... Task Fixation Haltering

 

We've talked about how the "ride" begins when you think about going for the ride, and learning to "leave" reality of daily stresses and demands behind as you show up to be with your horse.

I've mentioned the Conversation starts with how your horse approaches you to be caught, whether in a stall or pasture, which is a great time to assess his mental focus and "tells" you what you might need to address before you even catch him.

I want to talk about the act of actual haltering. Use this "simple" interaction as a way to practice being clear and intentional in your haltering affects the quality of all that follows.

 

Haltering is a wonderful time to notice if you are task fixated or quality focused. What does that mean?

If you have a horse that is willing to come over to be caught, but dives into the halter, looks away from you as you slip his nose into the halter, pushes into your personal space as you are doing up the strap, and you continue on without addressing the horse, you are task fixated. 

 

Your focus is as long as the horse doesn't "leave" (with his feet,) you're willing to accept however he chooses to present himself and interact with you to get the halter on.

 

Have you considered that the physical chaos is reflecting the horse's mental and emotional state?

If this is the starting point for your "conversation" with the horse, how will he respond to you during the rest of the interaction? What will the leading, tacking, mounting, and ride feel like?

 

Horses are both searching for and offering constant feedback, as that is how they communicate and "survive" in the herd. If they are trying something, such as pushing/imposing with their head or mentally avoiding you, and you do nothing to address this, because your goal is to get the halter on, you unintentionally teach them to offer unwanted behaviors because you are ignoring their communication.

 

Task fixation will cause you to miss potential feedback indicating defensiveness, anticipation, increased tension, etc. associated with haltering. This can lead to "more work" to get the equine to acknowledge your communication, or the "begging" or "working around" the horse to get compliance.

 

It does not engage the horse's mind, create equine adaptability, or increase his willingness to participate.

Haltering can be an "opportunity" for a conversation starter with the horse on any given day. No assumptions, no "ignoring" things because it doesn't feel scary (to the human,) prioritizing noticing and addressing if and when, or why the horse is mentally not with you, or is displaying physically resistant/tolerant behavior.

 

Taking extra time to follow through and address the horse's lack of focus, being able to redirect his thought, addressing his brace, helping him to soften to pressure, assessing if he is "asking" versus "telling," we'd be setting up both the horse and ourselves for a quality session to follow.

 

But more importantly, the horse would learn he is acknowledged and addressed by the human in a manner that builds his confidence, willingness, and try.