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Finding the way is
the interesting part. Horses these days are so different and
their problems can be so complex that there is rarely a specific
technique, only a few basic principles. You simply have to
get started and feel your way forward.
First, however, you have to know where to
start. That's usually quite easy. A misbehaving horse
has got himself into a conflict situation and doesn't know how to
get out of it. It is for us, therefore to find the answer
for him and remove the conflict.
Having removed the conflict, it is
relatively easy to get what we want. The horse is already a
lot happier and more willing to cooperate although we may not be
there yet. Sometimes we have to move the
goal-posts. If, for example, he stops and refuses to move,
instead of insisting or expecting that he go forward and continue
onward, we accept what we can get and allow him to stop again if
he wants to. In this way, we build up trust which is the
main thing that is lacking.
My method often involves a lot of stopping
and waiting. Horses don't like to be pushed or rushed so
this must also be taken into consideration. As you probably
know, if you get into a fight with a horse, you are unlikely to
win it. Or, if you do, you can be almost certain that you
will get exactly the same fight any time you are in that same
situation.
Now we are making progress. The horse
is beginning to understand that there is nothing to fight
about. However, he may still be uncertain, nervous and
suspicious of this unexpected turn of events so not yet be fully
compliant. Patience and perseverence win the day!
Sooner or later, depending on the problem,
we both get to where we both want to be which is in a position of
mutual understanding. In effect, the horse eventually says -
I'll do whatever
you want as long as you don't hurt me or make me
uncomfortable. That's
the deal. And it works like magic!
Depending on the problem, the change in
behaviour can be almost instantaneous. Some miracles
however, take a little longer. One thing is for certain
though. As soon as you start to work this way, you begin to
see improvement - and that's what really counts. As soon as
you start getting improvement in behaviour, you know you're on the
right track. |
What is he trying to tell me?
There can be a lot of
stopping and waiting
Eventually, we reach a
mutual understanding
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