One reason why horses are in so much conflict is that their actions are always being interpreted incorrectly. Recently, I was having a conversation with a young lady who after one experience with a horse decided that the horse did not like her. It had been kicking out and she was certain the horse had it in for her.

I asked her a few questions about the incidence and found out that there were other horses in the immediate vicinity. These horses had been bothering the horse she was handling and one was in season. As the story unfolded, I helped her see that the horse was only doing what Mother Nature had hardwired it to do. It was protecting itself in an uncertain and possibly dangerous situation.

Of course, it was absolutely essential for our young lady to be cautious and safe, but by interpreting the actions of her horse incorrectly, whatever she did would be based on a wrong assumption. And this is the seed of conflict that can be so easily planted, creating a division between the two. As this assumption is watered and cultivated by myths and half-truths, it will grow until the relationship is no longer viable and the horse is considered a rogue. In this case, he was already considered unmanageable!

Yet, if the actions could have been seen for what they were, the relationship could have taken a step towards a deeper trust instead of the opposite. By helping the horse in a tough situation it would be more apt to trust her next time, making it easier and safer to handle him. 

So next time give your horse’s actions a second thought. Maybe by helping them some of that conflict that keeps getting in the way of the connection you want can be alleviated.

Make sure that you read all our articles on eliminating and avoiding equine emotional distress. The articles are free and can be downloaded and used to help friends and students work with horses that are experiencing emotional distress.

Don't give up! Simple things that will help

Are you disappointed with the behavior of your horse? Are there things you would like to accomplish, but unruly and unwanted behavior keeps getting in the way? At your wits end and ready to give up?- Don't!

When horses act "naughty" it is because they are confused or have been rewarded to act that way. By removing the confusion and paying closer attention to what is rewarded you can change the behavior very quickly. In fact, sometimes as quick as a few minutes.

In order to remove conflict and confusion, keep things very simple. Here is a list of things that will help.

1. Never ask for two things at once. This is highly confusing to the horse and will deteriorate one or both cues.

2. Always reward the horse at the correct moment. Whatever behavior you reward the horse will most likely do it again.

3. Make sure you give an adequate reward. Most people do not give a good enough reward, they are always tense, either pulling on the reins or lead rope, or always squeezing with their legs.

4. Never change the meaning of a cue. For example, "whoa" only and always means stop. Yet, it is used to slow down, calm down, stop that or used indiscriminately without proper reinforcement.

5. Never de-train a cue. Very similar to number 4, yet it should be noted that constantly repeating a cue in the hopes that the horse will obey is actually de-training the cue. Give a cue, reinforce the cue and then reward the horse.

6. Consolidate the cue and the response. Horses can and should be trained to respond almost immediately to a cue. This is done with repetition and exposing them to many different situations until they become dependable. If this is not done or kept up, things can unravel at a very fast pace.

7. Control the behavior on the ground for better behavior undersaddle. Require the same behaviors when leading, grooming, saddling, and handling as you would when riding. Don't let them look around, make sure they don't rush past things, train them to stand still and make sure they will stop immediately. While there are more, these would be the bare bone essentials.

I know that after going over the list you might have questions. Feel free to contact me, or post a question in the comment box below. I'll get an answer back to you and it just might help someone else. Hopefully this has been helpful.