Title: Forming an Understanding

Author: Stevi Weissbach  [Back to Article List]

Article:
Have you ever felt that you and your horse should be able to
form a better partnership? Do you want the horse to look at you
as someone he can trust his life with, as well as a buddy,
partner, and a creative individual who does "fun stuff?" There
are so many ways to do this, but you should first have a basic
understanding of the nature of the horse: how they react to
situations they see as dangerous, what they look for in a
leader, and some qualities horses appreciate. We would create a
better relationship with our horses if we try to understand
their intentions.

 The horse is a simple animal. It is built, bred, and brought up
to survive. This means that if the horse is uncertain or feels
threatened, he or she will do everything possible to leave the
situation, by either leaving physically or dissociating
emotionally. What dissociation means is that something traumatic
has occurred so part of the animal's soul has left its body for
a period of time. Have you have ever seen a horse with a "glazed
over" look, or they are completely panic stricken? A part of
their soul will have left its body because it is no longer safe,
given the situation. Human examples of this may include rape,
physical abuse, or a physical trauma. There is a point where a
person's life is so deeply threatened that he or she will not
want to be in their body because the trauma can not be handled.
This piece of them will usually return once everything is safe,
but it doesn't always. The horse is a very sensitive animal and
should not be pressured to the extent that he or she needs to
leave. Since we have taken away the safety from the herd it is
our responsibility to give them the safety they need, where they
can look to us for guidance. With this guidance they will return
to their bodies because they trust you to keep them safe and
respected.

 Most horses are looking for a leader that will take care of
them. Even though the leadership role in a herd is stressful, a
horse is not willing to hand their life over to "just anyone."
The individual that assumes this responsibility needs to be
someone who can take care of the herd: not to own them, but to
respect their likes and dislikes, and guide them in the areas
they have trouble coping with.

 The horse is so concerned about its survival that he will test
a person who claims they are "boss." In order for you to be
accepted as the leader, the horse will need to trust you, your
judgment, and your respect for him or her. When a horse tests
you, keep in mind this is for survival purposes, no matter what
he is doing. This is where you can earn a lot of respect. Your
horse needs to know if you will lose your temper or give up on
him. If you do not follow through consistently, he will know
that HE needs to be the leader. His life depends on it!

 A quality that horses respect is truth. How many times have you
heard "leave your problems at the gate?" When you leave your
problems at the gate other people may not know about it but your
horse, who is very sensitive, knows you are hiding something. He
or she will not know what to expect and may not trust you. They
will respect you more if you show them what you are feeling
inside, and they might even want to help you work through your
problems. Keep in mind that some emotions are threatening to a
horse, such as anger or uncertainty. It will help you a great
deal if you pay attention to how your horse deals with your
emotions.

 Horses try to escape pressure, and learn from the release of
pressure. This comes with their survival skills and can be used
for training. In order to communicate, pressure is put on the
horse, whether it is a mare shaking her head, guidance from a
halter or a dressage whip, and when the horse moves in the right
direction, the pressure is taken off. The quicker the release,
the faster the horse will learn that it is a good thing to do.
It is something anyone can do. Here's the only trick. A person
needs to feel with their heart, what the horse needs in regard
to guidance, fun, and creativity. New skills and a nice ride
(from both the human and the horse) can come from "play time"
instead of from a schooling session.

 Offer them your heart and with it, tell them of your spirit,
your dreams, and what you want from the relationship, and they
will tell you what they want if you are listening quietly.
Horses are meant to be equals, as another spirit journeying in a
world we have to share. We need to take the time to truly
convince them that we too can "play" with trust, respect, and
fun. On this two way street of respect we can form the most
amazing relationships we ever dreamed possible.

 If you enjoyed this article then pass it on! Interested in
learning more? What about if the learning was combined with an
amazing vacation? Email me at Stevi@YemayaHorseRetreat.com,
Visit us online at: www.YemayaHorseRetreat.com, Or give us a
call at (250) 295-0569 (Princeton BC, Canada).



About the author:
Stevi has worked around different breeds of horses, many
dynmamic instructors and motivational speakers. She understands
how people and horses learn best, how to communicate with horses
on a physical and spiritual level, and knows how to make
situations fun and positive for both you and your horse.

Stevi writes her articles to enlighten you to have fun with your
horse, be creative, and treat your horse with respect.

Disclaimer
Opinions expressed in articles on this website are those of the author(s) of each story or article and not necessarily those of  Shadow Ridge.  Shadow Ridge does not necessarily agree with, support, or endorse any definitions, treatments, opinions or statistics stated by these authors. They are entirely responsible for the content of their respective story(s) or article(s).

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