The main thing we have to do to be safe and happy with our horses is to help them discover that there is another strategy when they are scared beside running like crazy. That strategy (their primary survival instinct) has worked for eons, but in our human environment it can spell big trouble for horses and horse people. When a horse hasn’t learned that there are other choices besides panic and speed (flight) disaster is inevitable.
Historically people have accomplished this goal through dominance, force and coercion – they have literally broken horses. Those methods work fine if you want a horse to be a tool, a machine, a mode of transportation like a hay burning motorcycle, and if you are willing to discard any horse that won't respond to that approach I heard one lady said "My horses know that if they don't do what I say they will be dog food." If that is your attitude, you should probably move on now. The last thing I am interested in doing is creating a horse with a broken spirit.
If what we want is a connected friend and companion, a pet that we ride, then a more appropriate way to accomplish our goals is to help a horse build a lot of self confidence. When we do that we are alos proving that we can trusted as a respected herd leader. We are proving that we are someone who listens and understands.
Fortunately people have figured out that there are alternatives to "breaking" horses, that the altrnatives actually work and that they even work better. Fortunately some of the people who have learned these things have been willing to teach others - like me.
So if this kind of approach sounds good to you, and you want help for yourself or your horse, then you have come to the right place. Click around. I plan to have a bunch of info here and if you want to get together I am available to work with:
Individuals – Groups - Non Profits
and
Horses with Problems
