What Do I Do When My Horse ... ~!?!?!??!~

What Do I Do When My Horse ... ~!?!?!??!~

Rears, lunges, pushes through me, nips, won't stop, won't pick up hooves, doesn't listen, etc. etc. etc.

While rearing and lunging and kicking out are dangerous behaviors and shouldn't be tackled by the inexperienced, pushy, nippy, bargy, won't do this, won't do that ... those are things that can be "discussed" with your horse in a easy, non-forceful or hurtful manner BUT (there's always a "but", isn't there?) it means something or someone needs to change and guess what? It ain't the horse! All of the mentioned and more "disrespectful" behaviors from the horse are simply behaviors from the horse! They aren't "wrong" behaviors or "bad" behaviors. They're simply your horse's way of trying to tell you something and that "something" is ... you're not his leader.

Leadership isn't just a set of mechanical cues. Leadership is an attitude. Leadership is a state of being; a state of thinking and feeling. The "air" of leadership is one that can be felt strongly by both horse and human even though it cannot be seen or tangibly felt. Leadership IS. Why is leadership so important to establish when working or playing with horses? Because horses are hard-wired to HAVE to have a leader. That means, if the human is not the leader then the horse HAS to be the leader. So you see, its not about the horse being mean or stupid or dumb. It's about YOU and how you're thinking and how you're carrying yourself and what sort of "essence" you're emitting to your horse.

There's one simple way to become your horse's leader and thats to change your thinking. Change your thinking from "training" your horse to TEACHING your horse. That puts a whole different light on the topic and one that will change your demeanor and the energy you transmit to your horse. While many horses must "test" on a regular basis of just who really is the leader, that's OK ... that's part of how they function. Much like dealing with children, one wouldn't "train" a child to read by repetition, one teaches a child to read, step-by-step. Starting at the beginning with "A". In addition to this, if the child gets frustrated or upset a good teacher is not going to punish the child for not understanding but, instead, will try to change things in order to make the lesson easier for the child to understand. All the while, encouraging the child to relax, breath and try again.

When we change our thinking from "training" our horses to "teaching" our horses we become good leaders. Encouraging, enlightening, correcting, helping - with patience, a smile and an attitude that tells the student, "You CAN do this! Yes! You're getting it! See?" All of these things are positive energy and will reap positive results. Because there are no negative threatening energies the "student" will respond with the same positive attitude of willingness and courage.

Horses can't change their hardwiring; people can change their thinking, their mannerisms, their communication skills. Once you change your thinking from being "victimized" by the horse or from being "the boss" to being an encouraging teacher of the horse, you'll start to see changes in your horse's responses to you. Be a good TEACHER for your horse and forget about being the 'trainer'. Stop thinking in terms of the horse being "wrong" to that of the horse not understanding what you're asking. Ask, don't tell and be willing to break the "ask" down into the smallest chunks of steps that the HORSE needs - not what you think he outta understand. Then encourage the horse. Give the horse time and most of all ... if it ain't working then make a change! Don't forget to reward the small accomplishments, the "tries" in your encouragement to the next step. Become your horse's teacher.

I Came to Give Life

“I came to give life – life in all its fullness.” -- John 10:10

“An ordinary night with ordinary sheep and ordinary shepherds. And were it not for a God who loves to hook an ‘extra’ on the front of the ordinary, the night would have gone unnoticed. The sheep would have been forgotten, and the shepherds would have slept the night away.

But God dances amidst the common. And that night he did a waltz … The night was ordinary no more. “ From “Everyday Blessings” by Max Lucado

An ordinary night with ordinary sheep … an ordinary day with ordinary horses. But God dances amidst the common. And, so he does, also, among the horses. All we need to do is but watch and listen closely with pure heart and no intentions. Just watch. Smell. Listen. Feel. I believe that horses are God’s special creatures. He chose them to carry warriors to battle. He chose an ass to carry His son. He’s chosen a white horse upon which His son will return to the world. What wisdom lies beneath the brows of these animals? What can they tell us and teach us? What secrets do they hold directly from the dance with God? I CAN teach you, said Dorian. I CAN share secrets with you if you but take the time to wholly listen to me … to God. God gives many gifts to humans but He also bestows them upon the Horse. The Gift of love; the gift of life .. the JOY in life. The fullness in life and the full knowledge of our Savior’s being. Though we be in mortal bodies just as you our spirits soar high and wide and with love and gentleness. We love much and forgive quickly. How much more than that can we teach? With that comes much wisdom, much knowledge and the capabilities to soar with us. Yes, God dances amidst the common. Listen closely to the music of your heart so you, also, will dance amidst us and with God.

DANCES with HORSES with Klaus Hempfling

Phenomenal example of two blended hearts and minds:

What Kind of Leader are YOU?

In her book Naked Liberty Amigo Publications,
Copyright 2005, Carolyn Resnick describes
leadership in horse herds. She observed three
kinds of leadership personalities; Dominant Leader, Submissive
Leader and True Leader. - WHAT KIND OF LEADER ARE YOU?

"Dominant horses
show no interest in leadership issues such as where
the herd should go for food or how to escape from
danger. Rather, they are interested in dominance
issues such as maintaining or raising their position in
the pecking order." Dominant leaders gain
respect but not love.

Submissive horses
appear sweet and gentle, yet
avoid the fight altogether and back up or back off at the
slightest push. Submissive horses are loved but
not respected.

A horse with true
leadership supports "the
needs of the whole community, from the strongest to
the weakest individual". She brings the herd to food
and looks out for safety. The true leader views the
purpose of leadership "to keep the herd together in a
unified manner for the common good" and "to
maintain peace and keep the horses focused." A
true leader is both respected and loved.

What kind of leader are you in your herd?

The Journey

This written in response to a forum at NHE:

If one comes from many years as a horseman I think that NHE and its philosophies are a journey into another thought realm and lifestyle. Just as we help the horse to change his or her perceptions of the world around humans we humans must change our perceptions as well. Both species being those that are comfortable with the familiar and both species those that dislike disharmony. Trying to blend two different species together into a singular realm of presence is nothing less than a stupendous effort on both sides. Probably more so for the human than for the horse. But, it is that singular realm of presence that is that which we strive. It is wrought with frustrations and tears and many questions; most of which the horse, if listened to very carefully, can answer for us. We only need to get into the mind existance of the horse, himself, to understand that reality in which our horses live. To do that we must become small in thought ... singular, momentary, that "now" thought and leave the anticipations of what might become or what has past behind. It is a difficult journey at times and filled with what may seem impossible tasks at times but the spirit of the horse, if we seek that, will lead us along the way with the guidance of Our Creator.