HORSES, HOWE & WHY

by Wil & Beverly Howe

Equestrian Connection, 1988

Article #3

"A good attitude developed in a horse through proper ground work must be established first for better results when riding."

It is a simple, but very important theory in basic horsemanship. In understanding our horses more fully and keeping the perspective of our role as the leader, you must be kind but firm.

We are all trainers when we handle our horses. They learn and pick up behavioral habits from what we condition them to. Right or wrong - a person can make a mellow horse uneasy and jittery or a nervous horse calm, just by their actions. Horses can be very sensitive to one’s vibrations. A person’s hidden fears of a horse often cause a horse to act up, but an uninhibited, confident individual can instill a calmness in the same horse.

There are three basic ways horses will respond when attempting to gain their control and respect:

A. Resistant respect with an element of fear, when forced.

B. Resistance with no respect, when coaxed.

And, C. Respect without fear or resistance; our behavioral goal.

From here we can develop and nurture the trust it takes to communicate well. This type of response can be attained through a consistent give and take method, offering and obvious "comfort zone" for the horse.

Every living creature looks for security in one form or another, a comfort zone or a path of least resistance. We have found when we handle our horses it is easiest to communicate with them if we make it simple, showing them in black and white. The behavior we seek will be easy for him and the behavior we do not want will be made difficult. But only consistency in a program is effective to get solid lasting results in a horse.

When trying to communicate with any "being" you must first have their attention. When you have their attention it means you have control from the beginning. This is what one must realize and relate to handling their horse. When we have our horse’s attention, our goal is to create and maintain a willing cooperative attitude in the animal, according to the individual’s ability.

For example, to regularly tie your horse up, teaches them to give to restrictions and limitations without arm wrestling you. Let them arm wrestle themselves. It has never hunt a horse to stand tied. In the olden days, all they had were tie stalls! A horse that has never had to discipline of standing tied, usually has a "fit" when required to do so all day at a horse show. Why not let him throw his tantrum at home rather than in public? It makes for a submissive and friendly horse, who wants to be your "buddy".

It is very important to become aware of our actions around horses. Every action should have a specific purpose and response from the moment we approach the horse until the time he is released.

Too often we will blame our horse for something we could have prevented if we had just noticed that our friend was not "paying attention." Whether haltering or mounting, our horse should be listening to us.

Some of the most common problems people have with their horse are a direct result of confrontations, if ignored or left to compromise will only get worse. Take the time to keep your horse correct during the ground work. This emphasis on ground manners can be the whole basis for an enjoyable riding horse.

Here are a few basic horsemanship tips to remember:

1) When you handle your horse, be aware of what you are doing. Move smooth and easily but with confidence.

2) Get your horse’s attention and keep it throughout the session. Always look for and encourage submissive and cooperative behavior.

3) When catching your horse, insist that he acknowledge you, look at you and not turn his rear to you. Remember their limited vision we talked about and approach your horse at the point of the shoulder, rather than his head.

4) When haltering your horse: insist the horse hold his head low and not looking off while you halter it. Keep the animal’s attention at all time.

5) Lead you horse on a slack rope. Do not drag your horse around and make sure the horse does not lead you! He should "follow the leader"!

6) When grooming your horse, make it a pleasant experience. Always use a soft brush on a horse’s head, ears and legs. a soft rubber curry that you can rub harder with is easier on the animal than a scratchy sharp curry, if it seems to bother.

7) When tying a horse up for discipline, tie him to a stout hitching post or tree. Tie the rope about 5 feet high and not to long, approximately 18 inches so he cannot hurt himself. Use a strong nylon rope halter and lead rope with a quality bull snap.

When we fail to maintain the animal’s control, we lose control, respect and the willing attitude we have worked hard to create. Everything is hinged together in horsemanship. Remember to always go back to the basics. Find the root of any problem and start there. Safety and enjoyment with horses can be a reality if one has a good foundation of basic horsemanship.

"To learn how to get your horses attention order Video #1"