| Horses don't lie. A horse is not going to put his | | | | the horse to expect your pressure and release |
| ears forward and pretend he is happy if he is not. | | | | from pressure when he responds to your cues. |
| If those ears are plastered flat back, and his tail is | | | | The cue always remains the same. The |
| wringing a vicious circle, you can be certain he is | | | | enforcement gets increasingly stronger until the |
| not happy. What you see is what you get. | | | | demanded response is given. It looks like this:cue |
| Training and attitude are two different things. | | | | > enforcement > wrong actioncue > |
| Training teaches the horse to react to cues; | | | | ENforcement > wrong actioncue > |
| attitude is how the horse responds. A negative | | | | ENFORCEMENT > correct action > reward |
| horse resents and resists. He may go through all | | | | (release from pressure) |
| the motions, but his performance will be tense | | | | The cue doesn't change. It remains consistent and |
| and sullen. | | | | present with every escalation of enforcement. |
| The apathetic horse drags himself around dull and | | | | Eventually the horse will respond to the first cue |
| oblivious, saying, "I'm bored; I'm brain dead; I don't | | | | because he seeks the release from pressure. In |
| care." But a horse with a positive attitude shows | | | | other words, his obedience and confidence will |
| powerful, focused action. | | | | increase as his expectations are reinforced. |
| The Beginning | | | | His nature can make him happy in a world of |
| Let's look at where attitude starts. First of all, if | | | | obedience as long as you are fair and he knows |
| we were to place the horse on a Freudian couch, | | | | what the rules are. |
| we would find that he likes to be comfortable. A | | | | Inconsistencies are mental surprises that make |
| comfortable horse is content. He is confident in his | | | | the horse uncomfortable and destroys his ability |
| rider and in his role in the partnership. At the core | | | | to trust you. He does not want to be shocked, |
| of this relationship is trust. | | | | nor is he delighted by surprises. Shocks and |
| Trust is an expectation. When the horse trusts | | | | surprises will damage his attitude, especially in the |
| you, he has learned from consistency what will | | | | area of communication. |
| happen if. In other words, if he refuses to stop, | | | | Another element of trust is respect. A respectful |
| he will feel the pressure until he does. If he | | | | horse will pay attention. I'm not talking about a |
| refuses to turn, he will feel the pressure until he | | | | horse walking on eggshells, afraid of every move |
| does. If he responds correctly, he will be | | | | you make, but the respectful horse who is just |
| rewarded. | | | | aware of you and what you are doing. This a a |
| When the horse knows where he stands, his | | | | calm and comfortable kind of respect based on |
| actions develop power because his confidence | | | | the equine custom of pecking order. |
| increases. If you can plug into the horse's | | | | The Natural Order |
| confidence, you can channel that energy into a | | | | The horse is a herd animal and pecking order is a |
| powerful performance. He becomes a horse who | | | | natural part of his life. He knows it. He |
| knows his business. | | | | understands it. He is comfortable with it. The |
| Trust is understood through communication. | | | | horse may occasionally challenge his position, and |
| Communication is a system that sends and | | | | some horses are spoiled and rebellious because |
| receives messages. In order for this system to | | | | they have been allowed to maintain a superior |
| work, it must be a language that can be | | | | attitude. But if it is made clear, through consistent |
| exchanged between the two communicating. It | | | | use of the aids, that you are his leader, he will |
| means we must do more than tell the horse | | | | accept it as normal and be happy about it. |
| what to do; we must also listen. Refinement in | | | | Respect has a natural awareness for space. Both |
| horsemanship is in direct proportion to the ability | | | | animals and humans have what is called "their |
| to read and react appropriately to what the horse | | | | space," and as the dominant steps into the space |
| is saying. | | | | of the submissive, the submissive moves out of |
| Lack of communication is a frustrating thing. If the | | | | the way. |
| horse cannot make sense of what you are saying | | | | If the horse moves into your space he is |
| he will be confused, and in reaction to this | | | | challenging you. When I'm talking about space, I'm |
| confusion, he will either tune you out or get | | | | talking about that area where we protect |
| hostile. This attitude will manifest itself in apathetic | | | | ourselves, that place when we feel pressured to |
| or negative action. | | | | move. The horse's attitude toward you will |
| Through communication and attention to his | | | | improve when he is not allowed to enter your |
| reactions, we teach the horse to accept his role in | | | | space and push you around. |
| the partnership, even when he'd rather be out | | | | This respect for space will carry over from the |
| under a shade tree with the breeze blowing his | | | | ground into the saddle as the horse learns to stop |
| mane. | | | | challenging your authority. He can enjoy your |
| The Key Element | | | | affection or you may push him around; if the |
| In order to work, all language must adhere to | | | | pecking order is intact, it will be comfortable for |
| consistency. Imagine what would happen if you | | | | both of you. |
| said "Pass the salt," when you really meant, | | | | Healthy respect also tunes up the horse's level of |
| "Where is the milk?" Salt is salt; milk is milk; and | | | | responsiveness because the horse's natural desire |
| whoa is whoa. | | | | is to keep track of what is happening up the |
| Based on your consistency the horse learns the | | | | pecking order. He will be paying attention to you. |
| language. He learns to trust his actions. This gives | | | | Attitude is absolute. It is there in one form or |
| him the courage to be bold and to show his | | | | another, and as we teach the horse to trust us |
| athletic power. To clarify, trust is an expectation, | | | | we encourage his positive side. |
| and consistency is how those expectations are | | | | It is your responsibility to establish communication |
| established. | | | | on the horse's level and to understand his needs. |
| Horsemanship's language is called the aids. It is a | | | | You must be fair in your expectations and |
| body language that uses a consistent pressure | | | | encourage him toward his potential at a |
| and release from pressure to express what is | | | | reasonable pace and also take into account that |
| being said. If you do not understand the aids, the | | | | his personality, level of training, and physical |
| horse will not be capable of trusting you. | | | | condition should match the work he asked to do. |
| The horse may not want to do what you ask, | | | | With trust, his performance will gain power from |
| but his attitude will improve as he learns to | | | | the confidence he has. Good attitude shows. It |
| expect follow-through from you. Follow-through is | | | | gives the horse that sparkle that takes him over |
| a pattern of cue and enforcement that teaches | | | | the line from average to exceptional. |