| One of the reasons I strongly encourage horse | | | | compound to worse problems. Your filly won't always |
| owners to train their own horses rather than ship them | | | | be so small and light! |
| away to a professional trainer is familiarity. Quite | | | | If you selected the second option you might have |
| simply, an unfamiliar party will not understand your | | | | reacted correctly if the filly was gently asked to |
| horse nearly as well as you, and this understanding of | | | | respect your space previously and elected to ignore |
| a horse is the backbone of any successful training | | | | the request out of defiance. In such a scenario you |
| plan. | | | | would need to reinforce your authority lest she view |
| This is not to suggest that all horse trainers are | | | | herself as being the alpha leader amongst you. |
| clueless individuals that bumble along hoping to do | | | | But what if the filly stepped against you because the |
| something right, because most professional trainers will | | | | wind was carrying along a plastic bag that startled |
| take the time to understand a horse before ever | | | | her? In such a case if you discipline your horse you do |
| thinking about saddling him and training him to ride. But | | | | her a huge disservice because she's not trying to be |
| all too often an impatient or inexperienced "trainer" will | | | | defiant or challenge your authority - she's scared and |
| misread a horse's problem or intention and react | | | | she wanted your reassurance! If you start cuffing your |
| incorrectly due to his lack of understanding. Too many | | | | filly for violating your personal space she will be like a |
| of these incidents can prolong the training process | | | | deer caught in a car's headlights; the bag to her left |
| (thereby costing you money) and potentially mentally | | | | and the handler to her right are scaring her and she'll |
| scar your horse for life. | | | | either bolt or become paralyzed. |
| Far too many head-shy horses can be attributed to | | | | Had you understood the root of her concern you could |
| inexperienced or abusive past trainers and/or owners | | | | have forgiven the invasion of your space and instead |
| who lacked an understanding of the horse they were | | | | showed your filly the plastic bag was nothing to be |
| working with. Once a horse has developed this | | | | concerned about. Such reassurances would have put |
| mistrust or fear of people it can take a good while to | | | | her mind at ease, allow her to regain focus on the task |
| reassure the horse that another cuff is not waiting | | | | at hand and hopefully become desensitized towards |
| around the corner. And who can blame the horse? If | | | | future encounters with plastic bags. |
| every past exposure with a dog resulted in the dog | | | | A trainer that believed in the "one size fits all" |
| biting you, chances are you would be very wary, if not | | | | philosophy would probably have chosen option two in |
| outright panicked, by future exposures to canines. | | | | the above scenario since at face value that would be |
| To correct an improper action it is first important to | | | | the correct reaction, but without understanding the |
| understand the motivation that lies behind it. For | | | | horse or the motivation behind her action his |
| example, let's say that you are training a young filly to | | | | "correction" would have further compounded the |
| walk alongside you to your left. Suddenly without | | | | problem. It is essential a handler take the time to |
| permission the filly slams against your side, but being | | | | understand a horse's behavior before attempting to |
| that she's still young it doesn't do much more than get | | | | correct it since one size most definitely does not fit all. |
| your attention. What would you do? | | | | And who would better understand your horse than |
| 1. Ignore the behavior - no harm was done after all. | | | | you? |
| 2. Jab your elbow into the filly's shoulder and growl at | | | | In addition the training process does not have to be the |
| her to remind her to respect your space. | | | | stressful battle of wills that most of us initially believe it |
| 3. Take a moment to detect the reason why the filly | | | | to be. Taken slowly, both the horse and the owner can |
| brushed against you. | | | | actually look forward to advancing along the lesson |
| If you selected the first option, you chose wrong. | | | | plan. As the owner and horse work together, each will |
| Although your heart is in the right place in your | | | | develop an even better understanding of the other's |
| willingness to "write off" a seemingly harmless action, | | | | mannerisms, personality and expectations... and with |
| eventually if you ignore these things they can | | | | understanding comes success. |