How to tell the difference between when a horse is taking me someplace, and when a horse is taking over?
If we can't hide our emotions from our horses, what can I do when I feel scared? How can I support my scared horse when I'm scared?
How well does resuming feeling calm and certain repair the split, the disconnect, the abandonment experienced when I tighten up in fear?
How early can I tell a horse needs support from me? When I find I've missed that moment, how can I notice even sooner that the horse needs something?
I know what it feels like to ride Soli. Is it reasonable to think that one day it might feel that simple to ride Rusty?
6 comments:
"If we can't hide our emotions from our horses, what can I do when I feel scared? How can I support my scared horse when I'm scared?"
I wonder if you might think about how you behave when you are scared and you are with another PERSON who is also scared. I am thinking about me being scared on my horses. I was scared a lot riding Com at the beginning. She just accepted it. If she was scared at the same time, we got out of that situation.
I was scared on Will when we went on the road. He was interesting. He felt abashed to me. His ears were forward but a little down, like he was a little bit afraid to take the step. But we went and he lead the way. That was brave. He knew he was the less scared one and he took ME. I didn't support HIM. I just didn't flip out. I accepted that he thought we could do it.
I don't think we have to be perfect. NEVER being afraid? How could we not? I think we work and eliminate fear that comes from lack of knowledge and experience. That fear can be awful for the horse/ human relationship. But honest fear? Reluctance? Healthy fear? I think horses are ok with that.
When I am afraid on Will, I ask him to go into a higher gait. Tro or canter. I want him to know that flight is the right answer and I want him to stay with me on that flight...
These are not very cohesive thoughts.
"When I am afraid on Will, I ask him to go into a higher gait. Trot or canter. I want him to know that flight is the right answer and I want him to stay with me on that flight..."
This is a very interesting thought! I'm going to sleep on it, maybe add it to my experimenting.
Sure is the antithesis of some popular trainers' methods of how to deal with a frightened horse. Makes me wonder about childhood foundational experiences. I can just hear some parent admonishing a young boy: 'stand there and take it like a man'. Yikes.
"When I am afraid on Will, I ask him to go into a higher gait. Trot or canter. I want him to know that flight is the right answer and I want him to stay with me on that flight..."
This is a very interesting thought! I'm going to sleep on it, maybe add it to my experimenting.
Sure is the antithesis of some popular trainers' methods of how to deal with a frightened horse. Makes me wonder about childhood foundational experiences. I can just hear some parent admonishing a young boy: 'stand there and take it like a man'. Yikes.
"When I am afraid on Will, I ask him to go into a higher gait. Trot or canter. I want him to know that flight is the right answer and I want him to stay with me on that flight..."
This is a very interesting thought! I'm going to sleep on it, maybe add it to my experimenting.
Sure is the antithesis of some popular trainers' methods of how to deal with a frightened horse. Makes me wonder about childhood foundational experiences. I can just hear some parent admonishing a young boy: 'stand there and take it like a man'. Yikes.
I wish I could say I'm repeating myself but I'm going to blame blogspot!
Wow!!! You really really meant that comment!!! :)) I don't know if anyone told me to do that when I am scared. It just feels good. I know he will be reassured by moving so I ask him to move. If the snow falls off the roof or whatever I immediately ask for a canter. It just seems like he willf eel better if I ask him to do what he needs to do instead of asking him to stand still and trust me. "Come with me and trust me!"
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