Horsemanship 101
What is Natural Horsemanship?
First and foremost, Horsemanship is a process, not an event. There is a Zen Buddhist phrase “Mi Zai” which loosely translates to “not yet’, or “not finished”. The idea is there is always more to learn if you are open and willing to be taught. Horses are fantastic teachers and very fast learners, but they do not (and apparently are not willing too) speak any human language.
In Natural Horsemanship we strive to communicate with the horse in a way that is easily understandable and therefore comfortable to the horse. We use herd behavior, body language, moving different parts of their bodies, and concepts like Advance and Retreat (pressure/release) to teach them to accept us as herd leader and defer to us for guidance, safety and comfort.
Equine Herd Behavior and Psychology
Above all other things in their life, a horse wants to feel safe and secure in their herd. They will always seek the path of least resistance. The less hassle the better. They look to the herd leadership to provide both security and sustenance. Horses want to feel relaxed and secure in their surroundings and know they have leadership they can trust and depend on. They also want to understand their place in society (the herd). A herd of 100 horses will have exactly 100 positions varying in importance from #1 – Herd Leader, to #100 – bottom of the stack. Each horse is constantly jockeying for a better herd position by using body language (pushing, biting, kicking) to dominate a higher position horse and move up in the herd hierarchy.
It is important to understand that horses are prey animals (flight before fight). This is a concept that is very difficult for humans to grasp. Humans are predatory animals and utilize a different set of problem solving tools. When a human sets out on a problem-solving task, if the first attempt to solve the problem fails, we try harder. We get a bigger hammer and try again; we apply a little reasoning to the problem and maybe get an even bigger hammer. Then we get angry, dial up the Hulk, and smash the problem to pieces. Problem solved. Horses have a much less convoluted method of dealing with problems, RUN!!!!
As prey animals horses will always defer to the herd leadership when in times of danger, or when in need of food, water, or shelter. For example, if a member of the herd perceives danger, that member will signal the rest of the herd. (Tail up, head held high, eyes and ears pointed at the danger). Based on these signals, a ripple effect will occur. The horses nearest the signaling horse will pick and transmit the signals until those signals reach the herd leadership (usually a very fast process). The herd leaders will make a split second decision as to how to handle the danger. They may stand for a moment looking for further signs or they may decide to exit the danger zone. This exit could be a display of strength and warning (all horses with heads held high, tails up, snorting) or a full sprint to another location. Once at a safe distance, the herd will stop and face the danger area to verify all is clear. Once the herd leadership relaxes and goes back to grazing, the rest of the herd will follow suit.
The Language of Horses
Talking Horse. A horse wants to be a horse. They do not want to be a young human or a puppy, the don’t understand hugs or baby talk, treats don’t mean that much to them and they really do not care too much for spooky dark places or things that move or make a sound unexpectedly. They only know one language. Regardless of how hard we strive to make them multilingual, the only language they can speak is horse.
In a herd, horses are always talking, not long conversations about the weather or what is happening on The Voice, but where each other is, the status of the herd, location of the younger herd members, basically general herd stuff.
Herd signals (forms of communication that are immediately recognized by the other members of the herd):
· Ear position
· Tail position
· Head and body position
· Speed of travel
· Direction they are looking
As previously discussed, a herd (of any size) can go from calmly grazing, to full alert in a matter of seconds. And if needed, break into a full sprint at the command of the herd leadership.
It is our job to learn to recognize and use these signals to help foster a better relationship with our horses, allowing them to accept us as their leader, thus making them easier and safer to spend time with.
Predator/Prey relationship (Why horses react as they do)
Instincts! If you can’t beat them, join them. I once saw a quote, “A horse is a reaction looking for a place to happen”. Even though the domestic horse has very few predators, their instincts tell them to be constantly vigilant and fear for their lives at every waking moment, and expect a predator to be lurking around every corner. A horse’s first choice in dealing with a problem is to move their feet (walk, trot, sprint). Instincts say run first, ask questions later. If something is keeping them from moving their feet, a horse will do whatever is necessary to get free of that terrifying situation (break a halter, bolt out of a trailer, drag you down the middle of the barn, etc…). Remember, Horses will ALWAYS seek the least stressful place.
Symptoms vs. Problems
Horses have a very difficult time doing anything that does not come natural to them. Your horse not wanting to load on the trailer is a symptom. The problem is the horse does not respect you as their leader and therefore does not trust that you will help them when push comes to shove. The symptom is your horse will not stand still when you are trying to saddle/bath/clean their hooves. The problem is your horse does not respect you as…. Get my point?
Horse vision
Horses (as do most prey animals) have large eyes placed toward the sides of their heads. The placement of the large eyes allow for a much wider field of vision. A horse can scan their entire surroundings with just a slight movement of their head. In comparison, predators such as coyotes and dogs have smaller eyes located toward the front of their heads, which results in a considerably narrower field of vision.
Horses employ both monocular vision (using the left eye to view the left side of their body, and the right eye to view the right side), and binocular vision (using both eyes to focus on the object).
The horse’s eye contains a large pupil, which allows them to detect movement very quickly. Usually the movement is detected using monocular vision (which allows for an approximate 250° span). Once movement is detected, they will orient their body toward the object to better hear and switch to binocular vision (which allows for an approximate 65° span) to better see the source of the movement. Sometimes the switch from monocular to binocular vision can cause a “start” or a “spook” in your horse.
What is Natural Horsemanship?
First and foremost, Horsemanship is a process, not an event. There is a Zen Buddhist phrase “Mi Zai” which loosely translates to “not yet’, or “not finished”. The idea is there is always more to learn if you are open and willing to be taught. Horses are fantastic teachers and very fast learners, but they do not (and apparently are not willing too) speak any human language.
In Natural Horsemanship we strive to communicate with the horse in a way that is easily understandable and therefore comfortable to the horse. We use herd behavior, body language, moving different parts of their bodies, and concepts like Advance and Retreat (pressure/release) to teach them to accept us as herd leader and defer to us for guidance, safety and comfort.
Equine Herd Behavior and Psychology
Above all other things in their life, a horse wants to feel safe and secure in their herd. They will always seek the path of least resistance. The less hassle the better. They look to the herd leadership to provide both security and sustenance. Horses want to feel relaxed and secure in their surroundings and know they have leadership they can trust and depend on. They also want to understand their place in society (the herd). A herd of 100 horses will have exactly 100 positions varying in importance from #1 – Herd Leader, to #100 – bottom of the stack. Each horse is constantly jockeying for a better herd position by using body language (pushing, biting, kicking) to dominate a higher position horse and move up in the herd hierarchy.
It is important to understand that horses are prey animals (flight before fight). This is a concept that is very difficult for humans to grasp. Humans are predatory animals and utilize a different set of problem solving tools. When a human sets out on a problem-solving task, if the first attempt to solve the problem fails, we try harder. We get a bigger hammer and try again; we apply a little reasoning to the problem and maybe get an even bigger hammer. Then we get angry, dial up the Hulk, and smash the problem to pieces. Problem solved. Horses have a much less convoluted method of dealing with problems, RUN!!!!
As prey animals horses will always defer to the herd leadership when in times of danger, or when in need of food, water, or shelter. For example, if a member of the herd perceives danger, that member will signal the rest of the herd. (Tail up, head held high, eyes and ears pointed at the danger). Based on these signals, a ripple effect will occur. The horses nearest the signaling horse will pick and transmit the signals until those signals reach the herd leadership (usually a very fast process). The herd leaders will make a split second decision as to how to handle the danger. They may stand for a moment looking for further signs or they may decide to exit the danger zone. This exit could be a display of strength and warning (all horses with heads held high, tails up, snorting) or a full sprint to another location. Once at a safe distance, the herd will stop and face the danger area to verify all is clear. Once the herd leadership relaxes and goes back to grazing, the rest of the herd will follow suit.
The Language of Horses
Talking Horse. A horse wants to be a horse. They do not want to be a young human or a puppy, the don’t understand hugs or baby talk, treats don’t mean that much to them and they really do not care too much for spooky dark places or things that move or make a sound unexpectedly. They only know one language. Regardless of how hard we strive to make them multilingual, the only language they can speak is horse.
In a herd, horses are always talking, not long conversations about the weather or what is happening on The Voice, but where each other is, the status of the herd, location of the younger herd members, basically general herd stuff.
Herd signals (forms of communication that are immediately recognized by the other members of the herd):
· Ear position
· Tail position
· Head and body position
· Speed of travel
· Direction they are looking
As previously discussed, a herd (of any size) can go from calmly grazing, to full alert in a matter of seconds. And if needed, break into a full sprint at the command of the herd leadership.
It is our job to learn to recognize and use these signals to help foster a better relationship with our horses, allowing them to accept us as their leader, thus making them easier and safer to spend time with.
Predator/Prey relationship (Why horses react as they do)
Instincts! If you can’t beat them, join them. I once saw a quote, “A horse is a reaction looking for a place to happen”. Even though the domestic horse has very few predators, their instincts tell them to be constantly vigilant and fear for their lives at every waking moment, and expect a predator to be lurking around every corner. A horse’s first choice in dealing with a problem is to move their feet (walk, trot, sprint). Instincts say run first, ask questions later. If something is keeping them from moving their feet, a horse will do whatever is necessary to get free of that terrifying situation (break a halter, bolt out of a trailer, drag you down the middle of the barn, etc…). Remember, Horses will ALWAYS seek the least stressful place.
Symptoms vs. Problems
Horses have a very difficult time doing anything that does not come natural to them. Your horse not wanting to load on the trailer is a symptom. The problem is the horse does not respect you as their leader and therefore does not trust that you will help them when push comes to shove. The symptom is your horse will not stand still when you are trying to saddle/bath/clean their hooves. The problem is your horse does not respect you as…. Get my point?
Horse vision
Horses (as do most prey animals) have large eyes placed toward the sides of their heads. The placement of the large eyes allow for a much wider field of vision. A horse can scan their entire surroundings with just a slight movement of their head. In comparison, predators such as coyotes and dogs have smaller eyes located toward the front of their heads, which results in a considerably narrower field of vision.
Horses employ both monocular vision (using the left eye to view the left side of their body, and the right eye to view the right side), and binocular vision (using both eyes to focus on the object).
The horse’s eye contains a large pupil, which allows them to detect movement very quickly. Usually the movement is detected using monocular vision (which allows for an approximate 250° span). Once movement is detected, they will orient their body toward the object to better hear and switch to binocular vision (which allows for an approximate 65° span) to better see the source of the movement. Sometimes the switch from monocular to binocular vision can cause a “start” or a “spook” in your horse.
Right brain/Left brain
Horses, by nature, are very one sided. Have you ever noticed when you approach and/or try to move around a loose horse that the horse will try to keep you on one particular side of their body?
Horses and humans both have brains that are divided into two lobes, the right brain and the left brain. And like humans, the right brain controls the left side of the body and the left brain controls the right side of the body. The main difference between the human brain and the horse brain is the development and amount of connective tissue that connect the two lobes of the brain together. This connective tissue (called the corpus colossum) is the message pathway between the two lobes. In humans, this connective tissue is highly developed and allows us to think with both sides of our brain all the time. The horses brain has much less connective tissue between the two lobes and hence the horse will use only one side of the brain at a time.
Meet Righty and Lefty
In a sense, every horse is two horses hanging out in one horses skin, Righty (the right side) and Lefty (the left side) rarely ever talk or share ideas. When training a horse, we must consider that what we teach to Righty, we must also teach to Lefty, and vice versa. Sometimes you will find that after teaching Righty something, Lefty will pickup the same skill in less time and with less effort than it took Righty. Other times when you approach Lefty with the same exercise that Righty just learned, Lefty will have no idea what you are talking about, and act as if he has never seen you or anything like you in his life.
The goal is to develop a right-side/left-side balanced horse and this goal is achieved by teaching each exercise or skill development to equal levels of completion to both our friends, Lefty and Righty.
Things to remember (Some new topics below will be discussed in the 201 series):
· Horses will always seek the path of least resistance. If you are trying to teach them something, think about making the right thing easy and hassle free and the wrong thing more difficult.
· Baby steps – Slow and easy is always the fastest way to introduce new things and get your horse trained and trusting you as a leader
· Small victories – reward the slightest try
· Advance and Retreat – Horses do not learn from pressure but from the properly timed release of pressure
· Round pen work is NOT Lunging – The work in the round pen is to refine body language and establish and refine controlling the 4 quarters of the horse
The first time you introduce a new lesson, you are delivering the “idea” of the lesson. Don’t try to get it perfect the first time. The second time you are building on that idea and allowing the horse to “find” it. Each subsequent session you are refining the lesson.
Horses, by nature, are very one sided. Have you ever noticed when you approach and/or try to move around a loose horse that the horse will try to keep you on one particular side of their body?
Horses and humans both have brains that are divided into two lobes, the right brain and the left brain. And like humans, the right brain controls the left side of the body and the left brain controls the right side of the body. The main difference between the human brain and the horse brain is the development and amount of connective tissue that connect the two lobes of the brain together. This connective tissue (called the corpus colossum) is the message pathway between the two lobes. In humans, this connective tissue is highly developed and allows us to think with both sides of our brain all the time. The horses brain has much less connective tissue between the two lobes and hence the horse will use only one side of the brain at a time.
Meet Righty and Lefty
In a sense, every horse is two horses hanging out in one horses skin, Righty (the right side) and Lefty (the left side) rarely ever talk or share ideas. When training a horse, we must consider that what we teach to Righty, we must also teach to Lefty, and vice versa. Sometimes you will find that after teaching Righty something, Lefty will pickup the same skill in less time and with less effort than it took Righty. Other times when you approach Lefty with the same exercise that Righty just learned, Lefty will have no idea what you are talking about, and act as if he has never seen you or anything like you in his life.
The goal is to develop a right-side/left-side balanced horse and this goal is achieved by teaching each exercise or skill development to equal levels of completion to both our friends, Lefty and Righty.
Things to remember (Some new topics below will be discussed in the 201 series):
· Horses will always seek the path of least resistance. If you are trying to teach them something, think about making the right thing easy and hassle free and the wrong thing more difficult.
· Baby steps – Slow and easy is always the fastest way to introduce new things and get your horse trained and trusting you as a leader
· Small victories – reward the slightest try
· Advance and Retreat – Horses do not learn from pressure but from the properly timed release of pressure
· Round pen work is NOT Lunging – The work in the round pen is to refine body language and establish and refine controlling the 4 quarters of the horse
The first time you introduce a new lesson, you are delivering the “idea” of the lesson. Don’t try to get it perfect the first time. The second time you are building on that idea and allowing the horse to “find” it. Each subsequent session you are refining the lesson.