We set time aside to work with our horses. We make appointments to take lessons. We sign up for clinics. BUT – we train our horses every moment we spend with them.
We are either teaching them something new or reinforcing something they already do. It’s just that simple. Now is that something we are reinforcing a good trait, or a bad habit? That is the ultimate question.
Every second we are in contact with our horses we are training them. Bet you never gave that a thought. Most of the time we don’t think, we just do. But start observing your everyday routine.
- When you go to feed him/her, are his ears forward or back? If they are back then he’s telling you that he’s in charge and wants to be fed now. Or possibly, it’s my food get away from it. Are you rewarding his bad behavior by feeding the Grinch? Or do you ask him to relax, put his ears forward, and be happy to see you before you give him his grain. Who’s in charge now? Usually we are in a hurry and don’t even notice the horses body language.
- When he’s in a stall and you go to enter, is he facing you with ears forward (or at least relaxed), happy to see you? Or is his butt toward the doorway. Ask him to turn around and great you pleasantly.
- When we’re leading horses we are usually in a hurry to get things done. Who’s leading? If we don’t pay attention, they may be in charge. It can’t be right some of the times, that’s not being consistent. You can’t yell at them to get behind, when you feel like it, and not all the time. You confuse them.
- When you go to mount. Make them stand still until you are seated All The Time. Not just when you have time.
If you give clear rules and boundaries there will never be a question of ‘Is it Tuesday or Thursday? Do I have to stand still today, or is that tomorrow?’
K.I.S.S. Keep It Simple Stupid. Make it the same everyday and remember, you are a trainer at all times.
So glad we think alike and you actually write these thoughts. I share them with barn staff and volunteers,Di. Thank you!
Excellent thoughts for everyday! Mindful instead of mind full. Words to live by whether it be adults, children or animals. Manners & being pleasant helps any moment go smoothly. It’s just plain ole commonsense & consideration that is uncommon in so many lives today. That is darn near a super power to have common sense. And to take time to understand & give consideration, is not pencilled in our to do list very often. It’s easy to do, get all caught up in stuff we think we must do. When society has removed so many into modern civilization, & people are disconnected from each other & nature.
That is why we horse folk do all this extra work just to keep that connection alive. Stay in touch with nature. Learn common sense, mindfulness & find peace from civilization. One of my favorite sayings is “You should meditate at least 30 minutes every day, unless you are too busy. In that case you should take an hour.” So when we know we are stressed & pressed, we should actually take more time for some tasks. Horses are great therapists, if we let them. I know mine have taught me a lesson or two about running late for a show or vet appointment. They usually would take more time to load because I was rushing, heart rate up, mind with 2000 tabs open at once & thinking of what I was going to do next, instead of what I was doing that moment. It might work some days, but fail on most.
Lucky for us most horses are pretty forgiving & understanding. It only seems right we should return the favor. Thank goodness for animals to keep us humans strait. Hehehehe!