Sometimes people post good stuff on Facebook. Most times not.

I’ve joined several groups in the area to find owners of lost dogs. It surprises me as to how many owners find their lost pets on Facebook. See, anything can be used for good in the right hands with the right thought process.

The other day I saw this on Facebook and shared it, but for those of you who didn’t see it I will post it again.

“We usually have two options with horses: We can either give them time to think, or wish we had.” Mark Rashid

I hate when people rush horses through any kind of training. You have to let them absorb what they are being taught. Honestly, you have to let me absorb what you are teaching me too. People have many different ways of learning. For me, reading instructions usually doesn’t work. If you show me, I’m good.

Back to the old ways of training. What you teach the horse on one side, you have to re-teach it on the other side. Actually when you go to do the same thing on the other side they look at you like “What are you talking about? I’ve never seen or heard that before.” Thinking about it, I get that from the kids at church too.

You really have to let them (the horses) think about what you have just taught them and let them chew it over. It’s a saying from way back, to chew it over, but horses really do. Guess that’s where the saying comes from.

However, there are times you shouldn’t give them a chance to think some things over. Like loading into a trailer. You just walk forward with intent, and if they trust your judgement, they should just follow you on. If you are going to hesitate and wonder if the horse will load or not, chances are he’s going to hesitate and decide it’s not a good idea.

So the jury is still out on Mr. Rashid’ quote. Verdict is – It depends.