Losing my computer for a few days, so I’m posting this early.

I read this a while back, don’t know where, but it caught my attention so I wrote it down.  Every once in a while I look at it again.  It hit me odd then, and it still does.  I don’t know why, or what it is about it that leaves me with a strange feeling.

This is how it read – “You don’t “train” a half ton flight animal who could kill you in the blink of an eye; you prove to him that he can trust you more than his instincts.  That is true horsemanship.”  And basically I agree, but there is so much more to it.

In the old days you just jumped on their backs and rode out the bucks.  (The safest way was in the water, it stifles their movement.  The landing was better, if you can swim.)  You dominated them.  Now we have “Horse Whisperers”.  Most don’t even whisper, they just use common sense and a kinder approach.

So why did that comment bother me?

I don’t think it’s one or the other.  I think it’s a combination of both.  I see it as the horse needs to trust you first.  Only after he has determined that you are not evil, or inviting him to dinner, with him served at the main course, can you reach his brain past the instinct.

In some horses, the flight or fight instinct is stronger than others.  Having human contact at birth really does help, especially if the mare (mom) lets them know that people are okay.  I’ve had two foals who were both worriers from the start.  They were both handled from day one.  I’m just not sure how they were handled.  One I got at 13 months and the other at 17 months.  The hands on time I spent with the younger one overrode all his natural instincts.  Unfortunately, I didn’t have the same amount of time to spend with the second one, and it shows to this day.  Although recently I’m finding that she looks to me for security and guidance in all situations, when others are riding her.  Then I knew another baby from the day she was born who was in charge right from the start.  She bossed her mom around and everyone else.  She was the hardest one to work with.  Alfa mare with a definite opinion on how things were to be done.  You know that all the really smart horses are in Alpo cans because no one wants to use their time or brains to deal with them.  Unfortunately she died before her fifth birthday.  She was the most interesting and challenging one to break.  She was a shooting star,  she burned the brightest while she was here, but burned out too quickly.

Yes you can “train” any horse, but the fact still remains that they are a half ton – to a ton, flight animal who could kill you in the blink of an eye, if they wanted to.  So the main point to consider is if they want to.  Respect only goes so far.  There has to be more to it.  That I think is where not only trust, but something else comes into it.  It moves beyond respect, fear, or trust to, shall I use the word, love, or a form there of?

I don’t think the word “love” as we know it is what it really is.  In their world they have “connections”.  They protect and care for their “herd.”  Just like a dog will protect his owner, so too, do I feel a horse will learn to trust and “love” their special friend.  Do they see us as owners?  They don’t know what owning anything is.  They claim things as their own.  Do they see us as special humans in their life?  I believe they do.

Having a boarding facility I watch horses interact with each other and the different humans that they come in contact with.  There are some they dominate, and some that dominate them.  They care very deeply about the ones they choose to be their pasture buddies.  They will watch over them as they sleep.  Protect them from perceived dangers.  Groom each other, and stand head to tail to help with fly protection.  There is nothing like a protective mom over her foal if a predator tries to attack.  With people, they know who their owners are, and know who feeds them.  They react differently with everyone, according to the rules, boundaries, limitations, and kindness, that each person shows them.

So I think the bottom line is that you must gain their trust, before you can actually train them.  Then throw in a pinch of communication and understanding.  Stir until you get a connection between human and animal that is beyond explanation.

Training vs Trusting?  Nope, both, with a pinch of sugar, and love.