Problem Solving

"My horse won't go forward!" "My horse won't go through water." "My horse is stubborn and doesn't listen." "My horse is a biter." "My horse is mean." "My horse rears when I ask him to jump."

etc. etc. etc.

How many of you who own horses have stated something similar to the above remarks? The sentences all begin with, "My horse ..." Why is it that we never say, "I'm having a problem with ..." ?? We're so quick to blame the horse and so slow to realize that its not the horse that has the problem. Excuse me !?! you say. Nope -- it's not the horse that has the problem.

It is the H-U-M-A-N.

Leave a horse alone and he never has a problem. Whatever comes along he quickly deals with it in proper equine fashion. On the other hand, people run across a problem and if the problem is not easily addressed, most humans get mad, frustrated, angry and aggressive.

"The stupid directions aren't right." "It's all YOUR fault! You made me angry!" "If the toy makers weren't so stupid!" "If my horse wasn't so stupid!" "You're going straight to the dog can!"

and more and more and more. When do we ever first look to ourselves for the causes of our problems? Be honest with yourself. The last time you rode your horse and your horse refused to do something first off, what did you think? How did you react? What did you do? Now take an honest review of the situation and see who was really to blame. How often do we remember that our horses are live animals with minds of their own? How often do we remember that horses are animals of prey and not aggressive hunters like we are? How often do we stop when encountering misunderstandings with our horses and think of a different way to convey our requests to our horses BEFORE increasing the pressure on the horse or getting harsher with our hands?

The next time you go out to tack up your horse and go for a ride or to work in the arena, make a promise to your horse and yourself that every single time the horse does not respond positively to a cue that you will STOP! You will then review your asking and figure out a way to clarify your request to the horse. Promise your horse and yourself that you will reward each TRY from the horse with a release of pressure or even a treat in order to help him understand what it is you want him to do. Promise your horse that you will treat him more as a partner than a slave whose only job is to do exactly what you ask. Promise your horse that you will see that he is an animal with his own mind and own behaviors and you will try to understand HIS way of thinking instead of imposing your way of thinking onto him. After all ... a horse is a horse. Nothing more and nothing less. The horse already knows HOW to do what we're asking. What the horse has a problem with is understanding the human ways of doing things in life. THAT'S what we teach the horse ... the human language. On the other hand, what does the horse teach us?

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