>>>Interesting theory but the human/horse emotions don't seem to be the way round you say. My mares tell their foals off when they are naughty, they don't ignore them. There are definately 'bosses' in the different fields and their leader is not neccassarily the boss. All my herd follow my old mare about when grazing or going to the water trough and she is the least bossy one but the boss is the youngest mare and they all 'respect' her space.<<<
Well, as you said further on down, horses are different - some will "tell off their foals" and some will tolerate. It depends, doesn't it? Your old mare is definitely the leader as you've described but the youngest mare sounds like she is the "boss". Let me ask you a question - do the horses respect and listen to the old mare? Can she and does she make them move their feet? And yes, the boss is the youngest mare and they all "respect" her space but do they hang out with her? Do they scritch withers with her? Are they best buddies with her?
>>>I do agree with some aspects of the natural way as it has recently been termed but I think there are the two extremes.....one extreme that thinks a horse has always has a physical and mental problem to why it doesn't do something and the other extreme of thinking there is no other way than by beating it. I think if you get the happy balance of the two and can see whether a horse is afraid/in pain OR if it is taking the P*ss. (can only use the human words as equines don't have a voicebox) If you can get a horse to trust and respect you it is the key and you need to be able to read the signs!<<<
Absolutely! It is essential to be able to read the differences and to act accordingly. That's precisely why I said that it sounded as if this particular mare in question is acting out of fear. She's the new horse in the barn. She's obviously a sensitive horse. She doesn't "know" the other horses or the humans. The environment around is not her space yet. This all equates to feelings of uncertainly and fear. The horse is a critter of habit. They also are critters of prey. Anything that causes discomfort to them instinctively triggers the flight/fight response. When we "train" horses, we teach them to think through this flight/fight response. This mare is "on alert" in her new environment and her flight instinct is kicked in but she can't move her hooves cause there's a human hangin' on to them! More discomfort = more fear = no place to run = reactive behavior. In this case, rearing up and barging forward into flight.
