Comments on: Horses are big… http://www.horsemansarts.com/2009/07/horses-are-big/ How to Get to Yes with the horse you have Wed, 13 Oct 2010 19:47:53 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: IcieMeg http://www.horsemansarts.com/2009/07/horses-are-big/comment-page-1/#comment-85 IcieMeg Thu, 30 Jul 2009 17:37:47 +0000 http://www.horsemansarts.com/?p=384#comment-85 Really excellent commentary about being safe around horses. Very eloquently stated. Thankfully my guys are not so big, but big enough. Really excellent commentary about being safe around horses. Very eloquently stated.

Thankfully my guys are not so big, but big enough.

]]> By: sharon http://www.horsemansarts.com/2009/07/horses-are-big/comment-page-1/#comment-82 sharon Sat, 25 Jul 2009 23:38:18 +0000 http://www.horsemansarts.com/?p=384#comment-82 Excellent points. I like the word 'vigilant'! Thanks for posting! Excellent points. I like the word ‘vigilant’! Thanks for posting!

]]> By: Nell Walton http://www.horsemansarts.com/2009/07/horses-are-big/comment-page-1/#comment-81 Nell Walton Sat, 25 Jul 2009 21:41:27 +0000 http://www.horsemansarts.com/?p=384#comment-81 "It is about self-respect, awareness, clarity, and peace." And consistency! My mare Biggie (aka Sonho) gets very put out with me if I am not consistent when I ask her to do things........ “It is about self-respect, awareness, clarity, and peace.” And consistency! My mare Biggie (aka Sonho) gets very put out with me if I am not consistent when I ask her to do things……..

]]> By: Kinni http://www.horsemansarts.com/2009/07/horses-are-big/comment-page-1/#comment-80 Kinni Sat, 25 Jul 2009 14:51:30 +0000 http://www.horsemansarts.com/?p=384#comment-80 I love this message! I've been talking a lot lately about maintaining a safe distance with animals, not just horses. I keep a lot of poultry, many of them are males, some are turkey-sized. They can and will flog a person in the blink of an eye, but they're ever so easy to stop if you catch them before they engage you. By catch, I mean use your body language to tell them you aren't interested in a fight today and they should re-evaluate their intent. It rarely fails. I take this lesson to the stable with me. I'm always aware of the horse's location. Is he approaching? Retreating? Which end is facing me? I then reposition my body and limbs accordingly. I also make good use of facial expressions. Horses that have been around humans for a lifetime know what an ugly face looks like. If you are vigilant, you can catch an accident before it happens. Regarding the notion that self respect makes it possible to train a horse, the opposite holds true too. A horse who's self-respect has been impaired through mistreatment is not particularly trainable. Gabe came to me this way. He was half starved, frightened and his self esteem was in the gutter. He had no compunction when it came to spiting himself. He had a hard time deciding whether he should relax and eat treats or grind his teeth and threaten me. Many freebie treats and targeting sessions later, he decided that he was in fact a good boy, even when he didn't guess right. The rewards finally fit into his concept of self. I love this message! I’ve been talking a lot lately about maintaining a safe distance with animals, not just horses. I keep a lot of poultry, many of them are males, some are turkey-sized. They can and will flog a person in the blink of an eye, but they’re ever so easy to stop if you catch them before they engage you. By catch, I mean use your body language to tell them you aren’t interested in a fight today and they should re-evaluate their intent. It rarely fails.
I take this lesson to the stable with me. I’m always aware of the horse’s location. Is he approaching? Retreating? Which end is facing me? I then reposition my body and limbs accordingly. I also make good use of facial expressions. Horses that have been around humans for a lifetime know what an ugly face looks like. If you are vigilant, you can catch an accident before it happens.
Regarding the notion that self respect makes it possible to train a horse, the opposite holds true too. A horse who’s self-respect has been impaired through mistreatment is not particularly trainable. Gabe came to me this way. He was half starved, frightened and his self esteem was in the gutter. He had no compunction when it came to spiting himself. He had a hard time deciding whether he should relax and eat treats or grind his teeth and threaten me. Many freebie treats and targeting sessions later, he decided that he was in fact a good boy, even when he didn’t guess right. The rewards finally fit into his concept of self.

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