Rediscover Your Horse
What can you do when you find yourself in a ‘stuck’ place with your horse? Here are nine ways to refresh the relationship, so you can move forward together.
Nine ways to refresh your relationship with your horse, so you both can move forward together.
PERCEPTION PROBLEMS. Every relationship has them, even the one you share with your horse. It’s not always easy to understand and get along with one another—especially when you each have different expectations, and even more so when your relationship partner is of another species. It is easy to end up frustrated and disillusioned when the relationship isn’t working.
Maybe it’s that you’ve hit a training plateau. Or that your horse has gotten bored and lost his “try.” Or that you’re sick and tired of being met with pinned ears every time you ask for something. You may even be wondering whether it’s worth the effort to stay with this equine partner and his faws. It’s hard to know which feels worse—blaming your horse, or blaming yourself.
When this happens to your horse relationship, you can’t exactly Google the name of a good therapist, like you can when you need help for a human-relationship problem. And your horse won’t be the one to f x things. You’re largely on your own. But that doesn’t mean you have to go without resources.
Trust us, we’ve been where you are. Tat’s why we’re sharing nine measures you can take to get a better understanding of your horse, with the goal of refreshing and renewing the relationship. (Note: We’ll assume your horse is sound, with tack that fts, and that pain isn’t the source of his issues.) You’ll f nd the tips particularly useful if you ride largely on your own, without regular input from a trainer or coach. Tat’s because the tips are designed to deliver feedback and insights you otherwise might not get.
Reroute Your Feelings
While it’s normal to have feelings for your horse and to get upset and otherwise emotional when your relationship goes sour, you’ll need objectivity as a tool for turning things around. Try these tips for setting your emotions aside (or at least keeping them more in check) as you seek more info.
1 Observe, record your horse “being him.” Rather than increase his work time right now, increase the time you spend watching your horse when he’s at leisure. T is will help reveal much about what he’s like as an individual—which doesn’t change when you saddle up and ask him to do something. To keep the thinking side of your brain turned on, take frequent notes or photos, or even use a barn-cam. Unlike humans under observation, horses don’t put up a front. Te more you notice about your horse’s behaviors, the more you’ll know about him, for real.
Notables: If turned out with other horses, is he at the top, the bottom, or somewhere in the middle of the herd’s social order? How does he challenge or try to maintain position—aggressively, meekly, or not at all? Does he prefer one gait over others? If your horse is stalled, with solo turnout, what are his eating/sleeping/ self-exercise habits? How does he express himself when pleased or displeased? Do you see any connections with how your horse relates to you and what you regularly ask him to do?
2 Revamp your grooming routine. Grooming time is an excellent opportunity to learn about and reconnect with your horse, but not if you attack grooming like a chore
Change Gear and Gears
Although horses thrive on familiarity and routine, they also tend to stop learning once routine has been established. Among top horse trainers, the concept of “changing things up” to change results is well known and well practiced. Use the next tips to facilitate helpful change.
7 Upgrade your horse’s bit. Tis doesn’t mean to get him a bigger, more demanding bit; rather, it means to look at the quality of his bit and to step it up if necessary. A simple ring snaffle, for example, can range from an under-$20 item stamped out in a factory overseas to a $250-plus item crafted and balanced by hand, with price and quality points in between.
Notables: When given a better bit and a chance to get used to it, how does your horse respond? Pay attention to chewing, salivation, degree of fexion, and overall sense of comfort; it’s common to see improvement.
8 Ride your horse in a clinic. Tese days, riding clinics are available for every discipline and ability level and in most drive-distance locales. By attending one, even if outside your chosen sport, you’ll get instruction, riding practice, feedback, and many insights to take home. You’ll also get the clinician’s experienced-eye evaluation.
Notables: What does the clinic reveal about your horse? What does it confrm? What tips or exercises got you the best results? What does the clinician think about your chances for success with your horse?
9 Start your horse over again.
Sometimes, the best thing you can do for any relationship is to take it back to Square One. Forget your horse’s real age for now, and pretend he’s a colt that’s never been started. With two-handed riding, preferably using a quality snaffle, go through all the prep and slow, careful training steps you’d apply for training a brandnew young prospect. If your horse has any hidden holes in his training, this is how you’ll f nd them.
Notables: What’s easy for your horse? What’s hard? Where do you f nd resistance or lack of understanding? What are your “colt’s” physical limitations (one-sided stiff ness, for example)? What do you learn that applies to issues you identifed earlier in your horse?