On the other hand, we can overdo respect. Respect without rapport may result in the horse fearing or mistrusting us, thus harming the relationship.  At the very least the horse may not like us and thus not want to be around us, making him difficult to catch or other types of evasions. The horse may also  become more of a robot than a horse, becoming introverted, feeling enslaved and losing his dignity.  He may be obedient…. but lack the exuberance that would make the performance great. Or the performance may be hindered by the horse’s fear making him more reactive than responsive.

But if we reach the perfect balance between respect and rapport we will have a willing, happy horse that responds with enthusiasm.  How do we achieve this? First of all, we should use phases or levels of pressure. One way to think of respect is the appropriate response to pressure.  If we apply our leg to the horse to ask him to move over and he ignores the request it could be for several reasons. One reason may be that the horse doesn’t understand the cue. But let us say that the horse understands. That leaves two other main possibilities. One is that the horse may have fear or be unconfident in our request. Not necessarily to us, but maybe something in that direction he is not sure about. This can be something we may not even perceive, since the horse, being a prey animal, is much more perceptive than we are. The other reason and probably the most likely reason if the horse is in a safe and familiar environment, is a lack of respect. Many times it is difficult to tell which of these two it is. Sometimes it is very obvious. The better we are at reading our horse the easier it becomes. Some horse personalities are more inclined to be more dominant and lack respect for others. Learning about the different personalities of horses is a whole other area to become proficient in and will be a topic for another discussion.

So we will say for our discussion on respect, that we are reading the horse and we decide that it is not a lack of confidence and that he is just ‘blowing us off’. We do have a 50/50 chance of being right! So how do we handle this? First of all we should be sure that we are applying the pressure appropriately. Are we applying the pressure in the correct area to elicit the response we want and in the right manner? Often times we blame the horse when it is our own mistake. We need to be consistent and start with the lightest pressure and gradually increase it until we get the correct response. Then immediately release the pressure. The horse will learn this sequence of events and realize that the sooner he responds he will avoid receiving the higher phases of pressure. This will cause the horse to become lighter and lighter.

One thing that is very important though is that we must be willing to go to a level that elicits the correct response from the horse. Many folks are unwilling to go to this point.  As with everything in horsemanship, the more we act and treat the horses as they would each other, the more they will understand us. We must remember that horses are large powerful creatures, they routinely kick and bite each other at a level that would greatly injure us and yet they are hardly affected. We must be effective to be understood. So if we get wimpy and are unwilling to get to an effective level, the horse will lose respect for us. But also like the alpha horse in the herd we must release when we get the right response. We cannot get emotional when we apply this pressure and overdo it either.

We can learn how to apply pressure appropriately by watching the alpha horse in the herd.  The alpha horse will first give the other horse a hard look, then he may lay his ears back and bare his teeth. If still no response then he will charge and bite. This is a very effective escalation of aides. But you should notice that once the other horse responds it is all over and they are right back to grazing or milling and being buddies. The closer we can mimic this behavior the more effective leader we will be.  Getting mad at the horse will cause us to ‘growl’ or holler, and repeatedly hit the horse often times even after he has responded. This will do considerable damage to the relationship and cause the horse to believe you are a predator and not a partner. Thus making him less willing to be your partner and less trustful. Horses certainly understand a pecking order and they want an effective leader, it provides them with a sense of safety and comfort, but they do not like predatory behavior. So we must be effective but it must be with an attitude of justice in order to maintain a partnership with the horse.  So applying this effective phase must be done without emotion, but must have intention behind it or it will not be effective. It is also true that some horse personality types will actually like you more when you gain their respect.

Often times, especially with direct pressure we may not be able to apply enough of the same pressure to elicit the response. So we may vary it, by trying something different, such as by keeping the direct pressure on, but also adding an indirect pressure with it.  We must also keep in mind that pressure is the motivation for the horse to respond, but it is the release that teaches him that his response was correct.  So it is paramount that we don’t release on a wrong response, but release immediately on the correct response. Timing is crucial and often times we teach our horses the wrong response inadvertently by releasing at an inappropriate time.

In summary, respect is a major element of horsemanship that must be addressed in order to achieve that perfect partnership with our horse. Balanced with rapport, respect will give us that willing and immediate response we want from our horses.

Contact Melanie HERE for more details.

So what exactly is Rapport? It is a relationship built on mutual trust and emotional affinity. Since horses are prey animals and humans are the ultimate predators, our initial relationship is not a match made in heaven! Therefore overcoming the horse’s natural tendency to mistrust us is paramount. We want to cause him to like us, so he wants to be with us. In order to gain his trust we must prove to him first of all that we won’t hurt him or ask him to do something that may hurt him. It is our nature being predators to be direct in our way of thinking, if we want the horse in the trailer we can only think about getting him in! But the more direct we are in our thinking the more the horse perceives us as a predator and we will lose his trust. Everything we do with our horse will get better the better our relationship is with him… just as we will work harder for someone we have a mutual trust and respect.

If we view our relationship from the horse’s perspective, do we really spend quality time with him? What does our horse enjoy doing? Most horses like just hanging out with each other, grooming each other, sometimes playing, some times eating. So how many of these things do you do with your horse? Yes, we provide them with food, but do you hang out with him while he eats like his horse friends do? Hang grazing our horses can mean a lot to them. Yes, we groom them, but do we always do this in cross ties or do we try it at liberty allowing the horse to express his wishes. Having the horse tied is forcing the horse to be with us and stand still much like a child being tied into a barber’s chair for a haircut. We wouldn’t think of doing that yet, we are always tying our horses or forcing them in some way or another. Sure if we brush him at liberty, he may walk off. Sure it is inconvenient, but we could view it as important feedback instead. Why did he walk off? Maybe he needed to relieve himself and wanted to do it in another area, or more likely, maybe our grooming irritated him rather than felt good to him.

We should try to do things in a way that our horses enjoy them. Think of it this way….have you ever had a “friend” that only came around when they wanted something from you? Or every time you were with them it was always about where they wanted to go or what they wanted to do, never about just enjoying your company or thinking about what you would like to do for a change? How long did you keep this person as a friend? How often did you look forward to seeing this person before you started avoiding them? Often times this may be how our horse feels about us… if the only time we spend with them is what we want to do. Sure sometimes we luck out and the horse does enjoy the same activities we do. But even with these horses if you spend some time getting to know the other things he enjoys and spend some time doing those with him, the rapport will get even greater and he will put even more exuberance into the things we want him to do.

Horsemanship is a partnership and it works both ways. One clarification: I am not saying we should never tie our horses; never say never! (Tying your horse is a good way to teach them patience and many times it is safer) I am also not saying that everything we do must be what the horse wants, absolutely not! I am just saying to occasionally try grooming him at liberty to get this feedback and to think how your grooming feels to him. Think how you might change the way you do things to build rapport, maybe by not pressing too hard in some areas or maybe you aren’t pressing hard enough in grooming. Spend some undemanding time with your horse…a good time to do this is when you cant ride him due to the weather, or lameness, or maybe just less time available. Open your mind to look at things from your horse’s perspective and to see how to accomplish your goals but in a way the horse may enjoy a bit more.

Rapport can be thought of as heart collection and builds the horse’s desire to perform for us, which is the first step toward exuberance. Rapport is the foundation on which the other areas are developed, yet is often the one that receives the least amount of attention. The stronger the rapport, the more heart the horse will put into his performance. We, as predators, are so goal oriented and direct that building rapport may feel like it is taking time away from working on that end goal. But in reality, the stronger the rapport, the stronger will be the horses desire to be with us and to perform for us, so it really has a direct impact on our final goals.  Plus, both the horse and the person will enjoy getting to the end goal more! The horse will actually start putting in more effort to help get his halter or bridle on rather than making it more difficult for us. The next key area to develop is Respect and will be the topic of the next blog.

Since several people that had interest in the last play day theme, “Barn/Buddy Sourness and How to Deal With It”, could not make it to the play day I thought I would discuss some strategies for this topic today. Barn/Buddy sourness is a common problem with many horses. This is because it is their nature as a herd animal to be with the herd. This is where they find safety and security. Barns too are a place of safety and security for them…as well as a place of rest. So really this phenomenon should be termed Barn or Buddy Sweet instead of sour!

This characteristic can be very strong in some horses, but the best way to overcome it is for you to become the kind of leader the horse wants to follow, one that makes the horse feel safe and secure when he is with you. Part of the way we do this is by building the horse’s confidence in us, himself and his environment. As with any problem with horses the relationship we have with them is immensely important and this is no different. Let’s look at it from the horse’s perspective since this will give us a greater understanding. Our horses for the most part spend 24/7 with their horse buddies and are at the barn upwards of 8 hours a day.  We, on the other hand, probably spend an hour a day with them, if we find the time.  So here is this person who comes out every so often and makes the horse work, taking the horse away from his place of rest and relaxation, away from the other horses that make him feel safe and content. Already this doesn’t sound like a good idea for the horse, so he shows reluctance. So what usually happens is we start kicking him and using a crop on him to make him go…sounds like a wonderful experience, doesn’t it? How many of you would want to go somewhere with “ a friend” who doesn’t spend what you feel is quality time, only wants you to do what they want to do, doesn’t care about or think about your feelings and expects you to work hard, all the time making it miserable by taking you away from a pleasant place and hitting and kicking you. Probably not too many of us!

So this means that the quality of the time we spend with our horses must be maximal to develop a strong relationship with our horses compared to the time they spend with each other and at the barn. Undemanding time (just hanging out with them asking nothing of them) is a great way to help bond with your horse… scratching him and really just being there. You would be surprised what a difference this alone will make with some horses, especially those with confidence issues with people. This helps build rapport. But this alone will not be sufficient since rapport without respect won’t get much accomplished toward our goals with our horses. So the next step is respect. This is where the ground skills come in. The more we can control our horses’ feet without moving our own feet gains us respect. So lets say we have built some rapport and respect with our horse, yet he is still barn/buddy sweet.

This horse needs us to recognize his concern and build his confidence slowly but progressively in leaving his buddy or the barn. We do this using 2 of our steadfast techniques that work for so many things….approach and retreat combined with comfort and discomfort.  We can do this either on the ground or under saddle. Basically we will either ride or drive (not lead) the horse away from the barn/buddy. The reason we drive instead of lead, is that it is harder to see the horse’s threshold when we lead. We must see his threshold since with this technique we want to take the horse to the limit (threshold) but not over the limit. So we take him to his first threshold, this is normally the first place that he stops or hesitates or gives some small indication that he is getting uneasy. We don’t want to take him to the point that he is acting up, since this means we went over the limit. A threshold is the edge of his comfort zone. We do not go any further. We allow him to do something pleasant just inside the threshold for a moment like eat grass. But not so long he starts getting uncomfortable. Now take him back to the barn or his buddy but when we get back instead of letting him relax or eat we make it more work for him by circling, side passing, etc. After making him work next to his buddy or the barn we take him away again till we reach his threshold. We repeat this approach and retreat combined with making being near his buddy or the barn more uncomfortable by having him move his feet and the place further away comfortable by letting him rest or graze. Each time we should be able to go just a little bit further and stay just a little bit longer. Repeating this process in a progressive and positive way will build his confidence in himself, in us as a leader and in his environment until the horse is willing to follow us anywhere! But you must take the time it takes until the horse is confident. Otherwise it will continue to be a problem and may worsen. The better we become at reading our horse’s body language, and the better we get at controlling our body language, energy and emotions, the better horsemen we become.

Any time I want to teach a new concept to my horse I prefer to teach it on the ground first. This is especially true for starting young horses or getting to know a new horse. It becomes less necessary as you and the horse’s relationship grows to one of mutual rapport, trust, respect and good leadership.

The foremost reason why I prefer this is that it is safer. Anytime a horse is learning a new lesson he may get emotional or mentally frustrated which is best handled on the ground.  Most injuries, both horse and human, occur when the horse is emotional, either frightened or confused.  So by dealing with the horse on the ground on a long rope we can stay safer than if we are mounted. This way, if the horse feels he has to move his feet in a fashion I don’t care to ride, I don’t have to and the horse can move freely to vent this emotion. So we are both happy! On the ground, I can work through these emotions and gain the horse’s confidence back in me first. Then I can break the new lesson down into smaller components that I can express in a more meaningful way to the horse, thus increasing his understanding and lessening his emotion. Generally, horses, once they understand that you are just trying to communicate with them, are very willing to comply to your wishes. Most horses want and are looking for leadership. We just need to provide it to them.  Of course there are those horses that want to be the leader, but then that is a topic for another day!

So if we learn to view each new lesson as a puzzle: ‘How do we get this concept across to the horse?’ We learn to break the puzzle down into the simplest of components, then we can recombine the components to get the entire task across to the horse. Teaching from the ground first helps the horse by removing any balance, weight or other issues in which a rider may interfere or distract the horse from the lesson or make it more difficult or complex to the horse. So simply by getting off the horse we have simplified the task. We can then be sure he understands the task, then add the components of weight and packing us around once he has some understanding. Granted not EVERYTHING we teach the horse will require us getting off, but it is a safe way and a less complicated alternative of getting our ideas across to the horse especially if they are emotional which is a good indication that they are also not understanding.

Sure, many of us have been taught that getting off the horse is some kind of ‘win’ to the horse or that we are ‘sissies’ for not staying on the horse when he gets emotional. I too felt this way for a long time. But since learning about natural horse training I have found this to be a big myth. This is actually just our egos talking or we have just been misinformed. The truth is that helping the horse understand, whether we are on his back or on the ground, is about communication and trust. It is not about us making the horse do something, it is about how best to communicate to our horses and build a relationship so they desire to follow our leadership. Many times this is from the ground. I would much rather keep myself and my horse safe to learn new lessons another day than to have one or both us get injured or even killed. Yes, there are times that we need to be strong with our horses in order to be effective and be respected by them, but this can still be done more safely from the ground. This must also be done with the attitude of justice and not with the attitude of “making’ the horse do something. But again this is a topic for another day.

Have you ever tried to halter a horse and he keeps pulling away just at you are about to put it over his ears? How frustrating! Or maybe you want to jut reach out and pet him and his head flies over and catches you on your cheek, Ouch! This is typical head shyness and is correctable if one knows a technique called approach and retreat.

The best method to overcome any fear-based or mistrust behaviors is “approach and retreat”. With this technique we want to start by touching and rubbing on the horse where he is accepting and relaxed. We would then gradually rub or move closer to his “But don’t touch me here” spot. But we don’t stay very long at all, we just get close and then retreat back to the “Yes, that spot is fine to touch” spot. We do this in a rhythmic, relaxed manner as if we are not wanting to touch the “don’t” spot, but get closer to it just inadvertently. We also want to be sure we are standing in a safe spot when we do this, beside the horse. We will ignore the horse’s reaction other than protecting ourselves with blocks if necessary. A block is when we put an arm up to protect our personal space without being aggressive to the horse and getting into his personal space. It is a defensive move only, not a ‘punishment’. The more we act like we are not wanting to touch “the spot” but touch it only inadvertently and retreat from it again, the more confident the horse will become with the touch. But the more we act like we want to go there (direct line thinking], the more worried the horse will become. So it is just a matter of using this technique and gradually desensitizing the horse to the touch. If the behavior only occurs when putting on the halter, we would want this touching to be done with the halter  or perhaps a rope first, Then we would start the haltering process and then retreat the halter away again, doing this over and over and eventually get closer and closer to putting it on till the behavior goes away and he can be haltered quietly.

The important points are NOT to be direct in the approach. Retreat BEFORE you get a reaction, but gradually get closer and closer till you are there. Also gradually stay longer, but again try to leave BEFORE the horse reacts negatively. If the horse reacts, you then need to stay at this spot until the reaction lessens or the horse relaxes. Stay rhythmic and relaxed throughout until the horse is relaxed. Repeat for 5 –10 days to solidify the proper behavior.

The simple answer is that these people with the “knack” understand the nature of the horse. Horsemanship is natural when you understand the horse: the nature of the horse/human relationship, the way the horse thinks and what is important to them. When the nature of the horse is understood, magic seemingly happens. This is what is meant by horsemanship is natural, by understanding and following the natural way that horses interact, how they communicate, what is important to them, and knowing the way they think, we can interact naturally with them.

So in this blog, I would like to just throw out some ideas regarding the nature of the horse and the human in order to understand the differences. Then I will follow up with more detail in future blogs.

• Horses are prey animals; Humans are predators.

• Horses are basically non-verbal, but are highly skilled body language readers; Humans are verbal, and pay less attention to body language.

• Horses want safety, comfort, play and food. Humans want praise and recognition.

• Horses want leaders, but only one that is worthy of leading. Not all humans are good leaders.

• Horses are lateral thinkers; humans are direct line thinkers.

• Horses naturally push into pressure, Humans expect the horse to yield to pressure.

• Horses are claustrophobic and panic-alcoholics by varying degrees. Humans tend to grab and hold when they get scared.

Free demonstration at Columbia Equestrian Center: Introduction to natural methods, what they are and what they will do for you and your horse. Problem horse demo followed by horse already trained with natural methods. April 11, 2010; 2-4 pm.

Natural Training Clinic at Horsin’ Around in Rocheport, Mo. April 17, 2010; 9-12:30 am. This clinic will cover basic communication techniques, concept of Play, reading horses body language, and basic horse personalities. Afternoon will be available for private lessons, if desired, all levels.

For more information or to register, call Melanie at (573)808-0584, or email her here.

Natural horse training methods have been around a long time. Such methods were known only by a few individuals who appeared to have a mystical sense for horses. Natural horse training is now gaining momentum worldwide as more people are learning it and sharing it. Natural horse training IS achievable by you. It will create a relationship between you and your horse based on mutual trust, a relationship like you have only dreamed about.

Natural horse training was developed by studying horses’ natural behaviors: how they interact with each other, how they think, and what is important to them. Horses are, for the most part, a non-verbal species. The way they communicate is through the universal language among all animal species: body language. Natural horse training capitalizes on the use and refinement of our body language to communicate our intentions and to gain the horse’s trust and confidence in us as a leader.

SAFETY: The use of horse psychology to increase safety is the fundamental approach in natural horse training. Traditional methods often utilize force, intimidation, or mechanical means. These are unnatural methods for a horse to deal with, thus an impediment to good relationship building. The use of horse psychology, on the other hand, addresses the horse’s true mental and emotional issues, alleviates the horse’s fears, increasing the horse’s confidence in environment, people, and his own ability. This confidence and comfort level results in a horse who is much safer to be around.

FUN: Natural horse training uses the concept of play, making the lessons a sort of game or puzzle for the horse. Horses are very observant, as a means to their survival. Thinking about situations is one of their strengths. Giving your horse a puzzle causes the horse to become mentally engaged. It motivates the horse to desire your companionship and leadership. This also enhances the fun for you!

ADAPTABLE: Natural horse training is adaptable for ALL types of horses, for ALL disciplines and for ALL breeds. You will learn how to read horses, think like a horse, and learn about different horse personalities. Natural horse training will teach you the best approach for each individual horse and for each circumstance. Natural horse training provides a solid foundation for all horse sports or pleasure activities.

ENHANCED PERFORMANCE: Natural horse training will increase the level of communication, rapport, and responsiveness between you and your horse while keeping the horse’s dignity and spirit intact. This combination will create “heart” and desire in your horse, elevating the horse’s mental and emotional engagement with you. Results include exuberance, thus enhanced performance.

Tracie Fleshman had this to say about her relationship with her horse after studying natural horse training with Melanie Stoltz-Brown of Snortin’ Horse Farm:

“She speaks to me….

Her sparkling eyes, her kind and loving expression, her enlightening curiosity, the comforting touch of her massive body, her delightful movements, and her amazement of the little things, she is one of my greatest educators, forgiving, willing, determined, she enjoys life, she learns and seeks more, I cannot get enough of her, to see her look to me, I melt, she wants to be with me and I with her, she wants to learn, she wants my leadership, she wants my love, she is my friend, she brings joy, beautiful on the inside and the out, she is my pony, my Promise.”

SNORTIN’ HORSE FARM offers natural horsemanship instruction, boarding, clinics, and equipment for sale. Scroll down for the latest news and events.