Patient and Understanding-The Horse is Master

I've just finished watching a new documentary, "The Path of the Horse" by Stormy May. She was once a trainer and instructor, but recently decided to delve deeper into her understanding (or lack of understanding) of the horse by searching the globe and asking others who have found an incredible connection with horses. In watching the video, I saw yet another reminder of my own immaturity with horses. I forget that in using any kind of force or pain with my horses, that I am just reducing myself to the lesser of two creatures-I am unable to control the horse, because I don't understand the horse's behavior or subtle signals and so resort to using varying degrees of punishment. It doesn't have to be physical pain that we use to control our horses. It can be whatever causes our horse to be distressed and seek escape, either by physically leaving or mentally checking out.

My newest student and her horse are struggling and I have tried to understand what the horse was telling us, but I was not hearing the entire story. The horse does want to be in charge and does have a strong, willful personality. But he also has a lack of confidence with new or scary situations. His choice when faced with some circumstances that he fears is to freeze and to hide within himself until the fright goes away. It occured to me that the reason this is so confusing for humans, is that the first thing we are taught about horses, is that they are prey animals and usually run from what scares them, unless they are trapped, in which case, they would fight, even if it meant that they would be injured or killed.

What possible benefit to survival does this "catatonic" state serve? If a horse was faced with a scary object or situation, why would they want to freeze in place? I thought about it long and hard, picturing the deer that are so common in the woods around our home. Everyone's heard the expression, "he was like the deer in the headlights of a Peterbilt!" referring to the frozen stance of a deer when he finds himself exposed and the object of a predator. It turns out that this works quite well for animals that are off by themselves in an open area. Standing absolutely still and blending in with the surrounding terrain throws off the predator who is looking for their prey to walk, move it's tail or head and neck. There is certainly going to be plenty of horses with the same characteristic to their personality and behavior. Having confused their predator long enough to distract him until he moves on to another area, the horse can then make a hasty escape back to the protection of the herd. It just so happens that the other half of this horse's personality is his independence and dominance that in the wild (as an intact stallion) would make for a great protector for his mare's band of horses.

Every experience with horses is a chance to learn more about ourselves, even more than about the horses. I was so determined to have the upper hand with this horse, that I forgot to listen. I have gotten so much better listening to my excitable, expressive, fearful mare who runs off at the littlest provocation, that I forgot that there are many ways of expressing fear and communicating feelings. I will apologize to the horse and make sure I don't make the same mistake again...but, we are humans and I'm sure there will be other mistakes. Thank goodness the horse is so patient and understanding.