Authority and Respect

Had a wonderful ride today with my good friend Ali. Ronan was fabulous! I helped Ali with some lunging issues she was facing with her horse Etta. I've never noticed before, but Ali commented on how she has never had a really authoritative personality. I think that makes a difference when you are training a horse. Etta responded completely different when I lunged her versus when Ali lunged her. Etta knows that her mom won't REALLY make her do anything so she was completely ignoring her on the lunge for the most part. After watching this, when I took over I immediately let Etta know that I meant business. She caught on very quickly and was responding wonderfully. After a good workout, Ali tried again. Etta was much better than the first go-round but still kinda had an "I don't really care about what you're asking me to do" attitude. I came across an interesting article on this topic:
http://whatyourhorsewants.com/essays/authority-and-respect/

The last line really caught my attention because it says "Authority will come with your increased ability to understand how the horse thinks and feels, so that you gain his respect through your own understanding."

So, in essence, authority over an animal in training comes from learning how the horse learns and behaves not from "showing the horse who's boss." When you gain the horse's trust, you also gain his respect and he will then feel you act in his best interest and that what you ask, he should do.

I feel this kind of authority comes from experience and the study of herd behavior. A trainer must be able to speak the language of horses, especially on the lunge, to be able to gain the horse's trust and then respect. When Ali tried to ask Etta to move out, I instructed her to "pin her ears" at Etta simulating another horse asking Etta to move away. This technique did work well for Ali but the other instinctual techniques of applying pressure to different areas of the horse when lunging is harder to teach. For example, applying pressure to the shoulder to ask the horse to move out on the circle or to the hips to ask the horse to face you, then applying pressure to the opposite shoulder to ask the horse to change directions.

I think with a few more sessions, Ali will have a better idea of how she should approach Etta while on the lunge line. Asking for trust, gaining respect, and applying pressure using natural herd behavior.

That's all for now, just something on my mind :) Next time I'll remember to take pictures of our ride!

I'm Baaaccckkk!

Hello Blog World!

I have been away for so so long and so much has happened since! I don't even know where to start. So, I'm just going to start over.

We bought a new house a little over a year ago. I'm in love with it! We have 6 acres dedicated to our little mini-farm and a gorgeous mountain view! It's out in the country but just close enough to enjoy what the city has to offer too.

We currently own three horses.

Ronan - 9 year old Grey QH gelding (my personal pony)

 Twiggs - 12 year old solid black TWH mare

Lola - 8 year old black TWH mare IN FOAL and DUE IN MAY!!! She is bred to the spotted saddle/TWH stallion pictured below!

 

We also have two additional horses on the property on a temporary basis. One TB mare, Doll, will be leaving around March 1st and the 2nd Appendix Mare, Etta, should be with us until the middle of May. These horses belong to two of my friends who are officers along with me on the University of Tennessee Equestrian Team. Check out the UTET blog link on my page!

 

We have three dogs and one cat, a couple of chickens, and a duck named Rubber. I love our little farm and I can't wait for the excitement of raising our first foal! Stay tuned!