Horse Progress: Ready for challenging tasks?

Horse Education

Evolving the Ask

By Samantha Harvey, Founder — Alternative Horsemanship™ the Remote Horse Coach

"How do I get my horse to be okay with ___?" (trailer, the scary corner, saddling, the farrier, fill in the blank.) Usually, someone is describing the big scenario, and the horse is already overwhelmed by it.

When I start with a horse, I'm not focused on the "final outcome". I'm presenting tiny segments to help him learn how to think through a scenario (rather than fixate)... to search (offer more than one try without getting emotionally triggered) for an answer instead of waiting to be driven or pushed... to try... and just as important, to let go of a thought (anticipation, fixation, concern, worry).

Most horses I meet have never been taught this nor is there a differentiation between directing their thoughts from their movement. Too many horses in their initial training learned to tolerate, comply, shut down (offer no physical resistance), or get bigger (to make the human go away). This leaves them unable (and overwhelmed) the more that is asked of them.

Once the equine learns these skills, I present small scenarios to practice the Conversation. Not "load in the trailer," but "how do you feel about walking toward, around, away from it?" I observe his feedback during the interaction, and especially after. Is there a look away, a held breath, a stiff jaw, a step back, is his tail swishing... all of which is him telling me where/if there are concerning aspects. He's not being "naughty" or "testing" me. He's giving me feedback.

Rather than mindlessly repeating to "just getting through it," as I address each concern, I'm also assessing the quality and effectiveness of my communication. By presenting scenarios in smaller segments, it allows me an opportunity to pause and recognize if the horse is becoming defensive towards my aids- and I can address that aspect. It also gives him time to process- his concern and my communication. Then I may ask for a little more.

Here's what people don't consider... the more often a horse is supported by the human to learn how to work through and let go of his concerns, the more the person is "proving" themselves to the horse to be trusted, and the increase in his try will follow. By the time I present something much larger, it isn't "a concern" to him anymore, because he's been prepared with each segment presented along the way, and he is offered relevant communication.

If the horse falls apart when you ask for more, the "why won't he do it?" is ignoring the "what did I miss in the preparation?"

How do you know he needs help or is ready for more?

Your horse will "tell you" in subtle feedback, before he does something dramatic. The trick is noticing the behavior that most of mainstream society teaches you to ignore, because when it is, (or critiqued rather than addressed) it evolves into the potentially dangerous responses.

He's telling you there's a concern when you see him...

• Looking away or fixating on something else when you step toward him
• Holding his breath, or short, quick, labored breathing despite not having physically exerted himself
• Tightness in the jaw, wrinkles in the muzzle, worry lines around the eye
• Head up, neck shortened and braced, "ballooned barrel," or "hollowing" of the back
• Tail swishing or clamped
• Ears hyper-flicking back and forth or back and rigid
• Tripod-like stance, braced knees/hocks
• Constant shifting away, or stepping backward
• Freezing in place (this one gets mistaken for "being good")
• Fidgeting, pawing, or hurried movement
• Getting pushy, crowding, or leaning toward/at the human
• Eyes dull and "checked out"... shut down- i.e. "no response" at all

Even if he has displayed the above behaviors and still complied, does not mean he is "ready" for more- and it is usually when he is asked to offer more- that the horse "suddenly" shows dramatic resistance.

He's ready to move on- or for you to evolve the ask- when you see...

• A deep breath out, or a sigh that shows up on his own
• Real-time mental processing- soft blinking, gentle chewing, rhythmic breathing
• Jaw, lips, and eye softening
• Head and neck held at a natural height, without skin tension or twitching (such as when touched)
• Tail softly hanging, ears relaxed or one tipped toward you
• Shifting a hip, or standing balanced without mentally bouncing all over
• Brain and body in the same place... he isn't looking around with anticipation
• Curiosity- softly looking toward/inspecting something (without imposing/pushing/trying to bite it), perhaps offering a small, soft step toward the unfamiliar/scary thing
• The same quiet response several times in a row, without anticipation or rushing
• Willing to be mentally directed "away" (not physically moving his feet away) from the concerning area- without having a flee, increase in tension, or a fixation on the thing he is unsure of

As you are assessing, remember that a one time soft response doesn't mean he's fully worked through a scenario. Experiment with one small change, and observe his mental and physical responses. Even if not yet fully confident, if he stays "available" and thinking, he's ready for more. Adapt with how you offer a release- which may be just mental, or mental and spatial. Sometimes, it takes literally moving the horse away from a scenario to "pull the release valve" and then you see the full body shake, blowing, yawning, passing manure, etc. in his let down of tension as he mentally processes.

If during any "segment" a concern reappears, that tells you what hasn't been fully addressed to help the horse mentally let it "go."

A final thought... When just observing the horse, notice what the difference is in your perception of what equine behaviors you'd classify as a "quiet," relaxed, or shut down horse.

— Samantha Harvey, Alternative Horsemanship™
The Remote Horse Coach