| My initial thought for "horse" people who may not want | | | | this to me, men as a rule will have better success if |
| to develop a relationship would be one simple thing. | | | | they are gentler. Women will have more success if |
| Buy a motorcycle or an ATV! | | | | they are firmer with the horse. But really every horse |
| The foundation to being a good horseman is the | | | | is different. Some excel better with a firm hand, others |
| relationship you develop with the horses you own or | | | | less so. A good horseman knows exactly how much |
| train. The horse will excel to a much higher level if | | | | of what is needed. No more, no less. |
| there is a sincere relationship developed between you. | | | | A good horseman must treat each horse uniquely. |
| In order for this relationship to blossom you have to | | | | There is no cookie cutter recipe for all relationships. |
| give of yourself first. You must be a teacher, a friend, | | | | That is the secret of being a great horseman, knowing |
| a leader, a caregiver and anything else that horse | | | | exactly when and how or what a horse needs, at |
| needs to be a great horse. What does a horse give | | | | precisely the right time. But your horse will tell you |
| you in return? Honesty and helping make you a better | | | | exactly what he needs. But you must pay attention. |
| person. | | | | Don't expect the relationship to be automatic just you |
| Now I know this may sound like some cheesy old | | | | cause you love your horse. Your horse could care less |
| Kung Fu movie wisdom, but I really think it's true. I think | | | | that you pay the feed bills. That nice halter you just |
| when you can take a horse from raw to being a great | | | | bought will have zero influence on increasing your |
| horse, you will know consistent excellence. As Aristotle | | | | horse's love for you. The relationship you develop with |
| pointed out a few years back, excellence should | | | | your horse is the only thing that matters to the horse. |
| become a habit. | | | | That's some pretty brutally honest stuff. |
| You see unlike people, a horse will never lie to you. So | | | | Also don't take it personal if your horse bucks you off, |
| if you can't handle the truth, you may want to start | | | | kicks you or steps on your foot. He is just |
| looking at motorbikes. Any fault you have, a horse will | | | | communicating honestly to you. That's his way of |
| exploit it. If you are over bearing, the horse won't | | | | screaming at you. You are not fulfilling your part of the |
| develop as well. If you are pushover, you will never get | | | | relationship. You are not being a leader he respects. |
| the horse to excel. If you don't have the skills to | | | | Huge behavior problems in horses are gigantic holes in |
| communicate properly, you will just get frustrated. If | | | | your relationship. |
| you are a poor leader, you will have a horse that is a | | | | When you have a huge problem with your horse, you |
| poor follower. | | | | need to identify what YOU are doing wrong. The |
| A good relationship with a horse is not defined by a | | | | horse is just being a horse. You need to get the tools |
| bigger meaner bit. A true partnership between human | | | | to help define your relationship better. Once you do, |
| and horse is truly defined with the subtle soft hands | | | | then the problems will start to work themselves out. |
| that speak eloquently. A good relationship with a horse | | | | Like marriage counseling helps in a relationship. That's |
| is also not defined with bribing the horse with | | | | the great thing about horses, they force you to be a |
| excessive treats, it is defined as a partnership. The rule | | | | better person. I've never heard of a motorcycle |
| of thumb training horses is, men are too demanding | | | | making anyone a better person. Horses on the other |
| and women are not demanding enough. Which means | | | | hand are God's gift to making humans better people. |