| Go where there are horses and on any typical day | | | | First, Eric shows us ways to approach horses that let |
| you're going to find someone having trouble catching | | | | the horse know that we mean no harm. Surprisingly, |
| their horse. And what do they do about it? Typically | | | | this is a vital step with horses many people aren't |
| horse owners attempt to bribe their horses by giving | | | | aware of. Eric focuses on the fact that a horse is a |
| them a treat, a bucket of grain, or waving a carrot at | | | | prey animal and humans, by nature, are predators. You |
| their horse hoping he will mosey on over. While this | | | | might not be thinking about this when you walk into a |
| may get you what you think you want-the horse | | | | pasture of horses-but they know it. But Eric shows |
| standing there while you put the halter on-the fact is its | | | | you how to walk up to a horse in a way that removes |
| setting up your relationship with your horse for trouble. | | | | this fear from his heart. |
| In natural horsemanship, what we are after is speaking | | | | That being said, horses are all about respect. Have |
| to a horse in his own language so that we can | | | | you noticed how a group of horses spends a lot of |
| establish three things: | | | | time kicking and biting each other? Well horse society |
| - Trust | | | | can be tough! So once a horse figures out we aren't |
| - Leadership | | | | approaching him like a predator, he is going to look and |
| - Respect | | | | see if we are worthy of respect. We need to |
| If we are going to speak to a horse in his own | | | | establish this respect before a horse can truly trust us. |
| language, we might start by thinking about how horses | | | | In the video, Eric talks about things to look for that |
| communicate with each other. If you have the | | | | indicate respect and disrespect. He also introduces a |
| opportunity, go out to an open pasture that has a few | | | | stunning concept called steal a thought that you can |
| horses living together. Just watch what they do. You | | | | use anytime to rid your horse of unwanted behavior |
| will come away noting that horses communicate with | | | | and shows how to apply it when trying to catch a |
| each other using body language and that confidence | | | | difficult horse. |
| and assurance are two keys a successful horse must | | | | Once you catch a horse, you may think your work is |
| have in his toolbox. The most confident horses are the | | | | done. But its just beginning! In the last 10 minutes of the |
| horses that become alpha, they run the herd-deciding | | | | video, which I found to be the most useful and |
| who eats first, when to eat, where to go, and all that. | | | | interesting part, Eric shows how to lead a horse |
| Ask yourself this question. Does the stallion or alpha | | | | properly and signs to look for that indicate a horse is |
| mare in a wild herd of horses use treats to get the | | | | being disrespectful. He lays out several leading |
| other horses to do what s/he wants? Of course not! | | | | exercises in complete detail that you can incorporate |
| The alpha horses uses confident strength and body | | | | right into any groundwork routines you do with your |
| language to communicate with the other horses. In | | | | horse. The exercises are designed to teach your |
| natural horsemanship, we learn how to use our own | | | | horse to not only respect you, but to pay attention to |
| body language to communicate with our horses in a | | | | you. |
| way that they understand intuitively. This will help gain | | | | Think about how important this is. If a horse respects |
| the trust and respect of your horse. When he trusts | | | | you and pays attention to you, that's going to be a |
| you, you can reach a level where you can truly bond | | | | horse that is much safer to ride. Do you want to jump |
| with your horse and have that fulfilling relationship with | | | | on the back of a horse that doesn't pay attention to |
| our horses we're all looking for. | | | | you? Probably not! Do you really know the signs to |
| A recent video released by horse trainer Eric Bravo | | | | look for to determine if a horse is paying attention? Do |
| called Catching and Leading Your Horse illustrates the | | | | you want to learn simple exercises to improve the |
| use of gentle natural horsemanship to communicate | | | | quality of attention your horse is giving you? If you |
| with a horse in eye-opening fashion. Shot in real time | | | | answered no and yes to the last two questions, you'll |
| and unedited, Eric goes out into a wide-open field to | | | | probably want to take a look at this groundbreaking |
| catch a black mare with an attitude named Wendy. | | | | video. |