| There is one thing that is absolutely required before | | | | able or make them willing. The folks who tell you how |
| you can successfully relate to or train a horse: | | | | stupid horses are have just confessed that the horse |
| leadership. As soon as any horse becomes aware of | | | | in question got the best of them. Horses are much |
| you they will assign you a status: predator, herd mate | | | | better people trainers than people are horse trainers. |
| or no importance at all, like the pet rock of the '70's. As | | | | Everything you ever learned about leadership can be |
| herd animals, horses are hard-wired to identify the | | | | useful when training your horse. You just need to learn |
| power structure whenever they are in the company | | | | how to communicate with the horse. As in every case, |
| of another horse or human. | | | | effective communication includes being a great listener. |
| In the absence of proof to the contrary, the horse's | | | | All great leaders and great trainers are clear, |
| default opinion will be that you are a predator, and any | | | | consistent and fair. Every lesson must offer your |
| big moves on your part will kick in nature's fight-or-flight | | | | horse some benefit. |
| response. In the case of horses, unless they are | | | | Leaders and horse trainers learn to use correction to |
| confined, their choice will be to run. The other extreme | | | | help their followers improve, they do not use |
| is the horse who has effectively trained their owner to | | | | punishment that de-motivates or instills fear. There is |
| get out of their way to protect sore toes, to offer | | | | great responsibility attached to being the leader of a |
| cookies whenever their participation is requested, and | | | | horse-human relationship. Always give the horse the |
| can communicate very clearly when a saddle or bridle | | | | benefit of your doubt. We haven't yet reached the |
| comes out; "No." Horses become bullies for the same | | | | height of what is possible for the horse-human |
| reason children do; there is an absence of appropriate | | | | partnership. However, every successful partnership |
| leadership. | | | | begins at the beginning, and proceeds with little, orderly |
| Leaders must understand their followers. Horse | | | | steps taken as fast or slow as the horse can master |
| owners must know how horses think, why they do | | | | them. |
| what they do, and be able to prepare lesson plans that | | | | There is no more accurate barometer of your |
| make sense to their horse. For a horse-human | | | | leadership ability as a horse. Horses are direct - they |
| relationship to succeed, there must be an established | | | | do not dissemble, they "say" what they mean. Horses |
| leader. Rarely will relationships work if the horse is in | | | | don't care what you look like, who your daddy is, or |
| control. There are exceptions, but don't count on it with | | | | how much money you make. One of the delights of |
| the pony out in your pasture. | | | | relationship with a horse is that they judge you 100% |
| Leaders must be able to communicate clearly and | | | | on your actions. Once you learn to properly lead a |
| concisely with their followers. Communication with a | | | | horse into confident relationship, you will have |
| horse begins with body language. Over time you can | | | | mastered skills that will help you succeed in every part |
| add verbal commands, but in early stages, body | | | | of your life. |
| language is your only option. Horses learn from the | | | | Don't make promises to your horse that you can't |
| release of pressure. The pressure can be physical or | | | | keep. Love the process. Building a relationship with |
| psychic, the pull of a neck rope, or anxiety from your | | | | your horse is a gift that many only dream of, watching |
| intimidating physical position. | | | | with awe and amazement as a horse and rider |
| There are only two reasons why your horse doesn't | | | | appear to move as one body and one spirit on the |
| do what you want - they are either unable or unwilling. | | | | movie screen or in the show pen. If it was easy |
| As the leader you must determine which is the case | | | | everyone could do it. It's not. But the reward of your |
| and establish the circumstances to make the horse | | | | horse's obedience and devotion is more than worth it. |