Lesson 2 Approach & Retreat
Approach & Retreat is a big key to gaining a horse’s confidence and curiosity.
Let’s start by being conscious of how we approach, how we are perceived. Predators approach in a direct line, eyes focused on what they want. When a horse sees this their little instinct alarm bells go off because they feel they are going to get caught. In some horses its mild, but in others its very strong and they are the ones that run off and are most difficult to catch. In either case, it should not happen this way and we are responsible for making sure we don’t ever cause the horse to feel the need to leave.
Predators approach in a direct line. This disturbs horses, arouses their instincts. That’s why they are difficult to catch.
For the first lesson on approach, its about psychology and making an impression on your horse to start convincing him that you are not going to act like a predator. Be prepared not to ride, not to even catch your horse. Use it to observe behaviour.
Don’t act like a predator. Go to your horse without wanting to catch him.
Some strategies to help you become less direct line:
- go to your horse’s environment when you don’t want to catch or ride him
- smile and walk past your horse as if he is not what you want
- enter and leave several times
- take a treat with you and give it to your horse after he lets you touch or halter him
- take a book with you and sit in his yard or pasture (not in a stable though, it is too confined for safety) and allow him to become curious enough to approach you. Don’t catch him, ignore him.
Use reverse psychology – walk right past him! Hang out in the pasture, read a book, arouse the horse’s curiosity.
Reverse psychology is one of the most effective strategies when it comes to horses. They are so perceptive of intention that they can read what you want. This is why people hold halters behind their back, but their intention is still obvious to the horse. (By the way, you’ll want to get right away from this kind of sneaky behaviour as it teaches horses not to trust you). An example of reverse psychology is being disinterested in catching your horse.
Horses are very perceptive of intention. This is why people hold halters behind their back! Don’t be sneaky.
Rub and Scratch Your Horse
If your horse is easy to catch, see if you can rub him with both your hands. Start on his cheeks and work down his neck and body. Look for itchy spots and scratch them. At this stage avoid any spots you know he might be pretty defensive about (ears, flanks, under tail, legs), we’ll approach these in the next lesson. Prove to your horse that you are both friendly and useful. Then see if you can rub him with the halter and lead, but don’t put it on him. Allow the horse to sniff it, bite on it, whatever he feels necessary in order to test its safety. Then walk away!
Instead of catching your horse, play Friendly Games like scratching him in his favourite spots, scratch him with that suspicious halter too… then walk away
If your horse is not easy to catch, do what you need to in order to catch and halter him at this stage and then complete the exercise while holding him loosely at the middle of the rope, no tension. Once he accepts the rubbing of your hands then with the rope and is standing relaxed, take the halter off and keep rubbing him. Then walk away.
Learn to read the mental and emotional state of your horse.
Don’t worry if your horse leaves off before you get the chance, set a goal of working on this each time until the horse doesn’t feel the need to leave so suddenly. Sometimes a little treat after taking the halter off can help change his attitude about hanging around you.
When playing with your horse, look for these signs so you get better about reading where your horse is at, mentally and emotionally:
Signs of worry:
- head up
- tension
- staring eyes
- quivering
- need to move feet
- ears half back
What to do: smile, stay relaxed, use approach and retreat method while rubbing toward and area the horse feels defensive about, allow horse’s feet to move if he needs to while keeping his nose facing you so he can’t run off, keep slack in your rope, try to keep your rubbing going if possible. Don’t stop until the horse stands still. Then hesitate, allow him to lick his lips and begin again. It won’t take too many repetitions before you’ve helped the horse reach a point of comfort and trust.
Signs of acceptance and relaxation:
- licking of lips
- blinking
- lowering of head
- sighing
- soft look in the eye
- resting a hind leg
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