Opposition Reflex
Definition
Opposition = compete, contest, dispute, resist, combat, oppose (do the opposite)
Reflex = automatic, reaction, habit, instinctive, involuntary, impulsive.
Opposition reflex is a defence mechanism in the horse.
It causes him to do the opposite of what you want.
PREY ANIMALS
When: scared, confused, mad, frustrated, hurt
How: “hole under tail” gets tight, move their feet (or their bodies – tail, jaw, lips, etc when their feet can’t move, ie displaced behaviour)
Get to know what causes opposition reflex.
Fundamentally it is caused by predators or the human environment which horses have trouble adapting to.
Specifics: pulls back, kicks, strikes, bites, nips, lays ears back, spooks, violent behaviour, rears, bucks, tugs on reins, flips bit, chews on bit, tosses head, jigs on trail, prances, won’t move, sluggish, non-responsive, over-reactive, won’t trailer load, rushes off trailer, cranks tail, resists lateral flexion, resists vertical flexion, braces neck, wont’t stop, won’t stand still, cold backed, cinch bound, paws while tied, sulls up, lies down, won’t open mouth to bridle, hard to past worm, hard to doctor, clamps tail, hard to catch, whinnies to other horse, barn sour, herd bound, bolts, ear shy, hard mouthed, has can’t, won’t, don’t and yeah-but spots, over flex, behind the bit, ……..etc.
PREDATORS
People can have opposition reflex too.
Learn how to get enough mental and emotional control so you don’t have opposition reflex.
When: scared, confused, mad, frustrated, hurt.
How: “hole under tail gets tight”, feet do not move, digs in, freezes, the “claws” go in.
Specifics: hand close quickly and lock, legs clamp onto horse, belly tightens, seat tightens, breathing shuts down, don’t blink because they can’t think, envokes fight or defensive response (feotal position), shouting, growling, hitting, kicking, pulling, jerking, yanking, compete to win reflex (“say uncle”), dominate reflex.
Its okay for your horse to get scared as long as you don’t.
