The 5 most common myths about horses.
- Horses are not smart
- Punishment and reward is an effective training approach, you have to show a horse who’s boss
- Horses are safe and simple
- Carrots and kindness will spoil a horse
- You shouldn’t work with a horse for more than 20 minutes.
The horse world is full of myths and misconceptions due to a lack of knowledge about horse psychology.
While ever we subscribe to myths like this, we’ll never truly understand horses nor reach our full potential with them. Here are the natural truths to these myths:
1. Horses aren’t smart? Ever been out-smarted and out-maneuverer by one?!
Horses are prey-animal smart, its unfair to measure them on the scale that includes predators like people, dolphins and dogs. Their whole life and therefore their modus operandi is different.
Horses are not dumb. They outsmart and out-think People all the time. They make a living of out-thinking predators!
Horses are born to out-think predators on the ground. This is where people have the most trouble with them – can’t catch, can’t shoe, can’t handle, can’t bridle, get kicked, bitten, struck, charged at, they can make more moves to prevent being trapped and they can read People like a book. They know what you are going to do!
They are experts at reading intentions. On the prey animal scale, horses are among the most intelligent.
On a horses back, there’s not much that they can do to defend themselves, run, buck, rear, throw themselves down… then they run out of options and of course the good rider is still there. But on the ground, they are quicker and wilier than anything. Fredy Knie, world famous horse trainer form the Swiss Circus Knie told Pat that of all the circus animals he’s trained, horses are the most difficult… the most difficult to do it well.
Horses are very intelligent (on the prey animal scale). They are quick Learners and they never forget.
2. Punishment and reward does not work. Showing a horse who’s boss can build intimidation and resentment.
What does work with horses is positive and negative reinforcement. Here’s the difference . Positive or negative reinforcement is instantaneous. Its like what an electric fence does, it gives you instant feedback about your decision to touch it, and do you learn you lesson fast? You sure do, and so does the horse. It also has no emotional or attitudinal luggage. Its hard for people to get firm without getting mean or angry and when a horse reads this emotional background to the action it will result in one of two thing, fear or aggression. Pretty soon the smart horse recognises the emotional weakness and don’t think he won’t start pushing your buttons.
Can you get firm when necessary without getting mean or mad? Horses will push your emotional buttons.
The more you can do with a smile, the better. Use comfort and discomfort (see equine psychology post) and positive and negative reinforcement. Don’t get upset or angry (in fact if you feel that way, pet your horse and leave him alone, go away and calm down totally, get a new perspective and only then start again). Treat it a s a game – your horse does! See every challenge or resistance your horse puts up as a invitation to improve your skills and savvy.
Don’t be your horses boss, be his respected alpha.
And about showing your horse who’s boss? You need to prove to him you are alpha, by his definition. This means you have to be calmer, smarter, braver and more athletic than the horse, more mentally, emotionally and physically fit. You need to have leadership qualities, offer friendship, security and play. Then your horse will respect you and follow your lead.. without question.
3. Horses are safe and simple… if you have savvy.
This is a great assumption and its the reason so many new horse owners get mucked out. Its also why parents push strollers under police horse’s bellies so baby can pet them. Its also why 80% of all new horse owners get out of horses in their first year.
80% of new horse owners get out of horses in the first year because of the 5 F’s, fear, frustration, feeling like a failure, falling off and losing focus.
Horses are simple if you have savvy. It means you understand their psychology, their behaviour, their instincts, their needs, their nature. You know how to relate to them and very little will surprise you. You’ll know what to do and what not to do… and that’s how you can stay safe around horses.
Its just lack of savvy. Horses are simple if you have savvy.
4. Carrots and kindness will spoil a horse… or will it help win his heart?
Most women have heard this one because they have more tendency to be affectionate with horses. They also have more trouble being firm when necessary.
Kindness can win a horse’s heart and desire.
Carrots and kindness are important (you can replace carrots of course!). They show a horse you care, they bring out the soft side of you, which in our language is the Friendly Game. It is the most important game because horses don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.
Horses don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.
Now, kindness without control is dangerous. Horses learn very quickly how to play dominance games with people once they see they don’t have to be afraid. Here’s where the 7 Games gives you the greatest balance – kindness and friendship with dominance games that are already part of the horse’s life.
Kindness without control is dangerous, it needs balance.
5. You can’t work a horse more than 20 minutes… but for how long can you play?
The Key word here is play. Working with a horse is not fun for them. They get bored, they stop putting in effort, they dream of being in the pasture playing with their buddies. But play, some horses will play all day.
Horses, like people, can only take “work” for so long. Don’t work horses, play with them.
How can you make your sessions with the horse challenging and fun for him? If the horse is recreation for you , can you be recreation for him?
If the horse is recreation for you, can you be recreation for them?
In normal training, horses don’t get to use their mind very much. It is rote and repetitive, they are often treated like they can’t think, 20 minutes is more than they can take of this. Playing the 7 Games and giving your horse problems and challenges to work out (set it up and wait), giving him a chance to think his way through things becomes very stimulating for the horse. You’ll see his expression change, he’ll seem to look forward to his time with you, a dull horse comes alive and an emotionally insecure horse gets braver.
You can spend a lot of time with horses as long as you are playing with them.
Sometimes cutting off too soon doesn’t get you the result you need. We often will play with horses for 2 or 3 hours at a time and using the secrets below, the results are fantastic.
Horses will play with each other all day!
The secret to spending more than 20 minutes with your horse therefore is this: make it fun, intersperse plenty of friendly game, have periods of rest – even 5 to 10 minutes can do it, use him as an armchair, for transport, or just hang out. Make sure you spend undemanding time with your horse as a balance.
