 |
|
|
|
|
|
A Horse... |
|
|
...has four legs and a head. Just kidding. although it's really important to know some fundamental things about the animal you're about to have a very close relationship with. You should understand it and treat it appropriately.
Horses are herd animals, and as with other herd animals, our herd has a hierarchy based on respect and trust. Subordinate animals will act in accordance to the leader. Hierarchy is useful to riders, the horse looks up to you for confidence and guidance, it will respect your orders, and trusts you even in difficult or dangerous situations. However, if respect isn't clearly established or guided, the horse will do whatever it wants to (eating during the ride, stubbornly resisting to continue walking or sudden wild running, etc.).
Your horse will promptly lose respect for you if you allow it to get away with whatever it feels like doing, however, if you prove to it you can guide him or provide it with decisive orders, it will respect you and it won't resist.
Also, keep in mind horses are prey animals, programmed to flee from insecure creatures or situations. Your horse will moderate or stop his reflexive behavior by trusting you, it must get used to odd things -such as plastic bags blowing in the wind, your shining yellow raincoat, etc.
As in the case of human beings, horses have individual characters, traits distinguishing one horse from its fellow animals. Therefore, it becomes important to attempt to find chemistry between the horse and you, and that each person gets to ride the best-matched horse - although it is not always possible to find the perfect horse-match.
|
|
 |
Top of page |
|
«Back Next » |
|
|
|
|
