Howdy Friends
In recent weeks I’ve had several emails from folks who have
purchased a new horse and quickly became saddened, frustrated or disenchanted. All
had statements along the lines of, “He wasn’t this way when I rode him there,”
or “This is not the horse I bought.” In every case the horse had been tried at
the seller’s location and had been “perfect.”
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| It was 6 months before Kessy welcomed a hug ... |
We’ll not talk here of the many topics of what might have
been done to better understand the horse, or seller, or situation before
deciding to purchase the horse—that as they say is like closing the gate after
the horse has galloped away. And perhaps a topic for another discussion.
Rather let’s examine the new situation the horse finds
himself in at his new home. With his new people—from the horse’s perspective. Perhaps
it would be helpful to read my post, “There’s more to our story,” CLICK HERE.
Whatever was the series of events that brought the horse
into a new owner or caregiver’s world, he is here now ... Seen from the horse’s
point of view, this is a huge upheaval. Magnificently upsetting. Remember
horses are very much creatures of habit, as am I. I even wrote several times
about the value in being “routine.” Horses love routine, let’s not debate or
spend time on that, but trust me they do.
Suddenly the horse is torn from known habitat, friends,
animal and human, perhaps family, and finds himself in a completely new world.
Consider you are loaded into a cargo truck, driven for some period of time,
then unloaded, deposited in a room you’ve never seen, find yourself surrounded
by people you don’t know, and who speak a language of which you understand only
a few words.
Then you’re asked to perform the task they think you know
how to do, as if nothing in your life has changed—even though they make all the
requests in a language you cannot comprehend. When you fail, they get
frustrated, eventually angry—they blame you and the connection you seek becomes
distant. You begin to stress; you realize quickly you had better not trust
these new people. Perhaps it would be best to not try. Perhaps you should
rebel?
Add to this many horses have had a cascade of “new people,”
or “new homes.” Perhaps the horse had been purchased by a dealer who had only
days or weeks with the horse. Constant breakage of the horse’s routine has left
him uncertain, sometimes frustrated. Sometimes rebellious in an effort at self
preservation. And through it all, his trust in humans is challenged, weakened,
perhaps broken.
We should remember that horses remember everything. All
their people, homes and friends—animal and human. They miss their routines,
their friends, their old life, just as we do. When we bring a horse into our
lives it is our job to help them cope. It can be wholly unfair to make demands
of them at this time.
Some horses adjust in a few weeks; others may take a year or
more. Sometimes when a new horse is purchased it is not kept at the owner’s
home, it is boarded. Boarded horses must often adjust to new and strange
activities, sometimes many different handlers, and often only see their “owner”
a time or two a week. Think of the upheaval for the horse then. Just imagine
you find yourself in a totally different world and are expected to know, understand
and comply with all the rules, standards and laws ... while you struggle to
grasp the new language.
I believe it is imperative to ask nothing of the horse until
you create the beginnings of a bond, partnership or relationship. Start with
the exercises I so often write about, they give to the horse while asking
nothing in return, except they enjoy them. You can find them in my book, “It’s for the Horses,” CLICK HERE. Sit with the horse at least an hour a day, do
nothing but enjoy each other’s company. Reading to them during this alone-time
can be remarkably healing and rewarding.
The first order of business, I believe, is to help the horse
understand his new surroundings, his new people, his new job and routine.
Welcome him into his new world with all the compassion, love and care you might
a brand new baby just coming home from the hospital.
Or a foster child about
whom you know little of their past and is terrified or disenchanted.
To make demands of a new horse too soon can be so damaging
to the horse’s ego and self esteem, and trust, as to far too often prove irreparable,
and the horse may once again “go down the road.” I once had a horse who at the
age of 9 had had 11 owners on the registration paper! He took over a full year
to begin to gain his footing.
Buying a new horse is possibly the most exciting thing we
horse lovers can do, it is our responsibility to make it just as exciting for
the horse. Take it slow, is my advice, shower them with love, kindness and support—forget
the training, competition and demands until they tell you, they are ready.
Patience will always be rewarded with trust, I promise.
Gitty Up ~ Dutch Henry
View the book trailer for "It's for the Horses" HERE
