"Understanding the Why"

Understanding the why can begin in the eye ... This is my girl Kessy

Howdy Friends,

Understanding the “WHY” ... My horse won’t stand for the trimmer ... My horse won’t stand to mount ... My horse bucks when asked to canter ... My horse pushes me when I lead her ... My horse (insert anything here) ... These friends are NOT training or discipline issues, they are comfort issues. It is our job to understand why your horse is shouting those signals to you.

There is always a “why” and that why is almost always rooted in physical and mental comfort—and more training, repetition and discipline can’t cure it.

Most (if not all) things horses have difficulty doing are directly related to proper posture, self awareness, and body carriage, period. Fix that and the “bad things” simply go away. Sounds bold, I know, but I also know it to be true. To be fair we need always to address the why; stiffness, tightness, balance, self awareness, foot awareness, ease or lack of ease of fluidity and movement and posture before addressing the things we as humans focus on.

Think of it like baking an apple pie. If you’re told to bake an apple pie and you are indeed a superb pasty chef, but not given any apples, you could protest all you want and your boss would get frustrated and demand that you bake his pie ... But you simply can’t, without apples. You have the dough, the sugar, the spices and everything you need, almost. And your boss doesn’t get it and becomes louder and more demanding; you grow to be more and more confused. You want to please him, but there simply is no way you can, not without apples. So you try to protest—he won’t hear it ... That is the world the horse finds themselves in if we refuse to seek out the why.

Then your boss suddenly realizes something is not good with you and for the first time he asks you, “Why can’t you bake my apple pie?” You show him you’ve got no apples. He provides apples and you bake a wonderful pie—you needed no training or discipline, or repetition, you only needed the why answered.

Take time to give your horse all she needs, and not focus on what you want. Then what you want will be given to you in more glorious ways than you could have ever imagined. It begins with finding the why, and that why is always (yes I said always) in the horse’s ability to move in comfort, feel great about her posture and self awareness. The next time something, anything, goes a bit off I implore you to step back and ask why. Change the focus from “results” to “possibilities.” Those possibilities can always be found by giving to the horse, not insisting. 

You can find how to accomplish this posture and comfort in my book “It’s for the Horses; An advocate’s musings about their needs, spirit, gifts and care,” HERE. I promise it can change your worlds. 

You might also enjoy our Coffee Clutch story, "Sometimes the horse just can’t ... It’s Not disobeying."
Gitty Up, Dutch Henry

What is Horse Communication?

Howdy Friends,

What is horse communication? Lots of things. Lots of things in many different ways to many different people. A lot of people do indeed want to “communicate” with their horse, some on a spiritual level, some on a physical level, some on a level of cooperation, and some on a dominance level.

I don’t believe we can truly communicate with our horses if can’t see, feel and hear the spirit living inside. You see communication should not be about training, which sadly is mostly what folks think about with their horse. They figure their horse must “learn” to do this, that and a bunch of other things—and learn to do them better and better. No they don’t! They already know how to do anything we ask!

It is WE who need “training” in the art of doing this, that and the other thing—With our horses. They already know how. We must learn to communicate, and not by learning cues, leg aids, the “art” of using mechanical devices, that is not communicating. But too often that is what is taught, practiced and promoted.

I’ll admit I go on and on about the release and relax exercises of Peggy Cummings that I believe in and promote. I do this because they work. They work on many, many levels from creating proper posture to teaching US to hear, and therefore communicate with our horses. Just the few basic exercises I promote will open the door to communication, the inner spirit. Once we find the inner spirit of our horses, communication just begins to happen, if it is allowed. If it is welcomed. Then any training, learning and growing together becomes easier, more graceful and bonded.

There is a real spiritual being inside a horse, and more and more folks are beginning to understand and discover that fact. Horses are not, and should not be viewed as means to an end, equipment or tools. They are not slaves, nor simply objects we own “for what we get out of it.” They indeed have feelings, thoughts and can feel love, affection, stress, worry and fear. How than can we not communicate with them?

Horse communication, to me, is the ability to hear the horse and understand their point of view, their comfort, desire and needs. When we begin to understand that is important, our horses will indeed communicate with us in a way we can feel—and hear. And I don’t mean the standard outward communication like pinned ears, stomping foot, or greeting nicker. Those are the horse shouting. What communication is, is hearing the whispers, feeling the thoughts. And yes we can all learn this, if we believe and try.

Most folks who don’t believe have not really tried, and their horses know it so they quit whispering and only shout, or worse yet, they shut off communication—then the person feels compelled to train and often resort to mechanical devices, which will often have the effect of creating compliance, but not communication.

Horse communication? It is inside the horse quietly waiting for us to receive. Try it, you’ll like it.

Gitty Up, Dutch Henry

P.S. If you've not yet read my book, "It's for the Horses: An advocate's musings about their needs, spirit, gifts and care," Please have a look here www.itsforthehorses.com 

"Sometimes the horse just can’t ... It’s Not disobeying

Howdy Friends, 

Sometimes a horse simply can’t do what we ask, they are not disobeying—nor do they need more training, or discipline. We need to pay closer attention to our horse, and less to our own demands, desires. Sometimes I get broken hearted at what I see; the story I’m going to relate here is one of those times.

Kessy demonstrating how we walk "off the forehand" Something she could not master for a long time, and needed much "release and relax" exercises to help her find her soft self and healthy posture. Any horse can master this. (Exercises demonstrated in my book "It's for the Horses:An advocate's musings about their needs, spirit, gifts and care")

A few weeks ago I went to a festival of sorts. In addition to exhibits, displays, foods and demonstrations were a few horse demonstrations. Some I watched, some I didn’t. One exciting performance was a very talented young woman and her horses. Quite a show they put on. And what drew me to watch was the fact she used rescue horses in her performance. She did the show twice in the day and I watched both times. Afterwards I regretted that I did.

After each show she and her primary horse bowed. The first time her horse bowed right along with her. After the second show, he did not. She did not accept no for an answer and insisted, in fact she kicked his leg, he tried, and even kindly turned his head to her shouting, “I can’t right now.” She never heard. In fact she kicked him so hard I heard the thump from 50 feet away. Finally he fought the stiffness and, obvious to me, the tightness and pain, and he bowed.

Then she got her long whip and worked him to bow again and again. To add to my distress watching this, I heard women behind me complimenting her for “not letting him get away with it.” One even called out, “That’s right, make him do it 5 times!” ... I fought hard to contain myself.

To be fair to the women behind me perhaps did not notice the stiff right shoulder and sore back, but I did. I also noticed how kindly the horse, who had just performed in high heat some very demanding stunts, had tried to tell his owner he was unable to move in the manner that required a bow. She never noticed, because for her it was all about the show. 

I did speak with her later that day and explained what I saw. I admitted that during the stunts and tricks he positively needed to obey immediately and without question, her safety demanded that, and he had. But for the bow when he politely tried to communicate he was in his right, and she missed his plea.I even offered to teach her the basic “release and relax exercises.”  She was uninterested in hearing the horse’s point of view. 

Add to this, the horse had also, just one hour before her performance, been used as a demo horse for chiropractic therapy ... and then put through the rugged paces of their performance—small wonder he was stiff and sore ... But he was totally polite. I thought it was common knowledge that a horse be given 24 hours at least, after a chiropractic treatment to rest ...

I wrestled hard with whether or not to relate this story, but I sense he wants us to hear his plea, “Sometimes the horse just can’t ... and it’s our job to hear them.”

Gitty Up, Dutch Henry 

P.S. ~ To have a look at my book "It's for the Horses:An advocate's musings about their needs, spirit, gifts and care" please visit www.itsforthehorses.com 

"Welcoming a New Horse Home"

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.”

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 

"Horses and Personalities"

Howdy Friends, 

Horses and personalities, or people and their horse’s personalities. How about people misunderstanding their horse’s personalities. Perhaps, sometimes people are reluctant to believe horses have personalities, or they believe they can change them. Could you change yours? 

Sure we can change our habits, approach to situations, even our talents and concerns. We can improve our skills, and our horse’s skills, change their habits and concerns too ... but what about personality?

Merriam Webster defines Personality as, “the complex of characteristics that distinguishes an individual, especially in relationships with others: And the totality of an individual’s behavioral and emotional tendencies ... Interesting, “totality of an individual’s behavioral and emotional tendencies.” What does that mean? And are horses, like people, destined to have their own unique personality, and how does their “behavioral and emotional tendencies” affect our relationship?

I submit understanding that horses, and all animals, do indeed possess distinctly their own personalities, and endeavoring to understand them would make partnering easier, for both human and horse. Sadly many times folks looking for a horse eagerly fall in love with a horse the see as pretty, flashy, beautiful or any other adjective that suits their vision of a horse, when what they should consider paramount is a horse’s personality. I believe it is wise to choose a horse to fall in love with who has a personality or, “behavioral and emotional tendencies” compatible to their own.

Personalities tend to govern actions, reactions and habits more than education or training. At the least personality will govern the way a horse, or human, sees, understands and accepts or rejects education and training. So indeed I think it most beneficial to choose a horse whose personality matches your own. Too late, you say, you already have your horse and you don’t think your personalities mesh. Not the end of the beautiful relationship, if you recognize that, you both can build on it.

Much has been written about the different personalities in human’s, and horses, and how to understand them. It has even often been scribed how to navigate the waters of unblended personalities. I believe it is most important to understand, personalities are rooted in the horse’s genes, and neither you nor any trainer will change a personality. The job then is to understand it, and build on it, and not to confront, challenge or struggle with it. Embrace it, welcome it and polish it.

How does understanding your horse’s personality help? If attention is given to the core personality then it can be used as a blueprint for all you do together. It is the human who must adjust their habits to fit in the cogs of the drive-wheel of their horse, not the other way around. Once an understanding is gained of the idiosyncrasies of the horse, every action and interaction can be formulated in a way that makes complete sense to the horse, and all activities done together will take on a new shine, a new completeness, a new perfection.

For instance, my mare Kessy. She does not like to be approached head on, she’ll pin her ears and walk away. However when I finally understood that, I learned, or she taught me, if I approach part way and stop, she’ll come to me, ears up and smiling. She may pause a second or three, but she’ll always meet me.

Some horses welcome commands, and respond well; in fact the act of giving them a command gives them a sense of boundary, security, even safety. Other horses, like my Kessy, revolt at the mere attempt to “give” a command. She responds respectfully and willingly to a gentle request.

I’d like to end with another thought for consideration. Spooking, fidgeting and behaviors of those kinds are not truly personality traits in my mind. They are indeed behavior traits, learned and held onto, because their human has not yet discovered the horse’s underlying personality, and therefore is not quite able to communicate with the horse in a way the horse can clearly understand. The spooky, fidgety displays are merely demonstrations of lack of confidence born of constant corrections because requests, or commands, are not understood. It’s like speaking French to me, I would not understand so I’d offer wrong responses. That’s what happens to the horse. But once the personality of the horse is understood by the person, both can speak the same language and things like spooky and fidget will go away. The horse, and human, will gain buckets of confidence, born of an understanding of personality, and the language it speaks. 

P.S. If you've not yet had a look at my book, "It's For The Horses" please have a look HERE on Amazon  Or visit  www.itsforthehorses.com 

Gitty Up, Dutch Henry

Your Horse is Not For You—It IS Part of You

Howdy Friends,
 

When we welcome horses into our lives, we make a life change. Sure for ourselves, but more importantly for the horse. Even those who had been with and enjoyed the company of horses all of, or most of their lives have had those moments. For some there have been many of those life changing moments. I’ve had my share. I’ve learned from the horses I’ve known how difficult that transition can be for the horse. I fear folks sometimes don’t totally understand the depth of emotions horses carry.

Their emotions run deep, far deeper and much more powerful than most horses show. It is a horse’s nature to conceal their emotions, pain and confusion. Keeping secrets is their most powerful defense mechanism.

Oh sure nearly every person recognizes pinned ears, the tight eye, swishing tail. We all smile at the nicker, nuzzle and run to great us. We understand the refusals, crowhops, and willing softness and cooperation. But do we catch the hidden displays of emotions? How can we if they’re hidden?

When horses make a move into our world, our lives, it is a wonderful and extraordinary thing for us. It is a monumental thing for the horse, but most horses are masters of disguise. 

Horses memories last a lifetime, and so do the emotions that are attached to those memories. Even if the horse is owned, ridden and loved by the same person when moved to a new boarding facility, that horse will pine for friends it left behind and need to adjust to the new horses in her world. Read my story, “There is more to our story.” Imagine the horse moved from one owner to another, and a new home all at the same time. And many horses endure that far too often. It took Kessy six months to accept and enjoy a hug.

Kessy loves her hugs now. She'll even come ask for a hug.

How can we see and feel those hidden emotions? The most important aid is to understand our horses are not “for us.” They are “part of us.” We don’t have a horse “for us” to show, trail ride, jump, barrel race or learn dressage. Our horse makes those things possible for us, because they are “part of us.” See the world from your horse’s point of view, be part of her, and quickly you’ll gain an understanding of those moments when your best friend just “seems a little off.”

Gitty Up, Dutch Henry