Honest Thoughts From Your Horse

Take Care of My Needs

Just like you, I have physical needs, and if they aren’t met, I am not able to give you my best. Please remember to feed me plenty of good quality hay or pasture and have a salt block where I can reach it. Just like you, I need to have fresh water available to drink all the time. My hooves grow just like your fingernails, and they need to be trimmed regularly. Keeping my hooves trimmed will help ensure that I stay sound and will be able to carry you when you want to ride. Regular de-worming and immunizations will keep me free of disease and parasites. When you don’t take care of me, I don’t feel good, and I don’t want to work for you. When I’m happy and healthy I enjoy working for you.

Speak to Me in My Language

I’ve tried and tried to learn your spoken language, and I do understand some words, like walk, trot, canter, and whoa. But a lot of the things that you say and do confuse me. Please use words and body language that I can understand, and please be consistent with them. When you use the same words and actions all of the time, I can learn what you want, but when you’re inconsistent, I get frustrated and quit trying to learn. I need you to follow through when you ask something of me so that I know you mean what you say. My language is the language of the herd, and when you speak it well, I can understand. I’m happy to respond when you speak my language. Remember, part of my language is connecting with you emotionally. I try harder and learn more quickly when I have a connection with you.

Be a Strong Leader

I don’t like having to worry about who is in charge of our relationship. I just want to follow you. I’m always watching you to see if you’re being my leader. Every movement you make and everything that you do counts with me. When you’re inconsistent and act as if you don’t know what you want, I get worried or irritated, and I take over. I don’t like being the leader. I want someone to take care of me and teach me. But I have to trust and respect you before I’ll let you be my leader. When you discipline and praise me appropriately, I feel safe and secure. That’s when I perform the very best.

Let Me Make Mistakes

Just like the people in your life, I hate to be nagged. Please don’t nag at me with your cues. Just ask me and let me know when I’ve done what you want. When you give me a cue I try to respond to it. When I respond and you release the cue, then I know I’ve done it right. Sometimes you hold a cue on me so long that I start to ignore it. I can’t tell if I’ve done it right or not, so I don’t do anything at all. If you’d just let me make a mistake and fix me when I do it wrong, I’d try harder to do it right. Letting me make mistakes helps me learn faster.

Treat Me Like a Horse

I like being part of your family, but please understand I’m a horse, not a human. I need to relax and play with other horses. I need time and space to run and buck and jump. I’m not made to be in small, dark, enclosed spaces all of the time. Please make our lessons together fun and interesting. I don’t like doing the same thing all of the time; I get bored. And please, don’t drill me over and over on the same thing. I will quit trying if you don’t give me a chance to do something new. After you stress me, give me time to recover. I learn the most during recovery time. While I’m recovering is the perfect time for us to connect. I’m the happiest and the most successful when we’re connected.

My ultimate wish is that your philosophy, values and principles about our relationship be believed and behaved every time you are with me. If you’ve ever wondered what I was thinking…now you know.