The reason why we have been able to work and exploit horses for our benefit over millennia is that they evolved to be highly trainable and compliant. We don’t ride grizzly bears, and we don’t plough fields with giraffes for good reason.
I want my beginner horse to learn to have confidence and feel untroubled by following the pressure in contrast to going away from pressure or being sent somewhere in response to pressure.
I received an email from a friend who has been reading my book, “The Essence Of Good Horsemanship.” She wrote, “…. the most frustrating thing about it is, the more I read of it, the more I question the ethics of riding which goes against everything I see on a daily basis.”
A horse’s brain works best when the emotions are calm. A horse is better able to engage its problem-solving skills when it does not feel the need to save its life. The emotions that accompany “survival mode” definitely hinder a horse’s ability to think
