Re: [RC] Nervous--the horse's perspective - Barbara McCrary
It's OK for a horse to be startled, it's not
OK for a horse to play games. My recent horse was solid as a rock on
technical and dangerous trails, but would spook so suddenly and violently on an
open road or field I came to believe he did it for entertainment value.
Also, he intimidated me so often that I started to ride defensively, and of
course he figured there must be something really dangerous our there if I was
riding all tensed up.
I gave him to my fearless 13 year old
granddaughter and he doesn't spook excessively with her, because she
doesn't care and just ignores him and keeps on riding. It's a better
match.
I didn't empathize with him because there
was little good reason for him doing what he did. And when I discovered
how trustworthy he was on narrow trails hanging on mountainsides, as opposed to
how goofy he could be on open roads, I figured he was putting one over on
me. I don't think he was REALLY afraid.
This talk about how gripping nerves and fear can be in all of us at times
on trails. Not only is it not uncommon, it's called self-preservation
and is probably a good thing to have, and we must just do our best to push
through it.
I use this to remind myself what my horse is experiencing when they
balk or get high strung about something that makes *them* nervous. A
deadhead may not have the intelligence or self-preservation that I want in an
animal that is carrying me. And we can help them push through their fear
with gentle reassurance, a calm hand on their neck, and a relationship built
on trust helps. But when I get frustrated with a horse that may spook or
balk, I remind myself what it feels like and try to empathise.
