Home Current News News Archive Shop/Advertise Ridecamp Classified Events Learn/AERC
Endurance.Net Home Ridecamp Archives
ridecamp@endurance.net
[Archives Index]   [Date Index]   [Thread Index]   [Author Index]   [Subject Index]

[RC] Civilized (was: you should) - Kristi Schaaf

Kat wrote:
While it is perfectly "natural" for horses to kick at
each other in retaliation for slights from other
horses, or in defense against predators, this is NOT
suitable behaviour for horses that are brought
out in the company of strange horses and people.
___________________________________

True true. And all this 'civilized behavior' boils
down to your relationship with your horse, I think,
rather than relying on 'punishment'. For example: if
my lowest horse attempts to steal the alpha horse's
hay, alpha will of course chase the low guy away. BUT,
if I'm present, the low horse could actually mosey up
and eat alpha's hay because the alpha knows that when
I'm there he is NOT ruling the roost. I actually have
to protect HIM from the low guy so he can eat his hay
unhassled if I'm present, and I take the opportunity
to do so to help prove to him that I am looking out
for him. Same goes for the low guy - he knows that the
middle guy won't even THINK of stealing his oats when
I'm there. The only way to have this trust is to earn
it, over and over again. I don't want to bring up a
natural horsemanship 'name' and start THAT whole
debate again, but I feel that the
exercises/philosophies I learned have helped me
convince my horse that I am a trustworthy leader who
will look out for him so he doesn't have to feel that
he has to do it when I'm there. And no matter how you
learn to do that, the key is to do your best to never
let your horse down, which means paying attention and
seeing things through his prey animal eyes instead of
expecting him to see things through your predator
eyes.

Kristi iluvdez at yahoo dot


     
____________________________________________________________________________________
Looking for last minute shopping deals?  
Find them fast with Yahoo! Search.  
http://tools.search.yahoo.com/newsearch/category.php?category=shopping

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.
Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp
Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp

Ride Long and Ride Safe!!

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=