To Look or Not?

[Lynette Helgeson <helgeson@lansford.ndak.net>]

Don't Look! Arabs like to play that game,
"lets see what that is, I am bored and it
looks like something to liven things up,
something I can throw a fit about and play
games with you until I get bored with it."

By approaching the object and letting the
horse look, you are letting the horse be
the alpha. 

My attitude is, "yes, I see it, but I am 
telling you as an alpha and herd leader
that it is nothing to be concerned about.
Now lets get going down the trail, I don't
have time for your games." 

And I tell my horse this while I am
keeping
his nose straight ahead and using my
opposite
leg to keep the horse's body straight too.
This
really helps to build respect and trust
with 
your horse.

We have some of the calmest and spook-less
arabs
that I know. And we have retrained some of
the
worst spookers to being calm and gentle.
So I 
know this works.   

LYnette in ND


> Subject: RC: To Look or Not?
> Date: Sat, 8 Apr 2000 21:06:47 -0500
> From: "D&M Arabians" <knever@eatel.net>
> To: <ridecamp@endurance.net>
> 
> I just finished reading an article on
> not letting a horse LOOK at an object
> thats bothering them. But to just keep
> the head straight and pass the object a
> few times, that it wasn't good for the
> horse to Look at it... they would get
> more nervous and upset etc.... something
> about not being able focus on the object
> right... that the horse having binocular
> vision... would be able to focus on it
> better that way.. I think I can
> understand the focus concept..But
> Now from dealing with my very curious
> stallion, it has always been easier for
> us to face the monster, check it out and
> go on... the next few passes.. check it
> out, yep same thing, still there...till
> "oh thats nothing lets find something
> else to spook at". Now sometimes he gets
> it in his head to be a "Knothead" about
> something and gets disciplined, but
> always when safely possible gets to look
> at new monsters {just works for us}
> besides the fact he likes to taste, pick
> up and smell everything he can. Once he
> got to taste the wall and look "up" at
> the people over his head in the Forth
> Worth arena.. we had a much nicer and
> relaxed ride.
> So what do y'all do? If the horse really
> wants to check it out, do you pass on by
> or stop and look?
> Now sometimes I do make him go on,
> having no problems pass it by {I hope
> thats the result of horse/rider trust
> thing}.. but if he never got to look, I
> think he'd go silly with worry and do
> all the Arabian teleport ticks in the
> book.
> Ok balls in your court...whatchta say?
>