THE POWER OF QUESTIONS

Learning to Analyze Problems and Find Solutions

First, a note of caution.
This article presents information for your consideration. This article does not attempt to suggest to you how to approach any individual horse in any individual situation. Each horse is different and each situation is different. Horses can be dangerous, and there is inherent risk associated with working with horses. You must use your own judgment to decide what is appropriate or inappropriate for you and your horse at any particular moment. You assume all responsibility for the risks involved in the horse related activities you choose to pursue. By reading this article and using the concepts it presents, you agree to the above statements and agree that the laws of the State of Texas will apply to any dispute. The publication of this article is an act within in the Equine Liability Law of the state of Texas. That law and all other immunity provisions apply to the publication and use of this article. Authors note: For simplicity and readability, I refer to the rider as she and the horse as he.

EVALUATING THE RIDER

When we face challenging situations with our horse, it is important to objectively evaluate our own abilities. Quite a few of the training issues we face with our horses actually fall into the broad category of what we might call operator error. These can be difficult questions to ask. There may be some effort involved to find the answers. Even more effort may be necessary to make the necessary changes in ourselves to be more effective as a teacher for our horse. But when we face these situations openly and honestly, we can learn some amazing and powerful lessons from our horses.

UNDERSTANDING THE HORSE

Does the rider understand basic horse behavior to have a successful relationship with horses we need to understand what makes them tick? It is important to understand that horses have a highly developed flight response to situations that threaten them. Horses rely on postures, gestures and sounds for the majority of their communication. We should strive to educate ourselves as much as possible in the fascinating area of equine behavior. I've included several books in the Additional Resources section of this article on this topic. Spending time watching horses with each other can be a great way to learn more about how horses interact. Does the rider understand basic training concepts Learning about training principles and how animals learn can be very helpful to any horseman? We should develop an understanding of the principles of positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement and punishment and how they can be used in our training program.

The Additional Resources section contains books that cover basic training principles and concepts. Understanding basic training principles is an important component of our education, but it only represents one piece of the overall equation. Part of the joy of working with horses is that the relationship between a horse and rider goes far beyond the mechanics of any training technique.