From day one a horse knows that their best chance of staying alive is to assume everything they don’t understand is dangerous until they are convinced it is not. Their reaction to new things or things that are not on their “okay” list is to assume it is dangerous.
What's Changed?
There was a time when the average rider didn't ride in an arena. There was a time when people thought nothing of riding in the bush, chasing stock, going to town. Yes, the prevalence of the horseless carriage made horses more a luxury than a necessity. But surely that’s not the only reason. What else has changed?
Conflict
How Do Horses Choose Friends?
Challenges Make For Better Relationships
If we truly want to develop the best relationship possible with a horse it does not come from protecting them from trouble. It doesn’t come from allowing the no-go areas of our relationship to linger. It comes from facing the things that create anxiety and stress in a horse and ensuring the horse comes out the other side with a good experience and feeling better. Then we look like the good guy and the best friend he could ever have. The best relationships are born from human and horse solving problems together.