Fun
Playful learning.
I am finding that one of the most important ways young horses make sense of the horse-human world is through play. Play helps horses to develop a sense of understanding as to how to interact with humans and how to have positive interactions with their human. The guideance that can be provided by positive play experiences creates for healthy learning. The is due in part because there are no wrong or right ways to play, this freedom from rules helps young horses to feel confident and competent as learners. Two-way interactions and the exchange of ideas and thinking between horses and humans in play can influence horse’s continued motivation in the experience and what they learn. People ask us, is it dangerous to play with young horses? Firstly I would say that the play must be mutual and to get this play, first you must have their trust and friendship. When was the last time someone who didn't like or trust you wanted to play with you? If these steps are followed, the youngster has no desire to hurt you. We are actually finding that young horses that we play with are actually also developing their composure and control when they are with us.
Interested in finding out more about developing your relationship with your horse? [click here to read more]
Respect
What is mutual respect?
If you want to gain the respect of your equine, you must first show respect for them. I think that often in the horse world the words mutual respect are used when what is actually delivered by the horse is obedience. I have watched some people at liberty with a horse running around them and they describe it as mutual respect, yet when you look closer you can see that the horse has chosen the option with least possible consequences.

I love Imke Spilkers words on respect - "Respect - this word is often used with a double meaning. To get respect for oneself, to teach someone else respect, or, even more explicitly, to pound respect into someone... Respect is often used as an excuse for violence, or to veil the use of force and make it seem harmless. Respect is not something one simply has, or demands. In the true meaning of the word, respect is something one earns."

To show respect you need to have an open two way communication and your horse needs to know it has the freedom of choice. I spent most of my horse life working under the premise that the horse must show me respect. One day a wonderful filly came along that challenged me to rethink everything I had learned. When I finally let go of all this control that I desired, opened up a two way communication I finally understood that my horse and I could have mutual respect. I could listen and in doing so my horse offered me so much more that I could have imagined. The bonus was with this along came a great sense of joy in our everyday training sessions.

Willing
Gallop to Freedom book.
What people do not appreciate is that every time a horse submits to pressure, whether subtle or overt, he is diminished. Probably the great majority of people who achieve their own ends by making their horse submit are not even aware of what they have done. It is a sad fact that a horse can be made to do many things by breaking his will. If he can be persuaded to give his assent freely and pleasurably rather than give into man’s pressure or clever techniques, he is not diminished.

To most people there is no distinction between these alternatives: two horses do a perfect volte or piaffe. To the untrained eye they look the same but one horse has been brought to this point of excellence by rigorous conventional and repetitive training producing stress and tension, of which the trainer may not even be aware. The other horse has arrived at the same degree of excellence as result of pleasurable work interspersed with games and never pushed beyond endurance or even beyond what he is prepared freely to give.

Rights
Alternating Roles.
To come to an understanding with communicative horses, the person must absolutely not be an “expert.” On the contrary, a “newbie” is more open, giving the horses space comes easier to him. The horses are happy to teach us and enjoy that role. A prerequisite is that the person has learned to pay attention to his partner, the horse, and respect his wishes. The horses sense whether or not a basis of mutuality exists. Once it is established, both parties can develop their sensitivity, to themselves and to the other. Intuitive understanding functions (only) in both directions. Naturally, we are asked whether this kind of interaction can become dangerous for the human being. Horses are by nature peaceful beings who do not make victims of weaker ones, and who scrupulously avoid deliberately hurting someone. Danger exists when the person applies pressure and force, and the horse can no longer retreat from the situation. A horse who has the possibility of walking away, whose needs for peace and space are respected, will harm no one. A game into which the horse is pressured is no longer one (even if the person is amused by it). On the other hand, without force or threat, even the most strenuous exercises can be playfully easy for the horse. One must learn to let go, and one must think from the horse’s perspective – that is all too gladly forgotten about. To me there is nothing safer than communicating with horses in this way -- anything else strikes me as too dangerous. I do not like battles because someone always has to lose. The message that comes across when we communicate with one another depends to a large degree on how we say something. That applies to communication with horses as well. A horse must be able to say “no” at any time and have the freedom to leave, and then we human beings must design our work in such away that the horse truly benefits by it.

http://ravenseyrie.blogspot.com/2009/04/article-by-imke-spilker.html

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