(This blog was originally posted on May 18, 2011)
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| Photo courtesy of Sara Fogan |
I believe that people who train and
work with horses should aim to achieve a partnership with their horse. I love
the way Monty Roberts
and Kelly Marks talk about their “equine partners”
when they teach horsemanship and training techniques. My trainers teach every
student at the barn to consider and interact with their mount as an equine
partner. But, what does this term really mean? What does it mean to be a human
partner to your horse?
Enid Bagnold’s classic novel, National Velvet, depicts a teenage Velvet Brown’s
bond with a piebald gelding, which she rides to victory in the Grand
National horse race.
In Walter Farley’s The Black Stallion, Alec Ramsay earns the trust of an
Arabian stallion when they are shipwrecked on a deserted island. “The Black”
demonstrates his devotion to Alec when he kills a cobra poised to bite the boy;
after they are rescued, Alec enlists the help of a former jockey to train them
for an important race. Finally, in one of the most exciting scenes in my
favorite movie, The
Man From Snowy River, Jim Craig’s trusted mount gallops at breakneck speed,
headlong down a cliff and over rugged terrain in their quest to round up a herd
of wild horses.
Now, consider the horses that you
have known in your life: The horse that carried you safely home when you were
sure that you were “lost” on the trail. The horse who, even after “dumping” you
at that oxer, stood patiently beside you and waited for you to catch your
breath (and gathered your pride) before climbing on his back. The horse that
braced his body perpendicular to a steep incline, allowing you to pull yourself
up the hill by using the reins and his weight as leverage. Finally: The horse
that carried you to a first-place win after crossing 100 miles of grueling
terrain in an endurance race, or bested the other equine athletes at a
three-day, combined-training event. How—or, why—do
they do these things for us?
While considering this question, I
am reminded of the famous challenge in President Kennedy’s inaugural speech:
“Ask not what your country can do for you, but ask what you can do for your country.”
I believe that this theme forms the basis of the partnership that is forged
between a horse and his rider. Rather than focus on the prize or reward that is
being offered at the end of the ride, consider what it takes to achieve that goal.
Spend time watching your horse in
pasture and take the time to learn how to communicate and interpret the horse’s
body language. Groom him and establish a mutual bond of trust and respect
before you even think about climbing onto his back. Rather than jabbing a spur
into his side and demanding your horse to go forward, first “ask” him to
walk/trot/canter out with gentle aid, such as a cluck or squeeze. Reward the
horse with praise and gentle pats when he does what you have asked. When you
must correct the horse’s behavior, be firm—but fair: refusing to go forward
because he is belligerent is not the same thing as not understanding what you
have asked him to do. If your horse spooks at something on a trail or in the
arena, help him to build his confidence by remaining patient and calm through
the incident. Be an example of bravery as you desensitize him to what has
previously startled him. Demonstrate and reinforce your role as herd leader by
providing him with food, water, shelter, and time to just be a horse.
If, as Kelly Marks writes, you can
“be the owner your horse would choose for himself,” he can be a reliable equine
partner for you.
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