Anger or calm?

I like to be calm where possible, with controlled anger (not lose your temper anger) where necessary, giving an equal amount of praise when the horse gets it right. Lots of people are either quiet or loud but never give praise. I don't think that works so well.
 
Yes, loads of praise! Or when you're riding you can sing "Copa Cobana" with a few made up words to go with said horsie. As in, her name was Abba, she was a showjumper, with red ribbons in her mane......

I must sound like a meany but if you'd actually see and hear me with them, it's not the case. They do have to have manners but most horses do nothing but want to please. As long as you are consistent and direct, you won't need to correct too often.

Terri
 
Have to say that although I have been known to raise my voice to GD, I am also very quick to praise . . . he ALWAYS gets a "good boy" and a pat, a stroke or a scratch for doing the right thing . . . especially if I've just corrected him for doing the wrong thing. So I guess I'm pretty black and white with him. And bless him he's a clever sausage so works out pretty quickly where the boundaries are and whether or not he's crossed them. Problem is I'm not the only person who handles him and Darling Daughter lets him walk all over her (b/c she "wuvs" him dontcha know).

P
 
Generally I need to remain calm with my silly billy, hyper Welshie but he can be rude and bargy at times. I try to deal with the situation in an appropriate manner and if he is being bad mannered I do find that if I raise my voice he pays attention quicker and then I can calmly ask him to do as asked previously.
If I shouted at him when he was worried or scared by something and therefore acting silly, it would make matters ten fold worse, so I remain calm, soothing and quiet then, even if he is shoving me around a bit. He calms down soon enough with a soothing word or two.
Depends on the horse.
 
I would say I’m a calm person, not to say that I wouldn’t put them in there place if needs be.

Usually the ones that shout and slap their horses every 5 minutes are the sort of folk that don’t follow through or remain consistent with their training/handling, thus giving off mixed messages of what the horse can and can’t do, so the horse never learns. I’m not saying I’m perfect, but I wouldn’t punish my horse for something if it was my wrong doing in the first place.

Actions speak louder than words but I’m all for teaching a horse to understand voice commands.
 
thought for the day :

"... horses should be trained in such a way that they not only love their riders, but look forward to the time they are with them..."

Xenophon 400BC

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Depends a lot on the horse. Some just won't listen to the "softly softly" approach.. However, if your horse responds to it and you have no behavioural problems, why not?
 
I have no aversion to being loud if the circumstances warrant it - and if a stern talking to (/yelling at) or slap is what it takes to remind the beasts of their manners, I have no aversion to doing it.

However, temper and aggression have no place with horses, and it's always wise to pick your battles - though I do not mean letting the horse away with murder either. I'm quite "loud" around horses in that I'm normally rambling away, but not in a shouty shouty way :p Holding grudges is also absurd, responses have to be instant, and the moment the offending behaviour ceases / is replaced with what you desire, praise should be forthcoming.
 
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Calm, consistent and very quick to respond with a sharp tone or quick slap if needed.

No need for shouting all the time, IMO it is often because people have lost patience or do not understand why a horse is behaving as it is...it might make for a submissive 'well behaved' horse but it isn't a methos I like to use and all the horses I have had the pleasure of looking after have responded well to consistent handling (and the odd reminder).

I liked the comment about the horse getting smothered one day and filled with treats and then when they look for it the next day they are repremanded...so true and sooooo frustrating. The horse learnt something and then got punished! infuriating!
 
def calm with both of mine, both are very sensitive and do not handle well with raised voices or smacking, believe me ive tried! Both mine can be a little pushy, I guess you could say I et them get away with too much, but at the end of the day they arent doing anyone harm and \i like my horses with some character left rather than standing deasd still all the time in fear of being slapped. cant stand people who tell their horses of for the most timy of thibgs. I allow mine to fidget when i brush, i just carry on and ignore them, but anythink like literally walking through me or kicking out would almost certainly get a raised voice!
 
Parker79 said:
Calm, consistent and very quick to respond with a sharp tone or quick slap if needed.

No need for shouting all the time, IMO it is often because people have lost patience or do not understand why a horse is behaving as it is...it might make for a submissive 'well behaved' horse but it isn't a methos I like to use and all the horses I have had the pleasure of looking after have responded well to consistent handling (and the odd reminder).

I liked the comment about the horse getting smothered one day and filled with treats and then when they look for it the next day they are repremanded...so true and sooooo frustrating. The horse learnt something and then got punished! infuriating!
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Amen to that.
 
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