Ambers Echo
Well-Known Member
Inspired by some recent threads, I am beginning to question a few! So let's have a debate...
My dressage RI said some horses like a firmer contact. Mark Rashid and Buck Brannaman focus on softness and lightness above all else with the aim in some Western traditions being to be able to ride on a thread that does not break and Buck in particular criticises the heavy handedness of most British riders. How do we know horses prefer a light contact. I like a firmish grip when I am holding hands and firm hugs and heavy blankets. I don't like anything wishy washy. Makes me uncomfortable.
A horse in its natural state dislikes stables as his instinct will make him nervous being enclosed/trapped. But a domesticated horse born in a stable will have long ago over-written the brain pathways triggering that instinctive distrust and may well prefer being warm and dry with hay and water within constant reach. We are all born instinctively distrusting heights but most of us get over it and enjoy views from up high. I have known several ponies who don't seem overly keen on too much turnout.
Be the Boss was drilled into me as a kid. Then I got interested in natural horsemanship (whatever that means) where Be The Boss was replaced with Be the Alpha. Be the one who moves the horse's feet. Which when it comes down to it looks very similar to Be The Boss. But this attitude assumes horses will learn 'respect' via having firm boundaries. Whereas maybe horses just learn that boundaries are expected if you have firm boundaries. I look at people sending their horse out on circles in round pens and think what is the horse learning from any of this? Then Be The Alpha was replaced with Be The Trustworthy Leader..... But how is that different from just being consistent, fair and communicating well? A good horseman can go up to a horse he has never met and gain immediate compliance because of clarity of communication with good timing and feel. So why do we assume any sort of leadership role born of hours of groundwork is necessary?
Thoughts??!
My dressage RI said some horses like a firmer contact. Mark Rashid and Buck Brannaman focus on softness and lightness above all else with the aim in some Western traditions being to be able to ride on a thread that does not break and Buck in particular criticises the heavy handedness of most British riders. How do we know horses prefer a light contact. I like a firmish grip when I am holding hands and firm hugs and heavy blankets. I don't like anything wishy washy. Makes me uncomfortable.
A horse in its natural state dislikes stables as his instinct will make him nervous being enclosed/trapped. But a domesticated horse born in a stable will have long ago over-written the brain pathways triggering that instinctive distrust and may well prefer being warm and dry with hay and water within constant reach. We are all born instinctively distrusting heights but most of us get over it and enjoy views from up high. I have known several ponies who don't seem overly keen on too much turnout.
Be the Boss was drilled into me as a kid. Then I got interested in natural horsemanship (whatever that means) where Be The Boss was replaced with Be the Alpha. Be the one who moves the horse's feet. Which when it comes down to it looks very similar to Be The Boss. But this attitude assumes horses will learn 'respect' via having firm boundaries. Whereas maybe horses just learn that boundaries are expected if you have firm boundaries. I look at people sending their horse out on circles in round pens and think what is the horse learning from any of this? Then Be The Alpha was replaced with Be The Trustworthy Leader..... But how is that different from just being consistent, fair and communicating well? A good horseman can go up to a horse he has never met and gain immediate compliance because of clarity of communication with good timing and feel. So why do we assume any sort of leadership role born of hours of groundwork is necessary?
Thoughts??!