MagicMelon
Well-Known Member
Another poll (Im bored!), about whether you think you must have dominance OVER your horses (ie. be top of the herd) or if you think you can work alongside them.
Dominance - POLL
- Thread starter MagicMelon
- Start date
Chex
Well-Known Member
I think you need to be dominant, but not to the extent that the horse is scared of you. Me and Chex have a mutual understanding, based on respect more than dominance - I respect his space, he respects mine. He's definitely not scared of me, but knows the boundaries and how he's supposed to behave, and he does (for the most part anyway
)
Irishcobs
Well-Known Member
I think you have to be top of the herd as a horse would be in the wild. I do think alot of people don't think of horses as horses that live in herds and therefore misunderstand them and treat aggression with aggression rather than finding out why they did it in the first place. If you watch horses in a group particuarly youngsters with older horses you can see how with one look they stop a youngster misbehaving.
dieseldog
Well-Known Member
Yes you do but domiance doesn't mean you beat your horse or its terrified of you. Just that it does what you tell it to do and doesn't take the mickey
riotgirl
Well-Known Member
I think respect has a lot to do with it as well. My girl can really take the mickey if she doesn't know you. I have spend nearly 2 years building up her trust and respect, while at the same time trying to be the dominat one. I do this with my voice mainly and she seems to respond.
SouthWestWhippet
Well-Known Member
I think you need to be dominant over your horse 100%. My fav saying at the yard to the naughty ponies is 'this is not a democracy'.
But I don't think that this means being rough/scarey/shouting etc... it just means the the horse respects you and your space. At the end of the day they are 100 times bigger and stronger than you and if they don't see you as herd leader and therefore respect your space I think you would be in danger. I still give my horse lots of fuss and cuddles but then so does the top mare in the field give scratches etc to her 'favoured' mares.
JMO
But I don't think that this means being rough/scarey/shouting etc... it just means the the horse respects you and your space. At the end of the day they are 100 times bigger and stronger than you and if they don't see you as herd leader and therefore respect your space I think you would be in danger. I still give my horse lots of fuss and cuddles but then so does the top mare in the field give scratches etc to her 'favoured' mares.
JMO
clipclop
Well-Known Member
I think it depends on the horse.
I think overall you have to be the dominant member. You are not a member of the herd, you never will be as you are not out in the field with the horses.
I have found some horses need more dominant handling than others.
Horses don't have "side by side" they have a pecking order. So we should be top human, king/Queen of providing unlimited forage, feed, warmth, shelter and treatments when required. LOL.
Anyone who I have met who thinks they have a side by side relationship tends to have an ill mannered horse.
Those who think they have a side by side relationship where the horse is well mannered? They are actually more dominating than they think they are.
I do think it is good to learn different methods of communication to create the as close to perfect relationship you can create for you and your horse.
I think overall you have to be the dominant member. You are not a member of the herd, you never will be as you are not out in the field with the horses.
I have found some horses need more dominant handling than others.
Horses don't have "side by side" they have a pecking order. So we should be top human, king/Queen of providing unlimited forage, feed, warmth, shelter and treatments when required. LOL.
Anyone who I have met who thinks they have a side by side relationship tends to have an ill mannered horse.
Those who think they have a side by side relationship where the horse is well mannered? They are actually more dominating than they think they are.
I do think it is good to learn different methods of communication to create the as close to perfect relationship you can create for you and your horse.
Jellicle
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
I think it depends on the horse.
Anyone who I have met who thinks they have a side by side relationship tends to have an ill mannered horse.
[/ QUOTE ]
I think this is absolutely true!
I think it depends on the horse.
Anyone who I have met who thinks they have a side by side relationship tends to have an ill mannered horse.
[/ QUOTE ]
I think this is absolutely true!
tabithakat64
Well-Known Member
I think your horse should see you as a herd leader, respect your personal space and generally do as it is asked. I would say I have a partnership with both mine based upon trust but that it's not an equal partnership as they need to respect my wishes.
Eceni
Well-Known Member
'Dominance' in horses is a behavioural anachronism... which is to say it's largely in the minds of the observer, particularly the idea of 'alpha' herd leader. IN the wild, herd dynamics alter all the time. In mixed gender groups in captivity (so to speak), the herd dynamics alter under a variety of artificial circumastances. In most cases, 'dominance' has no place.
What you do need to do is be clear about your personal boundaries, be very centered and grounded in your self, in order that your horse feel it can be safe in your company - which is an entirely different thing to bullying it into submission. Most people dont' get there. Actually, most people don't even try and the ones who do get there mostly do so without trying.
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What you do need to do is be clear about your personal boundaries, be very centered and grounded in your self, in order that your horse feel it can be safe in your company - which is an entirely different thing to bullying it into submission. Most people dont' get there. Actually, most people don't even try and the ones who do get there mostly do so without trying.
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