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[RC] BAD BEHAVIOR - Marcia NelsonI used to subscribe
to these methods too when I was 'correcting' behavior. The problem with my old
way of thinking was that in order for a horse to be corrected, they have to be
doing something purposely wrong. And for that to happen they have to understand
just what they are doing wrong and better yet what they should be doing that
they have chosen to say no to! Most horses that I come across, and I train a
lot, haven't a clue what on earth they are doing wrong, they only know they are
getting in trouble and they become jumpy because they don't know when to expect
the 'correction'.
I've watched herd
behavior and I realize that a lot of what I consider bad behavior is normal
horse behavior in a herd. I am too small to participate in the same kind of
'rude' behavior and so it is my job to train that kind of behavior out of my
horses. They don't have a clue that it is rude since it is normal horse behavior
within their herd. It doesn't help me to 'assert' myself as boss with them since
some of that behavior isn't a battle for position, it is just normal
behavior between horses. Bumping into each other is a great example of
something I don't tolerate in a finished horse but it is something they
regularly do with each other. They are big enough to handle being bumped around,
I am not. So, it is my job to retrain this behavior into something that I want.
It isn't necessary for me to do it in anger, to do it with massive energy, to
whack them with the clip under their halter etc. It is just necessary for them
to understand what is expected of them. I do it with consistently redirecting
and blocking what I don't want. If I have an attack horse my approach
is different but most attack horses have been man created. They've opted to
fight rather than be what they consider unjustly pushed around.
When beginning with
this method I will laboriously teach them. When it is very clear to me that they
understand the ground rules and I have worked with them while they are still in
the thinking side of their brain and not the reacting side of their brain,
then I will consider a 'correction' if they make a choice to challenge me.
Another thing that
is important in thinking about horses. You only have to be one level above the
level of the horse you're handling. None of this #1 boss stuff. You only need
enough to convince the horse you have at hand that you are one above him.
Take a herd of 10 horses and each one will find a comfortable position in that
herd. Every number will be assigned 1-10 in that herd. #2 horse and #10 horse
are very different personalities. If I treat a #10 horse with #1 energy it will
be ridiculous and it could ruin a perfectly good horse. I only have to use #9
energy with a #10 horse and I'll have a perfectly good relationship with
them. Once I gave up fighting every horse as if they were all fighting to
be #1, I started to get extraordinary results from enthusiastic horses. Horses
that followed me because they chose to follow me not because I intimidated
and scared them into following me.
I have made a very
big change in my whole attitude about working with horses and there are times
when a fight is warranted, but it is pretty rare in my book now and I sure sleep
better at night and I know my horses do too! They feel safe with me and they are
eager to cooperate. Horses used to be very misunderstood with me and wow, how
great to realize that they are just about as eager as any dog I've ever had.
They want to please, they are just simple minded and found it difficult to truly
understand just what it was that I wanted, especially when I started to demand
it before they even got what it was that I was demanding. They would only get
more scared because they didn't know which way to turn. Once I slowed down and
gave them a change to understand, I have found that they are first in line
to take their turn at whatever it is that is on my list that day!! Try it, and
maybe you'll like it as much as I do!!
Give them half a
chance, they sure can be fun!
Marcia
Nelson
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