ridecamp@endurance.net: neck stretching, Monty Roberts?

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Not knowing exactly the look of all these horses who are "stretching", =
"smelling", "adjusting to weight carrying", "happy", "hurting", or "in =
need of dentistry or chiropractic", ALL of which could be possiblities, =
I am going to suggest a reason that Monty Roberts talks about in his =
observations of Mustangs in the wild.

Working with horses in the round pen, Monty Roberts observes this every =
time. To quote from his book "The Man Who Listens To Horses, "...he =
dropped his head so his nose was traveling only an inch or so above =
ground level." He goes on, "I can't tell you the times I've seen this =
out there in the desert, and it always means the same thing - it means =
'Let me back in [with the herd], I don't want to flee any more.'" This =
is part of the round pen theory of pushing the horse away until he asks =
to connect with you and stop being pushed.

All who love horses should read Monty's memiors of his life. He grew up =
with his father's technique of "breaking", which basically consists of =
beating and/or scaring the horses into submission. Turned off by this =
cruelty, Monty learned to listen to the body language of horses. It's =
very enlightening and people who have been around horses a while will =
recognize what he's talking about.

Just something else to consider on the neck and head lowering =
behavior..... I guess it could be "Stop pushing me and let me back with =
the herd," or possibly passive enjoyment of the activity. I guess you'd =
have to notice other signs such as chewing, licking, ear position, tail =
activity, etc. (Read the book :-) I am going to try to attend one of =
his clinics... Has anyone else out there been to one?

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Not knowing exactly the look of all = these horses=20 who are "stretching", "smelling", "adjusting to = weight=20 carrying", "happy", "hurting", or "in need = of=20 dentistry or chiropractic", ALL of which could be possiblities, I = am going=20 to suggest a reason that Monty Roberts talks about in his observations = of=20 Mustangs in the wild.

Working with horses in the round pen, Monty Roberts = observes=20 this every time. To quote from his book "The Man Who Listens = To=20 Horses, "...he dropped his head so his nose was traveling only an = inch or=20 so above ground level." He goes on, "I can't tell you = the times=20 I've seen this out there in the desert, and it always means the same = thing - it=20 means 'Let me back in [with the herd], I don't want to flee any = more.'" This is part of the round pen theory of = pushing the=20 horse away until he asks to connect with you and stop being = pushed.

All who love horses should read Monty's memiors of = his=20 life. He grew up with his father's technique of = "breaking",=20 which basically consists of beating and/or scaring the horses into = submission.=20 Turned off by this cruelty, Monty learned to listen to the body language = of=20 horses. It's very enlightening and people who have been around = horses a=20 while will recognize what he's talking about.

Just something else to consider on the neck and head = lowering=20 behavior..... I guess it could be "Stop pushing me and let me = back=20 with the herd," or possibly passive enjoyment of the = activity. I=20 guess you'd have to notice other signs such as chewing, licking, ear = position,=20 tail activity, etc. (Read the book :-) I am = going to try=20 to attend one of his clinics... Has anyone else out there been to=20 one?