One of the first things a lot of folks set out to teach beginners is to get your horse’s “respect” so that you will be safe. So that your horse won’t hurt you. At first blush that’s a reasonably sane concept. But where there is no relationship of trust, whether these teaching folks choose to tell you this or not, there is always an element of domination involved in an attempt to obtain a “show of respect” from an untrusting fearful horse.
I’ve come to believe that my relationship first philosophy is not entirely correct. Because even before relationship should come three very important items. I have asked hundreds of horse owners what should come first? Before anything? And not once has anyone ever said… knowledge. Can you believe it? I can, because we were no different in the beginning. I can’t even imagine what we were thinking.
Relationship with a horse is based upon trust. Not so much yours, although that is important. But most important is your horse’s trust… of you. Of his own free will. His choice. You cannot force him to trust you. You cannot ride him into trust. You cannot ground-work him into trust. You cannot talk him into it. You have to prove it to him. Or rather, let him prove it to himself.
To anyone who doubts that gaining true respect from your horse requires complete trust I say throw away your halter and lead rope and then attempt to teach that lesson in “respect” to an untrusting, fearful horse. When you are in relationship, when your horse trusts you, when he has made that decision on his own, you don’t need the halter and lead rope to teach. And respect is a natural byproduct of that trust. Our herd has proven that.
My philosophy is to never ever do anything with a horse that could possibly evoke a fear response. Fear of me is not something I want in any horse’s memory bank.
But Joe, how do you know, for absolutely sure, that you have your horse’s trust?
So… welcome to the wonderful world of horses. This can be one of the most exciting, rewarding experiences of your life, or one of the most frustrating, scary, even worst experiences in your life. And believe it or not the way it turns out is all up to you.
Why is this for beginners only? Because you are not bogged down in practices that make no sense, either logically or scientifically. You have the opportunity to meet the horse as a being, with feelings and needs, before he becomes little more than a tool. Which will most likely cause you to start asking what’s in it for the horse, not just what’s in it for you. And others will follow you. And together you can change the world.
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The story of our journey with horses (to date) is told in the two books that follow: the national best seller The Soul of a Horse – Life Lessons from the Herd and its sequel Born Wild – The Soul of a Horse.
And what a story it is as two novices without a clue stumble and bumble their way through the learning process so that hopefully you won’t have to. If you haven’t read both of these books already please do because with that reading, I believe, will come not just the knowledge of discovery but the passion and the excitement to cause you to commit to your journey with horses, to do for the horse without waiver so that your relationship and experience will be with loving, happy and healthy horses who are willing partners and who never stop trying for you. Horses like ours.
The highly acclaimed best selling sequel to the National Best Seller
The Soul of a Horse – Life Lessons from the Herd
#1 Amazon Best Seller
#1 Amazon “Hot New Releases”
Amazon & Kindle
B&N and Nook
Apple iBooks
Google play
Order Personally Inscribed Copies of Born Wild – $15
Order Both The Soul of a Horse & Born Wild – Save 20%
Both Personally Inscribed – $24
Please list the names for each inscription in the “instructions to Seller” field as you check out!
Read More About Born Wild
Read More About The Soul of a Horse
Watch The Soul of a Horse Trailer
Watch the Born Wild Trailer
But first read the National Best Seller that started it all
Now in it’s 13th printing:
Amazon & Kindle
Barnes & Noble & NOOKbook
Apple iBooks
Order Personally Inscribed Copies of The Soul of a Horse – $15
Order Both The Soul of a Horse & Born Wild – Save 20%
Both Personally Inscribed – $24
Please list the names for each inscription in the “instructions to Seller” field as you check out!
Read More About Born Wild
Read More About The Soul of a Horse
Watch The Soul of a Horse Trailer
Watch the Born Wild Trailer
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