GOOD BEHAVIOR

Sometimes what seems like resistance is actually a horse’s attempt to work with you. Watch for these 6 easy-to misinterpret signs that your horse is thinking like a partner.

- Lynn Acton

Horses want to be partners, not obedient servants. Partners think for themselves. This means they do not always do exactly what you ask (or think you’re asking). Or they sometimes do things you have not asked for. This can be a sign that they are thinking like a partner, trying to communicate with you, keep you safe or show signs of trust and attachment.

These actions can be misconstrued as disobedience. They might even be punished. It is like being with someone who ignores what we say, and negatively interprets everything we do. When we do this to our horses, we overlook important information, and become a source of anxiety instead of security for them. But you can avoid that by recognizing equine behaviors that indicate a horse is acting like a partner.

1. INITIATING COMMUNICATION WITH YOU

For many years I thought of equine behavior mainly in terms of a horse’s responses to what I wanted him to do. I overlooked the fact that horses do not just react to what we do. They also initiate communication with a goal in mind, a strategy to achieve that goal, and the ability to come up with a new strategy if the initial one fails.

In one study, a bucket of delectable goodies (apples, carrots, or oats) was placed beyond each horse’s reach. The horses experimented with different methods of getting the attention of a human standing nearby, and directing her attention to the bucket. When the human was facing them, horses tended to seek eye contact, then look at the bucket. When that didn’t work, horses tried more creative strategies to get the person’s attention and direct it toward the goody-bucket. Some were subtle; others used whole-body motions.