NEWS & ARTICLES : Does your horse treat you like a true herd leader?

Does your horse treat you like a true herd leader? (originally published in PetFolio magazine)

Recently I had an opportunity to discover just how real my leadership position is with my horse Lucky; it caused me to reflect on the years of preparation it took to have him respond to me that way.

In a remote area of the Ruby Mountains, Lucky experienced a severe allergic reaction to something unknown. It caused him to swell up to the point where I feared he would die due to airway closure. Meanwhile, we were trying to lead him back to camp, but had to cross over a large, fallen tree. My husband tried to get him to cross the log, but Lucky seemed as if he didn't believe he could do it. Ultimately, I took his lead and asked him to cross it. With his eyes swollen nearly shut he still went over it, landing on top of another small log, and waiting there for my further instructions before he moved his feet off that log. He showed blind faith in me.

I reflected upon another incident several years ago, when my rig broke down and I had to load Lucky into another horse trailer to get him home. He had never been inside any other trailer. We were on the edge of the busy freeway. Yet he never paused to question my telling him to get into that trailer.

I had asked him to do things without causing pain or fear. As a result, I increased my position as his leader.

You can do the same. Make sure that you work through problems in tiny increments, always producing a successful outcome. The horse learns that your requests are fair and reasonable. This shows him he can do whatever you ask, even if it seems a little scary. He also learns that you reward every little effort he gives you, so he tries even harder. Over time you'll discover, with great pleasure, the faith your horse can have in you.

Your dreams with your horse are like your life dreams, and you have to listen to the wake up call when you get it. (originally published in PetFolio magazine)

Sometimes you need a good, stiff kick in the pants to wake you up. At the moment you get that wallop, it sort of hurts, but then you get to take a step back and realize you probably needed it. In fact, you know you needed it!

I got that kick recently, and as a result I've made some "life changes". I'll get the negative stuff gone, and grow the positive stuff in my life. I will live my dream, instead of just musing about it. Life dreams and horse dreams are important that way. They keep you thinking positively, motivated. Motivation can take many forms, but ultimately you get closer to your dreams.

It's like that with horses sometimes. Every now and then, you find that they have given you a good, stiff kick in the pants – hopefully not literally. They can tell you things aren't right if you're tuned in. They tell you they aren't happy, that something needs to change. Your dreams with your horse are like your life dreams, and you have to listen to the wake up call when you get it.

So maybe your horse runs off when he sees you coming, instead of meeting you at the gate. Or he gives you a dirty look and wrinkles his nostrils when you saddle him. Maybe his tail switches when you ask him to do something. Hopefully, you haven't tuned him out so much that he has to get "more vocal". Many horses resort to bad behavior before somebody wakes up and realizes there is a problem.

Next time you go out to your horse, listen and watch a little more. See if he is willing and happy with everything you do, and in his work. If not, see if you can change something, try a different approach. Keep changing until you get a positive result. Get help if you need it.

There is a saying I really like, and it is so true. "If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always gotten." 

Dreams don't come true by staying in the same old rut, in life or with your horse. Listen to the signs, and try something new before you get that kick in the pants. It feels so much better to make a change for the positive. Your horse will thank you, and you'll be closer to living your dreams.

- Rebekka Rhodes

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