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Communicating Clearly�with�Horses |
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Feature by Dawn Williams Published November 2007 in the Western Morning News (Devon & Cornwall) |
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Working with moor bred Exmoor youngstock has taught me that clarity of communication is key in achieving understanding. Their capacity to read body language, sense your mood and respond accordingly – activating a flight or fight instinct when�they consider it necessary�- soon hones your skills of feel, timing and balance. It's not so much about possessing a higher, mystical level of horsemanship - but learning to watch and read the horse and to respond in a way that's appropriate for the task in hand. Anyone can learn to do it if they are prepared to accept that a horse, even a foal, can see through the facade a human might present, to the true intentions of the person facing them. For humans used to projecting the face they want others to read, it can be disconcerting, if not alarming, to realise that a horse isn't fooled by any of that and sees you for what you are. Trust is gained when you read a horse and respond to what he offers you, and have the patience to wait for the desired response. I'm currently socialising a moor bred filly foal and in a few short sessions she has offered me her trust, follows me around and lets me stroke and handle her without a lead rope. She’s also learning to lead and, after being unclipped to explore, comes back and allows me to clip on the rope. This has been achieved by timing, patience and reading each other's body language - and her confidence has flourished in very short time. The filly’s intelligence, courage and ability to assess potential risk is thought provoking. Sometimes,�the genuine intelligent questioning - and perceptive reactions of horses as they read and assess us - can be misunderstood and punished as 'naughtiness' in a way that perhaps squashes the performance potential. Toying (briefly) with the idea of selling�the thoroughbred, as Exmoor pony numbers increase�alarmingly around my place, a seemingly savvy�potential buyer marched into the field and delivered a hefty slap across the face of my gentlest Arabian as he wandered up to�politely say hello. The TB took one look and promptly refused to be caught - totally out of character, but who could blame him? The potential buyer interpreted him as a horse 'who needs sorting out', where as we interpreted it as self preservation in the face of ignorance. As the chilly nights draw in, spare a thought for the Exmoor pony�and rider partnership�determined to compete with the Scottish Endurance team - no mean feat for a native pony. Each night after work, through�last winter,�Alison Downing�and her pony Pendragon�rode 5 miles in the dark within the walled estate at Edinburgh Riding Centre until they were fit enough to compete. They finally achieved their goal this autumn with a 50km ride at the Red Dragon�event in Wales�- and their team won the Home International. Pendragon passed his final vetting with an impressive heart rate of 45bpm - the same rate he started with. It just shows what you can do with an Exmoor pony and let's hope we see more of them competing in the South West!
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