In the world of horse training and equestrian sports, equine resistance is a common challenge that often frustrates riders and trainers alike. However, what if we viewed this resistance not as defiance, but as communication? By reframing our perspective, we open doors to deeper understanding and more effective training methods, while strengthening the bond between equine and human. In this post, we'll explore several real-life cases that show how interpreting resistance as communication can lead to better outcomes for both horse and rider.
Saddle Fit: When ‘Playful’ means ‘Painful’
Consider my first eventing horse, Purchase Power, who habitually kicked out when asked to canter. At dressage shows, judges frequently penalized our canter transitions, commenting on their "playful" nature. Initially, I interpreted this behavior as resistance and tried to control it by taking an ever tighter hold on the reins, believing that I needed to assert dominance over him.
After over a year of grappling with this issue brought no improvement––in fact, his behavior worsened––frustration grew for both of us. Delving deeper into the situation, I discovered my saddle was too narrow for his back, causing significant discomfort. Once I found a saddle that fit him, his "playful departures" ceased––physical discomfort had been driving his “resistance.”
This experience highlights a prevalent misconception: that we should 'ride through' challenging behaviors, a mindset leading to ignoring or misinterpreting important signals from our horses. Instead of forcing compliance, we should listen to them. By doing so, we open ourselves to understanding the root causes of their behaviors, which could be physical discomfort, fear, or confusion.
As ethical horse lovers, we must ask ourselves: Do we resort to coercion to overcome a horse's resistance, or do we address the underlying issues, empowering our horses with choices and enhancing their problem-solving skills? The latter approach not only improves our horses' well-being but also strengthens our partnership with them.
Spookiness: When 'Silly' means 'Scared'
Another illuminating example comes from my experience with Shiraz, an Arabian mare who was extremely spooky. By the time I met her, I had learned the importance of understanding the root causes of a horse's fear, rather than dismissing annoying behavior as 'silliness' or trying to force a horse through scary situations. After she nearly ran over me at the sight of a plastic bag in the weeds by the side of the road, I clicker trained her to "touch" plastic bags in various situations around the corral and in the arena before taking her out for another walk on the road.
Within three weeks, she no longer spooked at plastic bags, even when the fluttered and rattled in the wind, so I planted some along our route. Not only did she not spook at them, but she also refused to walk past them without stopping to “touch.” This made me laugh and gave us a new challenge that was entertaining, not aggravating. By addressing her fears directly, I respected Shiraz's communication and gained her trust, rather than discrediting her by forcing her to comply with my expectations.
Downhill Difficulty: When 'Stubborn' means 'Sore'
I recall Razzle who had difficulty going downhill. While he had no trouble walking from the arena to the barn uphill, he displayed resistance and threatening behavior like half rears and spinning around when heading to the arena. His perplexing behavior was easily dismissed as being 'barn sour' and 'ring sour,' but he was communicating a physical discomfort I hadn't yet identified.
It wasn’t until he moved to another barn and his willingness to leave the barn to go to the arena dramatically improved that I became utterly perplexed. I failed to recognize the arena and the barn at the new place were on level ground and it wasn’t until the behavior reappeared during a trail ride, I started putting two and two together.
Eventually, I consulted an equine chiropractor and learned he had a fixation of the floating rib at the base of his neck, which was severely affecting his biomechanics and overall movement, particularly when going downhill. The floating ribs, which are the last set of ribs not attached to the sternum, play a crucial role in the horse's chest and back flexibility and stability.
In Razzle’s case, this restriction created awkward or unnatural movements, making it difficult to maintain balance when descending slopes. With the treatment of this issue, everything about Razzle’s movement improved. This experience taught me to always consider physical issues when encountering resistance, even when the behavior seems purely psychological.
Reframing Our Perspective: From Problems to Opportunities
Every incident of resistance presents an opportunity to learn. Consult veterinarians, equine therapists, or bodyworkers to assess any physical issues contributing to resistance before putting the horse back under saddle. Be aware, however, that this approach may conflict with conventional trainers or instructors who prioritize achieving goals through dominance or strict adherence to schedules.
To embrace this opportunity for growth, we must consider a new mindset. View each challenge as a chance for deeper understanding. Become a detective on your horse's behalf, investigating the root causes of behaviors rather than pigeonholing them into popular labels or merely addressing the symptoms. This approach not only solves immediate issues but also prevents future problems and strengthens our connection with our equine companions.
Furthermore, this perspective encourages us to expand our knowledge beyond traditional horsemanship. I propose we broaden our horizons even further. Let's approach problems with an attitude centered on learning and development, not just for our horses, but for ourselves as well. This may lead us to explore fields such as equine biomechanics, psychology, and even nutrition, as we seek to better understand our horses. This continuous learning process enriches our equestrian journey and makes us more effective, empathetic riders and trainers.
When faced with resistance or behavioral challenges, riders can choose to perceive such moments not as threats or failures but as valuable opportunities to understand what our horses are trying to communicate. This attitude promotes curiosity about why a horse may behave a certain way. Riders can ask important questions like: "What is my horse expressing?" or "How can I better support my horse in this situation?" This exploration cultivates a deeper understanding of our horses' needs and concerns, fostering a more meaningful bond.
Recognizing that both riders and horses are on a continuous learning journey is vital. Mistakes are an inherent part of this process, and instead of fixating on achieving perfection, riders can prioritize the insights gained along the way.
When setbacks occur, an informed approach encourages persistence and adaptability. This mindset enhances the rider's observational skills—learning to read the horse's body language, emotional state, and signs of discomfort. As a result, a genuine relationship based on trust and empathy flourishes, moving away from dominance.
While this approach may require more time initially, it often leads to faster progress and more lasting results in the long run. By prioritizing the needs of your horse over personal ego or unrealistic timelines, riders can cultivate patience, both with themselves and their horses. Each small step forward in behavior or emotional improvement is worth celebrating. Acknowledging progress boosts the positive journey shared between horse and rider. Integrating this mindset can enhance not only training practices but also enrich the overall experience of working with horses. It recognizes the sentience of the horse by viewing resistance as communication, indicating potential emotional, physical, or mental distress.
As mentioned earlier, always assess advice based on your horse's best interests. Surround yourself with like-minded individuals who not only appreciate your approach but can also offer constructive support. With advocates on your side, you can navigate situations where it might be more appropriate for a more experienced rider to step in—preserving your horse's well-being while ensuring a thoughtful, last-resort decision.
Transforming our mindset in horsemanship revolutionizes how riders interact with their horses. It fosters mutual understanding, patience, and resilience. I encourage all equestrians to pause and listen when they encounter resistance. Instead of getting back on after a fall or riding through misbehavior under saddle, ask yourself: What might my horse be trying to tell me? When we view resistance as communication, we're better equipped to address our horses' needs, leading to a more harmonious and ethical relationship.
Saddle Fit: When ‘Playful’ means ‘Painful’
Consider my first eventing horse, Purchase Power, who habitually kicked out when asked to canter. At dressage shows, judges frequently penalized our canter transitions, commenting on their "playful" nature. Initially, I interpreted this behavior as resistance and tried to control it by taking an ever tighter hold on the reins, believing that I needed to assert dominance over him.
After over a year of grappling with this issue brought no improvement––in fact, his behavior worsened––frustration grew for both of us. Delving deeper into the situation, I discovered my saddle was too narrow for his back, causing significant discomfort. Once I found a saddle that fit him, his "playful departures" ceased––physical discomfort had been driving his “resistance.”
This experience highlights a prevalent misconception: that we should 'ride through' challenging behaviors, a mindset leading to ignoring or misinterpreting important signals from our horses. Instead of forcing compliance, we should listen to them. By doing so, we open ourselves to understanding the root causes of their behaviors, which could be physical discomfort, fear, or confusion.
As ethical horse lovers, we must ask ourselves: Do we resort to coercion to overcome a horse's resistance, or do we address the underlying issues, empowering our horses with choices and enhancing their problem-solving skills? The latter approach not only improves our horses' well-being but also strengthens our partnership with them.
Spookiness: When 'Silly' means 'Scared'
Another illuminating example comes from my experience with Shiraz, an Arabian mare who was extremely spooky. By the time I met her, I had learned the importance of understanding the root causes of a horse's fear, rather than dismissing annoying behavior as 'silliness' or trying to force a horse through scary situations. After she nearly ran over me at the sight of a plastic bag in the weeds by the side of the road, I clicker trained her to "touch" plastic bags in various situations around the corral and in the arena before taking her out for another walk on the road.
Within three weeks, she no longer spooked at plastic bags, even when the fluttered and rattled in the wind, so I planted some along our route. Not only did she not spook at them, but she also refused to walk past them without stopping to “touch.” This made me laugh and gave us a new challenge that was entertaining, not aggravating. By addressing her fears directly, I respected Shiraz's communication and gained her trust, rather than discrediting her by forcing her to comply with my expectations.
Downhill Difficulty: When 'Stubborn' means 'Sore'
I recall Razzle who had difficulty going downhill. While he had no trouble walking from the arena to the barn uphill, he displayed resistance and threatening behavior like half rears and spinning around when heading to the arena. His perplexing behavior was easily dismissed as being 'barn sour' and 'ring sour,' but he was communicating a physical discomfort I hadn't yet identified.
It wasn’t until he moved to another barn and his willingness to leave the barn to go to the arena dramatically improved that I became utterly perplexed. I failed to recognize the arena and the barn at the new place were on level ground and it wasn’t until the behavior reappeared during a trail ride, I started putting two and two together.
Eventually, I consulted an equine chiropractor and learned he had a fixation of the floating rib at the base of his neck, which was severely affecting his biomechanics and overall movement, particularly when going downhill. The floating ribs, which are the last set of ribs not attached to the sternum, play a crucial role in the horse's chest and back flexibility and stability.
In Razzle’s case, this restriction created awkward or unnatural movements, making it difficult to maintain balance when descending slopes. With the treatment of this issue, everything about Razzle’s movement improved. This experience taught me to always consider physical issues when encountering resistance, even when the behavior seems purely psychological.
Reframing Our Perspective: From Problems to Opportunities
Every incident of resistance presents an opportunity to learn. Consult veterinarians, equine therapists, or bodyworkers to assess any physical issues contributing to resistance before putting the horse back under saddle. Be aware, however, that this approach may conflict with conventional trainers or instructors who prioritize achieving goals through dominance or strict adherence to schedules.
To embrace this opportunity for growth, we must consider a new mindset. View each challenge as a chance for deeper understanding. Become a detective on your horse's behalf, investigating the root causes of behaviors rather than pigeonholing them into popular labels or merely addressing the symptoms. This approach not only solves immediate issues but also prevents future problems and strengthens our connection with our equine companions.
Furthermore, this perspective encourages us to expand our knowledge beyond traditional horsemanship. I propose we broaden our horizons even further. Let's approach problems with an attitude centered on learning and development, not just for our horses, but for ourselves as well. This may lead us to explore fields such as equine biomechanics, psychology, and even nutrition, as we seek to better understand our horses. This continuous learning process enriches our equestrian journey and makes us more effective, empathetic riders and trainers.
When faced with resistance or behavioral challenges, riders can choose to perceive such moments not as threats or failures but as valuable opportunities to understand what our horses are trying to communicate. This attitude promotes curiosity about why a horse may behave a certain way. Riders can ask important questions like: "What is my horse expressing?" or "How can I better support my horse in this situation?" This exploration cultivates a deeper understanding of our horses' needs and concerns, fostering a more meaningful bond.
Recognizing that both riders and horses are on a continuous learning journey is vital. Mistakes are an inherent part of this process, and instead of fixating on achieving perfection, riders can prioritize the insights gained along the way.
When setbacks occur, an informed approach encourages persistence and adaptability. This mindset enhances the rider's observational skills—learning to read the horse's body language, emotional state, and signs of discomfort. As a result, a genuine relationship based on trust and empathy flourishes, moving away from dominance.
While this approach may require more time initially, it often leads to faster progress and more lasting results in the long run. By prioritizing the needs of your horse over personal ego or unrealistic timelines, riders can cultivate patience, both with themselves and their horses. Each small step forward in behavior or emotional improvement is worth celebrating. Acknowledging progress boosts the positive journey shared between horse and rider. Integrating this mindset can enhance not only training practices but also enrich the overall experience of working with horses. It recognizes the sentience of the horse by viewing resistance as communication, indicating potential emotional, physical, or mental distress.
As mentioned earlier, always assess advice based on your horse's best interests. Surround yourself with like-minded individuals who not only appreciate your approach but can also offer constructive support. With advocates on your side, you can navigate situations where it might be more appropriate for a more experienced rider to step in—preserving your horse's well-being while ensuring a thoughtful, last-resort decision.
Transforming our mindset in horsemanship revolutionizes how riders interact with their horses. It fosters mutual understanding, patience, and resilience. I encourage all equestrians to pause and listen when they encounter resistance. Instead of getting back on after a fall or riding through misbehavior under saddle, ask yourself: What might my horse be trying to tell me? When we view resistance as communication, we're better equipped to address our horses' needs, leading to a more harmonious and ethical relationship.