It is such a common problem among nice people: the horse pushes
the human, and the human doesn't want to be mean, bossy, or tell
the horse what to do. But is it really being mean? What if your
horse was pushing on you to test your leadership skills? What if
his survival instincts were telling him to check your skills, to
be sure you have the ability to protect him and guide him when
he is in danger.
Your horse needs proof that you are the leader that will keep
him safe. If not, it will become his responsibility to make the
decisions and run the show. Some horses enjoy running the show;
others find it too stressful. In general, most horses in the
world today can be safe and get more enjoyment in the world if
you make the decisions.
A horse will test your abilities if he is in doubt. One thing he
may do to test you by attempting to push you around. If you
allow him to push you, he will think twice about your skills and
his safety, and he might even enjoy pushing you around. Then
your safety is at risk. If you ask him to move out of your
space, he will either do so, or challenge you further and say,
"Really? Do you mean it?" And if you want to be the leader he's
looking for, without hesitation you'll say "Absolutely" because
you know that you have w.i.t. (whatever it takes) to get him out
of your space. Once he's out and stays out, he will look at you
honestly from a respectable distance, lick his lips and say
"Wow! She's good!"
Something very common is, when the horse says "Really?" the
person will say "Well, I didn't really mean it anyways." So,
next time he sees a boogeyman and you say, "Its just a garbage
can" he won't be sure to believe you because he has proof that
you usually change your mind.
*Hints* Most horses have been taught to keep their hindquarters
away from you, but do they keep their shoulder out of your
space? Be aware of your feet. Did you back out of his space or
did he back out of yours?
If you enjoyed this article then pass it on! For more articles,
send your email address to us for YHRs monthly newsletter. If
you want a more in-depth study, come and learn more. What about
if the learning was combined with an amazing vacation? Email me
at Stevi@YemayaHorseRetreat.com, Visit us online at:
www.YemayaHorseRetreat.com, Or give us a call at (250) 295-0569
(Princeton BC, Canada).
About the author:
Stevi has worked around different breeds of horses, many dynamic
instructors and motivational speakers. She understands how
people and horses learn best, how to communicate with horses on
a physical and spiritual level, and knows how to make situations
fun and positive for both you and your horse.
People who have made huge impacts on Stevi's life have been:
Sandra Wallin, Linda Murray, T. Harv Eker , Karla McClaren, Pat
Parelli, Maxine Bould
Stevi Weissbach
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