Are you creating horse problems without even realising it?

 

Thoughts in your head can have a dramatic affect on your horse. If you rush down to the yard, thinking you must get a quick ride in because you have got to pick the children up from school in an hour, or you have an appointment to make etc, you can guarantee your horse will pick up on this and fidget while you are trying to groom and tack up, you may even have had trouble catching him in the field and thought to your self “why today when I am in a hurry”! Chances are, the schooling session or hack won’t go well either because you are rushing him and your mind is on what you have got to do next, rather than what you are actually trying to do now.

 

Your breathing may well be faster and shallow, with your heart rate up, all of which your horse will be aware of and may well react to.

 

Although it is sometimes easier said than done, if you can calm yourself down first before you even set foot on the yard, empty out all those thoughts and worries whizzing around in your head, slow your breathing and in turn your heart rate down and just focus on the “now”, allow yourself to enjoy just being with your horse, and leave the worrying about other things to later, then both you and your horse will be much calmer and happier.

 

Horses have been seen to “mirror” the feelings of the person handling or riding them – if you are anxious, angry, or just in a hurry, a horse will reflect this back to you by fidgeting, being tense, not performing as well as on another day, or maybe not even wanting to be near you.

 

A calm attitude and a total focus on what you want to happen now can all ensure that your time spent handling or riding your horse is an enjoyable time for both of you.