The Power of Positive Horse Training
Chapter One
Why Do Horses (Usually) Do
What We Tell Them?
Long before we rode horses, we hunted them, killed them, and ate them. In
more recent times, we've developed elaborate methods to dominate them
and make money from them. We've turned them into beasts of burden,
starved them, beaten them, and sent them to war, even while glorifying the
"noble horse" in songs, stories, and beautiful pictures. And in some cultures, we
still eat them.
Given all this, it's rather remarkable that horses can ever learn to trust and
willingly obey humans. Yet every foal is born curious, sociable, and trusting,
ready to give his loyalty and obedience to a worthy leader, human or equine.
From the horse's point of view, the most important questions in relation to his
leader are very basic ones: What will happen to me? Will I have food, water,
space to move around in, good friends to keep me safe? Whom should I trust?
From the human's point of view, the key questions we ask are also simple:
Why shouldn't my horse step aside, pick up a foot, change leads, chase cows,
cross a stream, jump, run, halt quietly, leave his friends, or walk into a trailer,
just because I tell him ... read full excerpt from The Power of Positive Horse Training: Saying Yes to Your Horse ebook
