Posts Tagged ‘herd of horses’

If you watch a herd of horses turned out you will notice that there are pretty set behavioral patterns. Everyone knows his or her place in the pecking order. There are usually no big surprises for anybody involved. This is how horses live.

Now we enter the picture – and that is where things can get complicated. The horse pretty much expects that our behavior is as consistent as the behavior of the herd members. And this is not always the case – and can potentially confuse the horse.

They say, if you have a dog long enough, you look like your dog and your dog looks like you. I hope this is true – my dogs are pretty good looking.

The morale behind that applies to horses, too. I have seen many times that the behavior of the horse and the owner are very similar. The easy going relaxed guy has a easy going relaxed horse. And the hyped up flaky guy has a hyped up flaky horse.

There is a very important point to this. If our behavior is not consistent we can have a very negative impact on the behavior of our horse.

You go out there one nice day pretty relaxed, call your horse and halter it, walk to the hitch rail and saddle the horse. If your horse does something not quite right, you quietly but firmly correct it – and things are just fine. You will have a nice ride.

Another day you are stressed out – but the horse has not been ridden for a while, so you got to do it. It will not work! Your horse will feel your tension – but does not know the reason. This will now make your horse nervous – and it usually ends up in some kind of a mess.

This is many times more important when you are training a horse. If you are very patient on time and very pushy the next time, your training will not progress very well. Actually it would probably work better, if you are pushy all the time – the horse will adjust to that.

I have found that people that are very balanced in their own behavior very often have the best results in training horses. There are no surprises for the horse and the horse will concentrate on the training itself. Wild swings in our behavior will confuse the horse. The horse will pay more attention to our behavior than the actual training.

There is no easy solution to this problem. As far as training goes – if you cannot be consistent in your behavior you will have problems.

My advice for trained horses always is: If you are stressed out for some reason, and think you “have to ride” the horse – don’t do it. Just spend some time with the horse, give it some brushing or scratching – and that is it. You will not confuse your horse with inconsistent behavior – and it might just get you settled down. Horses are pretty good at that!

After about 30 years as a professional trainer and consultant I have decided to make this know how available for horse training. I am committed to the fine art of riding. For more thoughts about horse training please go to my website http://realhorsetraining.wordpress.com/ Thank you for your time.

Author: Wolfgang Maass
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Did the horse trailer — often called a “horsebox” in Europe — play any role in the Old West? Were horses often transported rather than ridden, and if so, what was the most common way?

I suspect that transporting a herd of horses or any group of horses without riders was generally done by railroad, once the railroad had moved into the West to any extent. And I also suspect that, prior to widespread presence and use of the railroad, most horses were simply herded by riders on horseback as were cattle. (They called them “cowboys,” but obviously, they road horses.)

But in doing some research for a different article horse transports or horseboxes, and I actually couldn’t find any definitive information about when the horse trailer (or horsebox) was “invented” or first came into wide use.

One article in Wikipedia suggested the horsebox or horse trailer was developed during the 1800s by town and village fire departments who would use horse drawn ambulance wagons to actually transport injured but “salvageable” horses back from fire scenes to get them to the town veterinarian for speedy care.

I also discovered that “mass transport” of horses in Europe via boat can be traced in artwork back to the Romans and in tapestries of scenes from the Norman Conquest of England in 1066.

But what about the horsebox or trailer? Such vehicles range today in form and function from simple wagons to elaborate stables-on-wheels, often built to accommodate more than one horse as well as having “living quarters” of a sort for people who tend the horses. It almost seems silly to call such rolling homes boxes or trailers, doesn’t it?

However, did such horse transport methods play a role in life in the Old West? It would be hard to think of a vehicle from the 1800s and early 1900s that would have pulled anything equivalent to these trailers — except, perhaps, for the fire ambulances suggested above.

Whatever term you use for horse transportation, certainly today’s horse owners, whether they own horses as pets, for show, or for work, find a good horsebox or horse trailer indispensable.

Would it be legitimate to call various forms of railroad boxcars of the Old West the forerunners of today’s horse transports crowding the highways and roads of today’s modern West (and East, too, for that matter)?

If you have information about the invention and development of the horse trailer or horsebox, I invite you to leave a comment at my website listed below and enlighten other readers!

Gary Speer writes about life in the Old West and the roles horses and other animals — in addition to people, of course! — played in everyday life during those times. You can find tales and tall tales about that life at his website at http://www.lifeintheoldwest.com.

Author: Gary Speer
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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When you’re into horse training, you have to find the best approach suitable to your horse. Some approaches work better than others and it all relies on the horse’s learning proportions. The learning pace of each horse varies; some learn faster than others and there are likewise people who are too stubborn to learn. Learning your horse’s personality is essential so that you are able to choose the best approach to use.

Novices are advised to seek the help of professional trainers if they have doubts as to their abilities as a horse trainer. In order to be an effective horse trainer, you should be inventive, a thinker, and most of all, use your sound judgment.

Horses are herd animals. If you try to observe a herd of horses, they ordinarily eat all during the day, groom, and sleep; challenge one another to gain position in the herd, and play. It is essential that you study the behavior of the herd so that you are able to incorporate the knowledge you’ve gained into the horse’s training program. Since each horse is unmatched, you will need to devise a training program worthy its ability or personality.

The majority of people feel like a stallion leads the herd but they’re wrong. In point of fact, a mare serves as the herd’s leader. It is the duty of the stallion to warn the herd when there is danger or when there is a threat of marauding stallions. The mare leader alternatively decides when it’s time to eat, the position where they are in a position to eat, and discipline other horses who’re at fault. The entire herd respects the mare and supports her decisions; the herd also trusts their lives to the mare. So you see, in the training program, you should act as the mare herd leader. You has to be in a position to win your horse’s respect, trust, and support.

In horse training, it’s not a great idea to use force. Although the horse will follow you, it’s not a reliable move. There isn’t one best’ training approach. As discussed previously, horses are unique animals and you must identify the most appropriate approach that suits the horse’s personality. Some of the famous horsemanship masters known presently are Pat Parelli, Dennis Reis, Buck Brannaman, Tom Dorrance, and Ray Hunt.

Good horse trainers do not just focus on one training technique; they strive to learn as many horse methods so that they are able to select the proper approach for each horse they train. If one of the famous horse training masters visits your area, why do not you check them out? It’s a venture that you shouldn’t miss.

It’s natural to make mistakes especially if you’re a beginner. If you make mistakes, do not be ashamed and instead, learn from it. Trainers handling troubled horses need a great amount of patience and determination if they wish to be victorious in the training program. This sort of horses is challenging to handle and if you are not cautious, you have access to hurt. If there are troubled horses, then you can likewise find horses that learn easily. Again, find the best approach that you can use in the training program.

Horse training definitely involves employing your sound judgment. Without it, you could be in difficulty. Even the truly great masters started out as novices. Learn all that you can about horse training. Handle the horses properly and earn their respect and trust. This ensures a smooth training program.

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Author: Bart R Montoya
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Yesterday we talked a little about the 6 Keys for a
Life Long Partnership with your horse, today I would
like to visit with you about the first key,
*Understanding.*

Have you ever wondered why your horse acts like he does
how he thinks and moves? If so, then you need to
understand the prey-predator relationship, but before
we start it’s important that you understand, if your
going to effectively communicate with horses you need
to *think like horses*. You need to look at and approach
everything from the *horse’s point of view*.

If you understand that horses are prey animals and that
*horses perceive people as predators* and realize that
each thinks differently, you can begin to understand how
your horse thinks, acts and moves, and why you react the
way you do. Understand, Both the horse and human are
simply considering all factors then adjusting to the
situation.

If you understand that horses are Prey animals by nature,
are programmed to be cowards and are herd fear-flight
animals, in other words when they perceive danger they
run and continue running until they feel they have
escaped the danger, then you can begin to develop a
deeper apreciation of why your horse acts, thinks and
moves like he does.

To horses we *humans* look and smell like *predators*.
If your going to communicate with your horse in an
effective manner then it’s necessary to prove to your
horse that you are not a predator. You need to
understand what type of behavior you need to show if
you are to get a certain behavior from your horse.

Once the horse accepts that you are not as bad as you
seem and you are not a predator he becomes gentle, in
other words he no longer perceives you to be dangerous.

In a herd of horses there is always a pecking order
and once your horse decides that you are not a danger
to him he will put you in a pecking order to fit into
his world (remember all of this is about the horse his
world and perceptions not yours) you will be placed
higher or lower depending on respect and authority.

*Remember the horse is a prey animal and is supposed to
act the way he does.** It’s your task to help him act
less like a prey animal and more like a partner. To
accomplish this you need your horse to be sensitive or
aware of your cues and communication rather than danger.

You need to turn his flight from fear reaction into
forward motion or impulsion. You have to work at getting
him to want to be with you, to take the herd instinct
and turn it into bonding with you.

The concepts you and I have discussed today are much
easier said than done. Why, because horses and humans
think differently and this is often a source of
conflict.

Let’s wrap up what we have discussed today. You will
gain respect from our horse if you uphold your
responsibilities which are: Not act like a predator,
be where you need to be emotionally when communicating
with our horse, to think like a horse and not a human
and focus on where you are headed and what you want to
do, if you do your horse will sense this, respect you
and follow you as the leader.

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In the next article we will discuss Mind Set; Your
Attitude= How you communicate. Being assertive
vs.aggressive and being evenhanded. Your mind-set
(attitude) affects the mind-set (attitude) of your
horse.

Copyright © Mike Gorzalka All Rights Reserved
Worldwide

*You have permission to publish this article electronically, in print, in your ebook or on your web
site, free of charge, as long as the content of this
article is not changed in any way and the author
bylines are included.

If you choose to publish this article I would
appreciate a Quick e-mail letting me know where it will
be published: Mike@perfect-horse-gifts.com

*DISCLAIMER*: The information contained in this article
is of my personal opinions and beliefs and should not be
taken as anything more.

About The Author:

Mike Gorzalka has spent the better part of his life around horses. His dad, Mike Sr., taught him the importance of understanding the horse and how to use a firm, but kinder and gentler approach to helping horses understand what it is we humans are trying to communicate.

Author: Mike Gorzalka
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Go where there are horses and on any typical day you’re going to find someone having trouble catching their horse. And what do they do about it? Typically horse owners attempt to bribe their horses by giving them a treat, a bucket of grain, or waving a carrot at their horse hoping he will mosey on over. While this may get you what you think you want-the horse standing there while you put the halter on-the fact is its setting up your relationship with your horse for trouble.

In natural horsemanship, what we are after is speaking to a horse in his own language so that we can establish three things:

• Trust
• Leadership
• Respect

If we are going to speak to a horse in his own language, we might start by thinking about how horses communicate with each other. If you have the opportunity, go out to an open pasture that has a few horses living together. Just watch what they do. You will come away noting that horses communicate with each other using body language and that confidence and assurance are two keys a successful horse must have in his toolbox. The most confident horses are the horses that become alpha, they run the herd-deciding who eats first, when to eat, where to go, and all that.

Ask yourself this question. Does the stallion or alpha mare in a wild herd of horses use treats to get the other horses to do what s/he wants? Of course not! The alpha horses uses confident strength and body language to communicate with the other horses. In natural horsemanship, we learn how to use our own body language to communicate with our horses in a way that they understand intuitively. This will help gain the trust and respect of your horse. When he trusts you, you can reach a level where you can truly bond with your horse and have that fulfilling relationship with our horses we’re all looking for.

A recent video released by horse trainer Eric Bravo called Catching and Leading Your Horse illustrates the use of gentle natural horsemanship to communicate with a horse in eye-opening fashion. Shot in real time and unedited, Eric goes out into a wide-open field to catch a black mare with an attitude named Wendy. First, Eric shows us ways to approach horses that let the horse know that we mean no harm. Surprisingly, this is a vital step with horses many people aren’t aware of. Eric focuses on the fact that a horse is a prey animal and humans, by nature, are predators. You might not be thinking about this when you walk into a pasture of horses-but they know it. But Eric shows you how to walk up to a horse in a way that removes this fear from his heart.

That being said, horses are all about respect. Have you noticed how a group of horses spends a lot of time kicking and biting each other? Well horse society can be tough! So once a horse figures out we aren’t approaching him like a predator, he is going to look and see if we are worthy of respect. We need to establish this respect before a horse can truly trust us. In the video, Eric talks about things to look for that indicate respect and disrespect. He also introduces a stunning concept called steal a thought that you can use anytime to rid your horse of unwanted behavior and shows how to apply it when trying to catch a difficult horse.

Once you catch a horse, you may think your work is done. But its just beginning! In the last 10 minutes of the video, which I found to be the most useful and interesting part, Eric shows how to lead a horse properly and signs to look for that indicate a horse is being disrespectful. He lays out several leading exercises in complete detail that you can incorporate right into any groundwork routines you do with your horse. The exercises are designed to teach your horse to not only respect you, but to pay attention to you.

Think about how important this is. If a horse respects you and pays attention to you, that’s going to be a horse that is much safer to ride. Do you want to jump on the back of a horse that doesn’t pay attention to you? Probably not! Do you really know the signs to look for to determine if a horse is paying attention? Do you want to learn simple exercises to improve the quality of attention your horse is giving you? If you answered no and yes to the last two questions, you’ll probably want to take a look at this groundbreaking video.

Author: David McMahon
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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