Be with me
The beginning - Assesment & Greetings
(Insight Into "Soft Touch")
How should we greet our horse's? Should we go to
them or learn to use our intention and have the
patience to allow them to come to us in their time?
The answer is simple, read the horse, the
suituation and yourself and take it from there.
Is the horse interested in you? Does he show
confidence in you or fear, is he anxious, is he
alert, he his calm, relaxed, concerned,
seaching or calling out to friends and the list goes on.
We must assess his character, his emotional state of mind and well being before introducing ourselves or intruding in his enviroment. Would we just thumble over to a horse who is flying around the arena or paddock, calling out, snorting, has his head high, neck braced and ears listening to whats around, his body ready to flee at the sight or sound of something new or unfermilliar?
Probably no, but sometimes unfortunatly yes. Would we go over to a horse who is just standing there, sniffing around, looks like he may have a roll in this new enviroment, swishing his tail at some flies and casually investergating things at his own pace? Probably and again unfortunately, yes.
These are two very basic but common senarios people come accross with their horses, whether its in a stall, yard, paddock or arena, I've no doubt they sound farmilliar. So either way in these suituations often the case is, the quiet horse has his owner thumble over and catch him, the flighty horse may have his owner stiff in the middle of the arena attempting to catch him, or may be pursused in "free lunging" to chase and wear him down so he can be caught so he becomes to tierd now to move. Right?..
I am in strong disagreance to both usual senarious, that is why im writing this. You can read my other topics on such HERE.