Horse Behavior Specialist
Licensed 2 Star Parelli Professional
www.nancyslater.com
40 / Sport and Trail Magazine
Speed Control
Young, clean slate horses are the easiest to teach balance between go and whoa with a natural approach. Resistance in the saddle comes when the horse is emotional and hasn't mentally connected with the rider. If you have ever said, “My horse won't slow down” or “My horse is lazy” you're not alone! I hear it all the time. These are signs that, in the beginning, an important part of the horse’s education could have been overlooked: speed control.
Horses tend to listen to their mother. No, not that mother, Mother Nature. She tells a horse, who is the ultimate prey animal, to get excited and not whoa, or to balk and not go for people, who are ultimate predators. These are simply flight and fight instincts.
One of my project horses was an unhandled yearling named Fergie. Fergie knew nothing about my desire to help her find emotional balance and have go equal whoa. She was listening to Mother Nature as I began with her in the round pen. I gently lifted my training stick towards her shoulder. She ran off around the pen, head high, looking for an exit. I smiled to confirm that I thought it was a great idea to run because I understand the prey animal needs. When she noticed I had removed the pressure and was not attacking her, she slowed, stopped, and looked at me. I said, “Good girl!”. Whoa was a great idea too, I conveyed.
A young horse needs no argument from people. The relationship is the most important thing to me while I'm teaching the young mind. Arguments do not teach. I always want the horse to see me as the one to turn to, the one who will support her, protect her, a friend. Yet, she will not dominate me. She will know not to push me, I stand firmly in control without force. I want her asking me questions, looking for me to guide her.
As I worked with Fergie in the round pen, I allowed her time to think and get curious. Horses have to be thinking to learn. Allowing Fergie to slow down worked on her emotional system, where her fear lives. Getting her to go faster, I worked on her mental system, where her dominant behavior lives. I made no big deal about Fergie slowing down or speeding up. Before long, she gave me a surprised look as if to say, “Hey, I have questions!” and licked her lips. system, where her fear lives. Getting her to go faster, I worked on her mental system, where her dominant behavior lives. I made no big deal about Fergie slowing down or speeding up. Before long, she gave me a surprised look as if to say, “Hey, I have questions!” and licked her lips.
When a horse doesn't understand or accept things you're asking, you'll know it because she'll stare into the distance with a high head. As I work with a horse, I watch for signs of understanding, acceptance, and relaxation. I have a fun way to keep track of the signs, a point system: 1 point for head down, 2 points for lickng their lips, 3 points for blowing out, and 4 points for yawning. I pause and smile whenever I get points to encourage more!
Whenever Fergie gave me points, she was calming down, trying to connect with me. She was looking at me and asking questions, like, “What next?” She was mentally ready to follow directions. I then started asking for specific speeds, walk, trot, canter, using escalating, yet gentle phases of pressure get my message across. I always started with a gentle suggestion. I was polite, but stood firm. Fergie was teetering back and forth from emotional to mental, (Right Brain to Left Brain). Each time she went too fast, I waited for her to reconnect with me and start again with gentle suggestion.
It was exciting to see the changes in her behavior! She was getting so curious and wanted to come to me. Emotionally she was showing me, with her head down, licking her lips, (3 points!), that she didn't need to run away from me, and it was safe to stop. Mentally, she was learning to respond and follow my suggestion to move forward while "blowing out” through her nostrils - a sign of relaxation, (3 points!) Whatever she did, stop or go, it was a good deal for her: When I got points from her, she got smiles from me!
Before long, Fergie accepted me, my tools, and the halter, so I attached the lead rope and asked Fergie to lead up with a small amount of steady pressure on the rope. Taking my time, I then asked her to back up with gentle pressure on the halter. I repeated the exercise while looking for points. More points got her more releases from my hands, and she progressed faster and faster with each session.
Within 2 weeks of emotional and mental training like these groundwork exercises, Fergie was leading up well. She could walk, trot, and canter on my slightest request in hand and at liberty with a happy look on her face. She also could slow, stop, and back up willingly without getting excited, once she understood and accepted my pressure, both emotionally and mentally. Pressure motivates, but it's releasing (when you get points), that teaches a horse! For the rest of her life, she will remember our lessons. Now Fergie has the potential to become a great saddle horse one day because of her understanding and acceptance of people's desire for speed control.
system, where her fear lives. Getting her to go faster, I worked on her mental system, where her dominant behavior lives. I made no big deal about Fergie slowing down or speeding up. Before long, she gave me a surprised look as if to say, “Hey, I have questions!” and licked her lips.
When a horse doesn't understand or accept things you're asking, you'll know it because she'll stare into the distance with a high head. As I work with a horse, I watch for signs of understanding, acceptance, and relaxation. I have a fun way to keep track of the signs. I have a point system, 1 point for head down, 2 points for licking lips, 3 points for blowing out, and 4 points for yawning. I pause and smile whenever I get points to encourage more!
Whenever Fergie gave me points, she was calming down, trying to connect with me. She was looking at me and asking questions, like, “What next?” She was mentally ready to follow directions. I then started asking for specific speeds, walk, trot, canter, using escalating, yet gentle phases of pressure to get my message across. I always started with a gentle suggestion. I was polite but stood firm. Fergie was teetering back and forth from emotional to mental, right brain to left brain. Each time she went too fast, I waited for her to reconnect with me and start again with gentle suggestion.