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Topline Ink Equestrian Journal Sample Magazine Article Section | | Reminder: Sample articles are shown to promote Dressage & Sport Horse Education ~ Most articles will not be online. Magazine is only available in print and by paid subscription ~ Publication is printed bimonthly. |
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| Relaxation - The Mind Connection
Published: 2006 Topline Ink Equestrian Journal Magazine
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| | W hen considering relaxation of the horse, most people think of relaxing the body. While that is absolutely necessary for optimum athletic performance and avoidance of injury, it is inexorably connected to mental relaxation. It only makes sense. Isn’t it that way with our own bodies? If we are mentally stressed, we become tight in our muscles. | | Those of us who have spent many years working with horses don’t need a formal study to tell us that horses are a lot like humans. This is not anthropomorphism (attributing human characteristics to animals). We would have very large egos to suggest that humans are the only living creatures who feel emotion, have intelligence, and opinions. It has been said by some animal psychologists that a horse has roughly the same intelligence as a three year old child. I didn’t really appreciate how intelligent that is until I had my own three year old human. I’m pretty sure he was a lot smarter than I am! And I’m pretty sure that I have been outsmarted by a horse more than once. They are intelligent, feeling creatures who deal in relationships – both with their own kind and with humans. | "There is another consideration as well; many of us are as interested in our relationship with the horse as we are with his value as an athlete. We want a friend and partner, not just a performance machine." |
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| Most of us have seen a horse go into deep depression at the loss of a close equine friend. We have seen horses become angry at unfair treatment, although most of them are far more patient that we are. We have seen horses withdraw emotionally in stressful situations, and we have seen horses who had been abused begin to drop their defenses and open up when consistently treated with kindness and fairness. We have seen horses in the mood to play and celebrate in a cool evening after a hot day. We have seen horses very clearly express their like or dislike of certain people. No scientist has to tell us this – we live with these creatures. Considering that the emotional life of a horse will have a huge effect on his ability to perform as an athlete, we must consider that part of the equation when we consider physical relaxation. There is another consideration as well; many of us are as interested in our relationship with the horse as we are with his value as an athlete. We want a friend and partner, not just a performance machine. How do we create the kind of relationship with the horse that will foster mental relaxation and well-being? There are several factors. The most basic one is to get to know the character of the individual horse. Horses are as individual as humans. There are bold ones, shy ones, sensitive ones, extra-intelligent ones. There are ambitious horses and lazy ones. If you know the type of personality you are dealing with, it is helpful in knowing how to approach the training. As a breeder, I have seen that the personality is there at birth. I can tell a lot about a foal’s character many times before he is dry, and certainly by the time he is a few days old. It is a huge advantage to know that early on, as I have clues how to handle him. Environment will obviously play a part in how he matures, but how he reacts to that environment is determined in his genes. An experienced horseman will be able to “read” a horse by his posture and expressions. There are also many characteristics in the shape of the head and facial features of the horse that give clues to his personality. That seemed very strange to me, but I was able to see that it rang true with my own fairly large herd. In my other life one of the courses I had to take in college was Head and Neck Anatomy. In the embryology portion of that course we learned that the same undifferentiated cells that form the brain also form the external parts of the head and face. So, it is not so strange that the facial features of the horse relate to his brain. There are books available that detail some of these characteristics and how to asses them. It is worth looking them up. In order to relax, the horse must have trust in the rider. What will develop trust between you and your horse? Mainly it is consistency and clear communication. The horse needs to know what the rules are, and that they will be the same every day. If they are unclear or change from day to day, he will be nervous and insecure. Like a child, he will be compelled to test and find out where the boundaries are. If you were punished for something one day and the next it seemed alright, wouldn’t you be insecure? Achieving consistency takes some real effort on the part of the rider. We are often inconsistent without realizing it. We tell the horse to stand still while we are grooming him, but one day that means don’t move a muscle, and the next day he can move his head but not his feet. He never knows when he will get in trouble. The rider has be very clear in his own mind what the rules are before he can teach them to the horse. | "Praise your horse liberally!" |
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| Clear communication is even harder. Horses are far more aware of body language than are humans, so even on the ground we have to learn to avoid giving the horse mixed signals that confuse him. Correct longeing is one good example. Often one will see someone longeing the horse and telling him one thing with words while telling him the opposite with his body. One horse may be confused and frustrated with that and object, while another may learn to tune out the part that seems conflicting. That goes back to the individual personality of the horse. It gets even more complicated under saddle, as we are supposed to communicate subtly with our bodies. Even a green horse just under saddle will respond to a shift of pelvic position or weight, so imagine how it feels to a horse when he responds to an unintentional movement and is punished for it! Again, many horses will learn to tune out the body language and the opportunity is lost to have a sensitive, responsive horse who can be ridden off weight aids and subtle signals. The burden is upon us as athletes to learn to have total control of our bodies – to develop the fitness, balance, and flexibility we need to communicate with the horse. It is our responsibility to learn how the horse responds to weight changes and changes of position so we not only cease to make his job harder, but we are able to reap the rewards of bringing out his best as an equine athlete. It is our responsibility to be good enough communicators so that the horse is not confused and can relax and trust us. It is our responsibility to break down our requests to small pieces and then gradually put them together, rather than asking the horse to write a thesis before he can even form a sentence. That’s a lot of responsibility! All this seems pretty overwhelming if taken in one large bite. Like anything else challenging and worthwhile in life, it isn’t accomplished overnight. Striving to learn continually by reading, talking to fine horsemen, watching wonderful riders, and if possible finding a great instructor will lead you the right direction, a piece at time. You will never be a “finished” horseman – if you ever get to the point that you think you pretty much know it all, you will stop growing. There is so much to learn from every horse and every person you encounter, even if it is what not to do. Be observant. Pay attention to your horse and try to listen to what he is telling you. Horses rarely object to complying, providing you have ruled out physical issues, unless there is a lack of clear communication and trust. One last, very important note: Praise your horse liberally! We find it so easy to tell him when he is wrong, but often forget to tell him he did well. Even on a bad day there will be some small things you can praise. It will only make him more eager to please, and it will make you feel happier too. Hmmm. That sounds like a pretty good rule for riding instructors too, or parents, or spouses... | | | | Topline Ink Equestrian Journal Magazine | Dedicated Riders are Dedicated Readers Topline Ink Equestrian Jounal has been described by our readership as... | Copyright notice: No part of this page may be reproduced. | | | To read more articles: |
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