Body Language: Copying
Read MoreWalk: My forward lean signals Brandy to walk with me
Body language that makes intuitive sense to horses encourages them to stay tuned in to us and not wait for pressure on the lead. Instead of learning multiple cues, they use one concept: copy your handler. Many people do this intuitively. When our signals are clear and our relationship is solid, we have the foundation of liberty work.
My lead is loose so there is no pressure; Brandy must watch me for cues. Pointing with the leading hand becomes a cue you can later use to tell the horse to walk on without walking with him. Handler should be at horse's head, not shoulder.Halt: My body leans back
Halt must be decisive while the horse is first learning to watch the handler. I lean back and stamp my feet - left /right - to emphasize that I am stopping. Signals are exaggerated at first until the horse develops the habit of watching the handler.
If you breath out loudly as you halt, that becomes a signal you can use for stopping with less rein while you're riding. Like "air brakes."Take a Bow
Brandy and my granddaughter demonstrate that once horses get the hang of copying us, there are all sorts of things we can teach and cue without pressure.
Resources:
The Horse Agility Handbook by Vanessa Bee. All Horse Agility is done on a loose lead or at liberty. Vanessa explains how to develop signals based on Body Language instead of pressure. This was my reference guide as I trained Brandy.
What Horses Really Want by Lynn Acton. My chapter on Friendly Body Language also gives instructions on using body language that encourages horses to stay with us, explains why it works so well, and shows how to teach your horse to come when called.
Horse Speak by Sharon Wilsie provides insights into horse and human body language that help you have two-way conversations with your horse.
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