Watch the Emotions Not the Feet

Brandy investigates our small creek

Watch the emotions, not the feet. A study shows that a horse’s reaction to a novel object is influenced by his handler. The more worried you are, the more anxious he is likely to be. Again, science validates what we already know. The real question is, “How can we project confidence when we are anxious?” The answer? Don’t make your horse anxious! Engage his curiosity instead. Turn that negative emotion into a positive one that leads to learning, confidence, and trust in you as a Protector Leader. In the photo above, Brandy is not anxious because her lead is loose, and she knows that I will give her all the time she needs to investigate WITHOUT PRESSURE. The result shows in the next photo.

Brandy jumps with confidence.

Important Caution: If there is any chance your horse might jump something, DO NOT go ahead of him. I am not the only one to have learned this the hard way! You may have heard “move the horse’s feet” to get control. Bad idea. You can’t control an anxious horse. Instead, watch his emotional state. If he's anxious, back away or take pressure off till he's calm enough to be curious. Wait for him to show you when he’s ready to approach. This solves the problem of your anxiety making your horse anxious. Usually we are anxious because the horse is anxious, and this creates a genuinely risky situation. If you don't make your horse anxious in the first place, you are both safer, and you can relax and have fun watching him explore!

Opie follows me as I carry a cone away from him

One of the best ways to reduce your horse's anxiety is to leave him free to advance or retreat as new things are explored. Horses naturally follow things mover away, and retreat from things coming at them. Quite sensible, really!

Opie and I inspect the cone together

I am not holding him; he has come over on his own out of curiosity.