With regard to the other rules, if the horse’s instinct (rule 4) does not regard you as being superior (rule 1) then it will not follow you (rule 2) or try to please you (rule 3).
A horse’s instinct can pick up on our abilities, emotions and focus or lack thereof. Instinct will then dictate whether or not to trust. This basic brain function has kept this species alive longer than humans. It’s so refined that the blink of an eye, twitch of an ear, and even your heart rhythm can mean the difference between trusting your leadership or not.
Great horsemen know these things and it’s fun to watch one at work. The thing that stands out immediately is that they do so very little yet get so much out of the horse. The little things you do carry great meaning and when you’re clear and consistent, the horse’s instinct is to trust you as a leader. This is where the magic starts. You can direct that trust and instinct into a wonderful partnership in which even the most difficult obstacles can be navigated safely.
I enjoy teaching to navigate trail obstacles from the ground before I go on a trail ride. An arena with all the obstacles you’d find on a trail offers wonderful practice but not everyone has access to one.
If you don’t have an arena then you should train on the trail. Go on a trail ride with a few others where the sole purpose is to train for the demands of the trail. This will give you time to properly teach your horse and allow it time to think and process things while not under a time pressure. If your horse has a problem with water crossings then start from the ground and maybe plan to work on just that item. Less is more while training and subtlety is key.
It’s surprising that so very little is known about natural instincts. It’s
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even more surprising because even this small amount of knowledge we have is crucial to winning a horse’s trust. In my opinion, this knowledge is the number one secret to having a safe and fun trail ride for years to come.
Also, stop on a good, positive note. Remember to not move your feet. The less you move your feet when teaching a horse from the ground, the faster it will learn. It’s important to remember the reason for this. Instinct tells the horse that you’re a leader and trust will naturally result.
© Hal Cook
© Hal Cook