11/09/2023
It’s the same as learning a new language, a new job a new hobby or skill: more knowledge, more effort you put into it, makes it easier to achieve your goal. If you realize you are not getting there, the repeating of what you’ve done before won’t bring you any further. Stop, breathe, think and try it a different way.
Like many horses in the industry, I also think the humans may be in a state of learned helplessness.
Perhaps, achieved differently than how it is with horses, but helplessness nonetheless.
Specifically, the helplessness that is present with the apathy we see in riders who insist that their horse "needs" that double twisted wire gag, draw reins and their nose chain in order to be safely handled.
This state of learned helplessness may be in part achieved by the existence of an environment that offers no other alternatives but also through the pervasive belief that nothing we change in ourselves, the environment or our equipment could possibly alter the behaviour of our horse.
We remain helpless in the sense that we think a certain level of force is an absolute necessity, under any and all circumstances, and that those who believe in other solutions simply "don't know the horse" or "have never worked with a horse like this" or "have never actually trained a horse" or any other number of deflective excuses.
The horse needs the harsh bit.
The horse is dangerous without the harsh bit when we continue to try to show and jump it, so this means the horse needs the harsh bit.
We clamor onto the latest piece of equipment or calming supplement that problems to offer swift behavioural changes in our horse, meanwhile frowning upon what should be more obvious solutions.
Could the fact that the horse seldom sees the outdoors be the issue?
No, of course not! She hates turnout ( translation: she paces until she sweats due to the sudden over stimulation)!
Could the poor saddle fit be contributing to the reactivity?
No, of course not! This saddle is very expensive.
Could the harsh bit itself be creating a self fulfilling prophecy of reactive pain and the rider's anxiety and anticipation of misbehaviour makes them unconsciously tense up?
No, of course not! I /know/ my horse.
Many riders have been taught to have such a lacking toolbox that they cannot see how to modify behaviour without the use of forceful gadgets.
They cannot see how quieting the mind of the horse would in turn quiet the reactivity of the body.
They view the horse's behaviour as unchangeable.
Something that can only be managed with equipment, rather than wholly addressed.
What an awful, suffocating place to be stuck.
When we exist in an industry that offers us thousands of "solutions" that promise instant gratification, it is hard to want to do the difficult work.
It is hard to forego that show season of jumping, of moving up a level, in favour of ground and flat work to help settle your horse's nerves.
It is hard to consider that our fear may result in equipment choices that merely prolong and exacerbate issue.
It is hard to think about the fact that perhaps our horse is reacting in pain...
But, the thing is...
If we actually put the work in to do the "hard" thing, the payoff is far greater.
The smooth sailing that accompanies addressing the root of the problem, the better relationship between you and your horse...
It all makes it worthwhile.
It helps you realize that slow is fast, because you encounter far less obstacles in the long run, even if the beginning may feel like it's taking forever.
Addressing behavioural problems doesn't involve upping the harshness of your equipment.
That is merely managing them.
If your equipment gets more aggressive to rid a problem, you're likely actually covering it up.
Address the root cause, address the problem behaviour.
Doing things the right way isn't easy, but it certainly is rewarding.
Trying to cover up dangerous behaviour with more aggressive handling and equipment just endangers us humans more whilst harming our horse.
We can do better, we know better now.
