| Have you ever become angry at your horse? Of | | | | we want, and in turn, exactly what it is they've done |
| course you have! Everyone does. Either it's a bad day | | | | wrong. |
| all around and the horse is simply the only living thing | | | | Correction, on the other hand, involves a positive or |
| within a ten-mile radius, or the horse has been | | | | negative consequence directly related to the behavior. |
| misbehaving so vehemently that he should be the one | | | | In Felicia's situation, the horse didn't understand how to |
| to take the brunt of your anger. | | | | do a lead change, or what she was asking. For that, |
| This is where it pays to know the different between | | | | there can be no real correction until he figures out |
| punishment and correction. | | | | what she's asking and then misbehaves anyway. We |
| A few years ago, I was sitting on the fence, watching | | | | can't punish a horse for our own training deficiencies; |
| two of my students ride. They weren't in a lesson - | | | | we can only correct when they knowingly disobey. |
| just hacking their own horses - but I've always liked to | | | | For example, let's say that your horse refuses to |
| keep an eye on my students during the week. One of | | | | stand while you mount. Let's take it one step further |
| them, a girl we're call Felicia, was becoming increasingly | | | | and add that this behavior didn't start until a week ago. |
| angry with her horse. She was working on lead | | | | Every time you take him out to the arena, he walks |
| changes, which we had been starting in lessons, and | | | | off before you can get your foot in the stirrup. This is |
| her horse simply wasn't picking up on her cues. | | | | a negative behavior that your horse knows is wrong. |
| Finally, on about her fifteenth try, she snatched up her | | | | A punishment for this behavior--and an ineffective one |
| reins, halting the horse, and landed a resounding kick | | | | at that-- would be to slap your horse on the rump with |
| into his side with her right leg. It was so hard that the | | | | your hand or with a crop. He doesn't tie the two |
| horse let out an explosive breath of air, jumped | | | | behaviors-- him walking and you hitting-- together in his |
| sideways away from the pressure, and Felicia, | | | | mind, and therefore it doesn't teach him anything. |
| unprepared for this darting motion, fell off. | | | | The correction would be to sharply pull back on the |
| Felicia, as most teenagers do, jumped right up, not | | | | reins, which he recognizes as the signal to stop. Then, |
| waiting for me to arrive. Seeing that she was alright, I | | | | you would go back to his head, let him stand for a |
| caught the horse on the other side of the arena, then | | | | moment and pet him on the neck. This is positive |
| led him back to the gate. She asked me why I was | | | | reinforcement for his standing. Then go to mount again, |
| taking her horse out of the arena, and I replied, "Until | | | | and repeat the procedure until he stands while you |
| you can learn the difference between punishment and | | | | mount. |
| correction, you shouldn't be allowed on a horse." | | | | There are five basic rules for correction: |
| This might seem harsh, since Felicia was obviously | | | | 1. Be Quick. If you don't administer the correction right |
| frustrated, but I wanted her to learn a lesson. | | | | away, the horse will have already forgotten what his |
| In the wild, horses do not punish each other. You'll | | | | behavior was, and will not associate the two in his |
| never see two horses gang up on a third to teach the | | | | mind. |
| outcast a lesson in manners. They don't vindictively | | | | 2. Be Purposeful. If you're correcting just for the sake |
| bide their time until the right moment to strike; rather, | | | | of having something to do, or without a clear idea of |
| they react instinctively as a correction. For example, | | | | your purpose, it's useless. Have a clear training purpose |
| when a stallion crowds a mare in the field, the mare | | | | in mind, and work toward that purpose. |
| nips the stallion on the neck or haunches to warn him | | | | 3. Be Consistent. Make sure that every time your |
| that he is invading her space. It is immediate, | | | | horse perpetrates a bad behavior, you exact the |
| no-nonsense, and non-judgmental. | | | | exact same correction. Otherwise, your horse will be |
| An example of punishment would be poor Felicia. She | | | | confused and will not learn whatever you are trying to |
| was working hard at a training technique, and when | | | | teach him. |
| she didn't get her way after several tries in the arena, | | | | 4. Be Appropriate. Slapping your horse repeatedly with |
| she kicked her horse. The animal didn't realize he was | | | | a whip is inappropriate. Let the correction fit the crime. |
| being punished for his inability to affect a lead change; | | | | 5. Be Reasonable. This falls in line with the old adage: |
| how could he have possibly connected the two | | | | pick your battles. Your horse can't learn everything at |
| incidents? Often, we mistakenly credit horses with | | | | once, and if you're correcting him left and right, nothing |
| human intelligence, assuming they know exactly what | | | | will stick. |