Horses and Leadership

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Whether you ride or work with horses on the ground it is all about leadership. This group is for anyone interested in discussing leadership either with reference to equine assisted learning programs or your own personal experiences with your horse

Members: 30
Latest Activity: Jul 15, 2015

Discussion Forum

Breaking a horse from cowkicking?? 2 Replies

Hi! i just got a 4 yr old qh mare for christmas, she cowkicks when i brush her sides and butt, and she also cowkicks when i tighten the girth. What can i do to get her to quit cowkicking and be fine…Continue

Started by Jessica Parker. Last reply by Jessica Parker Feb 1, 2010.

Cynthia Royal horse training at liberty and leadership training!

Hi There I am new to this group. Since most of you are interested in leadership and liberty work I thought I would mention there is teleconference horse training/coaching available from Cynthia…Continue

Started by C Mercer Jan 29, 2010.

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Comment by Fiona Hill on November 17, 2009 at 11:05am: Couldn't have put it better myself Laura!

Comment by Jackie Cochran on November 15, 2009 at 9:09pm: Dear cmos, unless you have breeding plans for your stallion, I would recommend gelding as soon as the weather permits. He is in the protective stallion mode (after all he had to face the predator himself.) Removing the stallion part may make your life easier. Of course he is your horse and there are plenty of other alternatives if he is of breeding quality and previously showing a cooperative disposition.
Good for you for being determined to be your stud colts leader. This can be challenging at the best of times, much less then there IS a predator involved!
May your path be smooth. Jackie

Comment by cmos on November 15, 2009 at 8:30pm: LMAO...I can't beleive my eyes...I'm in the right class. Jackie C. you are so right on. I did'nt think I'd ever hear any one think or talk my language. I've read all your comments and see alot of good stuff. YES! if anyone is going to own an animal they have to be the LEADER! and if you are going to handle a horse you HAVE TO step up to the plate and take over the herd or get stomped on, that's just fact. I'm sitting here reading these conversations and thinking to my self " hahah do I have a surprise for you". I have a 3 1/2 yr.old thrbred/QH.stallion who was attact by a mmm bear? we think and he is thinking that I'm going to be one of his herd...hahaha I do'nt think so. It's going to be harder since his bad expeirence take longer but it's gotta' be done. I had started him when he was 2 1/2 and was on his back but now he's ready to fight with all... yet he likes attention and cooing. so glad to have found this group thank you.

Comment by Shirley on November 14, 2009 at 11:35am: Great comments. It is great how so many of us are searching for answers and willing to share what we've learned. "Seek and ye shall find" This information is our treasures and pearls when horses are our passion.
Sappy?

Comment by Jennifer Lamm on November 14, 2009 at 11:16am: Fiona. I had a truly dangerous horse and I just learned how to show him that I could be leader, and we went nice and slow..... I hope you stay safe. I can totally recommend that you watch Chris Irwin's videos to show you some real subtle body language that does not encourage dominance and actually softens the bad boy... I'm here for you, in the same boat and of course Jackie has awesome ideas too.

Comment by Jackie Cochran on November 14, 2009 at 10:09am: Hi Fionna--Let me say first that I do not know you and your horse, every case is different.
I find that a simple way to establish leadership at a distance (not touching) is to bring my shoulders back and inflate my chest, and then stepping forward (one step) abruptly. This has worked for me with geldings and mares. DO NOT use on a stallion as a "threat" (ie. facing his head), just strut around him when handling him. Horses feel more secure around people who ACT brave.
Boss horses can learn that their wimpy little human (like me) is the supreme boss. The thing that has helped me the most is an attitude of supreme determination that the horse WILL obey me, there is no option.

If you feel like your horse is truly dangerous there is a site that sells Beery's horse training course and pulley bridle. It is horsetrainingresources.com.. Beery was an American "horse tamer" that developed methods that did work with dangerous horses back before everyone got a car. While I do not approve of his throwing the horse, everything up to that is sound.
I have found that if I have SEVERAL solutions in my mind that the horse is quicker to cooperate. If I have in my mind gradually escalating methods of insisting on obedience the horse obeys quicker. Sometimes it is best to have a piece of tack like the pulley bridle and never use it, just knowing that you can go to the next step is sometimes enough to convince the horse to cooperate.
I will get myself a pulley bridle next year just to have it. I will be surprised if I have to use it more than three times before I die because I have a lot of other solutions I can use. I gave a pulley bridle to my riding teacher, twice we have discussed using it on problem horses, gotten it out and looked at it, and then my teacher never had to use it because the horse decided to cooperate in its next training session. Strange but true.

Comment by Tiffany on November 13, 2009 at 10:57pm: I'm joining this one because I require much needed encouragement in getting a little more snippy with my horse. She's only a year old and she is the leader pretty much. XD

Soo.. Hi! ^^

Comment by Fiona Hill on November 13, 2009 at 11:15am: My horse is a natural leader - with other horses he is always the boss and although there are horses who can boss him they have to be extremely aggressive to get him to back down.
Now I understand this dynamic I realise he wasn't ever going to let me be in charge and although I've increased my leadership skills hugely (in particular with regard to boundaries) we have a kind of uneasy truce where I never push him outside his comfort zone.

I've realised I don't have what it takes to push him harder than he can push me when the chips are down. Jackie, your description of what happens is spot on. Dangerous stuff.

Comment by Jackie Cochran on November 11, 2009 at 2:27pm: Of course the horse does not want the job--the herd leader is the horse that stands between the predator and the rest of the herd, and the one who has to fight if necessary--especially with a mare and foal. If you are not the leader the horse gets anxious because HE-the horse-MUST keep and eye out for threats to the herd. The horse as leader will not listen to his human because it distracts him from his true job--looking out for dangers.
If the non-leading human persists in insisting that the horse listens to them, then the horse will often discipline the human just like the human was a member of the herd. This can be real painful for the human.
The horse as leader is all geared up to FIGHT if necessary, or to "herd" the other horses away from the danger. If the horse has to fight a predator, the horse faces the risk of injury or death. So they get all keyed up and DO NOT LISTEN TO THEIR HUMAN when they think they HAVE to be the leader.
Be your horse's leader and boss. Then the horse can relax and maybe decide that you are worth his friendship.

Comment by Jackie Cochran on November 11, 2009 at 1:35pm: A lot of people do not seem to realize that you must be your horse's leader (boss) BEFORE your horse will feel safe enough to be your friend.