I have been working with my horse, Gracie trying to see if the whole kicking episode was due to lack of respect or not. Have I let small things go by and major problems come from it? She has been having the laid back ear action when I fed her and I went ahead and fed. I think I was rewarding bad attitude. Then on the last ride she kicked out at another horse. I worked her on the trail when she did and we did circles and I corrected her.
So the last few days I have been lungeing her on a long line and making her run circles both ways. She seemed to have an attitude while doing this but I have seen some change in her. Then I ride her and work her with stops, back-ups and figure eights. I think somewhere along the way we had become equals but not partners. We both have had wake-up calls this week.
I'm not an expert by any means, but I know there is a subtle [yet distinct] difference between laid back versions of requesting something and gimme now ears. It can be pretty tough to discern at first. Usually the request is laid back ears with the head down and nose extended out; if the nose is in (and especially if the head is turned slightly to the side) it is demanding instead of asking.
ReplyDeleteThis might be a tacky thing, but I put together a lens on body language if you're like me and would rather have the visual. I'm fascinated with it, and hopefully it's okay to leave a link here: http://www.squidoo.com/epicfarmsbodylanguage I guess if it's not you can just delete it, right? :o)
I appreciate your link and enjoyed looking at it. Thank your sharing that. I want to always be learning and be willing to try understand their language. It could save me from another incident.
ReplyDeleteThank you (I'm just glad you weren't annoyed - I worried over it a bit). I've learned so much more just sitting outside watching our horses interact than I ever learned from all the lessons, books, etc. I used to be a really big "people watcher" and just shifted it over to the horses *laugh*. It's amazing how much communication actually goes on when you really start watching for it. Your Gracie is a very pretty girl! :o)
ReplyDeleteyou know this really makes me laugh because i just say a utube clip on the making of a dove commercial and they photoshopped the girls eyes so much that it looked like this...can you imagine. now his look really cool!
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