In the animal kingdom there is a pecking order. Richard Shrake points out that it's a lot like the military. He ranks in the pecking order go from General down to Private. The General will get first pick of the food, decide where to go and when, and so on.
The "second in command" will act just like the General but he won't pick on the General because the General dominates him. This string of command continues all the way down to the bottom of the pecking order. Any time a new animal comes into the group then the pecking order shifts. Knowing this information, you can use it to your advantage. You can make yourself the leader in the horse's eyes. He'll look to you for instruction. He'll obey you.
If you have a dominant horse it will be instinct for him to let a more dominant being make the decisions. In this case the dominant being will be you. You will become leader by using your body language to show you are confident. Being dominant doesn't mean you're being aggressive.
On the other hand, if your horse is the General, you may have to be more assertive. Make sure your horse doesn't think you're a threat. It's easy to come across as threatening when you're being assertive. If your horse feels threatened he'll fight back and you can't win. And if you are doing horse training, you will find it hard to get results.
In the wild, dominant and aggressive horses will make their bodies tight and make sudden moves with fury while getting into the other horse's space. The weaker horse will concede and move out of his space. Think of it as the General screaming an order and the Private is obeying.
Slow movements tend to draw one horse to another. Horses express calmness with relaxed, slow steps. This is how they welcome other horses in their space.
If a horse is trying to show you he's the General you may see a clamped-down tail with pinned ears. To get him to accept you as the General you will move him out of his space. You do this by matching any quick moves he makes with your own quick moves. The trick is to make the first strike before he does.
One way to do this is with a quick arm movement towards him ? almost like you're violently shooing away some pesky flies. Also, you can use an aggressive tone of voice towards a horse if he's being aggressive.
How can you tell if he's conceding to you? If he turns his head or drops it, relaxes his tail, begins chewing, or takes a deep breath, then that's how you know. If any of these happen he's saying, "Okay, I'll do what you say because I want to listen to you." Pay attention to these clues that tell you your horse is in the Private mode (the follower) instead of the General mode.
When you go into the round pen to work with your horse first check to see how he responds to you. If he rubs his head on you or swings his rear end toward you then he's challenging your position in the pecking order. If you're with a horse that's not dominant you want to make sure he has confidence. Thus, be very careful not to be threatening.
About The Author
Andy Curry is a nationally known horse trainer and author of several best selling horse training and horse care books. For information visit his website at www.horsetrainingandtips.com. He is also the leading expert on Jesse Beery's horse training methods which can be seen at www.horsetrainingandtips.com.
Wood Dale Chicago prom limo .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareWhen I had a Toy Poodle, I used a small... Read More
As you likely know already, horses have at least 10... Read More
Congratulations on your choice to bring home a West Highland... Read More
Having a boxer dog as a pet, although low-maintenance, require... Read More
If you have ever tried to take a picture of... Read More
The treatment for heartworms is different for cats and dogs.... Read More
Your local grocery store is chock full of food and... Read More
Hamster breeding can sometimes be confusing for a hamster owner.... Read More
Did you know that there are key health benefits that... Read More
Aggression behavior in a dog is a normal form of... Read More
The West Highland White Terrier or Westie, has it's origin,... Read More
Selling a HorseThe best new tool for people selling horses... Read More
Dogs need mental and physical stimulation. They're also very inquisitive... Read More
Pet's, any kind of pet can be a welcome addition... Read More
Did you know that dog toys are actually good for... Read More
Sadly, there are several household items which we tend to... Read More
Dog training can provide a tremendous amount of satisfaction. Every... Read More
Just say the word cancer and any of a host... Read More
Before we talk about using the essential oils, we first... Read More
It is entirely normal to look for signs of intelligence... Read More
Are there so many great dog breeds out there that... Read More
Even if you haven't had a run-in involving your pet... Read More
Maintaining your fish bowl can be difficult sometimes. However, your... Read More
Tired of cleaning the cat box? Here are some tips... Read More
Is there anything more cute and cuddly than tiny little... Read More
Antigo wedding limo ..One we must regrettably share with our children for they... Read More
Until a very recent period, dog worms were thought to... Read More
Training one dog can be hard enough, but two, now... Read More
Choosing a dog is a fun adventure. The search for... Read More
In the purebred West Highland Terrier puppy market, there are... Read More
Ok, so everyone who stays on top of the show... Read More
Are you ready for a Boxer?The answer is "no" if... Read More
"Doggy breath" ? that unpleasant odor emanating from the mouths... Read More
Find a vet, if possible, who specializes in small animals... Read More
Eclampsia, or milk fever, is an acute, life-threatening condition which... Read More
If you decide you want a purebred, make sure it's... Read More
Pet friendly vacations and travel planning make sense -- after... Read More
Dog day care programs benefit the dogs of owner's who... Read More
My son and I have a cat. Her name is... Read More
Many dog owners find themselves frustrated, deeply concerned and even... Read More
Some people have horses they don't dare tie. Why? Because... Read More
When looking for the best dog food - consider Life's... Read More
My dear owner,Thank you once again for giving me shelter.... Read More
"Westies" or West Highland White Terriers are furry coated dogs,... Read More
Flea control can be a very hard thing to do... Read More
Among the most well known cat lover gifts are photo... Read More
Have you ever thought about what you need to do... Read More
Does the idea of trimming your dog's nails send chills... Read More
Taurine, a water-soluble amino acid, has recently become the topic... Read More
IntroductionA long time ago, before evolution turned the primate into... Read More
Pet |