Learning the Language of the HorseWe as humans are very self-centered creatures and put a good deal of certainty that we are more intelligent than all other animals. It is we who must set aside our bias and open our minds to learn the language of the horse, but this is often not the case. We tie them down, hang on to their reins for balance “to ride”, use big bits, and force them to understand the human language and demands. Why do we force our view on our horse and not take the time to build a lifelong relationship with the horse?
Horses communicate with each other all day long. They do this by a flick of the eye, an ear, a tail. Their signs are minute to us, but clear as day to members of the herd. Horses are much more in tune with their body language than most humans. Most humans are verbal communicators, and there are a few of us who sit back and observe and are able to read other people. Here again this is most often a learned behavior.
When we decide that we are going to communicate with our horse where do we start? We can start by watching them in their pastures. Take a chair and a book and just see what they do. How do they interact with each other? This can be an eye-opeing experience, even if it is just for an hour.
You’re not long on your quest to understand horse "language" until you start hearing about people who can help you have a better relationship with your horse. One of the tools that I found helpful is a
Horsenality Chartdeveloped by
Linda Parelli in the summer of 2007. Looking at the chart and graphing out your horse's characteristics can really help you to understand their point of view. It may also give you some insight into yourself, as the chart can be used to analyze your own personality and style of communication
Rebekah Claar. All Rights Reserved. 2008