| Here's another question from email after my post | | | | reaction is to flee. So his life depends on his legs. He |
| about a horse's sense of trust (No click). And it brings | | | | know this very well, so he's very protective of his legs. |
| out a point about a horse's senses that you might not | | | | That's why he's not so excited about crossing a |
| have realized. I certainly didn't until I started studying | | | | stream he's never seen before. He can see it coming |
| horse health. But if you understand it, you'll know why a | | | | from a distance. But once he's right up on it, it |
| horse might be reluctant to cross strange streams. | | | | disappears from his vision. |
| "Dear Sierra, | | | | Your horse is reluctant to walk across something |
| A few days a go you wrote about taking a horse | | | | strange if he can't examine first. He doesn't want to |
| onto a trail he's never been on, especially water. I | | | | jeopardize his legs if he's not sure what he's stepping |
| haven't owned my horse for very long, but I've found | | | | in. So your goal is to get your horse to trust you, his |
| that my horse is very hesitant to cross a stream he's | | | | leader, never to let any harm come to him. And that |
| never seen. Why is it that he can cross strange land | | | | includes stepping into uncertainty. |
| okay, but not water?" -KR, King of Prussia, PA | | | | Here's a horse training exercise you can try with your |
| Great question. The answer is in your horse's eyes. | | | | horse. Get a shiny piece of gray plastic, like, say, one |
| Here's what I mean... | | | | of those jumbo-sized garbage bags. Place it on the |
| Because your horse's eyes are located on the sides | | | | ground, then slowly lead your horse over it. |
| of his head, they have very good peripheral vision. But | | | | He'll experience a tense moment when the bag |
| as good as his vision is, he does have some blind | | | | disappears from his sight. But once he steps on it a |
| spots. When your horse stands straight with his head | | | | few through it a few times, and realizes he still has all |
| up, he cannot see... | | | | his appendages, his trust in you will increase. And that's |
| * Directly behind him | | | | what you want. |
| * Directly in front of his forehead (within a few feet) | | | | So when you see a horse crossing a stream you |
| * On his back just behind his withers | | | | know he's never seen before, you can be sure he has |
| * Directly under his head | | | | a great sense of trust in his leader. Your goal is to get |
| It's the last one - directly under his head, that is causing | | | | your horse to trust you as that leader. And when he |
| your horse to be uneasy while crossing a stream. | | | | does, he'll go anywhere with you. |
| You see, when a horse encounters trouble, his first | | | | |