| They say the eyes are are the gateway to the soul. | | | | If you're working with a horse that's cunning and |
| When it was said, they were referring to us humans. | | | | known to run over people then you rarely want to lose |
| But the truth is, it also refers to horses. | | | | eye contact with this horse. Sometimes when you look |
| Many horse owners don't understand the importance | | | | away for just a second he knows it's his chance to |
| and usefulness of the horse's eyes while training. That | | | | charge at you. But keeping eye contact helps minimize |
| being so, let me share with you some things you may | | | | that possibility. |
| find useful - some you may know...some you may not. | | | | Although a horse's ears are part of the plan. the eyes |
| First, there's the eye which reveals a little about the | | | | are how the horse interprets his world. The horse |
| character of the horse you're working with. It may | | | | gladly desires to approach an object or person that |
| have a kind eye. A kind eye indicates the horse will be | | | | has caused him pleasure. Likewise, he runs from |
| agreeable to train and will readily respond to your aids | | | | objects or persons that cause him pain. (Pain could be |
| while training. | | | | a number of things like work, misuse of aids such as |
| One way to tell if the horse is nervous is by noting his | | | | spurs, being talked to in an abrasive manner, etc.) |
| eyes. Horses can be very expressive in their looks. | | | | Lots of horse owners get discouraged with their horse |
| And you can tell if a horse is a nervous horse by the | | | | because they develop bad habits. One particular habit |
| eyes appearing sort of "worried like." | | | | is kicking. I once read a great book on horses and it |
| Obviously, this nervous horse would require more | | | | said this about kicking: |
| thoughtful handling than would a non-nervous horse. | | | | If a horse kicks at a man and sees he inspired the |
| I have a horse that would get mad after a while of | | | | man with fear and makes him draw back, he will |
| riding. She used to get what I call mad eyes. Her | | | | remember this and kick any man who goes near him |
| expression was actually a sort of angry expression. | | | | whom he fears or has the memory of displeasure |
| Mostly, the expression came from her eyes. Here | | | | with. |
| eyes would get red after a while. | | | | Note the author said "...and see he inspired the man |
| Jesse Beery, a famous horse trainer from the 1800's, | | | | with fear". The point is the horse "saw" the man was |
| talked a lot about the eyes of the horse. Even those | | | | inspired with fear. The horse used one of his greatest |
| many years ago he knew about the horse's eyes. | | | | tools...his eyes. If a man shows no fear and knows |
| Beery discovered there were four different disposition | | | | how to handle a kicker, the horse will "see" he cannot |
| types of a horse. Certain characteristics of the eyes | | | | inspire fear in the man and be less apt to kick |
| would tell you much about the horse's personality and | | | | (although, if confirmed in the habit of kicking, it may |
| how much work it would be to train the horse. | | | | require several training sessions to eradicate this from |
| Berry's classic disposition type 3 was most interesting. | | | | the horse's memory). |
| Beery said "Where type #2 will allow you to do all the | | | | In short, the eyes are the mirror of the horse's mind. |
| work, type 3 will do all the work for you. You only | | | | Quiet eyes indicate quietness and sincerity. Quick and |
| need to control its movements." | | | | lively eye indicate vivacity. Restless eyes turning in all |
| In all my training experience and many things I've read, I | | | | directions indicate suspicion and show the horse is |
| concur with Beery's discovery. The eyes play an | | | | studying all around him and may perhaps be preparing |
| enormous role in horse training. | | | | some freak of self will. Turbid eyes indicate fear or |
| To read more about Beery and his methods, you can | | | | anger. |
| go to this web address: | | | | There's a proverb that tells us not to trust the horse |
| There is still more to know about the horse's eyes. | | | | that shows the white of his eyes. Perhaps it's because |
| For one, when you work with a horse, it's advisable to | | | | the white shows when he's looking sideways and he's |
| look him in the eye a lot. Why? Because horse's an | | | | intent on seizing the moment when no attention is |
| extremely observant animal and they study their | | | | being paid for escape or attack. |
| surroundings. If you're in their surroundings they are | | | | I could go on about the eyes but this hopefully gives |
| studying you too. If they see you looking at them in the | | | | you a great idea as to how important the horse's eyes |
| eye it sends a message to them about who is in | | | | are. Make it a habit to continually watch the horse's |
| control. | | | | eyes. Learn what he is thinking by learning his eyes. |