Horses and Leadership

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Comment by Tiffany on November 13, 2009 at 10:57pm

I'm joining this one because I require much needed encouragement in getting a little more snippy with my horse. She's only a year old and she is the leader pretty much. XD

Soo.. Hi! ^^

Comment by Fiona Hill on November 13, 2009 at 11:15am

My horse is a natural leader - with other horses he is always the boss and although there are horses who can boss him they have to be extremely aggressive to get him to back down.
Now I understand this dynamic I realise he wasn't ever going to let me be in charge and although I've increased my leadership skills hugely (in particular with regard to boundaries) we have a kind of uneasy truce where I never push him outside his comfort zone.

I've realised I don't have what it takes to push him harder than he can push me when the chips are down. Jackie, your description of what happens is spot on. Dangerous stuff.

Comment by Jackie Cochran on November 11, 2009 at 2:27pm

Of course the horse does not want the job--the herd leader is the horse that stands between the predator and the rest of the herd, and the one who has to fight if necessary--especially with a mare and foal. If you are not the leader the horse gets anxious because HE-the horse-MUST keep and eye out for threats to the herd. The horse as leader will not listen to his human because it distracts him from his true job--looking out for dangers.
If the non-leading human persists in insisting that the horse listens to them, then the horse will often discipline the human just like the human was a member of the herd. This can be real painful for the human.
The horse as leader is all geared up to FIGHT if necessary, or to "herd" the other horses away from the danger. If the horse has to fight a predator, the horse faces the risk of injury or death. So they get all keyed up and DO NOT LISTEN TO THEIR HUMAN when they think they HAVE to be the leader.
Be your horse's leader and boss. Then the horse can relax and maybe decide that you are worth his friendship.

Comment by Laura Hunter on November 11, 2009 at 1:50pm

Exactly! As a prey animal your horse needs a strong dependable leader. In your herd of 2 (you and your horse) if you don't have what it takes to be the leader the horse has to take over. It's my experience that most horses would rather not have that job.

Comment by Jackie Cochran on November 11, 2009 at 1:35pm

A lot of people do not seem to realize that you must be your horse's leader (boss) BEFORE your horse will feel safe enough to be your friend.

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