The one great precept and practice in using a horse is this, never deal with him when you are in a fit of passion. A fit of passion is a thing that has no foresight in it, and so we often have to rue the day when we gave way to it. Consequently, when your horse shies at an object and is unwilling to go up to it, he should be shown that there is nothing fearful in it, least of all to a courageous horse like him; but if this fails, touch the object yourself that seems so dreadful to him and lead him up to it with gentleness. Compulsion and blows inspire only the more fear; for when horses are at all hurt at such a time, they think that what they shied at is the cause of the hurt.This is a quote from The Art of Horsemanship by Xenophon, edited and translated by Morris H. Morgan.If you've been working with horses for any length of time, you've probably been frustrated with your horse or even angry with your horse.When we deal with a horse in a fit of passion or anger we damage or destroy our relationship with that horse. Force only inspires more fear.In the second half of life, maybe we can shelve the ego. Instead, we can show our horses that they have nothing to be afraid of. We can deal with our horses with gentleness.Here's a link to the Bluebonnet Equine Humane Society.And a link to the Second Half Horsemanship website.

Ver todos los episodios