Horsemanship Essentials – Control Of Emotions

This episode of “Horsemanship Essentials” focuses on the crucial role of emotional control for humans when working with horses, alongside practical approaches to handling fearful horses and building their confidence. Monty Roberts and Kelly Marks introduce the concept of essential horsemanship skills, highlighting that it extends beyond just body language.

The episode opens with Kelly Marks and Monty Roberts emphasising the importance of controlling one’s emotions around horses, noting that what might appear as patience is often the ability to manage their own feelings. Kelly introduces Treele, a pony with a history of being considered unhandleable due to extreme fear. Kelly demonstrates a very slow and careful approach to build trust with Treele, focusing on gentle touch and allowing the pony to become accustomed to her presence and touch. She highlights the need to maintain low energy levels, take deep calming breaths, and avoid any sudden movements that could startle Treele.

The presenters discuss how horses are highly sensitive to human energy and body language, acting as creatures of synchrony within a herd. They explain that a horse’s heart rate and emotional state can mirror that of the handler. Monty Roberts elaborates on the technique of diaphragmatic breathing as a way for handlers to consciously lower their pulse rate and adrenaline levels, promoting a sense of calm that can influence the horse.

Kelly also shares her personal experiences with managing nervousness in competitions, mentioning the use of mental rehearsal as a helpful tool. The concept of incremental learning is introduced, suggesting that both horses and humans build confidence through small, progressive steps.

The episode concludes with Kelly working with Millie, a pony who had never been loaded into a horse box in her nine years. Kelly emphasises the importance of starting relaxed and staying that way, maintaining safety, and concentrating on slow out breaths. She demonstrates a non-confrontational approach, gradually encouraging Millie to walk over a tarpaulin and eventually into the horse box. The key message is that if a horse is struggling, the handler should consider what they can change to help the horse understand better.

Key Learning Points:

1. Emotional regulation: Emotional regulation is a fundamental skill for anyone working with horses. Our emotional state directly impacts the horse, and maintaining calmness helps the horse feel more secure and receptive. Techniques like diaphragmatic breathing can aid in achieving this.
2. Patience and a gradual approach: Patience and a gradual, non-confrontational approach are crucial when dealing with fearful horses. Building trust and allowing the horse to become comfortable at their own pace is more effective than force or rushing….
3. Understanding horse perception: Understanding how horses perceive and respond to human energy and body language is essential for effective communication. Horses are highly attuned to our subtle cues and emotional state.
4. Incremental learning: Breaking down challenges into smaller, manageable steps (incremental learning) can help both horses and handlers build confidence. This applies to various aspects of horsemanship, from handling to overcoming specific fears like loading.
5. Handler responsibility: When a horse is struggling, the focus should shift to what the handler can change in their approach to help the horse understand. Blaming the horse is counterproductive; instead, we should consider our own actions and communication….