Who were your great HORSE teachers?

PasoBaby_CarolU · Who were your great HORSE teachers?

I thought it might be a nice follow on to our discussion of Feel to remember the horses in our life who have taught us, not just Feel, but Softness, Consistency, Try, Focus, etc., and how we learned those lessons.

I will just mention one tonight to get the ball rolling. Zar (RBI) taught me to really watch my horse for when they are questioning on IF they got it right. I never realized how important my response could be to an animal, but my smile that she was right (even when she wasn't, but had really tried) was all the world to her.

It is amazing to be taught by such a sensitive horse. She makes my other horses ''easy"....

Copious_Amour

I'll have to go back and edit this later, because I don't have time to type it all out now- but it is really hard to limit this to one horse when they have all taught me so much. I would say my biggest horse teacher to date has been Captain. A horse I bought because of his looks and performance and a horse I was terrified to ride. He is also the first horse I rode bareback and brideless at the same time with so there is definitely a story there for later. Wonderful topic Carol

sebocat

Horses have always been my best teachers. Human teachers just don't come with the same brutal honesty.

My draft, Bob, was an amazing teacher- especially in the fine arts of patience, timing, and feel. He had a nack for knowing when I needed a lesson in humility, and boy could he deliver!

He was extremely sensitive, and since he was in the neighborhood of 1800 lbs, when he was nervous, there was no hiding it. There was never any forcing Bob to do anything. Not trailer loading, not worming, not picking up his feet, not accepting bug spray. There were no short cuts. Short cuts were against the rules. I needed his trust, but boy did I have to earn it.

Once I had his trust, there wasn't ANYTHING I couldn't ask for. Even his last days. Even when it hurt him. All I had to do was ask. I loaded him in a small, unfamiliar trailer for his last ride. I brought him to an unfamiliar clinic and took him inside, eyes wide. I guided him in the stock and held him quiet for his exams. All I had to do was talk to him, put my hand on his neck, and tell him it was ok.

He was incredibly sensitive to my moods, and if I was angry or frustrated, I had to deal with it before I came out to be with him - or there was no being with him. I learned how to control my emotions because of that horse. There was no lying. He saw through it. Every time.

Everything I know about horses, everything I hold dear, started with a lesson from Bob. I could never have taken those lessons away from a human teacher.

Man I miss Bob.....6 weeks and its still like a kick in the guts.

jackspark

I am right in the middle of the learning; his name is Rookie and he is trying hard to get me to slow down and take the time it takes. He also taught me to look past the obvious bravado to see the real insecurity lurking behind the scenes

He IS the Wizard of Oz and I didn't know it until it was too late. Repairing the damage now

misstux

My Morgan Dusty. We did so much together. In the beginning he scared the crap out of me. I found out after I got him home that he bit, kicked (me), bucked, reared, wheeled and bolted, and threw himself down on the ground. With time he became so light to me that a lot of our riding communication became me seeing it happening.

becdubie

Haha.... my little pony as a kid...taught me how to ride a trot......faster and faster, and faster....that's all she would do is trot. Of course I was just a little kid and had no idea what I was doing.....I think poor little stormy was hoping I would fall off.

My horse as a teenager was my best buddy, he taught me that if I was patient and clear, he would do anything I asked. But if I was rude....he would tell me off.

CoolsLadyInRed

My donkey taught me the most in the shortest period of time. When he came here he had a tough time letting me pick his feet up. Of course the first farrier visit was a fighting match but and the big but was just little tries on my part. Scratching his butt and down his leg. Eventually massaging his legs which he loved but he sure questioned it. as he trusted me more his little hoof would stay in my hand for short periods but I always placed it down before he pulled it away. After several months of massaging and picking up those feet he would finally give them to me at liberty. It just made me feel so good to see the progress he made. and let me tell you...Like BOb the draft horse there was nothing you could force this donkey into doing if he didn't want to. Trust goes a long way!