Good Horsemanship - Ross Jacobs Ross Jacobs

A horse's life is full of first time experiences. It is the nature of a horse to know understand why or for how long the event occurs. Many first time experiences can cause stress to a horse and we need to help them understand that it is not forever.

This is a discussion on using anthropomorphism as a tool in horse training and coaching.

Anthropomorphism is assigning human trait and emotions to non-human things. In horse training, it can be very usual but it is sometimes taken too far. Horses and humans share a number characteristics, but thy don't share all their characteristics and it is important to take care when using anthropomorphic terms to describe a horse's response and motivations.

Timing the release of pressure is fundamental to a horse's learning. But good timing is more dependent on the horse's change of thought than it is to the horse's change in behaviour.

People who can't see a problem in a horse believe there is no problem to see. But just because you don't see it doesn't mean it does not exist. Once you do see it you wonder how it is that others don't see it. Personal perception is not always a reliable source of information.

How would the way we handle and train horses change if horses could cry?

I sometimes get asked if there is one thing a good horse person needs to know to be good with horses.