SET LIMITS FOR MORE FREEDOM

Sometimes we have to say "no" - setting clear and fair boundaries for your horse; that's how education builds relationships.

There was a time when horse training was very much characterized by pressure and violence. Riders punished undesirable behavior with way too much force. Today we know that this behavior does not bring success in training but creates fear. This understanding, however, has left an empty space for many riders. I often experience that riders are unsure how to say "no" correctly without alienating their horse.

To say "no" properly, the rider needs persuasiveness. The correction has to be authentic, meaning it has to come from within.

Clear rules improve the relationship between horses and humans. A horse will stop taking people seriously if you leave him responsible for deciding what he can or cannot do. This often escalates, and both ( people and horses) are stuck in bitter power struggles.

The best way to be a good friend to the horse is to say "no" and set certain limits. This is how the horse learns to recognize the human as a competent and reliable leader.

As a herd animal, the horse is used to the fact that there are rules within the group. This gives him security and orientation. So if the horse is allowed to do everything he wants, we are actually unsettling him. This, in turn, causes stress that can make the horse physically ill. Stomach ulcers, for example, are a typical consequence of long-term psychological stress.

Insecurity not only affects health, but it can also be the reason why the horse cannot properly concentrate on us during training. If the horse is not learned to listen to us in the simplest things, like standing still when groomed or when we are mounting, it is doubtful that he will orient himself to us and pay attention to aids during training. Then learning becomes almost impossible, and the harmony is often gone. With insecure horses, physical relaxation is also sacrificed in order to maintain control. So the horse cannot develop its full potential if the safe frame is missing.

We should love and respect their horses enough to be able to say "no" to them because setting up clear boundaries actually promotes freedom and trust.