Trust and Understanding. These are not just words I use to fill the void with verbiage or appeal to those with compassion and empathy for the horse. These are just a couple of the words that I think many people use as catchwords in settings where folks are looking for better ways to be with a horse, words like “feel, timing and balance” or “energy” or “respect” or “leadership”. These are all great words and have significant meaning that a person should be able to clearly define or quantify. They should not be used flippantly or to simply tickle the ears of the horse public, who actually need to grasp principles that will change the way they approach everything with their horses. I believe this is one reason why there are still so many who hold to more traditional approaches, while mocking the “rope twirlers” – in whom they just see fluff and nonsense instead of reason and substance.

As many of you know, I speak often of trust and understanding as the main pillars of true response. First of all, I define “response” as the right thing done from the right frame of mind for the right reason. It is NOT simply just the “right thing” – though many times it is mistaken as such. A horse may do the right thing, but it actually has the quality of either Reaction or Resistance (See “Life in the Saddle” Podcast, Episode 3). So, when we recognize Response as more than just the physical results we’re looking for (or the smallest “try” – there’s another catchword), these things are best accomplished when the horse is “OK” in what they’re feeling and thinking. In other words, we are working with and through and by the horse’s natural congruence – their outward behavior is naturally a reflection of how they’re feeling and what they’re thinking.

You see, Trust refers to how they’re feeling or the emotional aspect of their being, particularly in relation to you, your communications and the environment or situation you have put them in. Understanding describes where we want their mental state – beyond compliance or obedience to willing, thoughtful yielding and even grasping overall purpose in what we are asking of them. When trust and understanding have been established and cultivated (the emotional and mental state is “OK”), we have laid the foundation for the “right” things to happen – and happen well – in the physical realm, i.e. true Response.

There is a lot to this and many folks start to think that it means we would never get firm or act assertively. This couldn’t be further from the truth, as horses themselves demonstrate amongst the herd. But we also must practice doing less in general, while at the same time learning how to do more effectively and for the right reasons. Many times, we let our own emotions dictate our reactions (which means we’re not in a state of Response as the “leader) and we operate in fear or frustration. This often results in aggressive reactions, rather than assertive communications. The negative emotions cloud our judgement and mess up our timing. Never forget there is a difference between both aggression and assertion as well as “kindness” and “niceness”.

So, what does all of this look like? I’ll give you a really simple example, but one that lays the kind of foundation that we’re talking about. When I start to introduce the idea of lateral flexion (bending at the poll to bring their head and neck around to the side) at the standstill operated through the direct feel of the halter and lead, I want to establish the concept of mental focus along with the physical bend. In other words, I want to use the lead to ask them to bring their own head – I don’t pull or hold because this often results in heaviness (them leaning against my steady pull) or outward compliance where they’re not really thinking it as much as just allowing us to drag their head around. So, I take the weight out of the lead and if that’s ineffective, I begin to gently jiggle the rope with my little finger, thus sending a signal to the horse’s face. If I need to firm up, I can increase this bumping action to cause discomfort but not pain, the idea being that they start to look for what I’m asking for and thereby find release. I encourage the mental connection by drawing their attention through their senses of hearing, sight or smell, so that they look at me as they’re finding the release. The result is that the lead rope is connected to their mind and when I ask, they think towards me and bring their own head around, resulting in light, responsive lateral flexion. When they’re OK mentally and emotionally, the correct physical “stuff” is like icing on the cake.

The mental and physical aspects of this dialogue are fairly easy to observe. However, the emotional side that is being addressed here escapes the attention of many folks. Simply put, we need to realize that when we ask for lateral bend as described, we are also asking for a certain amount of relaxation and trust. This is because a horse naturally desires to maintain straightness as a general rule, which is/ tied to their sense of survival, as they can flee more quickly when postured with a straight spine. Related to this, of course, is the overall ability to be more aware of their surroundings, as opposed to when they are both laterally bent and focused on us (even for short periods of time) which puts them in a much more vulnerable state. Thus, to ask them to think towards us in lateral flexion also asks them to trust us in that moment with their life. (There’s a lot more to this! See more in our Online Video Library at www.truewesthorsemanship.com)

So, working with a horse to introduce something as simple and basic as lateral flexion at the standstill gives us opportunity to address the mental and emotional sides of our horse and develop the physical responses we are looking for through intentionally improving their Trust and Understanding. Not just filler words that sound good, but quantifiable, meaningful words that help us build true connection and clear communication with our equine partners.

Hope that gives you something to chew on. Keep a leg on each side and your mind in the middle!