| I was looking through an old horse book of mine | | | | sounds harsh or hateful. Just because a horse is a |
| recently and found some horse training maxims I | | | | horse doesn't' mean he doesn't understand that tone. |
| thought you'd enjoy. | | | | In fact, horses are extra sensitive to it. I once had a |
| Plus, they make it clear how to treat a horse which | | | | friend tell me, "talk to your horse like you would your |
| helps you learn to work with horses. | | | | best friend or wife or girl friend." That made a huge |
| Check these out: | | | | impact and I've never forgotten it. Plus, it's made |
| "If they throw up their heads and act timidly, look | | | | training equines a lot easier. |
| after your stableman. Such acts speak louder than | | | | "The three greatest enemies of the horse are |
| words." | | | | idleness, fat, and an ignorant blacksmith." |
| What does this mean? It means whoever is taking | | | | The ignorant blacksmith is the farrier who smacks |
| care of your horse is likely mistreating him. Your | | | | the horse with the file when he moves - he just |
| stableman may claim he's good and fair to the horse | | | | made the horse worse. Get a new farrier. |
| but your horse doesn't lie. He wouldn't know how. | | | | "If you must put frosty bits in some mouths, let it be |
| He's simply reacting in a way he's learned to react | | | | your own. Suffering begets sympathy." Stick the bit |
| due to how he's been treated. | | | | under your arm pit for a minute to warm it up so it |
| "Always speak to a horse as you would a | | | | doesn't hurt your horse. |
| gentleman." | | | | Lastly (also my favorite)..."Be gentle, be kind, be |
| Why does this matter? Because a horse, like you and | | | | patient. |
| I, doesn't like to be talked to in a manner that | | | | |