I much prefer the description of playing with horses versus the training of horses. In the process of convincing a horse to yield to your suggestion it is fundamentally critical that there be something in it for the horse. A horses that offers you what you asked for with controlled energy and exuberance is truly a celebration rather than an animal going through the motions looking for the first way out possible. For many people this is difficult to comprehend. Unfortunately many people should be riding cars not horses. For those who really do care for their equine friends have a responsibility to become educated. Most horses are not with us by choice. They would probably prefer to be out roaming in a herd in the mountains or plains. So to respect the horse we have to understand "The Way of the Horse" that is what is natural to the horse as they understand it.

At PK Equestrian Centre we feel it is extremely important to teach the owners as well as the horse. This is why one of my preferred methods of stimulating people is by doing a hands-on clinic in a group setting. I don't mind working with a difficult horse to help set a foundation but sooner or later this horse will have to go home. There the owner will have to deal with this horse. It is for this reason that I think it is imperative that owners be involved in the process so that they are equipped to understand and develop a relationship with the horse. As a clinician I act as a facilitator or guide. My role is to get the participants to execute certain exercises which help establish the handlers as the leader in the activity. Helping people read the horse's body language so that they can tell when they are compliant or about to rebel. The key is to develop a balance in what is required to motivate a horse to comply too the suggestion. That is to try.

Often owners have difficulty recognizing an animal's try because it may be minute. Horses guess at what we may want them to do. Generally they seek comfort. They will keep guessing till we leave them alone. When a horse starts to be in the right direction that is to guess right for about a 100 times we can say that by then they know it. We have to be simple, progressive, clear, concise, and quick to reward any step in the right direction.

Many horse owners experience difficulties because of the pet syndrome. That is they coddle the animal without having respect. Things may appear to be going fine till the horse says " no way "in pretty aggressive language but again merely in horse language. This is when these owners get not only scared if they are lucky, but sometimes they get hurt. The writing was on the wall in most cases, but the owners could not read it or didn't want to. Horses relate to us by horse rules to ignore these is very dangerous and nothing mystical about it. Most horses can be quite forgiving, this is why allot of people just get by. Unfortunately more dominant or emotionally fragile horses become fairly explosive when they feel threatened or their position in the herd challenged. We have to remember these are prey animals and that they function by this set of animal behavior. They are designed to move around in a herd with an established hierarchy of leadership. The stallion guards his mares against rivals or threats, usually a boss mare decides which way they will go to find water or pastures. When there is trouble horses will usually use their speed to outrun it.

When they are in doubt or frightened they blast off. They move, graze, drink, and socialize in this hierarchy of their pecking order.

So as a human being you want to be the herd boss and a leader. This is easy to say but to establish it in a respectful manner by their rules is not always so simple. To ask them to be brave in a situation where their impulse is to run or fight requires skill and knowledge of their body language. Horses can project themselves or their will over considerable distance. A boss mare can project that don’t even look at that food it is mine look from as far as 50-75 feet and sometimes further. To project yourself in this manner may not always be useful because it may intimidate your horse, and make it very hard for him to trust you because he may fear for his life. The key is to be just notches above them in the pecking order unless they are being disrespectful. The price they have to pay has to be administered quickly and fairly. In most cases reaffirming your lead position consists of merely herding your horse ahead of you or turning back and forth. When this horse realizes that the path he chooses is not his but yours you start to take control. Geldings are usually the easiest to establish position over. Mares and then stallions usually follow in that order. Mares and stallions have the tendency to challenge your position more often it is in their nature.

When humans are conscious of their behavior and how it is perceived by their horses they then stand a much better chance of controlling any situation they deal with them using Horse Rules.