Archive for the ‘Horses Speaking’ Category
Equine Expressions: Understanding Your Horse’s Body Language- Part 2
Here is the second part of a great article I’d like to share about understanding you horse’s body language. In Part 1 the article explained communication by the:
–Ears, Eyes & Face
–Head, Neck & Tail
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Today, in Part 2 it explains communication by the:
–Legs, Posture & Voice
–Olfactory Signals
–Horses vs. Other Animals
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By Laurel Scott
Understanding equine body language is critical to successful horse-human interactions. Find out what it all means.
Legs, Posture & Voice
Reading a horse’s body language can also help the savvy owner identify subtle signs of lameness or discomfort. Alternate resting of the hind legs is common and should not ordinarily be a cause for concern. However, resting of the front legs is not normal, and if your horse is pointing a front foot or only touching the ground with a front toe, it’s time to investigate the cause.
The key, of course, is learning which postures are “normal” for your horse–and which are not…. Read the rest of this entry »
Equine Expressions: Understanding Your Horse’s Body Language- Part 1
Another great article I’d like to share about understanding you horse’s body language. In Part 1 the article will explain communication by the:
–Ears, Eyes & Face
–Head, Neck & Tail
Enjoy!
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By Laurel Scott
Understanding equine body language is critical to successful horse-human interactions. Find out what it all means.
Oh, those ears–the way they flit back and forth! And that swishing tail! A horse can speak volumes using body language. But what exactly does all that mean? And how important is it that we know?
Understanding equine body language is critical to successful horse-human interactions.
Just ask Dr. Camie Heleski, coordinator of the Michigan State University Horse Management Program and lead instructor for My Horse University’s online Horse Behavior and Welfare Course, which is based out of Michigan State University. “Many horse accidents are a result of not reading the horse’s body language,” she explains. “We are working with a very large animal that still thinks primarily like a creature of prey, hence, being observant to their body language is possibly more important than when working with any other animal.”
Equines actually communicate using all five senses: sight, smell, hearing, touch and taste. Read the rest of this entry »
UNDERSTANDING HORSE BEHAVIOUR
The first step to building a strong relationship with your horse is to understand why he is the way he is, what makes him react the way he does and basically- how the world looks from his eyes. A horse is not a human and to try applying the rules that govern our human society to the equine world is not only foolhardy and dangerous, but it is also cruel.
It may not make sense to us why he does some of the things he does, but to him it makes perfect sense. This is why we need to understand horse psychology in order understand our horse and once we understand him, maybe then and only then can we begin to teach and train him.
Today we will begin to explain the dynamic that is the horse and his herd.
Understanding Horse Behaviour
Horses originally lived on wide open plains and would Read the rest of this entry »
Finding your feel
By Christa Miramadi
*Note from Faye- I really enjoyed this article from Christa and thought I would share it with everyone. Enjoy!*
A Personal Connection …
Developing a feel is not something that happens overnight. It’s not something that you can read about in a book and “get” and it’s not something that you can pay someone to find for you. It’s a personal connection between you and the horse you’re riding and developing this feel takes patience, practice and dedication but in no way is it some impossible aspiration. Anyone can develop a feel if they try.
What is a feel anyway? Read the rest of this entry »
FINDING SOFTNESS & BALANCE- Through Natural Horsemanship
By Christa Miremadi
Most of us who are pursuing a gentle, respectful way of being with our horses like to refer to our ways as soft. We like to look at how we work with
our horses as being balanced and gentle and we hope that others who watch us working with our horses will notice how soft and balanced we are too.
Horses are gentle, quiet creatures with big hearts and a bold spirit. For centuries humans dominated, abused and used these animals against their will, relying on muscle and strength, ropes, chains and restraints in order to “break” their spirit and “bridle” their power and skills. Using horses for transportation of goods, people, supplies, working cattle, sport and pleasure, hunting and war, horses served people and provided mankind with progress of all sorts.
Somewhere along the way, a few cowboys realized that horses would likely be willing to do the same job, possibly with more heart, if they were given the ability to learn it in a gentler manner. Read the rest of this entry »
Musings from the Herd – Struggle Less
Today as you go about your day remember the lessons we have taught you. Struggle less, center yourself, and stand tall in the world. Your voice is worth being heard (herd!). We will support you each day. Just ask for what you need and we will be there. Like your guardian angels, we will whinny our support into your heart.
Allow yourself to feel today. Emotions are the messages of the soul. We listen to them and use them as information. They help create that sacred space of possibility. There is no greater gift for you today than to know that we love you unconditionally.
May the horse be with you as you step out onto the path of the world!