Post by workingcob on May 20, 2012 13:54:45 GMT
This thread has come about because of the other thread, as already stated. In that thread, the OP stated he's never come across a horse in 25 years of working with them that learns by being given time off.
Well, sorry, but I disagree. Virtually all youngsters, and plenty of older horses, do 'learn', or at least process, previous lessons or training during periods of down time, usually known as latent learning.
As far as horses with a problem, or being 'naughty' - well, that depends on why it is happening. OP rules out fitness/physical issues, but of course, as already stated, horses are not machines and many have problems related to boredom, fear, anxiety, stress etc. Often, these type of problems are related to their humans - whether we like it or not, a lot of the time our own issues are reflected back to us by our horses. For example, riders suffering with stress or anger issues (eg work related) can often start having problems with their horses, as they can be rigid with tension, forget to breathe properly, take their anger out on their horse etc. In that situation, a period of down time for horse and rider can be very beneficial, mainly for the rider to resolve whatever non-horse related problems are causing the horse to have issues. I'm speaking for experience here, as I used to have a horrendously stressful job and during one particularly bad time at work, noticed my horse was unwilling to be caught (having always been the type to wait at the gate) and generally unco-operative during ridden and even ground sessions. Once I got my act together, he went back to being his old self.
The other thread mentioned a pony having problems, and did mention personal family issues going on at the same time. Not knowing the specifics, it's impossible to say if the two are related, but if they are then no amount of schooling, tough love or anything else is going to sort that pony.
On the other hand, turning away a pony because it is napping, say, is not going to solve the problem, particularly if it's napping because it has the upper hand in the partnership.
And as for the "my horse owes me as I fork out a fortune to keep him" line of thought, well that is a route to unhappiness on both sides
Well, sorry, but I disagree. Virtually all youngsters, and plenty of older horses, do 'learn', or at least process, previous lessons or training during periods of down time, usually known as latent learning.
As far as horses with a problem, or being 'naughty' - well, that depends on why it is happening. OP rules out fitness/physical issues, but of course, as already stated, horses are not machines and many have problems related to boredom, fear, anxiety, stress etc. Often, these type of problems are related to their humans - whether we like it or not, a lot of the time our own issues are reflected back to us by our horses. For example, riders suffering with stress or anger issues (eg work related) can often start having problems with their horses, as they can be rigid with tension, forget to breathe properly, take their anger out on their horse etc. In that situation, a period of down time for horse and rider can be very beneficial, mainly for the rider to resolve whatever non-horse related problems are causing the horse to have issues. I'm speaking for experience here, as I used to have a horrendously stressful job and during one particularly bad time at work, noticed my horse was unwilling to be caught (having always been the type to wait at the gate) and generally unco-operative during ridden and even ground sessions. Once I got my act together, he went back to being his old self.
The other thread mentioned a pony having problems, and did mention personal family issues going on at the same time. Not knowing the specifics, it's impossible to say if the two are related, but if they are then no amount of schooling, tough love or anything else is going to sort that pony.
On the other hand, turning away a pony because it is napping, say, is not going to solve the problem, particularly if it's napping because it has the upper hand in the partnership.
And as for the "my horse owes me as I fork out a fortune to keep him" line of thought, well that is a route to unhappiness on both sides
