When Amanda Fivel, the protagonist in Clan of the Horses, has her first riding lesson with Torgeir Rosenlund he asks her to start to notice the little things.
"What little things?" Amanda asks.
"The little things you do not notice," Torgeir Rosenlund replies.
Here are two other things Torgeir told Amanda about, that is not included in the book. To little things that are far from little from the horse's pont of view:
Many cinicians and trainers will point out the importancy of riders being "consistent" around horses. But consistancy must not be confused with having good routines. Good routines creates a sense of safety and security for horses. Horses are designed to follow the rhythm of nature - and we owe them a ryhthm when we keep them too. But when we start talking about "consistency", there are some nuances that are easily lost - that really matters to the horse.
In this blog I will explain why the art of consistancy can be counter productive when dealing with horses. I will also argue that this way of thinking is applicable when raising children. The idea of simply deciding what's allowed and what is forbidden, and spend our time guarding the fine line between these two extremities is just not good enough, neither for horses nor children. Still, this is what people do. All the time. Here are two classic examples in riding and horse handeling.
1. IT IS FORBIDDEN TO SCRATCH YOUR HEAD WHILE WEARING A BRIDLE
 |
(Illustrasjonsbilde fra Carterses photostream, Flickr) |
When asked, people will give you many different reasons for not allowing their horse to scratch his head when the bridle is on. Wear on equipment is a common explanation. It is also a matter of safety; the horse might get intangled or hurt. Some just say it's just a rule they choose to enforce for no particular reason.
 |
| Picture: Maxillary artery and Nerve (Antatomy of the Horse ISBN: 3-89993-003-7) |
Wearing a noseband can be quite unpleasant for a horse, due to the anatomy of the scull, especially if the noseband is too tight or poorly adjusted.
For one, there is a hole in the horse's scull just about where the avarage noseband will add pressure. And some of the largest facial nerves have their pathway through this hole, and as you well know, nerves that are pinched, often generate discomfort or pain.
The horses teeth are also in potential conflict with the noseband. The horse's lower jaw is wider than the upper jaw, and this anatomic detail creates a sharp edge that can cause a lot of pain on the mucous membranes in the mouth. Sometimes it creates wounds invisible from the outside. You also need to be aware of how wired (full of nerves) and sensitive the whole area aroud the muzzle is.
The noseband can in other words cause both pain and dicomfort. And the degree of discomfort can often be read on the horses behaviour. If the horse is desperate to scrath his face after riding, check your gear. Sweat alone can for sure also cause an itch, but it is your responsibility as a rider to make sure the horse is not subjected to pain or discomfort due to the equipment you put on.
Word of advice:
We rarely talk about the horse's need to scratch the head after riding, but it is really worth talking about. Correcting a horse for scrathing might be a mistake, whilst adjusting the bridle, or changing it completely, might be a very good idea. If there is no discomfort connected to the bridle, horses feel no need to scratch...
2. THE HORSE MUST STAND STILL WHILE MOUNTED
 |
| This picture is gathered from a british website on riding. Under the picture the expert list nine things to bear in mind when mounting a horse. The fact that it will be nearly impossible for this horse to maintain balance, and thus stand, isn't mentioned with a single word... |
It is important that the horse stand still while you mount for safety reasons, and first and foremost because it teaches the horse to stand still when you get (or fall) off. But you should always be very carefull about correcting the horse if he moves when you mount. Expecially if you haven't made 100 % sure that it is possible for him maintain the balance he needs in order to stand still...
From the horse's point of view:
The riders weight has a great influence on the horse's balance, as any rider well know, but the balance is never disturbed more than the moment we mount the horse. Hence, we owe it to the horse to prepair him for the weight transfer in advance. In other words, it is our responsibility as riders to make sure it is physically possible to stand still before we mount the horse. The horse needs a solid triangle to keep his balance, so the placement of the horse's feet is vital before you even concider to mount. If your body weight push the horse off balance, he will be forced to move to regain it. Now picture that you punish the horse for moving a step or two forward whilst trying to regain the balance you have disturbed through poor preparation? It is done frequently...
Word of advice:
You should always prepair you horse before you mount, by making sure the horse's body weight is equally distributed. The feet must form a solid triangel or a solid square. Using a stool is recommended, because the disruption af balance is reduced and it saves the nerves and muscles in the back and withers. Taking a deep breath and expecting the horse to stand, will also prove helpfull - for the horse.
As far as children goes, we have similar challenges; we often invent rules and enforce them without having considered wether the rules are based on something authentic that will provide meaning or if they are merely constructions made to state an example. If something is forbidden, it must mean something. It can't be forbidden just because mom or dad said so. Rules like that add no knowledge or understanding in your children's world, and thus only makes it smaller...
