HORSE NETWORKING

Horses come into the world to form a network with other horses - a herd.....and this is what we forget.

Together a herd processes the environment and regulates stress.

The weaknesses and strengths of the individuals to do these things creates a tightly bonded network where they survive and thrive.

But alone, horses struggle not being able to hook into a network. They experience the discomfort of isolation and their individual capacity to process their environments and regulate stress and emotions will be evident. Those that have a high capacity will cope but those with a low capacity will struggle.

But we don't really appreciate this.

Who ever looks at their horse as part of a member of a collaborative structure? An animal hardwired to function in a group, not alone.

The truth is - we forget this. We see a horse. OUR horse.

So when this horse struggles, we don't see a herd animal struggling in its isolation. We see OUR horse being difficult and problematic.

And don't think this is just a problem for those horses that live alone or in individual yards.

The horse we ride, we isolate too! So your horse can experience the best of living arrangements as naturally as possible but when you saddle the horse up to ride, you isolate a herd animal.

I will admit that I never considered this. Now I do. Now I know that part of training is to create a substitute network for that horse. I have to teach the horse to use me to filter and process the world. Plus I have to get them to feel good about it.

This is what connection is. This is what it practically is and why it is important.

So, next time your horse struggles with feeling safe and confident in an environment know this - it is not being a pain, your network is down and you are responsible for the connection.

I thank Kerry M Thomas from #THTBloodstockfor his insights into herd dynamics which has given me a powerful dimension to understand the individual horse and what is happening when they struggle.

If you get a chance listen to my herd dynamics podcast series with Kerry. My podcast is called Canter Therapy. You can find it on Spotify, Apple or Anchor FM.