The most exquisite horse
The Most Exquisite Horse - Meet Buddy Joe
In the last 8 years, nothing has stopped me in my tracks like the work of Kerry M Thomas and his insight and theory of herd dynamics.
For all of 5 seconds, I almost disregarded Kerry as I thought I knew lots about the concept of herd dynamics. I could rattle off all the theories and controversies of herds and their structures...but then Kerry took me to another level. Kerry wasn't about structure so much - he was way deeper than that. He was fascinated by what connected horse to horse and horse to environment.
Kerry pointed out something so insanely relevant - the horse is a herd animal, that outsources to each other, processing and interpreting the world together. Knitted together by the efficiencies of their sensory systems. Those less efficient being more vulnerable and exposed without the herd structure.
The horse is designed perfectly by nature. Yet, we come along completely ignorant of this design and expect the horse to work with us individually and wonder why some struggle.
Ian Leighton wrote a great post a while back pointing out that every single thing we do with a horse is against its nature. Then Kerry points out, not only is it against their nature, it is against their hard wiring just to be isolated!
Suddenly a whole lot of things made sense. Why someone can train one way and it works, and another person does exactly the same thing and it doesn't. Why some horses are easier than others even though they are full brothers or sisters. Why some horses are more prone to reactivity than others. Why this horse was great in a warm up and tense in the ring; but that horse that is great in the ring but tense in the warm up.
And - separation anxiety, barn sour, buddy sour and so on - well, that is just a no brainer for me now. It is so simple, it is just a horse being a horse and how to help it is straightforward.
Anyway, by working with Kerry and learning his very clever observations I am getting very good at seeing the herd dynamic and sensory soundness profiles of individual horses.
I have done a stack of clinics this year and it has been great to take this very cool dimension of the horse and share Kerry's insights with people.
I have also got to appreciate the horses on another level.
I have met some amazing horses. Lots of incredible mares, with their incredible ability to process their environments and take it all in seamlessly.
But the most exquisite horse I have met is this horse - an 8-year-old Quarter Horse gelding named Buddy Joe. He might carry an old injury on his neck but this horse is special. You might see a nice easy going little horse but he is way more than this. He can process his environment with ease but what makes him unique is that he can do it just as well during athletic performance, focus like a laser beam and has absolutely no problem regulating stress.
I believe the world needs to see this dimension of horses. I have never known a concept that instantly improves people's patience and thoughtfulness towards their horse.
It also makes them curious instead of frustrated and that is a good thing!
I see improving awareness of this fundamental aspect of horses extremely important for balancing performance and welfare. Not to mention giving a whole heap more tools in your toolbox for influencing the horse in a positive way.
It is why Kat and I have so many episodes devoted to interviews with Kerry on Canter Therapy Podcast; and why I have organized him to come out in November to present 3 seminars to share his insights and clever ways of revealing the herd dynamic and sensory profiles of horses.
While Western Australia is FULL and waiting list only (email if you want to go on the list); I still have tickets left for Victoria and New South Wales.
For more information see here:https://www.calmwillingconfidenthorses.com.au/.../applied...
If you can make it, please come
