It was farrier’s day yesterday, and I had all the horses prepared and lined up ready for their monthly pedicure. It was a great opportunity for me to observe my horses and learn a real a lesson in Horsenality™. Each horse responded differently according to their past experiences, innate characteristics and spirit!
First came Cisco, my young Left-Brain Extrovert/Introvert cusp. Cisco is innately self-confident and will check if your leadership is not up to his standard routinely. He checks out on me big time – sometimes I don’t even notice that he has set me a little task to see if I am a good leader! He even questions the leadership of Parelli instructors at clinics, which just confirms that horses don’t care how much we know until they know how much we care! So of course, with the farrier, he had to make sure that the man knew what he was doing and fidgeted with the stand with a look on his face that said “So? What are you going to do about it?” The farrier is a natural horseman so it didn’t take long for Cisco to realize that keeping still was his best option!
Grover is a Left-Brain/Right-Brain Introvert cusp and was a little unsure about one of his hind feet. He also tested if he could get away with not getting that foot done, but in a much less defiant way than Cisco. Interestingly he had a big yawning session after his feet were done, which suggest that he finds the whole experience rather stressful. So my job with him is to build his confidence around having his feet handled.
Trigger, my formerly troubled Left-Brain Introvert.
Trigger is my rehab horse. He is an OTTB and has come to me via a friend and has a past history of abuse. He is a complicated soul: innately Left-Brain Introvert, but goes Right-Brain Extrovert very easily when ridden and goes Right-Brain Introvert on the ground when he is worried. We have come leaps and bounds together and he has always been “good” for the farrier. Well, this is what I thought, because he just stays still! My observation skills must have got better lately, because this time I noticed that he displayed signs of stress. He was blinking, but not as much as usual and I noticed three very subtle patches of sweat on his neck. Yet he behaved perfectly and I might not given it too much importance if it weren’t for a couple of stories that the farrier shared with me. Stories about horses with horrific feet problems who still raced and came first and second, until finally the pain became too much and they started losing races, but by then their feet in a terrible state. Stories of such bravery and heart that both the farrier and I had tears in our eyes! So I started to think about all those horses who – day after day, despite being misunderstood, mistreated, scared and even in pain – do what is expected of them.
Then my thoughts went back to Trigger and our past year together. Trigger is 10 and had been left to his own devices in a paddock for years and labelled psychotic. By the time I started playing with him a year ago, he had lost all trust in humans and he was definitely not going to let anyone train him. As far as he was concerned, the Carrot Stick might as well have been a whip; he didn’t want to be caught or haltered, and reacted to everything. I didn’t do anything special with him except follow the Parelli program. I started with the first of the Seven Games – the Friendly Game – and did lots of approach and retreat until it was his idea to catch me; soon I was his new best friend. It didn’t take him long to understand that all I was asking from him was to stay left-brain. Of course there are times where he is still worried, but one thing I love about this horse is that as long as I slow down, I can actually see him trying so hard to stay calm and lately he is coming out of his shell. He will nibble my fingers between his lips, pick up cones in his mouth and offer all kind of things at Liberty. I don’t know if horses are supposed to know right from wrong (I don’t have a lifetime of experience with horses), but all I can say is that Trigger always tries to do the right thing for me. I am filled with admiration and respect for his beautiful soul, which would have remained hidden without Parelli!
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
Fabulous blog…wonderful observations…and more for me to think about!
It was a joy to read your blog, Isabelle. I really enjoyed the observations about each of your horses. It’s amazing how they “talk” to us, if we just have eyes to see, isn’t it?
Thank you for sharing your ferrier day. I am very green when it comes to horse ways and while I do observe my horse, sometimes I just don’t know exactly what he is trying to say. I have tried the horsenality – but still struggle to figure him out. I know he would prefer to be a lawn ornament. Bucking, kicking, rearing, and most of the time running just takes way too much energy for him – so he does not do that. Sometimes when he is out of his “element” of being a lawn ornament he becomes a ball of nerves. We have good days and bad – last night was not great and I realized it was me and not him which is usually the case. I think he does test me in the round pen. He gets bored easily and that is a big test for me. I also must learn to overcome Legend’s deafness handicap. It is not a problem for me at all, I always knew he was deaf. BUT his deafness makes him more jumpy due to visual things he sees way before I do. Thank you again, I will keep a closer eye on my horse and hopefully I will pick up on his cues a little more.
Picking up on our horses body language is a skill that we can develop more and more once we become aware that they constantly communicating with us. I am no expert! Spending undemanding time with them is always a great way to hone our observation skills. Have fun with your horse and keep it natural!
That must be very scary for a horse who can’t hear when something or someone is approaching him!
Was he born deaf?
I can imagine he is easily startled.
For the most part, I know when he is happy and when he is smiling at me. I know when he is unsure as he snorts and blows. its the quick movement that I need to get used to.
We are not sure if he was born deaf or if it happened after he pitched a fit. he was always insecure about being left alone in the barn – so I am not sure if he is just an insecure horse or if he was insecure because he was deaf at the time. he is still insecure being left alone – but deals a little better with it
i just love all the little things you noticed. i’m learning so much with the horsenalities and what all those little things you described mean, the staring eyes, the sweat patches, the yawning… so interesting! thank you for sharing!
Loved reading your very inspirational ‘Farrier Day at The Farm’,story.Looking forward to the next chapter! Thank goodness for Parelli and a farrier who is a natural horseman. Thanks Dorothy
Lovely Isabelle,
Especialy the bit about horses that continue to perform prefectly even though misunderstood and in pain. We hear such a lot about the horses that play up and how they need help, but I really feel too for these silent sufferers, they need our understanding just as much, if not more.
Thanks for your profound observations.
Just wanted to say how much I enjoyed the story of Farrier Day at the Farm, and all your observations with each horse.
It’s inspirational to here stories like that of Trigger. Thanks so much for sharing it with us. By the way, have you ever considered giving him a softer name? He may have acted like a Trigger prior to his Parelli journey with you, but now he seems to be a gentler soul. Good luck to you and Trigger both!
Trigger still belongs to my friend technically so I can’t really change is name! He is such a sensitive soul!
Beautiful Isabelle! Trigger is one very lucky horse to have found you.