How I Begin the Horse-Trainer Relationship
People often ask me what I do when I get a new horse in for training. THIS is what "training" looks like to me in the beginning of my time with a horse.. Sitting together. Walking around. Sharing space. Getting to know one another.
Years ago, when I'd get a horse in for training, the first thing I'd do is "put them to work." I'd start chipping away at the list of goals provided by their human, motivated to earn the horse's respect as quickly as possible. And guess what? It worked. The horses did what I asked them to do, they progressed. BUT -- the results weren't lasting, the horse did NOT have a good opinion of me, and often they'd relapse back to the old behavior as soon as they were out of a consistent program.
Then, I changed my approach. I focused first on the relationship (much as I would do with a new client/horse relationship.) See, I realized that in order to TRULY connect with the horse in front of me, in order to REALLY be able to tap into their soul and help them move through whatever it is that they are facing, they had to have a good opinion of me first.
So, this is what training looks like at the beginning of the #HarmonizedHorsemanship program. It looks like grooming. It looks like bonding. It looks like sitting outside his stall for 30 minutes if that's where he's most comfortable learning about me. It looks like sharing my soul with a horse, letting them get to know who I am energetically and emotionally, and being vulnerable myself before I ask them to do the same.
It's transformed my training approach. It's transformed the way horses respond to my requests, but most of all, it's transformed the horse -- from the inside -- creating lasting results that benefit their human AND the horse for years to come. ❤️
Jess Roberts, owner and trainer of Harmonized Horsemanship, is a Colorado horse trainer and equine behaviorist based out of Franktown specializing in the horse and human connection. Through liberty horsemanship, positive reinforcement training, and respectful horsemanship, Jess creates a deeper connection that results in a willing and happy equine partner. Learn more about her approach here.