Stop Trying to Win.
A popular belief in the horse world is that we can't let the horse win. Whether it's behavioral, instinctual, or just a miscommunication...no matter what 👉 we. can't. let. the. horse. win.
People say this to me all the time in clinics. "Well, if I stop here and don't finish what I want to do, aren't I letting him win?" My response is always the same:
💬 If you always win. Your horse always loses. This means that everytime you put your horse away, he goes back feeling like he lost something.
...And tell me this: Would you want to be around someone who made you feel that way? 💬
It's not about winning. It's not about losing. I urge you to take those words out of your vocabulary when working with horses. Respecting boundaries is a two-way street. So next time you're with your horse and you feel an urge to "win," take a step back. Find a compromise that you BOTH can feel good about.
Then you'll find true partnership. You'll find true harmony. You'll find everything you've been looking for.
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.