tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6572142164579536708.post6805326977692486834..comments2024-03-08T16:13:12.521-05:00Comments on Journal of Ravenseyrie: The Primal Connection - Bella and the RockLynne Gerardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16107340619393934366noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6572142164579536708.post-51277946634598846082009-12-07T17:12:20.188-05:002009-12-07T17:12:20.188-05:00June wrote:
"I'm not going to "punis...June wrote:<br />"I'm not going to "punish" the behaviour to prevent future worse behaviour - I'm going to be thinking about what's going on here."<br /><br />Wonderful, I feel the same way.<br /><br />I think its terrific that you have so many young people in your life with whom you are sharing what you are learning about new ways of horse/human interactions...its so nice for them to see something other than traditional "Show 'em whose boss!" types of communication.<br /><br />As always, June, thank you for your comments.Lynne Gerardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16107340619393934366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6572142164579536708.post-89151817271347360202009-12-06T11:08:23.845-05:002009-12-06T11:08:23.845-05:00I think that for "traditional" horse peo...I think that for "traditional" horse people, when they see a horse begin to "take liberties", they immediately think that it's the start of a slippery slope to all kinds of bad stuff. So that's why I say "of course I'm not going to let him ....." - because I hear in my mind the thoughts of those people. But, say, for example George pushes me with his nose - I'm not going to react "traditionally" and say, "Gerroff!" in a loud voice or something like that. I'm not going to "punish" the behaviour to prevent future worse behaviour - I'm going to be thinking about what's going on here. George is a decent kind of a guy, so if he pushes me with his nose, he's trying to say something. I may or may not figure it out, or do what he wants if I do, but I'm not going to assume it's just brazen impudence! One of my barn buddies is a 14-year old boy, and we were working with George yesterday. I explained that George used to be very aggressive, so if he pins his ears, I don't ignore it, but neither do I get punitive. I'll just change the subject and send him out on the circle again, and as soon as he wants to "change the subject back," he can. His ear-pinning is always related to his being protective of certain places on his body - I don't know if he was at one time a bit over-pressured. Anyway, my young friend was keen on this approach, which was nice. This kid is a bit like KFH - horses (most anyway) just really like him instantly. What's his secret?!?!Junenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6572142164579536708.post-27505083206230897952009-12-04T15:48:23.539-05:002009-12-04T15:48:23.539-05:00June wrote, "George is a bit "disrespect...June wrote, "George is a bit "disrespectful," it's true. I'm not going to let him bully or bite or shove or kick me; but he does get to decide certain things, and I let him come uninvited into my space. Sometimes he ignores me. I think we're working it out."<br /><br />I don't think that any of the people who are espousing friendship with horses believe it is good to have a horse bully, bite, shove or kick. But its not so much that they "don't allow it"--once it has happened its already been allowed so to speak--rather it is how they respond to it that sets them apart, as well as taking care that the relationship they are building is in full awareness of when and why a horse might be "disrespectful". In my experience, I'd have to say that the times when a horse has behaved in the manner you describe is due to a lack of understanding on my part and a need for the horse to make it clear to me that I am not "seeing" the situation rightly.Lynne Gerardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16107340619393934366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6572142164579536708.post-24905114041662584292009-11-16T15:46:51.570-05:002009-11-16T15:46:51.570-05:00What a lovely story!
You said it! ---
"I ha...What a lovely story!<br /><br />You said it! ---<br /><br />"I have no idea where it is leading, but I'm absolutely fascinated with this primal connection and want to only engage with my horses when the connection is mutually pure. This will require continual reassessment within myself and how I fit into things..."<br /><br />That's exactly it!<br /><br />Just a short while ago today, I was talking to our barn owner, a lovely man who adores horses and treats them as good as his children. But I find it hard to tell him about my new way of looking at things. He doesn't like the way that our new horse, George, is "disrespectful." He wants us all to jump on board the good ship Parelli. I sympathize, I really do. But I know I can "train" a horse to be "well-behaved." Been there, done that - ready for something new. <br /><br />It's something in the horses' faces that gives it away. A lot of horses are behaving very well, being trained kindly with the "new" "natural" techniques, but there's just something not quite right about their expression, compared to, say, Lynne's photos of the Ravenyseyrie horses or Spilker's or Hempfling's horses. I want my horses to look like that - maybe it'll never happen, but I want to try.<br /><br />George is a bit "disrespectful," it's true. I'm not going to let him bully or bite or shove or kick me; but he does get to decide certain things, and I let him come uninvited into my space. Sometimes he ignores me. I think we're working it out. I hope so. If he looks at me in the round pen and says, "ok I'm stopping now," then I go up to him and pet him, and maybe we'll go back to what we were doing, or maybe we'll do something different. But, yes, like Lynne, I'm kind of goal-free - and I believe I have to trust the horse to not be a jerk, to not take advantage of the fact that he can decide when to stop, that maybe he'd like to work with me and do stuff - too much to hope? If so, then why are we involved in this at all?<br /><br />June<br /><br />p.s. I have to say that John Lyons has very cheerful horses.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com