You cant make a horse do something he doesn’t want to do
I read a great response to this the other day - google ‘slavery’
(Slavery should, I hope, be hard for those humans to deny or distort, as they do with horses)
They claim that you can’t ‘force’ a 500kg animal to do something he doesn’t want to do.
You can
Easily in the case of horses, as they are such kind and obliging creatures.
They are ‘hardwired’ to get along. Being a cohesive part of a herd (getting along) is intrinsic to their survival.
You can
Sometimes the force is insidious, it starts small and is built upon, and the subject becomes trapped.
You can
Sometimes they are scared, frightened, or coerced into responding. Threatened if they don’t respond. Here you could consider domestic violence recipients. Do as you are told or receive the brunt of my anger.
The horse also, he responds to avoid the threat, he works to avoid the aversive
You can
Un-knowing people may question why the beaten wife stays. So many times they are too scared to leave. In the horses’ case he is often held by a rope, or contained in a yard. He can not leave
Many episodes of being unable to leave, or leaving being thwarted, can lead the victim (here you can also substitute horse) to believe that they can NOT leave. Ever
Can not leave. Confined to a yard or stable. Confined by fear.
Can not leave
None of those slaves or domestic violence victims – or coerced horses - want to be there
The threat of the overseer with the whip is ever present.
The threat of retaliation, or the threat of the consequence that will occur AFTER the ‘rebellious’ action, is ever present
Can not leave
Psychological threat or physical -
Any one or any being, who can scare you or overpower you or threaten you or hurt you, CAN force you to do things you don’t wish to do. When it happens enough you stop trying.
Can not leave,
As with horses. Especially as in the past we were fed the incorrect ‘be the boss’ protocol. Our relationship with our equines shouldn’t be a dictatorship or a power struggle
Can not leave
Initially ’trained’ by force. Then conditioned - it has happened so often it will always happen
Ropes, whips, yards, enclosures. Psychological intimidation. Fear and anxiety. Past and present conditioning. Not allowing alternative answers.
So many facets of force can creep into our training – even if we mistakenly believe it is not so
You can’t force a horse?
You can
Written by Vicki Conroy for PPGA Equine sub committee
