Overcoming Equine Obstacles: Real and Imagined!

Much of riding is getting past the obstacles. These could be actual physical barriers – ditches, fences, fallen trees or water crossings, challenging both human and horse. Or they might be figments of the equine imagination – the troll under the bridge, the phantom plastic tarp, the water trough that wasn’t there yesterday. Somewhat more difficult to overcome are those innate fears of the heart, equine or human, which may derive from pure instinct or have origins in past experiences and lack of trust.

Even those with a passing interest in the riding of horses hold within the mind’s eye the powerful image of the confident rider and horse duo, boldly charging across the open field or galloping behind a pack of screaming foxhounds. Ahhh… that is the life….

So, how do we arrive at that magic place? Someone asked me once “How do you get your horse to jump out foxhunting?” My reply, “How would you keep him from it?” My wisecrack response was based on many years of experience and the basic understanding that the horse is a herd animal. He wants to go where the herd is going. The easiest way to overcome the horse’s fear of an obstacle is to allow him to follow another horse, better yet, multiple horses. And that is often all that is needed. Pure and simple, the horse embraces leadership. And when the rider does not provide it, another horse will do. Should a leader rider or horse not present itself, the horse in question will take leadership himself—often in the opposite direction of the rider’s intent! This is the flight response of a prey animal and it is normal. So, how do we overcome this and create a partnership with the horse?

The solution to overcoming obstacles, real or imagined, for horse or rider, is the same. Determine leadership and move forward.

Best case scenario: the horse you are riding has trust in you and views you as the leader. Please understand that horses accept leadership from another horse by following the lead horse or by being driven from behind by the lead horse. Aha! Driven from behind! What this means is, as a rider, you can mimic the “driving from behind” horse action by the use of your legs. Most well trained horses will respond by moving forward when the rider confidently applies a strong lower leg to both sides of the horse’s barrel. This action is interpreted by the horse, and reinforced by teaching, as meaning “my leader says we should move forward.” Moving forward is what gets you over most obstacles encountered on the trail (and in life). This is also why I rarely ride without a crop. A tap from behind is not “punishing the horse,” it is urging him forward in the same manner as the lead mare or stallion would urge with nips from behind. This is the language of the horse. And it works to push the horse on over a fallen log, through the ditch, or past the troll beneath the bridge. And once past, a soft pat and some praise will surely reinforce trust and build the relationship. All of our horses at Blackberry are males, and being southerners, we will stretch out the praise a bit with “You are such a good boyeeee….” They get it and are thus rewarded for moving forward.

I did, last summer, however, come across an exception to the forward motion rule. Leading a group of five riders down a steep rocky trail, I glanced down in time to see that our obstacle was a four foot timber rattler – just inches from my horse’s left front hoof! We were so close I could see his little snaky tongue flicking in and out. EEEK! We all beat a hasty backwards retreat – and no shame in it!! Sometimes the flight response works best!

Remember, the horse you are riding wants to know you are the established leader, that you hold his best interests, that you can be trusted. You will keep him safe from snakes and trolls and holes in the earth that want to swallow him up! This gives him great relief and confidence.
There are many exercises that can be performed in the ring before heading out to ride that establish this trust. The horse wants a decisive leader and embraces that relationship. What a gift to us! What freedom it gives us. The riding instructor of my youth believed if you “throw your heart over the fence, the horse will surely follow.” How simple and how true.

The horse is a living, thinking and feeling being. Unlike driving a car or riding a bike, riding a horse involves building a partnership and trust. It can be done in a surprisingly short amount of time and with lifelong results. At Blackberry Farm, it is the goal of our team that every rider learns the simple ways to build trust with the horse. Once leadership and trust are established, the obstacles become part of the great adventure and everyone is moving forward! Come learn with us.

Eager to learn more about building trust and establishing leadership with a horse? Sign up for our Full Day Horse Clinic or our Natural Horsemanship experience at Blackberry Farm. Or simply come along for a ride. Our horses and our instructors are the best teachers anywhere. Contact me for details.

Carla Hawkinson, Master of Foxhounds, Tennessee Valley Hunt
Equestrian Program Manager, chawkinson@blackberryfarm.com 865-273-8545

Much of riding is getting past the obstacles. These could be actual physical barriers – ditches, fences, fallen trees or water crossings, challenging both human and horse. Or they might be figments of the equine imagination – the troll under the bridge, the phantom plastic tarp, the water trough that wasn’t there yesterday. Somewhat more difficult to overcome are those innate fears of the heart, equine or human, which may derive from pure instinct or have origins in past experiences and lack of trust.

Even those with a passing interest in the riding of horses hold within the mind’s eye the powerful image of the confident rider and horse duo, boldly charging across the open field or galloping behind a pack of screaming foxhounds. Ahhh… that is the life….

So, how do we arrive at that magic place? Someone asked me once “How do you get your horse to jump out foxhunting?” My reply, “How would you keep him from it?” My wisecrack response was based on many years of experience and the basic understanding that the horse is a herd animal. He wants to go where the herd is going. The easiest way to overcome the horse’s fear of an obstacle is to allow him to follow another horse, better yet, multiple horses. And that is often all that is needed. Pure and simple, the horse embraces leadership. And when the rider does not provide it, another horse will do. Should a leader rider or horse not present itself, the horse in question will take leadership himself—often in the opposite direction of the rider’s intent! This is the flight response of a prey animal and it is normal. So, how do we overcome this and create a partnership with the horse?

The solution to overcoming obstacles, real or imagined, for horse or rider, is the same. Determine leadership and move forward.

Best case scenario: the horse you are riding has trust in you and views you as the leader. Please understand that horses accept leadership from another horse by following the lead horse or by being driven from behind by the lead horse. Aha! Driven from behind! What this means is, as a rider, you can mimic the “driving from behind” horse action by the use of your legs. Most well trained horses will respond by moving forward when the rider confidently applies a strong lower leg to both sides of the horse’s barrel. This action is interpreted by the horse, and reinforced by teaching, as meaning “my leader says we should move forward.” Moving forward is what gets you over most obstacles encountered on the trail (and in life). This is also why I rarely ride without a crop. A tap from behind is not “punishing the horse,” it is urging him forward in the same manner as the lead mare or stallion would urge with nips from behind. This is the language of the horse. And it works to push the horse on over a fallen log, through the ditch, or past the troll beneath the bridge. And once past, a soft pat and some praise will surely reinforce trust and build the relationship. All of our horses at Blackberry are males, and being southerners, we will stretch out the praise a bit with “You are such a good boyeeee….” They get it and are thus rewarded for moving forward.

I did, last summer, however, come across an exception to the forward motion rule. Leading a group of five riders down a steep rocky trail, I glanced down in time to see that our obstacle was a four foot timber rattler – just inches from my horse’s left front hoof! We were so close I could see his little snaky tongue flicking in and out. EEEK! We all beat a hasty backwards retreat – and no shame in it!! Sometimes the flight response works best!

Remember, the horse you are riding wants to know you are the established leader, that you hold his best interests, that you can be trusted. You will keep him safe from snakes and trolls and holes in the earth that want to swallow him up! This gives him great relief and confidence.
There are many exercises that can be performed in the ring before heading out to ride that establish this trust. The horse wants a decisive leader and embraces that relationship. What a gift to us! What freedom it gives us. The riding instructor of my youth believed if you “throw your heart over the fence, the horse will surely follow.” How simple and how true.

The horse is a living, thinking and feeling being. Unlike driving a car or riding a bike, riding a horse involves building a partnership and trust. It can be done in a surprisingly short amount of time and with lifelong results. At Blackberry Farm, it is the goal of our team that every rider learns the simple ways to build trust with the horse. Once leadership and trust are established, the obstacles become part of the great adventure and everyone is moving forward! Come learn with us.

Eager to learn more about building trust and establishing leadership with a horse? Sign up for our Full Day Horse Clinic or our Natural Horsemanship experience at Blackberry Farm. Or simply come along for a ride. Our horses and our instructors are the best teachers anywhere. Contact me for details.

Carla Hawkinson, Master of Foxhounds, Tennessee Valley Hunt
Equestrian Program Manager, chawkinson@blackberryfarm.com 865-273-8545