It’s so important to realize how horses react to pressure – and many equestrians fail to understand this. Simply knowing when to release is crucial in working with a horse, and not understanding this concept can have disastrous consequences. This isn’t an issue that novices alone face – some professionals struggle with this too.
A classic example I see is people holding horses for the vet. They grab on tighter as the horse starts to pull. This only increases the horse’s desire to pull against the lead and fight. If the horse relaxes, the tendency is to keep a grip instead of releasing and giving a reward for the good behavior. This transfers to everything you do with your horse, from riding to ground manners, to training, to trailer loading, and perhaps most overridingly, to how fast you push them.
A horse’s natural tendency is to push back against pressure. It’s uncomfortable for them and they tend to move into it instinctively. So, anyone who wants a horse to respond to aids, needs to recognize that the horse will only realize what you want – or accept your request willingly – if they are rewarded for doing what you’ve asked with an immediate release. As an example, many riders constantly ‘nag’ at their horse’s sides with their leg to encourage them to go forward without a reward of removing the pressure once the horse responds. This only teaches them to be desensitized and ignore your leg, and it really pressures your horse, which can sometimes lead to severe problem behaviors including bucking, or rearing, or outright ignoring you completely and ‘parking’. A light leg and carrying a crop to back up your leg to prevent you from nagging is much more effective and presents a happier experience for both horse and rider. The same holds true for training regimens. If too much is asked with little or no reward, even the most agreeable horse will begin to object – sometimes violently.
It’s important when a horse gets it right to leave him alone.
