Horse Training 101: First Do Nothing Explained
How can you train a horse by doing nothing? Stay with me here, I'll explain what I have in mind. Just remember, there is great power, even revolutionary transformation, in doing nothing. I feel like this is a Horse Training 101 tool that every horseman/horsewoman needs to know.
We go out to work with or ride our horse with all these expectations, all these intentions, and oftentimes we are setting not only ourselves, but the horse, up for failure by doing so.
I am very guilty of this. I spent years wanting this or that from my horses. I watched other people doing things with their horses that I wanted to do with mine. I would get that image in my head and go out with that intention. Frequently, I would leave in frustration, and often guilt for getting frustrated with my horse. There is not a horseman/horsewoman alive that hasn't done this so let me just say now, forgive yourself. Holding onto that guilt doesn't help you or the horse. Know better, do better.
Step 1 of Horse Training 101
I don't care if you've owned your horse for 1 day or 20 years, pay attention to their worries. Watch their behaviors from the moment they notice you coming. And what, if anything, do you have on your person when you are coming? Because they may not only be reacting to you, but what you are wearing or carrying. Here are some examples and things to think about:
- Are you carrying a halter and lead rope? A bridle and reins? Saddle pad and saddle?
- Are you carrying a feed bucket?
- Do they come to you with curiosity, intensity, relaxation?
- Do they come to you at all?
- Do they turn their head briefly or turn around completely?
- What are their eyes and ears doing?
- Do you have carrots, treats/cookies, or something else with a unique smell in your pocket?
Try experimenting to see how they respond with different items, or nothing at all. The best way to start is really with nothing at all. This gets you your baseline. Then you can add other items to check their responses.
Step 2. Why “Doing Nothing” is Hard
The next step is not to analyze the horse, but to analyze YOU. What are you bringing with you to the barn/pasture?
Are you bringing those expectations I mentioned earlier? Are you coming with a hard and fast goal that simply “must” or “should” be done that day? The “shoulds” are tremendous guilt and frustration inducers.
The other aspect to consider is just how much “DO-ing” or “should be doing” is pushed in our respective lives. Whether it's the horse community, society at large, or even trauma we may have experienced that is contributing. For instance, in my experience, I watched my mother unable to leave unhappy, and even abusive, marriages because she couldn't afford to do so. This led to a strong drive for me to succeed, to DO, for many, many years so that “I would never be in that situation.”
The horse community is a strong pusher of “DO.” Whether it is competition, training, riding, taking care of your horse's health, or what you're feeding them, there is an undercurrent of “DO” that runs like a constantly flowing, and occasionally whitewater, river through the horse community at large.
While I can't speak for countries other than the United States, the society here is very much a “should be doing this or that” one.
When you are analyzing yourself, and any resistance you feel to “doing nothing”, ask yourself where that resistance is originating? How can you let go of the pressure it is putting on you AND your horse?
Step 3 of Horse Training 101: Deep Breaths
One of the greatest tools you have at your disposal for eliminating resistance and pressure in yourself and your horse is to take a deep breath and let it out. Every time you are feeling frustration, anxiety, resistance, fear, or even anger, you always, always have the option of taking a deep breath and letting it out. This provides a reset not only to your nervous system, but also to that of your horse's.
If a deep breath isn't enough, maybe walk away and sit down. There is something about sitting down that changes our energy. We relax. As soon as we relax, so does the horse.
Step 4 of Horse Training 101: Work Backwards
The reason I suggested you start watching your horse as soon it knows you are there is to detect when and where they start getting nervous. You might be surprised about where you start seeing the signs. Despite halters being such an everyday part of life, many horses have fear associated with them. Wherever you start seeing signs of fear in your horse, take a step back and start training from where they weren't showing any signs. This tool helped me to figure out that one of my horses became nervous when I stepped to his side. He was not comfortable with me at his side.
If you are having trouble figuring it out in the moment, set up your phone or camera and video yourself with the horse. I figured out one of my horses was bored from watching a training video I did with him. Sometimes we have to watch as an observer because we miss things being in the moment with them.
Step 5 of Horse Training 101: Do Nothing
Once you have figured out where your horse becomes nervous, take however much time you need and “do nothing” in those first moments of fear. For instance, when I determined my horse was really anxious about my being on his side, I got a really, really long lead rope and I calmly stood where he first started getting anxious. If he moved, I moved with him and just to the very edge of where he could tolerate. And then I just stood there, doing nothing at all.
I didn't look at him directly, I even turned my back to him at times, and I just did nothing. I did this until he relaxed. And it sometimes took awhile! I had to do this several days, sometimes with a day or two in between sessions, before he finally realized that someone being on his side was not a threat. I have no idea where the fear came from. He came to me with it and I hadn't made the connection until I started working my way backwards. He exhibited fear of and frustration with lunging and wouldn't lead next to me, only behind me.
But I couldn't see the issue for so long because all I could “see” was my expectation that “he needs to lunge” or “he needs to walk beside me.”
Step 6 Enjoy the Fruits of Doing Nothing
Doing nothing as a tool for horse training is one of the most powerful tools you will have in your training toolbox. Don't underestimate it. It enables you to move forward with less frustration, less fear, less disappointment for you and your horse. Doesn't that sound ideal?
You might even do a happy dance when you surpass a significant fear! I may or may not have done this when I got my horse comfortable with my standing next to him!
I would love to hear examples of when you have “done nothing” with a great outcome with your horse or horses!
And if you'd like to have me work directly with you and your horse(s), just reach out to me via my Contact page!