Cookie and, not so timid, Tessa

Cookie and Tessa: Post 1

When a horse is walking into to the person leading them it tells me that the horse is very insecure and mentally not present. First, we have to remind our human ego that a horses behavior is not a personal attack. In my experience horses do what they do for 1 of 2 reasons; what they need to do to survive or what they think they think you want them to do. I put all horse behavior through this filter to better help me understand what their needs are. The type of horse that is frequently rushing a head of or, pushing into the person leading them is dangerous, even life threatening. What I see is a horse who is one bird in the bush from trampling someone. This the horse that looks to the outside as they travel around an arena/round pen or as their led.

Over the upcoming months I will share my work with Cookie and Tessa, two young Arabian mares. Cookie and her buddy Tessa arrived to RHR in the last week of August. (2025) The night they arrived, they sprung off the trailer with their tails straight up in the air in classic Arabian fashion. They snorted their noses and pranced on their tiptoes all the way to their turnout. Large bright expressive eyes searched their new environment with animated movements.

They have been traveling together through 3 different barns. With all types of discipline specific handling, they were nothing short of confused and terrified. They were inseparable. For their first week I left them out in a large turn out next to a group of 5 mares. They adjusted to 24/7 hay. We pulled Tessa’s shoes, trimmed Cookies feet and bathed them all with in their turnout. (For my hoof obsessed followers I will circle back to share more hoof details and pictures later on.)

On the days when no one was at the barn I would bring the girls up put them each in a stall. If I was to leave one outside they would be under severe distress and their behavior threatened their wellbeing. When the fear of separation kicked in they displayed dangerous impulsive behavior. Leading them together was dangerous too. They were quick to scoot and spook so, we took our time. As I lead them up to the barn I walked steady and slow. If their nostrils started to widen I stopped and took a deep breath. Most times they would stop at my side but occasionally I would have to express my wishes to not be crowed. I would make a large movement or scuff my feet vigorously to get their attention, take a deep breath and continue our journey to the barn. We simply took our time. I was cautions to stop BEFORE they rushed, spooked or scooted. From the moment I opened the gate to catch them watched for any “negative” changes in their behavior. For now I will define negative as a less then desirable bahvior from the humans point of view. Each step with them required observation. How did they feel when I opened the gate? How did they feel passing through the gate? It is not about simply just getting to the barn. Want them to see me coming and a have a feeling of security. I don’t want submission; I have to earn trust. Too often the focus is on correction the horse rather then understanding the behavior. “What happens BEFORE what happened happened?” Before they started to rush they took quick shallow breaths and their necks would get a strong arch.

Next time you find yourself walking a spooky or pushing horse just stop, gather your own emotions and show the horse there is another way to be. Stop punishing horses for acting on their instincts.