The Invisible Halter

One at a time I brought them into the barn aisle and groomed them. They would stand nose to nose through the bars of the stall. I catered to their “need” to be together while I got to know each of them. I watched for their triggers and idiosyncrasies. For Tessa I was informed that she had a history of setting back when tied and she was timid about going out into the world with out another horse, with a strong preference for Cookie. Tessa had also been trail ridden. In addition I discovered that she also got distressed going through doorways. The first time I asked her to go into the stalls she lept into the stall and slid to a stop just as her noes bumped the back wall.

To help Tessa learn a safer way to enter a doorway I had to slow myself down. Its not enough that Tessa just does the task. I want to know she understands and feels good about what she’s doing. Each time we came to a door I would calmly stand outside the door take a deep breath and send Tessa by me. With out jerking or pulling on her head. No matter how fast she zoomed, I did not attempt to “correct the behavior.” Instead I asked her to repeate coming and going through the doorway, gate or opening. I would offer for her to stop and rest prior to entering or exiting.

When she was allowed to become curious and investigate the door she began calmly entering her stall. Her instincts told her to hurry through the door. I helped her mind relax so instincts could take a step back so curiosity could fill that space.

Cookie is a quiet mare who is here to be started under saddle. She has a history of being shy about her feet handled. She was very suspicious of anyone past her hip line. With a high head and a tight neck she was prepared to defend her hind legs at all costs. Any touch on her lower legs would result in a quick lifted leg. I spent longer grooming Cookie. I stopped before she had to snap a leg at me. I respected her distrust for my intentions with her body. I gave her time to observe me. You’ll see her in the video below following Tessa’s lead but being leery of being too close to what I had to offer.

Once each were in a stall I fed them their supplements. We made a routine of going to the barn to get feed and be groomed. After grooming I would walk them together to the covered round pen. I needed them to believe that they were safe in these spaces with me. In the round pen I observed, moved and studied them. To my surprise Tessa took to me very quickly, whereby Cookie was more skeptical of my intentions. Tessa became curious about my intentions. When she was curious and her body was soft I could lead her with my “invisible halter.” She was emotionally stable, she was then ready to learn. I could then build on Tessa’s curiosity and teach her with out fear or food being the main motivator. Trust will be our foundation.