The Pleasure Relay

Prepped and ready! Manes and tails glistening in the sun. Horses neighing, people chattering as the announcer tests the sound equipment. The smell of hot dogs and barbecue smoke hovers over the stands. Horses adorned in silver decked out in their best leather. Riders dressed in beautiful shirts with hat and chaps to match, coordinated just perfectly with the color of their horse. The warm up area is crowded, squeezing in a last minute practice before entering the show ring. The air is filled with tension and exhilaration. From toddlers to the gray-haired, all are excited to begin the competition. Show season is here and it’s time to see if all those riding hours will culminate in a blue ribbon!

As I sit and watch the classes, I witness a wide mix of horse/rider interactions. Some pairs work in opposition, some in partnership. Some are quiet riders, sitting atop a quiet mount pleasantly going along, performing the best they can. Others are constantly correcting. Spurs are dug in. Those hands are rarely quiet. The result is uneven gaits and choppy strides. Some of the rider’s jaws are clenched and I even think teeth were bared in some! I see others angrily jabbing at the bit behind the back of the judge, and horses throwing their heads. I would take exception to that pain too, but the head toss only causes more jabbing punishment. Which came first, the head toss or the jab? Anxiety and frustration are quite evident in a few, both young and old, and the same could be said for the horse under them. Many of those headed directly from the show ring to the warm up area to “work out” the misbehavior before the next class. I sat in the stands trying to figure out where the pleasure was for them – for either the horses or the riders! (And many wonder why their horse acts up at a show when everything is fine at home!)

One particular young girl, perhaps about 12 years old, and her horse stand out in the crowd of pairs. They’re riding the hunter pleasure classes. Her horse was definitely not the prettiest and his conformation left a lot to be desired. His neck was scrawny and backend underdeveloped. And yet – every transition was perfect as he traveled along with ears perked forward, soft and relaxed. His rider sat quietly, obviously adoring her horse, and probably in her eyes, he was the most beautiful one there. I believe this little horse was saying – “Look everyone! I’m proudly carrying the sweetest girl on earth!” This pair won a few of the pleasure classes, and I was thrilled that the judge recognized a true pleasure partnership! I’m sure some of her competitors left the ring thinking, how could such an ugly horse win?

We derive such great pleasure from riding. I prefer to believe that the riders and handlers yanking on their horses do not intend to cause pain and harm to the very creature that brings them such pleasure. Perhaps many simply don’t know that they are the ones who are eliciting the poor horse behaviors (by human definition, not the horse’s)!

Essentially there are three elements in a horse’s life that dictate their “misbehavior”. Their instinctual reactions are based on 1) other species that behave and move as a predator; 2) situations, objects, or species which may cause harm or injury (demonstrated as confusion); and 3) previous experiences and situations which have caused harm or injury. The self-preservation instinct engages and the horse will avoid, resist, defend, or run. Before a horse can cooperate, think, and learn he must have no concerns related to these three elements. The horse must be comfortable first in order to “hear” what his handler is asking.

In a natural order, it’s rare to find prey -predator species coexisting willingly or cooperating. When would you find a lion and an antelope peacefully hanging out together near the watering hole? How about a fox in a chicken coop? No, at least in North America we are not preying on the horse directly as a food source. Our instinctual state, though, is that of a predator and hunter. Our natural tendencies are to confront, control, threaten and dominate. Our body language follows our emotions and thoughts. We tend to approach a new situation as a new “challenge”. It’s up to us horse lovers to overcome our own emotional anxieties and frustrations so we do not behave as predators to our horse. If we inflict pain and discomfort, then we are the predator.

That young girl in the show with the not so good-looking horse was definitely NOT a predator in her horse’s eyes. She was someone to trust, to respect, and to take care of the best he could. They were truly a picture of beauty – revealing a relationship of honesty, adoration and PLEASURE!

· Marlis Amato offers private instruction, clinics, and seminars in the MEA™ (Mirroring Equine Attitude) experience. Her program in Connection Training is geared toward teaching owners to clearly communicate with their horse from the ground up. Call Marlis at 336-599-7359 or email to mea@freespiritretreat.net with questions or comments. View her website at www.freespiritretreat.net

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