Standing Still

Standing Still

“I can’t get my horse to stand still” is one of the most common complaints I hear from participants in my clinics. This problem applies equally from the ground or from the saddle...

During the first day of just about any clinic, you will see many horses who just can’t seem to stand still on the lead line. Naturally, in this example, all of the horses are visiting a new place and seeing new horses and people for the first time. For many horses, this is one of the few trips they’ll actually take away from their own stable/farm in months. When the horses arrive, most of them will want to announce their arrival to all of the horses that are already there. This usually starts as soon as the trailer arrives at the new location and the horses smell one another. And it continues into the arena itself -- if not verbally, then certainly with some “happy horse feet” and posturing.

As the clinic starts, many owners are mildly embarrassed that they can’t keep their horse from moving about. I see horses doing everything from walking around their owners in some type of circle, to pushing past their owners, backing up, rearing, slinging their head, pawing the ground, and trying almost anything but standing still.

As I start talking, I usually let everyone know that it’s okay that their horse is moving around at that point and that they shouldn’t to get frustrated. I always let participants know that it doesn’t bother me and that we’ll get it fixed during the course of the clinic. I do this for several reasons.

First, I want owners to relax about their horse’s behavior. This way they don’t have to feel like their horse is already being the worst one at the clinic.

Second, I want owners to realize this is very normal behavior -- especially for horses who don’t often travel out to strange places.

Third, I need the owners to listen to what I’m going to tell them about the clinic and how their horse learns and processes information. And I know it ‘s difficult to listen if your horse is keeping you busy and presenting challenges that you can’t correct.

The most common statement I hear from the participants is, “He isn’t usually this bad.” I never hear anyone say, “At home he’s perfect,” or “I didn’t know he was like this.” The behavior is something that most have tolerated because it hasn’t been too bad -- YET. And some have tolerated it simply because they had no idea how to fix it.

To solve this problem, we need to understand how the horse thinks and learns. We need to realize that we aren’t concerned about his feet moving around. It isn’t his feet that are the problem. His feet are just fine. He’s proving that his feet are fine by using them to move all around you. What we really need to do is to change the horse’s mindset. But before we can do that, though, we have to change YOUR mindset first.

As I watch most people trying to deal with a horse that moves around a lot, the thing I notice most is that the owner is moving around a lot, too. Let’s “HorseThink^TM” this for a moment. If you can’t keep your feet still, then who do you think is setting the example for the horse? Most owners respond that they have to move when their horse moves or they will get wrapped up in the lead rope. They also often state that their horse is too strong and pulls them along.

The reason these things happen is that the owner is trying too hard to “push back” or hold back the movement of the horse. Physically pushing a horse is out of the question, and so is holding him back. If a horse wants to move, you can NOT -- I repeat CAN NOT -- hold them back. They’re simply too big. It’s a matter of physics. They outweigh us and are simply too powerful.

Any time we get them to stop their feet, it’s because the horse wants to do it for us. Perhaps you don’t believe me. Ask yourself honestly if you have the strength to push 1200lbs of anything. I know that I don’t. What you and I CAN do is influence 1200lbs. We can also show 1200lbs of horse what we want it to do.

Time to HorseThink™ with me again.

We can’t hold onto them if they don’t want to be held onto, and they can’t learn by example if we aren’t setting it.

So the first mindset we must change is yours. We do this two ways. First, we have you understand that you can’t force the horse to stand still, but that you can teach it that standing still is the easiest thing to do. Second, we teach you to keep YOUR feet still. This is the mindset that says you can teach by example.

So the first thing I want you to do is stop moving your feet. Please understand that your horse has no real sense of where he’s standing in the arena in relationship to anything other than you. You can’t tell your horse, “Go stand over there on that spot.” He doesn’t know where “over there” is. If you don’t stand still in one spot, the poor horse can’t get a “fix” on where the spot to stand still is.

Someone will often say, “It doesn’t matter where I move. He should follow me and stand next to me.” You’re right. But first he must understand that, when he does follow you and you stop, he should not move around you. Think of yourself as an un-moveable post. He tries to leave the post and walks to the end of the lead and the post doesn’t move. He pulls, and the post still doesn’t move. What does your horse ? He tries to move around the post in a different direction. If that fails, he tries again and again. Finally he realizes that moving around doesn’t get him anywhere, and he starts to stand still. You have to be a post by keeping your own feet still.

Now the main difference between being a wooden post and a human post is this -- as a human, you can direct your horse’s feet. And that’s the second part of getting them to stand still. Since you can’t force the horse to stand still, it’s okay to let him move about. But his movement must be directed. We’ll visit more about that in another article next quarter.