Many lines of horses carry a set of characteristics known to their breeding. I won’t mention names, but there are some horses bred “this” way that are known to be broncy, others bred “that” way that are known to have big stops. Are they all this way or that way? Not likely.
There’s more to it that just what their family tree says about how they will be. Aside from the training that plays into all this, you actually have a large amount of control over what you see in your horse. Your perception of your horse is what will materialize for you. Does he do dumb things sometimes and you think he’s a jerk? Or is it all roses for you? If you focus on all the negative qualities your horse portrays you will get more of that. He’s only going to be as good as you think he is and he’s going to be as big of a jerk as you think he is too.
How we see our horses is how they will be. What if we could change our horses by changing what see in them? We can. By simply changing your perception of something you can change how it is in your life. In some situations this can happen really quick, in others, it takes a bit more time and practice.
There are certain bloodlines we perceive as being really talented. If we have an expectation of a horse of a certain bloodline do you think they are likely to meet that expectation? They are certainly more likely to become what we believe them to be, than if we didn’t believe it or chose to only see the good.
If I have a horse that is from a line of horses known to be fractious and enjoy a good conflict, what will I have if that’s all I focus on? I’ll have a horse that’s fractious and likes a good battle. I’ll have a horse that spooks at silly things, puts up a fight for little tasks and is a real ass to be around.
What if this same horse is actually really talented and gritty. It really likes to try hard and show you how good it can get things done for you. It would also go all day. What will I have if I focus on this talented horse, with a big heart and lots of grit? Probably a darn nice rodeo horse! Think of all the good horses you know. They are “quirky”. Do you think the champions that rode these horses to the top focused on their quirks? No, they kept their focus on the positive qualities this horse had.
By projecting negative thoughts and opinions onto a horse you run the risk of them meeting your expectations. Well, it’s not really a risk. It will happen.
With some horses, we might have to dig a little deeper, but there’s always something we can find to focus on and encourage it to develop. Look at these horses in a different light. Always look for the best in them and they will give you more of those great qualities. Focus on the bad and you will get more of that.
I have a friend that trains horses who is always looking for the positive in her horses. I remember watching her crash around on a horse I wouldn’t be brave enough to swing a leg over. She rode over and I said something about him being a handful and she replied: “how she loved how impressionable these young racehorses are, they’re just like putty in her hands”. That’s not what it looked like to me, but that’s what she chose to see, and why she’s a success at what she does. If she were to see what a numb skull this horse looked like to me, she would have very long days in the saddle. I was impressed with her perspective.
Negative qualities can be perceived as a positives. Here are some examples:
This horse is really dull = Very quiet, handles pressure well.
This horse is spooky = Very alert of surroundings.
This horse is lazy = Great horse for someone full of energy or nerves.
If your horse is one of those difficult ones and always has been, I encourage you to look for the positive in him and focus on that. Change your perception, change your horse. Turn your ass around!
