This guy is amazing! Although the horse is anxious, he obviously does not feel threatened. Look at the way he is mirroring JFP body langauge. There are no tricks and the horse is not placed under any pressure. This guy and his brother Frederic have got horse 'training' down to sheer perfection. I have used their methods with my Clydesdale aged 5 and they work every time. I have a bond with my horse that will last both our lifetimes and I feel very humbled.
Greetings from Slovakia. Well, all these comments from so many years ago. I came to see this just now. I am amazed by what's being displayed here. I've only recently matured enough to grasp what is really going on between the horse and a man. Though, started desperately to learn and practice as much as I possibly can. It really works to perfection, far beyond my expectations. True joy to communicate with horse when you know how to. This man is a true talent and has put another enlightening pieces to the puzzle. Thanks for that and hope I won't stray away from the right path!!!
I saw it as tension/nervous behavoir from the horse. The horse was a young horse, maybe 5 or so, that was picked out by the audience out of three horses. If I remember correctly all three was quite young and from a riding school. This one and at least one more (if not all of them) was sired by a thoroughbred (Green River xx) out of a swedish riding pony mare. I find it a very gentle way to ask for the horses attention and concentration.
It's amazing how much more relaxed he gets when he gets away from that biting HORSEFLY... FYI, they do NOT die, or "go out of season," they only go into a type of hibernation when it's too cold for them, and will reemerge as the temps warm up.
There is no horsefly. The back leg action and tail swishing are the horse's expression of fear and anxiety. He becomes more relaxed because the person handling him understands how to communicate with him and help him overcome his fears. Think about it.....you believe there was a horsefly bothering the horse and then the horsefly just went away? He's pawing and on hyper-alert because of a horsefly?? Nope. This horse is very nervous and staring all over the place, clearly out of his element and his behavior is 100% normal under the conditions. A horsefly would have bothered ALL of his body, including his chest, and he would have been biting at it, and usually, a horsefly elicits a much stronger response than tail swishing and foot stomping. No horsefly.
I am very curious as to this horse's back leg action and tail waiving. Anybody have anything to say about it? This is obviously outside the fly season, and indoors, so it must be the horse's way fo using body communication. It seems to lessen - so my guess is that it is a form of tension being communicated, not due to negative treatment, but just general ambience with all things going on, young age etc? Love the video and the training!
you are spot on. the horse is relieving his frustration and anxiety. I find it refreshing, interesting and NEW that the behaviour is permitted. This allows the horse a lot more freedom to feel the possibility for expression is allowed.
Exactly. The horse was saying he was distressed, nervous, unsure, anxious. Horses communicate with body language, since they can't talk. This was the horse's way of saying, in a non aggressive manner, that he was very uncomfortable. No, it was not due to negative treatment, there was no negative treatment here, you are correct. But, in many cases, tail swishing IS caused by negative treatment. Watch some "upper level" dressage, where the horse is squeezed between spurs and TWO bits in his mouth, one being a curb with chain and long shanks [VERY painful] and being forced to repeat unnatural movements, and sometimes you will see the horse, while obeying, still swish his tail with every single stride.
Awesome, would love to attend one of your clinics.......just a little far away....if you ever get to the USA, let me know, I'll certainly be there......awesome work, beautiful horses might I add.....sister Blue Horse, Cherokee Nation
