Horses are constantly gathering information.

Long before a relationship or a partnership develops and feels secure for your horse. Your horse has been paying attention to every interaction in front of them, this very often goes unnoticed by you. They are noticing your energy, tension you may feel, body stance & language, timing, clarity, inconsistency in your training. They notice if what you ask from them actually matches up with how you present yourself in the moment.

Horses respond to the experience of us and not to who we believe ourselves to be.

People often say "show them who's boss, "they are testing you", "show them who's the alpha". reducing this to a power struggle is not how I see my interaction with horses.

Horses dont stand there planning on how to make your life difficult, they are not testing you in order to overthrow you.

They are testing:

• Can I trust you?
• Your Reliability.
• Your Consistency.
• Your Clarity in the questions you ask.
• Your nervous system and emotional being.
• If you can support them if they become hesitent in what you are asking.
• If I can trust you to support me creating safety rather than confusion.
  
  

Horses dont need you to be perfect. But they do need one who creates clarity, calmness & continuity.

Remember you are training your horse with every interaction, be it in the stable, in the field or in general.

Leadership is something far greater than technique, it's not established through force, it's not something we declare because we are the human and command a higher authority. Neither is it created by becoming louder, stronger, or by trying to be more controlling.

Leadership is something that your horse will naturally recognise.