2024 – Happy New Year for Humans … and Horses

Photo courtesy of Tim Hayes Collection.

Happy New Year! It’s the time when many of us, no matter how well or poorly we did things in the past, decide to wipe our slate clean, begin again and do better. A time when even for a brief moment, anything seems possible. This year we’ll be more successful, kinder, thinner, eat healthier, be less judgmental, happier or more grateful.

All of these wishes are actually possible, but on one condition: we must do some things differently than last year. Often the reason many of us have difficulty being successful with diets has nothing to do with the diet. It’s usually our lack of effort and commitment to the diet. The same is true for many things including… our relationship with our horse.

If we keep doing with our horse this year what we were doing last year, we’ll keep getting what we were getting last year. That’s great if we’ve been happy with our past results. But if some things have not improved to our liking, maybe we have to try something different.

When it comes to our riding and horsemanship what would we wish for in 2024? To win more shows, improve to the next level in our sport, ride with more confidence, help our horse become less spooky, feel safer on trail rides or simply have more fun. If our horse could talk, what might he or she tell us about their wish for 2024? Wouldn’t it be nice if we also knew our horse’s New Year’s wish and could make it come true for them too?

There is a way to learn what your horse is saying to you and it’s found in a method of equine communication called Natural Horsemanship. Horses speak to us with their body language. It’s natural for them; it’s how they speak to other horses. If we can learn their language and understand what they’re saying to us with their behaviors, we can also discover their wishes for 2024.

For those who have heard the term — Natural Horsemanship — but are not quite sure what it is, it’s simply a way of creating a positive relationship with your horse which employs this profound method of communicating using body language, touch and feel as opposed to force, fear and intimidation. It begins on the ground, which is natural for the horse and transfers to the horse’s back, which is natural for the human. It’s the way every breed of horse on the planet communicates whether they’re wearing an English saddle, a Western saddle, going on a trail ride, or competing in Grand Pre-dressage.

We live in a time of partial attention. We are less aware, conscious or present to our very existence in the natural world or what we used to consider reality. Today, for many of us, reality is going from smart phones, to text messages, to emails, to voicemails, to Facebook, to iPads, to Xboxes or Flat Screen TV’s. A few of us actually put on goggles and momentarily chose to live in a Virtual Reality.

Our horse’s reality however is living in his surroundings, including us, and giving his 100% attention to the present moment. His reality is survival, eating, playing and being comfortable. There’s no fear of the future or regrets from the past. And when we’re with our horse he will know instantaneously if we are giving him 100% of our attention. If we don’t give it...neither will he.

When we’re with our horse are we truly connected to him? Do we know what he’s telling us by “listening” to his body language? Do we take the time necessary to create a mutually rewarding relationship before we get on his back? What if we’ve done everything we know and it still needs improvement. Do we stretch ourselves to try something else even if it requires learning a new or different method?

I believe one-day people will no longer speak of or use the term “Natural Horsemanship”. They will simply say “Horsemanship.”

If you’re looking to 2024 to be a year of fulfilling more of your dreams or wishes with your horse, then learning how to understand and communicate with him naturally before you get on his back might be a wonderful place to start. I guarantee your horse would wish for the same thing. Then you’ll both have a Happy 2024.

©Tim Hayes 2024

Tim Hayes is the author of RIDING HOME - The Power of Horses to Heal. It is this amazing power of horses to heal and teach us about ourselves that is accessible to everyone and found in the pages this book. To learn more about the book please visit: Ridinghome.com. Every book ordered will benefit children of families in need, veterans with PTSD and children with autism. For Natural Horsemanship Clinics, Private sessions and for more articles & blogs by Tim Hayes go to: Hayesisforhorses.com/naturalhorsemanship-clinics.

Horses & the Power of Now

Photo courtesy Time Hayes collection

There are many ways to say the same thing: live in the moment. Be here now. Look at your feet; that’s where your life is — The past has been spent; the future is an unwritten check but the present is a gift. We need these reminders because we are human and, as far as we know, the only species capable of using its brain to think about the past and fantasize about the future. Horses to the best of our knowledge are only mentally alive in the moment. Knowing the way back to the barn and reminiscing about the past are not the same brain event.

There’s nothing wrong with thinking about the past or the future. However doing so prevents us from being 100% present to reality: what is actually happening at this very moment in time. If I'm not totally present to my immediate reality i.e.: driving a car, hitting a ball or riding a horse, I will not be able to perform at my best. Two primary ingredients of high performance are reaction time and quality of response.

As a human, if I swing at the ball and miss because I'm thinking about what's on TV tonight, the worst that can happen is I strike out. If I'm a horse and I don’t run away when I first hear a strange noise on the trail, the worst that can happen is a predator eats me — Big mistake — Reaction time isn’t always crucial with humans but it always means life or death to a horse.

Horses are prey animals and possess the fastest reaction time of any animal on the planet (the time elapsed between a stimulus to of one of their senses and their physical response). This is why if you are anywhere within a horse's kicking zone and he decides to kick you, you never see it coming. It is physically impossible to get out of the way before he makes contact.

Living in the moment, being aware and only thinking about what's immediately occurring is natural for horses. It’s how their brains work. Along with enormous strength and speed, it is an evolutionary
characteristic that has allowed them to survive for millions of years.

They are literally aware of everything that's going on in their environment every second of their lives. They not only use their super human senses to eternally monitor their surroundings, they use them to detect the slightest change that occurs in their world. They’re like a walking mental, emotional and physical alarm system.

The benefit of “being in the now,” being focused on and connected to our horse is always a mutually improved experience. Our trail ride is safer and therefore more fun. If we're showing, we have a better chance at winning. Staying mentally connected to our horse helps prevent him from misinterpreting our physical energy and body communication if we’re thinking about something else. It also helps prevent him from tuning out his riding partner who is not paying attention.

If I’m riding and talking on my cell phone before a show my horse immediately knows his “leader” has “left” him. He must now fend for himself and become his own leader. If my horse is the leader he may decide to do the opposite of what I want (i.e. refuse the jump).

Not being in the moment when we’re with our horse may not always be a life-threatening situation, but it definitely works against us performing at our best. If we want our horse to respect us, we need to show him the same respect. Not being consciously connected to our horse 100% of the time that we are together is disrespectful and our horse knows it.

The power of being in the now is natural for our horse. If we want that power, it needs to become natural for us as well.

©Tim Hayes 2011

Tim Hayes is the author of RIDING HOME - The Power of Horses to Heal. It is this amazing power of horses to heal and teach us about ourselves that is accessible to everyone and found in the pages this book. To learn more about the book please visit: Ridinghome.com. Every book ordered will benefit children of families in need, veterans with PTSD and children with autism. For Natural Horsemanship Clinics, Private sessions and for more articles & blogs by Tim Hayes go to: Hayesisforhorses.com/naturalhorsemanship-clinics.

Be—Do—Have

Photo above: Tim “Being” in 1951; Photo below: Tim “Doing” in 1994

In 1996 I participated in a three-day self-awareness workshop. It was enormously helpful and quite enlightening. One of many concepts I learned made a huge impact in my life. It was thousands of years old and it was called “BE-DO-HAVE”. It is a formula for achieving success in anything one desires. Simply explained it means that to achieve success in anything, my life and the choices I make going forward must follow this formula in it’s exact order.

To “BE” means to be the person who embodies everything that is a manifestation of my desire. I become a student, a lover, a helper, a participant, a listener, an absorber and a magnet for whatever is my desire (doctor, singer, tennis player or horseperson).

When I allow myself to “BE” this, then I will clearly know what to “DO” that is necessary, required and right in all my choices and decisions that involve whatever is my passion. I study, practice, give time to, ask for help, take risks, pay my dues, push my comfort zone, consider others (including horses), let go of my ego, be willing to succeed and be willing to fail. I am happy “DOING” it all without expectations of any specific rewards. I simply love the process. It is always from “BEING” followed by “DOING” that I will obtain my most successful results.

Only then will I create the possibility to “HAVE” my desire manifested effortlessly and with joy. I will have become the “Have” ~ a successful doctor, singer, tennis player or horseperson)

Years ago, before I worked with horses, like many people I practiced a different and often popular formula (especially in our culture) called “DO-HAVE-BE”. My concept of success was to “HAVE” ~ an impressive sounding title (Vice President), a large amount of money and possessions, to win awards and be well known (read: famous).

The problem with this method is the heavy focus it puts on results. What I “HAVE” becomes more important than what and who I am. With this formula to “BE” successful (as a doctor, singer, tennis player or horseperson) means “HAVING” to achieve either certain amounts of
money, recognition or awards. This causes me to “DO” everything I think will help me “HAVE” these things. The problem is although some things I do are necessary, required and right, some things are not. My goals become more important than me and my principles.

Natural Horsemanship teaches me to put my relationship with my horse before any goal or purpose I have for him. It teaches me to never sacrifice my principles in order to achieve my goals. To be successful with horses in any discipline; dressage, trail riding, jumping, reining or eventing, I have to first know horses. How they think, how they feel, what’s important to them and what they are trying to tell me from their behavior.

If I can learn to think, feel and communicate like a horse, I can “BE” like a horse. Then no matter what I “DO” with my horse it will be with mutual understanding, communication and compassion…and not force. He doesn’t “DO” what I ask because I make him do it, he does it because he wants to do it. Then we’re “BEING” and “DOING” together. It is then if we have the ability and talent to achieve our goals and together we will “HAVE” them all effortlessly and with joy.

When I’m chasing my goals, busy doing everything I think I must do to achieve them; I can sometimes become more of a Human Doing as opposed to a Human Being. Being in a relationship with a Human Doing is not fun. When someone cares more about their goals and using me to achieve them, it doesn’t feel good. Horses’ are just like humans. If they think they’re in my life only to ride them, jump them, dressage them or race them, it doesn’t feel good and it’s no fun for them either.

Sometimes we get so focused on what we want our horses to “DO” we forget some of the reasons why we originally fell in love with them. First we must simply “BE” with them.

Understanding, learning their way of communicating and having a relationship with compassion creates a foundation that will truly enable you to achieve your dreams. “BE” with your horse; “DO” everything together as partners. Then whether or not you achieve your goals, you and your horse will “HAVE” fun and “BE” the partners you both always wished for.

©Tim Hayes 2017

Tim Hayes is the author of RIDING HOME - The Power of Horses to Heal. It is this amazing power of horses to heal and teach us about ourselves that is accessible to everyone and found in the pages this book. To learn more about the book please visit: Ridinghome.com. Every book ordered will benefit children of families in need, veterans with PTSD and children with autism. For Natural Horsemanship Clinics, Private sessions and for more articles & blogs by Tim Hayes go to: Hayesisforhorses.com/naturalhorsemanship-clinics.

Know Your Horse—Know Yourself; Change Yourself—Change Your Horse

Photo courtesy of Tim Hayes Collection.

“Who you are screams so loudly, I can’t hear what you say.”

- Emerson-

Many years ago I realized there were parts of my life that weren’t working the way I wanted. No matter how many times I tried to fix the situation, nothing changed. I found myself saying: “this still isn’t working. I can’t believe this is happening again.” The situations that were not working all involved other people. At first I thought it was the other person’s fault. Then I thought I was just choosing the wrong people. However even when I switched to what seemed like a better choice, it still wasn’t working. (Reread this paragraph and substitute the word “people” with “horse”). I decided to do something I found extremely uncomfortable. I asked for help. It was amazing. Asking for help turned out to be very helpful.

This is some of what I learned. I was told I was stuck. The problem was not in the people or situations I was choosing, it was in me, the “chooser”. Since I couldn’t replace the chooser, I had to readjust it. I had to change. But what about me needed to be different? I remember thinking there must be things about me, certain qualities of my personality, causing me to be stuck that maybe I was unaware of or couldn’t see. But I knew who I was. How could I not be aware of my personality?

My next thought was a breakthrough for me. I realized there was a part of my body I not only couldn’t see but had never been able to see; the back of my head. The only way I was able to see the back of my head was with the help of a mirror, two of them in fact. What if, I thought, there were parts of my personality I was also unable to see. Then I would need a mirror for my personality. Someplace where it showed up and I could view it. My personality always showed up in my relationships. Other people became my mirrors.

The truth is there are parts of my personality I’m not aware off or can’t see. Some have been with me my whole life. There are only two ways I can discover what they are. The first way is very simple but takes a lot of courage. I can asked people I trust to give me feedback about me How do I occur to them. How do I occur to society? When I start hearing the same thing from a few different sources, I’m probably hearing the truth. To change it, first I need to see it.

The second method creates less vulnerability but requires me to be extremely aware of my thoughts and feelings and rigorously honest with myself. I call this method “If you spot it, you got it.” This is how it works: whenever I’m aware of something in another person that annoys me, bothers me, or makes me uncomfortable; It is also something I do, something I used to do or something I’m going to do sometime in the future. I have found after many years this method is true 100% of the time.

The benefits of this method are twofold: if someone says or does something that bothers me, I stop judging and criticizing them and begin examining myself. I discover that the same bothersome things are also in me. Instead of trying to get them to be different or change, I have to change and be a different way first. Now what does all this have to do with horses?

Having a relationship with a horse is no different than having a relationship with another person. It’s either comfortable, uncomfortable or a little of both. Spotting the undesirable behavior of other people shows me what I need to change in myself. Spotting the undesirable behavior in my horse also shows me what I need to change in myself to cause him to change.

I first became aware of how horses mirror humans years ago on my friend’s cattle ranch in southern Idaho. The family’s horses were in 3 separate corrals in front of the main house. I didn’t know very much about horses at this time but it was apparent that the horses in each of the 3 corrals reacted differently as I approached them. In one they acted anxious when I approached. The next one they were relaxed and calm and the third one they were very playful.

I went inside and asked my friend Penny how and why the horses were separated. I expected her to say something like the mares were in one, geldings and stallions in the other two. She said the first corral had Jay her husband’s horses, the next were hers and the third were her two boys. I immediately thought about the day before when I had been out riding with the family. Jay could be pretty rough with his horse sometimes. Penny was gentle and the boys were like; well, boys. They loved to play. The horses reacted to me (another human) by mirroring the same personality characteristics as their human partners. Jay’s horses were anxious, Penny’s were calm and Mark and Scotts were playful.

The reason horses are wonderful mirrors for humans are because in many ways we are very much alike. In fact, except for the obvious differences and the fact that they don’t speak English, horses are just like us. Most of the time the way they treat each other exudes the qualities most human relationships only aspire to possess: truthfulness, kindness, acceptance, tolerance, respect, fairness and forgiveness.

Like humans, horses have thoughts, feelings, wants, needs, fears, parents, children and a whole life. There brains are much smaller but their hearts are much bigger. Small brains free them from the self-consciousness and manipulations of an ego. If they’re afraid or angry they tell us immediately. Unlike humans, they never pretend to be one way in order to get something. Horses never lie. Their superior survival abilities have given them the best memories of every animal save for the elephant. If we let them down, they never forget but with their big hearts, they always forgive. The three factors imperative in having a positive relationship with another human are identical to those we must have with our horse: love, trust and respect. If all three are not present, the relationship will not work.

When a horse resists or does not respond positively to a request, most people see that as something being wrong with the horse that needs to be changed or fixed. On the contrary, spotting negative/resistant/uncooperative behavior is spotting the horse mirroring back to us how he is feeling about our behavior. Something we’re doing or not doing is causing our horse to tell us, in the only way he knows how physical resistance. He’s telling us that we need to change.

If my horse seems “stubborn”, he’s actually telling me over and over that I’m not listening to what he’s trying to communicate to me. If asked him to slow down by pulling back on the reins and he doesn’t, he may be telling me I’m pulling too hard and to lighten up. Maybe I haven’t earned his respect and he’s telling me that he’s enjoying going fast and I should listen to him. If my horse acts anxious or spooky he’s asking me to trust him and believe him by acknowledging that something (including me!) is causing him to be fearful and that he’s not being silly or stupid. He’s saying he needs his leader (me) to help and reassure him so he can carry on.

When I experience how my partner, (horse or human) is relating to me, if it’s positive, I’m doing something right. If it’s negative, I’m doing something wrong. If I’m not getting what I asked for, if my partner makes it obvious that he’d rather not stay with me or if I try and force him to change, he will always resist and resent me. If however I know myself, know my weaknesses, listen to him and understand what he’s saying, then I can offer him a different and hopefully better response. He’ll change and behave differently because he’ll see I’ve change and behaved differently. Then we’re communicating. Then our relationship is positive. We’re riding together in harmony. We’re having fun, we’re safe and this is what both of us have truly always wanted.

“Take time to listen to what is said without words.”

- Lao Tzu -

©Tim Hayes 2012

Tim Hayes is the author of RIDING HOME - The Power of Horses to Heal. It is this amazing power of horses to heal and teach us about ourselves that is accessible to everyone and found in the pages this book. To learn more about the book please visit: Ridinghome.com. Every book ordered will benefit children of families in need, veterans with PTSD and children with autism. For Natural Horsemanship Clinics, Private sessions and for more articles & blogs by Tim Hayes go to: Hayesisforhorses.com/naturalhorsemanship-clinics.

Know Your Horse’s State of Mind!

Photo courtesy of Tim Hayes Collection.

Have you ever tried to communicate with someone who is in a panic or so angry they’re “blind with rage”? You can’t. This person is overcome with out-of-control emotions. Their entire being is flooded with adrenaline. They want to either fight or run away. They’re only conscious of intolerable feelings of panic or rage, and are unable to think rationally. They behave impulsively and feel they must do something to get relief from the horrible way they feel. While in this state of mind if another person does or says anything to try and help, it usually will make the situation worse. What can one do? If it’s rage there’s not much except wait until they “cool off’ “take a walk around the block” or “count to 10”. If it’s panic – a fear-based state - sometimes we can help by doing something that “snaps” them out of their current state of mind.

Later when calm or feeling safe, these people will often say things like: “I was out of my mind” or “I totally lost it”. In physiological terms, something has caused this person to go from using the panic/rage driven right side of his brain (the side that reacts without thinking) to using the logical/reasoning left side of his brain (the side that thinks before it reacts). Irrational right brain reactions in humans are usually caused by fear or anger. In horses they are always caused by fear. The brain of a horse although far less complex than that of the human, is similar in having a right and left side that functions differently. When a horse is using the left side of his brain he is able to think – “do I want to let this human walk over and put that halter on my head or do I want to walk back to my herd?” When a horse is using the right side of his brain he is unable to think. He reacts. Sometimes he is not only afraid, he’s “blind” with fear. This can happen whether you’re riding on his back or walking him on the ground.

When a horse is afraid, unless he is cornered or trapped (in which case he will fight), he will always run. Horses have survived for millions of years because of this lightening fast instinct for self-preservation. When a horse is using the right side of his brain not only is communication impossible but any attempt by a person at controlling the horse’s ability to move his feet (his survival response) will meet with strong resistance and can often make the situation dangerous for both. This includes pulling on a lead line or pulling on the bit. In fact any use of force especially if it causes pain is futile. Given a choice of relieving his pain - a metal bit digging into his mouth - or relieving his fear – run as fast as he can - a horse will always choose to relieve his fear no matter how much pain is inflicted. How then can we help the horse and keep us both safe?

NATURAL HORSEMANSHIP PROVIDES A TWO-PART SOLUTION

We cause the horse to switch from using the right side of his brain to using the left side of his brain. This stops the non-thinking fear/flight response and the flow of adrenaline. It initiates the thinking rational/logical response and starts the release of endorphins which sooths and calms the horse.

The way we cause the horse to switch is by moving his feet in a familiar task that requires him to think and thus use the left side of his brain. A horse does not need to think in order to run but he has to think in order to move his hip sideways by crossing over his two hind legs. This is called disengagement of the hindquarters. It can be done from the ground or from the horse’s back. This helps to shift his mind off the upset and back on to us until he is able to relax, think and respond without fear. This is something that can be easily taught and that everyone who rides horses should learn. Someday your life may depend on it. As his leader we must be able to offer our horse positive direction that creates feelings of safety, comfort, trust, respect and reassurance. He will in turn look to us for leadership. This will help to keep us both safe.

A TYPICAL SITUATION

You are leading your horse from point A to point B. You have done this together many times. There is a large pile of sand on the side of the path. It’s been there for a few days and you have both walked by it before without issue. You don’t notice but today there is more sand and the pile has gotten bigger making it look different. You feel your horse stop and start to pull back on the rope in your hand. You turn around and see your horse resisting going forward.

You don’t see any reason for this so you say, “come on” and yank on the rope. Your horse’s neck goes up a little, his eyes widen little and he starts to pull back harder. You feel annoyed; you think he is being disrespectful (“acting up”) so you pull even harder. In a flash your horse rears up pulls the rope out of your hand, turns and runs full speed right into the fence. The next day you have a dislocated shoulder, and a severe rope burn. Your horse requires 7 stitches in his chest from the vet.

HOW THE SITUATION OCCURRED TO THE HUMAN

I was leading my horse down the path we always go on. All off a sudden and for no reason he blew up, pulled the lead line out of my hand, took off in a panic and ran right into a fence. He hurt my hand and shoulder and put a big gash in his chest. Once in a while he goes crazy for no reason. I don’t know what’s wrong. I love him but sometimes I think, maybe I should sell him.

HOW THE SITUATION OCCURRED TO THE HORSE

I was walking with my human. I saw a big pile of sand on the right side of the road. I’d seen the sand before but now it looked different. I needed to stop and be certain that whatever created this change was not something that was still there and could threaten my life. I stopped; my head went up so I could see better and the muscles in my neck tightened preparing me to run if necessary. I don’t know why but my human tried to pull me forward on the rope. I started to move my feet and go away from the sand to relieve some of my anxiety but for some reason that made my human pull on me harder. Now I couldn’t go back, I didn’t dare go forward toward the sand pile, the only way I could move to relieve my fear was to go up. When I reared up my human pulled hard on my head with the rope.

The claustrophobic feeling of not being able to move my head or my feet makes me panic. When I panic I stop thinking. My brain switches to survival mode. I react on pure instinct to escape the place where I’m not feeling safe. I must run away and I will use all my power to do so. Since I am not thinking it doesn’t matter if my human or I get hurt. I get to live another day.

In order for us to be a leader our horse trusts, respects and responds to without resistance, we must learn to see the world the way it occurs to our horse. We must understand his nature as a prey animal. We must learn his five triggers that indicate a potential threat and cause our horse to go from the left side to the right side of his brain. We must learn the different behavioral signs that indicate when our horse is using the left or right side of his brain. And finally we must learn and practice our equine language of communication on the ground and on his back so when we see our horse showing signs of going right brain (non-thinking, reactive) we can immediately help him get back to using the left side of his brain (thinking, responding).

I have listed the 5 primary triggers that cause horses to become “right brained”. I have also listed some (not all) of the behavioral signs your horse will exhibit that can indicate whether he is using the right or left side of his brain. You may have noticed all of these signs before but understanding what they mean and communicating your understanding to your horse will not only help keep you and your horse safe, it is what Natural Horsemanship is all about.

LEFT BRAIN INDICATORS

• Licking and chewing with mouth

• Blinking of eyes

• Level head and neck

• Muscles are relaxed

• Endorphins are released for calmness

RIGHT BRAIN INDICATORS

• Head and neck is elevated

• Eyes are wide, showing the white

• Nostrils are flared

• Muscles are tight and braced

• Adrenaline is released for power

PRIMARY RIGHT BRAIN TRIGGERS

• Predators (this includes us)

• Places (new or unfamiliar)

• Movement (of anything)

• Changes (anything familiar appearing differently)

• Objects (anything new and unfamiliar)

©Tim Hayes 2012

Tim Hayes is the author of RIDING HOME - The Power of Horses to Heal. It is this amazing power of horses to heal and teach us about ourselves that is accessible to everyone and found in the pages this book. To learn more about the book please visit: Ridinghome.com. Every book ordered will benefit children of families in need, veterans with PTSD and children with autism. For Natural Horsemanship Clinics, Private sessions and for more articles & blogs by Tim Hayes go to: Hayesisforhorses.com/naturalhorsemanship-clinics.

Horse’s Time

Horse time in Idaho. Photo courtesy of Tim Hayes Collection.

Someone once said that God invented time to keep everything from happening at once. In fact humans invented time in order to help bring order, meaning and understanding to their unique existence.

As far as we know humans are the only animals with recognized self-awareness, rational thinking and therefore a mental concept of time. Other animals may be aware of the physical changes in day and night, summer and winter and thus able to respond to these changes but it is only us humans that will ever know if we are “late.” A horse for that matter never thinks: “oh my, I’m running out of time.” Understanding and remembering this significant difference will have an enormous impact on how you and your horse get along and the success you will achieve in your horsemanship and riding.

Today more than ever humans live by the clock. We fit every minute of our lives into a schedule. We create agendas with predetermined requirements as to how much time it will take to achieve satisfaction in everything we do. However when we think something must happen within a certain amount of time and doesn’t, is always a set up for stress, tension, anger, frustration and disappointment. Being “late” is one of many examples that can illustrate both the difference and the importance of Horse and Human time.

EXAMPLE: If I ride on Wednesdays at 4 pm and don’t get to the barn until 3:55 pm, I may rush to groom and tack up my horse so I can get in as much riding time as possible. Knowing that I am “late” I think I’m using up valuable riding time while getting my horse ready to ride. This thought makes me anxious and tense. Instead of presenting myself to my horse as a happy, calm, relaxed friend and leader, I show him a partner who is anxious, frustrated, preoccupied, and tense. The quality of my grooming and saddling that is usually a nice way to connect with my horse is now a signal to him that something is not right with his human partner. My horse does not know I’m late because “being late” does not exist in his world. All he knows is that I’m anxious and not relaxed.

As we start to ride I feel a resistance coming from my horse. He’s communicating to me with his body (the only way he knows how). He’s telling me: “Your body feels tense and that makes me anxious. I’m not feeling very safe and comfortable with you on my back right now, can you do something to change what I’m feeling from you…can you help me?”

I think: “Oh that’s great. Not only am I going to run out of riding time, but I’m going to have to struggle with my horse and his bad attitude.” I do what many people do; I blame the horse for the problem. I begin to feel angry and frustrated and my cues become rough and heavy-handed. This is frightening for my horse. He thinks: “not only is my partner anxious, he’s hurting me!”

At this point my horse will usually do one of two things. He’ll either emotionally and mentally shut down, brace himself and do everything he can to tolerate me until the ride is over. This is how humans create dullness in their horses. Or my horse will ask me to leave (read: buck me off). This is how humans get hurt. Natural Horsemanship is seeing and understanding every situation from the horse’s point of view.

It’s taken me years and many mistakes to remember the enormous impact time, or the nonexistence of time, has on me, my horse and my horsemanship. And like everything else I’ve had to do to get my horse to be better; I had to be better. I had to change my behavior first.

Now when I get to the barn and I’m "late," I change my agenda. I adjust to fit the situation. Instead of doing 20 minutes of groundwork and 40 minutes practicing flying lead changes, I might just practice some groundwork or take a nice leisurely ride with the time I have left. If I’m “very late” I may just spend time with my horse and let him graze.

By putting myself on “horse time,” I show understanding and respect for my partner who lives in the moment and has no schedule or agenda. Then no matter what we do we are spending quality time together not just physically but emotionally and mentally. Our relationship becomes stronger, my horsemanship gets better and neither of us ends up frustrated, disappointed, dull or hurt and…we usually have a great time.

Love is what we give our time to - Children know this — so do horses.

©Tim Hayes 2014

Tim Hayes is the author of RIDING HOME - The Power of Horses to Heal. It is this amazing power of horses to heal and teach us about ourselves that is accessible to everyone and found in the pages this book. To learn more about the book please visit: Ridinghome.com. Every book ordered will benefit children of families in need, veterans with PTSD and children with autism. For Natural Horsemanship Clinics, Private sessions and for more articles & blogs by Tim Hayes go to: Hayesisforhorses.com/naturalhorsemanship-clinics.

The Nature of Horses

Photo courtesy of Tim Hayes Collection.

The most important factor to remember when interacting with the horse is the radical difference in their evolutionary nature. The horse is a prey animal. He is a source of food for predator animals including the cat family (mountain lions, bobcats etc.), the dog family (wild dogs, wolves etc.) and the human family (you, me and everyone else).

The human is a predator animal. We kill prey animals, and eats them: cows, sheep, deer and yes, horse. Horse-meat although “officially” outlawed as a food source in the US. is readily eaten and served today in other countries including France and Australia. American horses unfortunately don’t know this. When a horse is afraid and acts “spooky” he’s not afraid of being hurt, he’s afraid of being eaten.

When it comes to predatory survival attributes e.g. speed, sharp teeth, claws and acute sense’ of smell and hearing, humans have always been fatally inferior predators. Humans have survived and become the top of the food chain by utilizing our superior intelligence - we created the gun. This has enabled us to kill all prey animals as well as all other predator animals including each other. Horses have survived by using their ability to out run all their enemies.

In addition to their speed, horses also have powerfully acute senses. They hear and smell potential enemies at great distances. They can see the flutter of a bird’s wing across a river 300ft. wide. They can also see 340 degrees while standing still and not moving their head. If cornered with no possible escape a horse can and will fight.

They possess the fastest reaction time of any animal - the time it takes between the horse deciding to kick to the instant his hoof makes contact. If a horse decides to kick you and you are within kicking range, it is physically impossible to avoid getting kicked.

And finally their cunning ability to out smart predators is demonstrated by their lightening fast evasive maneuvers whenever they don’t want to be caught. Have you ever tried to catch a horse that doesn’t want to be caught?

What seems to be a horse' unreasonable fear and over reaction to something it doesn't recognize is a classic human misunderstanding of the horses nature. Horses aren't “Spooky” because they're stupid. They know they can be eaten and unless they are 100 per cent certain there are no predators around, it's their genetically built-in survival nature to run first and ask questions later.
A horse would rather be wrong and alive about mistaking a blowing plastic bag for a mountain lion than curious and dead.

Once we recognize that our horse might be reacting to a situation motivated by self-preservation and not because he's “being difficult”, we have the opportunity to change our response to his behavior. This will help him build a more positive attitude about us and by so doing strengthen our relationship.

We can't change our horse's nature but if we know and understand that our human nature can be counterproductive, we can change the way we respond to him. We can think like a human but behave like a horse. We can help him work through his survival fears instead of reprimanding him, which usually turns into an unpleasant and often dangerous situation. We can acquire new knowledge and new tools that will help our horses become more confident and trusting in the human world we have asked them to live in.

Being good with horses actually requires the same qualities that it takes to be a good parent. In the same way we must understand how a child sees the world we must also see the world from the horses point of view. When a child tells us he doesn't want to go to bed because he's afraid of going into a dark room, it's not unlike a horse that's afraid to go into a horse trailer.

A good parent, like a good horse-person, knows that there are no monsters in the bedroom as he also knows there are no bears in the horse trailer, which to a horse looks like a metal cave on wheels. Instead of becoming annoyed, impatient, frustrated and showing the horse or the child that we think they're being stupid and silly, we must acknowledge their fears and know that for them the “danger” is quite real.

With the child we must then reassure him by picking him up, holding him, walking into the room together, turning on the lights and staying with him until he feels safe and let's us know it's okay if we leave. With our horse we must not force him to go into the trailer. We must give him all the time he needs to inspect, investigate, go on and off and become 100% confident that he will be safe if he gets into and stays in the trailer.

As a parent not only does this positively resolve the immediate issue of going to bed, but it is how we create a relationship that has our child look to us as a source of comfort, safety, understanding, trustworthiness and leadership. Are not these the qualities that we also want from our horses?

The most important needs for a horse, those that motivate all of his behavior, are the same today as they were millions of years ago - SAFETY (survival), FOOD (and water), COMFORT (emotional as well as physical) and LEADERSHIP. Horses always feel safer with a leader and are happy to follow one who is fair, trustworthy and has earned respect.

The important needs for most humans in today's modern world are PRAISE (you're a terrific rider, you made no mistakes), RECOGNITION (you won the blue ribbon for being in first place) and MATERIALISM (you also get $50,000 for being first).

When we look at the horse/human relationship, which has these radically different needs but lacks a common language to communicate these differences; is it any wonder that the single largest problem people have with horses is not the horse's physical ability but his mental and emotional attitude, which then impacts on his physical behavior. Without a language that the horse understands (English is not one) achieving leadership through force with the threat of pain (“getting after him”) will never create the type of partnership we all so desperately desire with our horses.

Natural Horsemanship teaches us how to communicate our wishes in a language our horse understands. It teaches us how to become our horse's leader with love, trust and respect. It teaches us how to control every muscle, thought and emotion of our horse and ourselves at every moment. It is then that we can ride and guide. It is the then that we achieve harmony. It is then that we understand and combine our unique natures so that becoming one together becomes something natural for both horse and human. Natural Horsemanship simply means knowing and honoring the nature of horses.

©Tim Hayes 2022

Tim Hayes is the author of RIDING HOME - The Power of Horses to Heal. It is this amazing power of horses to heal and teach us about ourselves that is accessible to everyone and found in the pages this book. To learn more about the book please visit: Ridinghome.com. Every book ordered will benefit children of families in need, veterans with PTSD and children with autism. For Natural Horsemanship Clinics, Private sessions and for more articles & blogs by Tim Hayes go to: Hayesisforhorses.com/naturalhorsemanship-clinics.

The Power of Intention

Photo courtesy of Tim Hayes Collection.

Probably the greatest example of the power of intention is found in the world of Quantum Physics. In this world we learn that literally everything in the universe (water, rocks, wood, ice cream, people electricity, horses, etc.) is made up of stuff called sub-atomic particles. These particles have names like electrons, neutrons and are so tiny, they are smaller than the size of an atom i.e. Sub-atomic.

What is absolutely amazing about sub-atomic particles is the fact that they are only visible to humans (scientists looking through microscopes) when they are looking for them. If a person does not specifically intend to look for a sub-atomic particle, the particle is not visible. This is the ultimate example of the power of intention.

When I ask my horse to go forward I need to look forward. I need to communicate my intention to my horse mentally as well as physically. If I am looking at my horses’ head, he may or may not go forward. If he does go forward, it will not be with the same certainty or confidence he would have had he known I was looking forward. The reason he can tell that I’ve moved my eyes and head to look forward is due to something called a Proprioceptive Change.

A Proprioceptive Change is the smallest noticeable physical change that occurs in our bodies right before a larger change occurs. When I have the conscious intention of asking my horse to go forward, this thought causes an imperceptible shift in my body as I move my head and eyes to look out and straight ahead. My intention to go forward creates my mental thought (“I want to go forward”) which causes an almost invisible change in my body, which can be felt by my horse. This is only possible if I’m focused, in the moment and completely present to being with my horse.

An example of a proprioceptive change that most of us have experienced is when we hug someone. If the other person stops hugging before we do, just before they stop, we feel an almost imperceptible reduction in the intensity of their hug. An equine example we might relate to is the feeling we feel from a horses’ body just before he bucks. In the same way my horse can feel my intentions when I am focused and aware, I can feel my horse’s intentions.

Because a horses survival depends on his ability to instantaneously sense any type of danger, they are hardwired with super human senses which makes them experts in detecting Proprioceptive changes in their environment. Another way to say it is horses are masters of “knowing what happens before what happens happens” (say this to yourself two times very slowly). In either case the power of intention is palpable and exists in both humans and horses.

Natural Horsemanship teaches us that in order to become better with horses; we need to become more like them. When my horse responds to my slightest intention, then I am riding a fabulously light horse. If I can respond to my horses’ slightest intention, I become a better rider. I become more confident and thus safer. The better we both listen to each other, the better we get along and the better we ride.

Lighter, confident, safer; isn’t that what we all want when we ride. Tom Dorrance called it
True Unity. Ray Hunt called it Thinking Harmony. I like to call it Being One With My Horse.
It’s like a couple that love and know each other so well, they can finish each other’s sentences.

Humans, horses, we are in many ways the same...just different combinations of sub-atomic particles. The power of intention exists in all of nature. It’s why using the power of our intention is a natural way to communicate with our horse i.e....Natural Horsemanship.

©Tim Hayes 2022

Tim Hayes is the author of RIDING HOME - The Power of Horses to Heal. It is this amazing power of horses to heal and teach us about ourselves that is accessible to everyone and found in the pages this book. To learn more about the book please visit: Ridinghome.com. Every book ordered will benefit children of families in need, veterans with PTSD and children with autism. For Natural Horsemanship Clinics, Private sessions and for more articles & blogs by Tim Hayes go to: Hayesisforhorses.com/naturalhorsemanship-clinics.