"If you stay calm, the horse will be calm" I was riding in a clinic with my horse, he was so tense, his behavior was almost unrecognizable. I was so nervous that I think I forgot how to ride. The entire lesson was about how to calm my horse and some exercises to help. It was a great learning experience; we weren't going to be able to work on those lead changes because what I brought to the clinic was an uptight fire breathing dragon! My horse is a mirror image of me...anxious! We love trail riding but apparently if you dress us up and place us in front of auditors, we are both out of character. This to me is normal behavior coming from a horse that has not been conditioned to this type of situation and has never felt me as his rider, so nervous.
There is also anxious behavior in horses that makes it nearly impossible to get them to focus, move forward, or prevent them from bucking or spooking. This type of anxiety often includes reluctance to be caught, tied, or groomed. When facing such serious issues, it is advisable to begin with a veterinary medical examination. Following this, consulting a saddle fitter and other professionals may be beneficial. Once medical issues are ruled out, it is important to assess the horse both physically and emotionally. Muscles can serve as a guide to identify potential causes of the anxious behavior. Abnormal muscling, as well as dysfunctional movement, creates pain, usually beginning as pain that has led to compensations. Creating a functional athlete creates a happy partnership. Waving pool noodles, tarps, and other similar items to calm the anxious horse will not change a horse that is trying to communicate through its behavior. (Remember, behavior is the only way they can communicate.) True change comes from guiding the horse to a state of comfort by retraining its mind to focus on the body.
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