I like to observe horses within the herd, because it tells me a whole lot about their personality, and where they fit in terms of leadership. One important aspect of the herd dynamic is the pecking order. Horses have a pecking order to ensure survival in the wild. Many people assume that pecking order is determined by whoever gets the best feed, because that is often where we see it. But the truth is that the pecking order has much more to do with who is charge of safety. If one horse can physically dominant or move another horse, then that horse is higher in the pecking order. Lower horses look to the higher horses to tell them what to do when safety is in question.
In order to maintain my own safety, I need to make sure that at all times, I am the highest in the pecking order. I do NOT want my horses to see me as someone they can push around. To enforce my position in the herd, I like to carry a buggy whip (always when carrying food). I use the buggy whip to reinforce the boundary around my body. If a horse pins her ears at me, I will get after her a bit.
I like to watch how young horses handle new stimuli, and how they respond to pressure from the other horses, because it will tell me a lot about what they'll be like to start under saddle.
I encourage you to take as much time as you can to observe your horses in their environment, especially in settings around other horses. You will learn so much about them!
Until next time, may God bless the trails you ride!
- Ken McNabb
Visit my website for clinics/event schedule & online tack store: www.kenmcnabb.com/
Follow me on Facebook & Instagram: Ken McNabb Horsemanship
Subscribe to my email list: lp.constantcontactpages.com/s...