I split "horse owners" into 3 types:
Mommas, Buddies, and Leaders.
Each type of person has their own specific ways of interacting with their horses. Their horses act
accordingly, in specific ways. Often a horse's actions or personality is affected by
the type of person that cares for him.
The first type of person is a "Momma".
Mommas are fierce in protecting their young. They also tend to allow their "baby" to
act as they wish and defend their actions to the end.
Mommas do well with young horses. Colts and fillys tend to feel comfortable around them.
They know how to "baby" a baby. They start to have problems, though, in their relationships with yearlings
and adult horses, The maturing horse no longer wants to be under the control of a Momma.
Mommas don't consitantly demand their horse's respect or ask for their trust, or obedeance.
A Momma, in the young horse's mind is to be run to (or over) in time of trouble, but otherwise
can be ignored without repercussion.
A Momma tends to notice every little thing about their horses. They know their babies, that's
for sure. Mommas want to care for every need of their horse. They want to fix the problem theirself, so that their "baby"
won't have to deal with the problem. They don't expect their baby to have to grow up, be responsible for their own actions,
and face the world on their own.
When Momma is upset, everyone's upset. When she is nervous something is surely wrong. A
Momma certainly knows when trouble is coming. When Momma runs, baby runs. When Momma stands, babies
stay behind her. When Momma shows fear, baby shows fear. When Momma is nervous, baby is nervous.
A full fledged "Momma" type person would be in heaven if they could only have their very own "abused"
horse to care for. They have a nurse's heart.
Momma's horses often have trouble when the vet or farrier comes to visit. When "handling" issues
arise it's always the vet's, or farrier's fault. Never her's, for not prepairing her baby to act obediantly.
She will fight, argue, and defend her baby's unruly actions with fierce determination. There's
always a "reason" their baby acts as it does and how dare you correct her, the baby, or tell her otherwise.
The next type of person is a "Buddy".
A buddy is a person that their horse usually enjoys hanging around with. He's seems
to be one of the herd, for sure. His horse may even listen to him when things are going well. He never takes
command of his horse but just wants to get along with it.
A buddy can be emotional. They may allow their emotions to control
them. They may act out in either anger or timidity when unsure of what to do. "Knock 'em flat" or "cry
and run home".
In the horse's mind, a Buddy is someone to leave behind in time of trouble. The
horse doesn't need to outrun the threat. He only has to out run his buddy.
If the buddy is afraid, or is nervous, then his horse may tend
to be on the edge of spooky or nervous. Other times they may not spook even if the buddy acts afraid.
It depends on the courage of that particular horse.
A buddy is good to have around for that extra set of eyes and ears. The horse pays
attention to what his buddy pays attention to, but does not look to him for leadership.
The Buddy type of person tends not to have pre-planned actions to their horse's reactions to
fear. They blindly react to their horses blind reactions. They didn't notice the clues their horse gave out before the trouble
happened. They didn't even want to deal with trouble to start with! They just want to ride and have a good time.
They want their horse to be steady, with no responsibility on their part to lead the horse through the situation.
A Buddy is often "dumped" during a spook and left behind in the dust.
The next type of person is the "Leader".
Leader's lead. They are fair. They are consistant. They are observant. They
protect. They expect. They teach. They correct. They provide. They are easy to trust. They are
calm. They may "act angry" but never "are angry". They make the horse feel safe, even in time of danger. They
know what to do even before the horse realises danger is near. They know how to calm the horse's fears.
This is "leadership" is what a horse craves.
To follow a leader is "life and safety". To leave or ignore them brings on the "fear"
of injury or death. A leader demands a horse's obedience and trust.
It is easy for the horse to give it, as it brings a feeling of safety and well being. A horse has no ego.
When things go wrong, Leaders figure out why. They come up with a plan of action to rectify the
situation. They follow through with the plan. They are trustworthy. Leading is much more than just making demands of your
horse and expecting them to do your bidding.
Here are 10 signs of each of the 3 types of horse owners. These are only indications that
point out to the possibility maybe your are of that type. The more you have the more you are likely to be of that
type.
