36/ DECEMBER 2018 THE RIDER


The Science of how Horses Think & Learn Yielding to pressure – you, AND your horse!


nerve.” • “Why not enter the trail class? You’re at the show anyway.”


• “Are you coming out on a hack with us?” Well-meaning invitations, but sadly, invita-


tions into situations for which neither you nor your horse are quite prepared. I’ve been there- felt the pressure from a client,


coach or even a friend. The time I’ve spent re- building confidence in myself or my horse, in- spires me to help other riders and horses rebuild theirs. We’d never suggest a friend commute the 400


highways into Toronto with unreliable brakes and steering. Yet, it makes me sad to see at a few horses at every show, in the pressure cooker of an unfamiliar environment without the tools needed for the task.


Have you ever felt pressure to push the boundaries with your horse? I am a professional bubble-burster. As clini-


cian and coach, I act as the voice of caution. As a show judge, I can only wince. Unless the


By Lindsay Grice Equestrian Canada coach and judge.


• “Just get back on! You don’t want to lose your


situation crosses the line to abusive, unsafe or rule infracting, I can only feel badly for the fraz- zled rider circling their horse in between whin-


nies or eliminated for the final refusal or unable to get close to the trail gate. They’ll have some re- building to do….hopefully.


The Fire Horse


and even become one with it. I tell people I suffer from horse withdrawal,


and unless they are horse people, they think I am daft.


From ancient times, a person on horseback


was lifted above the mundane and into a greater range of power. Very heady stuff! And of course, paying and caring for such a huge compliant beast leads to an emotional bond. Riders attitudes can range from an “I’ll show


this brute who is boss” through to an affinity that quickly forgives missteps, delivers words and extra caresses of praise and elicits deep concern over the steeds’s discomfort or injury. Across that wide band of attitudes, any rider


worth his saddle opens up to have “a feeling” for the mount. And, a type of rapport is quickly agreed upon by both horse and human, often before the butt hits the saddle.


Chapter 2 “Love is the answer” ( I forgot the question,


but that doesn’t really matter) I can barely remember a time when I did not


By Lauren Bode


My mission statement. Having developed and practiced my talent for


years, I speak for animals. I willingly provide a voice for the non-human


creatures of our world, in the hope that I may assist them to obtain greater health, better understanding of their expected roles, and better relationships with their human partners. Through my classes and daily contacts, I en-


courage others to develop closer bonds, apprecia- tion and mutual trust with animals, and a respect for all life in this world.


Lauren Bode


At top right is a photograph taken by me in NYC at my girlfriends home. I call him the Fire Horse...


Chapter 1 There is a power about horses that attracts so


many people. Their physical presence alone, so tall, heavy


and muscular, stirs a feeling within that can affect one in many ways. With some people, understandably, it is fear,


with others there is a touch of envy. Horse people though usually have another


feeling, an attraction that say that in some way I can be part of this power, I can manage it, direct it


speak with animals. I did not think it was some- thing which I did, intentionally or otherwise, I just understood what they were saying. I felt a strong connection with horses in par-


ticular, and cannot remember a time when I was not in the presence of a horse. I am writing this because everyone asks me


how I started, was it strange, weird, did other peo- ple think it strange? My favourite animal is the horse. I chose to


give them a voice first and foremost. At first when I would speak with horses at pasture, they would be so incredibly brave that I felt quite sad. I made up my mind then and there to make


whatever I had to do in this life count for some- thing.


Not realizing at the time that it would be a


lifelong commitment. Often I am asked as well, how i do this thing,


talking to horses. I tell everyone who poses that question that it is a form of telepathy. I read their thoughts and I give them mine in return, it is actu- ally thought transference. Did I just say that? Please keep that informa-


tion to yourself or i will never get a date with someone! People also ask me how I speak with


horses/dogs/cats/rats/snakes from a photograph. I have to tell them that it is not the photograph I am speaking with, but using it as a reference, to make sure that I do have the actual energy of the animal. A guy called me once, in quite a serious man- ner, he told me he wanted me to speak with his dog.


When things go wrong in the show ring, It can often be boiled down to one or more of


these “buttons “ malfunctioning -not yielding to the rider’s pressure -particularly in a distracting envi- ronment. • Go forward, accelerate, lengthen stride • Shift laterally – head/neck, forehand, haunches • Decelerate, shorten stride • Connect, collect and halt


Life lessons. What about positive pressure? That little kick


of confidence we may need to face our fears, take a risk and just DO IT SCARED? Run the opportunity through the grid of reality


–an honest assessment of your strengths, weak- nesses, and current experience. Practical tips: DON’T go to the show (or other equestrian adventure) if: • You aren’t getting excellent rides at home, men- tally and physically, both you and your horse. • You haven’t taken your horse off-property in awhile • You’re riding AT LEAST one level higher than what you’ll be riding at the show/event (regardless of your riding discipline) • You’re struggling with a component that you’ll need at the show. • You’re unprepared in terms of tack/supplies


I waited and he went on to say, “Hang on, Lauren I have you on speaker now, he’s listening, do your thing”. Most people who do have animals love and


keep them in a great manner, but there are those who often drive me to distraction, and I have to ask them, “Is this dog a part of the furniture, or part of the family”? I do not recommend the amateur to try this an-


imal communication, and expect results at once. It takes a lot of time to understand what you are ac- tually doing. Animal communication is very serious, think


about it, when you speak to a person or an animal, the conversation does a few things, first of all it forges a stronger bond between the human and the animal. The humans begin to think differently about


communication with their pets. Some people tell me they know what their an-


imal is saying and do not need me to tell them. “Give me food” what a load of crock. Please


do not underestimate the animal world. I am asked quite often if I would ever tell someone if their horse did not like them.


“That will scare em,” he said moving swiftly


Chapter 3 Telling someone that their horse does not like


them. I believe it was only once that I had to do so. It was mutually agreed by the horse and his


owner that they did not get along. He had been a racehorse, not a top notch one,


but he had won quite a bit of money.(which he most likely ate in a months time) As his 6th birth- day approached he had a feeling of unease, a new colt has come to the barn, and was being breezed by his rider. He knew his time had come to move on, because he himself had taken over from an- other gelding who had to be retired. He did not really understand the terminology


but heard it bantered around quite a bit. Plus the bone chip in his front left leg was not making it easy on his nerves. The rescue group collected him from the


tracks...without a backward glance, he walked straight onto the ramp of the waiting trailer, all the time wondering where this retirement was located. He found out soon enough, his ride was one


he would not forget, it was fast and furious, he was thrown from side to side in the trailer, was tempted to cry out once, but stifled it.Just when he thought he would lose his footing, he did, as the trailer came to a grinding halt. It had halted at a long low building, similar to


the one where he had spent the last 4 years. Peeking around the corner,he saw a few


horses, he thought he recognized a friend of his from the tracks and whinnied loudly, scaring every- one within earshot, he himself having a ball at his new found voice.


out of the trailer, as soon as the door was unlatched. He was hurting, did not want anyone to no-


tice. One day a woman showed up and decided he


would make a great barrel racer.Her barrel racer had to be replaced, and despite the fact that the only barrels he knew where those at parties at the tracks, he tried his best, did all the turns, had some difficulty at the 3rd barrel. After 6 months of him being at the barn,


someone recommended that I be called to speak with the horses at the barn, and for the heck of it she included him. As I stood beside him listening to his


thoughts, a scared, sweaty, eyes wide with pain gelding poured his heart out. I comforted him, reassured him that his life


will be better if he did what his partner asked him to do.


He said he was confused, and was in pain. I relayed what the gelding said. The owner of


this horse told me too bad, he has to go if he can’t do the job, but she was going to get the vet to look at his leg. Going of course meant to the meat buyer. I took a few minutes away from the situation,


walked away to get my strength back, all the while hoping for a better solution. I heard a horse calling out to me, I looked up


and the mare whom he was replacing asked me to please help him to understand his job, as she did not want him to be sent away. I promised that I would help him.As I walked


away I heard one of the girls gasp, I looked back at the mare and saw tears rolling down her face. All content copyrighted


About Lindsay Grice. A horse show judge and certified rid-


ing coach with a special interest in equine behaviour. After 25 years as a competitor and horse trainer, Lindsay enjoys teaching clinics and travelling to Ontario farms as a freelance instructor. She’s taught the science of equine behaviour and learning for horse associations, courses for University of Guelph and therapeutic riding facilities. Lindsay judges many disciplines and


breeds and serves on an EC judging com- mittee


Why do horses do what they do? “In the horse world, our traditions and evi- dence sometimes collide – I love to help rid- ers solve their horse puzzles with logic, patience and equitation science.”


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