Principles and Theory

INTRODUCTION
Like you, I have the privilege to work with the best horsemanship teacher – the horse. I have also spent
time observing and working with hundreds of horses and owners over the past few years, as well as
studying with some of the” best of the best” horseman. It is because of these experiences that I have not
only been able to clearly identify, thus simplify, the many “steps or skill sets” required to being
successful with horses, I have been able to create a more simplified approach (program) to acquiring true
harmony and unity with our equine partners.

My approach to teaching natural horsemanship focuses on creating a foundation with your horse on the
ground first. The Tao of Horsemanship DVD Series main focus is to create and maintain connection, join
up, or mental engagement, with your horse – all the time. It is only when we have a horse’s mind that we
ultimately create safety.

I hope to not only clarify what works and why, I hope to break down the many “dogma’s” (set of
universal beliefs) that surround being natural with horses. My approach clearly identifies the core
foundations needed to being successful with horses: teaching people how to better understand what their
horse is telling them, knowing where they need to be and how to communicate effectively in a language
their horse understands and respects. My method fosters a common sense approach, combined with
equine psychology and the principles to “feel.” These qualities create a safe haven and comfort for our
horses– highest levels of needs– and ultimate partnership and leadership for you.

Please know that my intention, and inspiration, behind the Tao of Horsemanship Series is to clearly
identify how important it is to “take the time it takes” and “be in the moment” with your horse. These are
“feeling of and for” attributes that should be taken to heart.

Know that as you learn and teach in the Tao, “all possibilities” are there, allowing for amazing insights
and exchanges between you and your horse – thus forever enhancing your relationship.
These insights encompass the many subtle nuances of language, communication, possible between man
and horse.

“The greatest challenge we face in our horsemanship, is mastering ourselves” – Pat Parelli

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This program is devoted to your personal development with focus on being aware of your emotional and
mental fitness.

Core principles to mastering the art of horsemanship, include:

1) Paying attention to your horse’s body language, expressions & attitudes.

2) Understanding horse behavior, psychology and their perspective – how they perceive their
surroundings as a prey animal will make it easier for you to understand why they do what they do.

3) Listen to what your horse is telling you – through interpreting their body language, examples:
a. Ears forward and both eyes on you means they are asking a question.
b. Ears to the side, with head low and soft eyes, can mean relaxed and ears to the side, with
head high and bulging eyes, can mean confused.
c. Tail swishing can be signs that your horse is agitated, angry, anxious.
d. Pawing softly can mean your horse is thinking about what you are asking and is not ready
to take the next step (passively persist and wait until they “get it”), pawing fast and furious
can mean anxiety and thresholds (retreat and approach will help).
e. Lips quivering or pursed lower lip can mean anxiety, stress. Again, retreat, change
direction and go slow to build their confidence.
f. Ears pinned back can mean defensiveness, irritation or dominance. This is where you need
to pay attention to the “whole” horse, meaning ask yourself “is this typical behavior and
does it line up with your horse’s personality, temperament?”
g. Hind end kicks out can mean defensiveness, fear or dominance. Same as above.
h. When sending your horse (anywhere), do they “check out of class” and assume an “auto
pilot” movement and expression? Meaning, no one is home. You can tell by the way they
move and where their eyes are focused – usually away from you and somewhere else.
When they are in “that mental place” it is difficult to
get their attention.

4) Feel of and for your horse – put yourself in their “shoes” and step back from the situation so you
can become more objective. This is also very intuitive and further involves being “in the moment”
with your horse so you are one.

What is “Feel?” Feel is intuitive and is expressed through your touch, your’ fingertips, your
hands: any, and all, communication tools used to express your request. It is an intuitive state of
“knowing” as much as it is a state of mind (feeling of and for our horse).

5) Be in the moment with your horse – take your time when teaching yourself and your horse. Don’t
loose sight of what’s most important – your relationship. You can also sharpen your peripheral
vision so you are more aware of your surroundings, as well as your horse – in that moment.

6) Clearly identify, understand and begin applying the 4 key elements to horsemanship – every time
you are with your horse:
a. Power of focus;
b. Projection of energy;
c. Feel (feel of) and
d. Timing of your cues

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 Why? Because these (4 key elements) are the same qualities your horse understands and shares
when communicating with other horses. It is a language they understand and a process that will
make you a better leader – one worthy of their trust and respect.

7) Be “creative” as you progress through your learning program. Horses are extremely
intelligent, playful creatures who thrive on variety – too much repetition can create boredom,
sourness and even anger.

Understanding HORSE BEHAVIOR AND PERSONALITIES

Being able to read a horse’s body language will help you better understand their mind, their way of
thinking as a prey animal. This is also a great way to problem solve and prepare yourself for “the
unexpected,” thus building confidence in you.

There are some basic defining characteristics to horse behavior that I would like to discuss. The most
often misunderstood 2 are: aggression and disrespect. Most “aggressive” horses are actually afraid and
fearful. They naturally, as a prey animal, want to run from what frightens them, so when feeling confined,
or trapped, they will often do whatever it takes to defend themselves.
The key here is NOT to punish them when they are acting aggressive (scared or confused), but rather
have more compassion and understanding/insight into what has made them this way so you can earn their
trust and respect, thus start developing a foundation on which to build.

“Disrespectful” horses are usually those that “just don’t know any better.” As they say, “A horse is only
as good as it’s handler/rider,” and “Horses know what you know and they know what you don’t know.”
With that being said, our horse’s “reflect” us – the good, the bad and the ugly! I believe it is our
responsibility to educate ourselves so that we are worthy of our horse’s trust, respect and leadership.

I have briefly outlined below some of the characteristics that I find help define our horses so that we can
better understand them, their behaviors: The “Thinker”, The “Over Reactor”, The “Shy/Quiet Horse” and
the “Outgoing Horse”. Please note that horses can switch from either anytime, but mostly favor one or
the other. It is up to us to know the difference as well as what to do and where to be.

Thinking Horses (The “Thinker”)

Physical traits to be aware of include: calm and responsive to your request; more relaxed body language;
softer eyes, lips, ears, tail; lower neck/head; licking and chewing (relaxed jaw).

Personality traits include: thinking and calculating with dominant tendencies which can make them
dangerous if they don’t trust humans; exuberant; disrespectful and pushy; more “whoa” than “go;”
(referred to a stubborn, lazy) quick learners; confident/challenging; disobedient; bore easy.

These horses often wait until you simply give up, or loose your focus and oftentimes patience. This is
when you end up leaving them alone out of sheer frustration, thus they “win the game.” What you need to
do is master their game, in a language they understand and respect.

Over Reactive Horses (The “Explosive” Type)

Physical traits to be aware of include: head held high; wide-eyed; tense lips, ears, jaw; hallowed
back/inverted and tense; flight mechanism high (rears and bolts easily).

Personality traits include: unconfident; reactive to everything; hypersensitive and fractious; take a while
to teach or “get through”; fearful; panicky; highly claustrophobic; emotional (can’t think); defensive.
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They have trouble with change and learning and often get “stuck” in the process. These horses are
deemed crazy and can be dangerous. They need a lot of time on the ground first so you can build their
confidence, thus making them safer (thinking) horses.

Quiet Horses
Are referred to as: “shy” or “within themselves.” They are often misread as quiet and stubborn, with
tendencies to buck, not move, appear sully and disinterested. They are introverted and
known to bury their heads in grass (eat) to avoid “dealing” with things that overwhelm them.

What they need is confidence, which often requires going slow while you discover and work through
emotional thresholds. Too much change, or pressure, can “blow” them emotionally and pressure can be
described as: stimulus, new environments, too much focus and energy.

Outgoing Horses
Are referred to as: playful, mischievous, curious, and gregarious by nature. They can also be
domineering, willful, disobedient, mouthy – with a tendency to bite. They are energetic and excite easily,
making it necessary to “interrupt mental patterns” before they escalate.

Their energy needs to be directed and guided with creativity and variety. They are easy to train and
because they get bored easily (too much repetition), they will act up and “test” you often.

SUCCESS TIPS
Understand that horses want to live in harmony with nature, life. They don’t thrive on chaos and they
prefer a leader who can offer them security, comfort, food and enough safety that they can play. So, next
time your horse “tests” you, ask yourself: “which horse is this?” (Keep in mind that there will be
overlapping areas within each).

If your horse is explosive and shy:

1) They are unconfident learners so take your time and go slow as you teach.
2) Use a lot of “approach and retreat” to help with emotional and mental thresholds.
3) Take your time introducing new stimulus, environments. Remember, they easily “shut down” if
over loaded.
4) Create a lot of repetition in your program. This creates a level of security, trust and comfort –
very high on their needs list.

If your horse is explosive and outgoing:

1) They are unconfident learners so take your time and go slow as you teach.
2) Use a lot of “approach and retreat” to help with emotional and mental thresholds.
3) Create a lot of repetition in your program. This creates a level of security, trust and comfort –
very high on their needs list.
4) They are easily excitable and quick to react. You need to interrupt patterns before they escalate.
Interrupting can be change of direction, obstacles or stopping them. This will help them to calm
down and “check back in with you”.

If your horse is a thinker and shy:

1) They get bored easily and need a lot of variety. Once your horse becomes more confident, you can
add more variety to your training/riding program so that they don’t get bored.
2) Take your time introducing new stimulus, environments. Remember, they easily “shut down” if
over loaded.
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 3) Make time “doing nothing” with them. This will help them to build enough confidence to become
curious and engaged/connect with you and their surroundings.

If your horse is a thinker and outgoing:

1) They get bored easily and need a lot of variety. Once your horse becomes more confident, you can
add more variety to your training/riding program so that they don’t get bored.
2) Because they are easily excitable and quick to react, you need to interrupt patterns before they
escalate. Interrupting can be change of direction, obstacles or stopping them. This will help them
to calm down and “check back in with you”.
3) Make sure to “interrupt negative patterns” by stopping them and spending long moments of “quiet
time” so they regroup (wait for a lick and chew). You are also looking for them to “check back in
with you.” All of this will help build tremendous trust and confidence in them.

Sometimes our horses need us to remain calm and patient, “passively persisting in the proper position” –
meaning we don’t escalate with them, but rather stay consistent until they “get it” and our it becomes
their idea.

Know that just “being” around your horse will help build interest and curiosity. This can be classified as
spending time “doing nothing,” such as; reading a book while they are grazing, “piddling” around the
barn or pasture, cleaning tack while your horse in their stall. Because horses are naturally curious, this
will encourage your horse to start to “come out of their shell” and perhaps even interact.

However, helping your horse achieve confidence is a balance of “approaching with new stimuli and
retreating” – BEFORE your horse has a chance to freak out. With that being said, don’t stop introducing
new stimuli, environments, exercises just make sure you are “present, or in the moment” and paying
attention to your horse so that you can “adjust to fit the horse, and situation.”

If your horse “does the unexpected”, think about:

1) Interrupting the “negative” pattern by “shutting down” your horse. This can be achieved by:
a. Stopping them (disengage or severe shaking of the rope) or sitting down.
b. Changing direction/exercise (have to “think” about where their feet are).
2) Reinforcing your request with stronger phases and/or back up tools.

Why using a “PHASE SYSTEM” to teach works

Horses have a system of “firmness” or “phases” that they use daily with each other. This helps to
reinforce their level of respect and leadership within the herd dynamic. Their phase structure is similar to
this, phase:
a. #1: horse sneers and wrinkles its nose
b. #2: lays its ears back
c. #3: whips its head around, tosses its head, lifts a hind leg to threaten
d. #4: bites, or strikes out making contact

We too can incorporate a style, or “phase” structure of firmness, that teaches and communicates as
effectively as the horse. To be as fair and effective as the horse, this “phase” system of ours needs to be
used “assertively” vs with aggression (getting mad and forceful). It should also be based on increments of
pressure being applied either through steady or rhythmic pressure – with each increment becoming
stronger until we get the desired result we are looking for.

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When I begin to work with a horse, I always begin, or start out, as “light” as I want to end up. Because
horses learn best through “comfort” (release) and “discomfort” (pressure) it is important to establish a
system of “phases” or increments of pressure. This phase system should be fair and effective, meaning it
is used ONLY as necessary, applying steady increments of pressure until the horse responds – accept the
slightest try. It is of the utmost that you RELEASE the pressure as soon as the horse TRIES and a try can
be as small, or short, as one ounce; one step; one movement in the right direction.

Horses and humans learn cognitively and physically (muscle memory) through repetition and
consistency. Creating new patterns is about repetition and cognitive recognition. It is proven that doing
something new 3 times creates a new pattern of recognition. This is why I teach with the principle of “3”
seconds within my 1st phase so the horse has time to think about it. After “3” seconds, “3” strides, or “3”
requests, I will quickly apply my follow through phases. The horse will learn best when applied fairly
and effectively – meaning I’ve given you ample warning – here comes my follow through: phase 2, 3, 4 –
tag your it! (4th phase is making contact). If you “bluff” with the 4th phase (hitting the ground vs making
contact with your horse, or not coming on strong enough) your horse will “test” you even more the next
time. Remember, tagging or biting your horse as I say is about tuning them into you so you can go back
to suggesting or asking. The tag or bite also reinforces respect and tells your horse to ‘take you
seriously.”

Figuring out how little or how much you need to do to get your point across to your horse is what it’s all
about. Each horse has their own unique personality, temperament and learned behaviors. Once you
discover this level of feel and timing you are well on your way to mastering horsemanship.

SUCCESS TIPS
The calmer, light and responsive your horse is to your request, the more respect, leadership and
confidence your horse will have in you (please refer to Caroline’s horse’s body language and expressions
as a guide or measure of happy, calm, responsive and confident). This can be achieved by “releasing” the
“moment” your horse gives and/or asks a question (2 ears and 2 eyes on you). This will tell your horse
they are not only “ok” (need to reassure when they ask) but also “right” (release when they TRY to do
what you ask).

Being aware and “in the moment” needs to become a constant as you master your horsemanship. Why?
Because horses live in the “now and present.” You being in the moment, present, refers to “feeling of
and for your horse.”

Why balance “DESENSITIZING AND SENSITIZING?”

Before, and after, you ask your horse to do something, take the time to “desensitize” them to the
communication tools you will be using, i.e.: hands, sticks, whips, ropes, riding equipment, etc. This is
also referred to as approach and retreat with the tools being applied with soft rubs, talking and smiling.
This is most important because if not, your horse will begin to assume, anticipate and even be fearful,
learning that your tools mean one thing – move or tag, your it!

Make sure to relax too, breath out, and smile when desensitizing. This will clearly identify that tool and
your approach as “non-threatening,” thus you will create a new experience for you horse and one where
they will respond to new stimuli with positive feelings and positive associations.

Once your horse is no longer concerned with the tool, or equipment, being used, you can begin
“sensitizing” them, meaning begin applying the communication tool in increments of steady
pressure/phases until your horse “tries” and moves in the direction you asked. This approach is referred

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to as “sensitizing” your horse to your feel or touch. This way your horse won’t be afraid of your
communication tools (you) and will learn to trust and respect your request. MOST important is that you
clearly identify the difference between desensitizing and sensitizing when working with your horse.

Key Awareness’ TO MASTERING HORSEMANSHIP

Mastering horsemanship begins with mastering ourselves: our thought, our emotions – our mental and
physical fitness. Always begin with: 1) intention; focus, clarity of mind, projection; 2) position and 3)
movement, both are knowing where you need to be (being present), when to be (timing) and why you are
there.

The more you work towards understanding and implementing these key elements, the more refined your
approach will become, thus the closer you will be to mastering unity – 2-way communication between
horse and human.

In regards to the power of focus, or clarity of thought, keep in mind that horses are incredibly intelligent,
responsive creatures whose livelihood depends on how perceptive and in tune they are to their
surroundings – and that includes you! So, don’t under estimate them – rather give them the benefit of the
doubt and act as though they really can read your mind.

Definition of HARMONY AND UNITY

Harmony with our horses is achieved through:
1) Positive Reflexes: when your horse gives or yields away from steady pressure – anytime,
everywhere and at the lightest touch (vs being oppositional). It is also when your horse becomes
softer and more willing both on the ground and under saddle.
2) Impulsion: calm, rhythmic controlled forward movement (vs impulsiveness).

Unity with our horses is achieved through:

1) Time and experience with our horse. This is when there is clear and willing
communication between you and horse – you practically read each other’s mind and move as
“one.” Thought becomes the first request.
2) When your horse feels your level of vulnerability and trusts you enough to let you
“into their magical society of horses.” This is where they begin to show you how to “play” and
teach you the “true art of horsemanship.” In order for your horse to trust you, you must trust them
first – and that is through the heart.

Remember to always be present when with your horse. Listen to them – understand their expressions and
perspective; feel of and for them; understand where you need to be,
when and why you are there.

Thank you. And may you always be one with your horse!

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