How horses use phases, timing, focus and energy.

Observing horses interacting can be so helpful in our training and interaction with horses.

It's been a while since I've had two horses at home and been able to watch their interaction in the field and as they get to know each other. It's reminded me of the importance of observing and using how horses behave towards each other, and how horses use phases so successfully.

Not everyone is able to, or chooses to, keep their horses in as natural environment as possible. I have always preferred to have horses live out 24/7. I am lucky to have the land at home to be able to do so, and most of the fields are overlooked by the house, so I am able to observe the horses' habits and bahaviour.

My friend Susan has been studying herd dynamics and horse behaviour (click here for her website) for many years and has shared her understanding of how and why horses behave and interact as they do, with me and other of our friends, in talks and visits (see my blog post of November 2011 Using herd dynamics). I find her insights very helpful and have become a fascinated observer of horse behaviour. I think many of our mainstream-horsemanship friends don't even see what is happening among their horses, or realise why something is happening, whether in their own horse-human relations or among the herd members, and they miss the chance to use it in their relationship with their horses.

Lucie is 13 and the new arrival mare Fina is 6. Fina has gone through a lot of changes and gained a reputation for being "bossy"; she has come from a mixed herd (mares and geldings, various ages) and when I've met her & ridden her with the friends from whom she is on loan, I've seen her herding her companions around, almost obsessively, and it continues when she's ridden. We thought it would be interesting to see how she got on in an all-mare herd, and with an older mare.

I was aware of the importance of establishing leadership and a relationship with each horse before putting them together and allowing them to form their own bond, and I believe I achieved this.

Once in the same field together, Lucie, the older mare, while delighted to have a friend at last, showed she was not going to concede position. Fina, as the newcomer, was polite and respectful for the first couple of days; but once she knew her way about and settled in, she started to challenge Lucie. In the first days, when they touched noses, they both withdrew quietly. Then one morning I saw Fina, after touching noses, make a face at Lucie; quick as lightning Lucie made herself big and mean - ears back, snaking neck, she not only made contact but drove Fina off. Fina looked surprised, and went and stood behind Lucie, and there was a cooling-off; no grazing side by side that day. Next morning I was lucky enough to be watching again and saw the same thing happen. This time the challenge was half-hearted (I would call it a test, to see how things stood that day) and the response was less energetic, but equally emphatic.

Relating what I saw happenng between the horses to the use of phases of applying pressure, and using pressure and release in training, I would say that Lucie had to go to phase 4 with a lot of energy, to make herself seen as sufficiently believeable. Her timing and energy combined in a fast and firm response. The next day she only needed a phase 2/3. From then on, Fina has accepted second place. Sometimes she behaves like a pushy youngster and Lucie makes a face at her and puts her back in the mare and foal position. Occasionally she gets big and drives her off (usually where food is involved). But I would say that most times a look suffices; her phase 1.

Is Lucie being firm but fair, is her behaviour assertive, or aggressive? As Fina seems to have accepted Lucie's behaviour, and appears to be satisfied with the position (her body language would suggest she is happy with her status) at least for the present, I conclude that in the horse's eye, it was as fair and as assertive as it needed to be, to establish hierachy and respect.

Sometimes you have to go to phase 4 and you cannot yield position until the horse does. Sometimes your phase 4 may not look pretty, but it has to be as big as it has to be, or you will not gain the horse's respect. Sometimes we Parelli folk are seen as too forceful, or sometimes we ourselves worry about going too far, but if we see how horses behave to each other, the message is - you have to do what you have to do to be believed by the horse. If the horse is still coming onto you, you have to make yourself bigger in energy and bluff it out. Horses are masters at this game, they've been playing it all their existence. Some have been successful at playing it on humans; some may have been abused or pushed into self-protective behaviours; some horses may not have experienced a herd environment to understand how this hierachy game works. These horses may be labelled as mean or uncontrollable or crazy and may not understand at first, but all horses can learn; and humans can present the rules to horses, provided they abide by them themselves, and have the means of communicating effectively.

To have respect and for the horse to see you as leader, you have to win at this game. The stakes are high. It's that simple. You may only need to go to that phase 4 once; that may depend how well you play it in the horse's eyes.

This brings me to - how light can our phases become? As little as a thought... Fina will approach slowly alongside Lucie; she's asking with her intention, may I approach? Lucie barely moves, but she either gives permission -, or a phase 1 "No". How horses use phases, how they bring their life up, how they ask a question and how only a thought or look is needed in order to be understood, tells me so much about my own use of phases and timing.

This is what it comes down to for me: how well can I be read by my horses. All the tools and techniques lead to this. I want my horse to read my intent, my thoughts. My body language should become so subtle that the horse reads my thoughts before I have to move. I need to be so good that the horse wants to do it, and to be as convincing as an alpha mare, so that I hardly ever need to go beyond a phase 1/a thought.

I find horse-watching so helpful in understanding how to use phases, focus and life. Timing too. We can learn from talking, or books and DVDs, but nothing beats seeing how it works among horses, and trying to be that good that even the horse is impressed. On the ground and then in the saddle. There should be no difference.

Introducing Seraphina

I have another horse, and Lucie has a friend, at long last! Seraphina (Fina) is a 6 year old Fjord mare on loan from my friends in the Dordogne, where I have ridden her several times. My friend Helen's daughter has outgrown her, and they have younsters to bring on. With them, Fina has been introduced to hacking out with various horses and dogs, bicycles and running man; they started her with jumping and dressage; horse agility and TREC and all manner of flapping things and unusual obstacles. So she is already a very handy pony, and I have quite a lot to live up to! This will be a new phase in her development. It may be good for her to be with an older mare in an all-female herd.

First impressions are that it will be good for all of us. Lucie is much more relaxed now she has a field mate. It was rare for her to lie down, her resting as a single horse was usually standing up, on watch. She did a lot of moving around, was constantly in a state of alert for danger. For me, Fina is another horsenality to learn from and teach. Fina seems much more stable in her outlook than Lucie. She is a very sensitive, quick to learn, responsive, willing little horse.

I love that she is asking "how do you want me to be?". She is offering me a lot of softness and feel, she is asking questions and is very connected. I am slowly introducing her to our routine and how I do things. To stand quietly while I do things with Lucie. Patience and manners at meal-times. Leading from all zones; going ahead or staying behind. Permission to eat. I am riding her in the rope halter; as it's just me, and Lucie on the lead when we hack out, I have all the time to take the time that it takes - and so it is taking no time! The first few days we went for walks, the two horses in hand, establishing leadership, gaining confidence in each other. This is a new environment and I a new human, so I can't assume she will be the same for me as she was for Helen and Ali. Sometimes I saddled her and rode, but got off as often as I felt necessary, if she lost confidence, or connection, and became bracy, she would find me alongside her again. She has quickly stopped worrying about having Lucie close alongside, or bumping into her, or the rope getting under her tail, or flapping around, when I ride her and lead Lucie. It's being good for Lucie too; the pressure is off her (which makes me realise how much pressure she felt) and she stands quietly while I teach Fina. She doesn't seem to resent my attention to another horse, which is a nice sign of confidence in me as the leader. They both respond to me and I love playing with two horses at once; asking one to do something while the other stands still; it develops focus - if you don't get it right, the wrong horse reads you!

I think I'm really going to enjoy having Fina around.