A Horse,
of Course
with Don Blazer
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Horses are thinkers, there’s no doubt.
And at times, I’m sure the one I’m
riding knows what I’m thinking. At times, I’m positive I know what
he’s thinking.
So let’s talk about it.
Now I’ve always been a believer in talking
to horses.
Conversations with them are simple and
straightforward. They say what they mean, and they mean what they say. I like
that.
In the morning, Walter nickers in soft, low
tones. He’s ready for breakfast and he says so in a pleasant manner.
He’s an easy kind of guy who is ready to get along.
Katy Bar Dee Door always lets me know
she’s been waiting for hours. She’s impatient and tells it like it
is, hanging her head over the door, and bumping the door gently with her hoof.
When she speaks, it’s with her whole body. She uses her ears, eyes, stance
and tail to let me know just what she thinks.
Once a horse has thought about something, he
takes action. The action may be nothing more than talking about what he is
thinking, but he takes action.
Horsemen have always talked with and thought
with their horses.
Henry Blake, an English author, has studied,
observed, recorded, tested and re-tested horse conversations, which he has
turned into a dictionary in his book, Talking With Horses.
According to Blake, there are 47 basic messages
and 54 sub messages, usually connected with sound. However, he says, some
messages are conveyed solely by signs. His work of identifying and listing
horse messages is very useful and a solid contribution to the understanding and
care of horses, but maybe his most important offering is that on extrasensory
perceptions and telepathy.
Blake offers a number of experiments as
examples of mind communication between man and horse.
I am definitely a believer in the power of the
mind. And I believe that the ultimate communication between horse and rider is
a mind thing. I also believe it takes time, practice and the experiences of
error before the mental aspects of horsemanship are mastered. And even when
mental communication is mastered, messages are still often misinterpreted or
misunderstood.
I believe Blake’s ideas are correct, but
when he treats the subject as if it were an automatic happening and suggests
anyone could use mental communication to break and gentle the wildest, most
vicious horses, I cringe at his remarks. While I know he is correct; it is a
matter of mind, attitude and mental communication, I also know very few horse
owners or horse lovers are ready to practice what he preaches.
Too many people already think love and kisses
and good mental vibes will conquer all problems. There is much more to it than
that, and the number of serious injuries to horse-huggers proves it.
Horses, with a perfect understanding of horse
talk, don’t rush in where angels fear to tread. And that’s telling
you something. You don’t just decide one day that mental communication
with horses is all you need to be a great trainer or rider. First you have to
learn to correctly halter a horse. Some horsemen, after years, never learn it.
While what Blake offers is insightful and the
ultimate form of communication for experienced horsemen, the best advice he
gives the majority of horsemen is "horses are not humans."
"The greatest barrier to the understanding
of any animal is anthropomorphism, that is to say, attributing human
personality and behavior to animals," Blake advises. And when he said
that, he said a mouthful.
Horses are not humans. They shouldn’t be
treated as such; it’s degrading to them.
Blake worked very hard to perfect his training
skills, and there are few who would deny he could communicate with horses by
both talking and thinking.
Yet, in an effort to help all horsemen,
I’m afraid he makes his understanding and accomplishments dangerously
simple. Beware the offer of instant results, gimmicks, special equipment and
the magic solution.
They offer the same in-depth assistance as
declaring, "Riding is easy. Just keep a leg on each side."
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