20 CUMBRIA FARMER February 2009CumbriaHorse
Horse TalkHorse TalkWith Alex Jakob-Whitworth
Alex Jakob-Whitworth specialises in behaviour/handling and is an
equine masseur. Phone 017683 62664 or 07891 921416 or email
alex@equine-awareness.co.uk (www.equine-awareness.co.uk)
ALEX JAKOB-WHITWORTH
What is your body saying?
`He may read signals from
you that tell him he hasn't
got a `safe' leader, so he has
to take on the role himself'
H
ow can we use body
language to train our
horses? Can we learn
how to do so? How do
other people approach horses?
Have you noticed how your own
horse can read people � quickly?
Depending on who comes to see
you and your horse � they might be
the vet, the farrier, the yard owner
or your friend who rides your horse
� have you ever noticed how your
horse behaves with each of these
people? He (or she) might seem to
be an angel with your yard owner,
yet `play up' with your friend who
rides. Maybe he drags your partner
around, but stands like a rock when
your farrier comes.
So what is different?
Horses are experts at body lan-
guage � it is one of the main meth-
ods of communication that they use
with each other. We can learn how
to use it to our benefit with horses,
and it can dramatically change our
relationship with them.
I always remember an elderly
lady dressage judge � she walked
with a cane and hadn't ridden for
years. I recall a test where a little
grey cob was doing its best and its
rider was obviously doing her
best... When the judge told me to
stop the test. "We have to do some-
thing about this!" she cried. "I
can't let this go on!"
Surprised, I hooted the horn and
the judge did something I have
never seen before in a test. She
climbed out of the car and went up
to the cob. When she reached the
cob, all she did was put her hand
on the horse's neck, over the rein...
I was amazed to see the little tense
cob transform into a proud white
Lippizaner, arching his neck �
magic! I have never forgotten it.
Horses are such brilliant readers
that this chap read her subtle sig-
nals and understood that she was
to be trusted and obeyed and was a
good person to be with.
The `bargy' horse
This is one that will push past
you, walk on ahead and drag you
down to the field/ stable. He may
have separation anxiety and be dif-
ficult to handle when he is taken
away from his friends � or they are
taken away from him. The bargy
horse may not have enough respect
for your personal space.
He may read signals from you
that tell him he hasn't got a `safe'
leader, so he has to take on the role
himself. Maybe that is where he
likes to be or maybe he hasn't been
taught that humans don't like it
that way.
He needs to be taught that he is
not the leader � and it is by using
body language, in addition to the
best tools and consistent teaching,
that he will learn that he must go
where his humans ask him, rather
than taking charge.
When I work with a horse like
this, I make myself very `large'. It
sounds strange � especially as I am
very short � but you need to project
`largeness' and almost imagine
that you are one of those strong
personalities who, when they enter
a room, everyone turns to look at
them.
You need to give yourself a sense
of quiet confidence and stage pres-
ence. Some say we cannot `pretend'
to horses because they will see
through it. To this I would add: yes,
they can see what you are trying to
be. That is what they will respond
to. Plus � if you mean it � they will
understand that.
Body language techniques
There are different methods to
use to imagine yourself into that
state of mind, but here are some
techniques to ensure your body
language is giving out the right
signals.
To be the `star', hold yourself
absolutely upright. Square your
shoulders. Look the horse in the
eye. If necessary, pop up onto the
balls of your feet and stick your
elbows out a little � this makes you
larger and squarer. You can even
spread your fingers like a cat.
Your horse invades your person-
al space � how are you going to use
your body language to let him
know that this is not acceptable?
Firstly, you need to be the men-
tally upright leader. You need to be
consistent and you need to be fair
with what you are asking � and
what you are expecting. You do not
ever need to raise your voice.
Watch great horse trainers such
as Monty Roberts, Kelly Marks,
Richard Maxwell and Peter
DeCosemo � they don't shout or
raise their voices at the horses.
They don't need to � they can com-
municate with the horses effective-
ly by using body language, consis-
tency and fairness.
Shouting is the sign that some-
one has run out of ideas. It is the
sound of frustration.
Instead of shouting � think.
When your horse asks the ques-
tion: "Can I stand this close to
you?" your answer should always
be: "I want you to stand like this."
Put the horse back to where you
want him to stand and use eye con-
tact, raise the ribcage and square
the shoulders. If you do nothing,
the horse will assume the answer
is: "Yes, you can stand that close to
me."
You can have that conversation
with your horse quite subtly, but as
long as it is consistent, the horse
will gradually learn where he can
stand in relation to you.
Next month: The `nervous' horse
and asking the horse to come with
you or to follow.
Expert communicators: Body
language is one of the main
methods of communication that
horses use with each other
DAVID HOLLINS

Page 1Page 2Page 3Page 4Page 5Page 6Page 7Page 8Page 9Page 10Page 11Page 12Page 13Page 14Page 15Page 16Page 17Page 18Page 19Page 20Page 21Page 22Page 23Page 24 Produced by PageSuite