Description
Horse psychology is an important key to understanding and training the horse. The whole field of psychology, animal and human, can contribute theories and principles which are effective tools for the horseman. Ethology, the study of animal behavior in the natural habitat, provides information on what the horse is basically like. Among other things, the horse is sensitive and needs the security of companionship, human or herd. It can take a horse weeks to settle into a new home, and until he is settled he won’t be acting like himself. Even the finest trainers get burnt now and then. It takes at least six weeks to find out what you really bought. Many of the principles developed in child psychology apply to the horse as well as to children and certain other animals. During the past several years I have been experimenting with retraining spoiled horses, as well as raising foals. Using principles of psychology to help my patients, the problem horses. I have taken these principles and my experiences and organized them into this book because I want to pass along the benefits to my fellow horsemen. I hope to shed light on such things what is the horse really like, how does he learn, what makes training methods work, and what can go wrong. Above all, I hope it will contribute to more enjoyable horsemanship and happier horses.
