Into pressure or away from?

Question

hi,

just a quick question, as people seem to have different views on this.. do horses move INTO physical pressure or away from it??

thanks ;-)

Answer 1

It depends on the force and where the pressure is applied.

For example, lightly but firmly press your horses face alternately either side of the nasal bones, where there is a slight vertical hollow, the he will walk backwards. Put a Dually halter on him and tighten the force of the loose noseband, he will quickly learn to walk forward .

A fist in the flanks (heaven forbid!!) will enduce a "stubborn" reaction or movement towards the aggressor, Use the blunt end of a pencil, the movement will be away.

Push a foal on its bum and it will push against you. Lift it's tail and pull forward - the foal will walk forward.

Instinct used for training.

Hope this helps a little.

Answer 2

They naturally put up resistance to it, which is moving into it.  We train them to move away from it, as when we use leg cues.

Answer 3

Depends on how much pressure and training. Mostly training. If you take a young horse (or otherwise untrained) and push with a fist against their side they will push back. It is their instinct to push against pressure in order to try to stay where they are/not fall. On a trained horse if you were to push with your fist, they would likely move away from it. Pressure and release is used to train horses. Example: Putting your leg on (pressure) causes the horse to move (because of training. young horses dont have a clue for the most part) Once the horses is going as fast as you want it. You take your leg off (release)

Answer 4

Untrained...into pressure

Trained...away from pressure

Although...I have seen a horse that will move into pressure because someone 'trained' it...that didn't know what they were doing.  Real pain to untrain and redo correctly.