When the horse feels a stimulus, does he yield to it, or oppose it? When he opposes it, is he likely to flee, fight, or ignore it? Every horse will display the Opposition Reflex in its own way given the circumstances.Īs we dive deeper into fear, dominance, and confusion, which best describes your horse’s reactions? The Opposition Reflex is a sophisticated way of describing the tension that occurs when your horse opposes your idea. Pain can never be ruled out as a behavioral factor, but today we will focus specifically on these three most common reasons for opposition. Typically, you will see behaviors linked to one of three things: fear, dominance, or confusion.įor example, bolting is often a fear-based response leaning into pressure is often a more dominant behavior and horses that just aren't improving are likely confused. In order to "read" a horse, you first need to understand what they are apt to do to survive. The Three Most Common Reasons Behind Your Horse’s “No” Let the following guide serve as a baseline for assessing your horse’s reactions, adjusting your approach based on what you know of your horse's unique personality already. The good news is that horses are dynamic they are always learning and growing. Getting a fundamental blueprint for understanding a horse's reaction will significantly improve your ability to address the behavior and work towards a solution (minus the frustration).
Understanding equine behavior doesn't have to be a mystical phenomenon reserved for those with decades of experience in the horse industry. Perhaps the most common sticking point in developing a partnership is when your horse reacts with a big “no” to what you ask of him.
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