Ep 204: Managing Positive and Negative Mental Energy
The mind is the most powerful tool we possess. When it comes to horsemanship, we are not only dealing with our own mental energy, but we are also working to manage the mental energy of the horse we are training. On this episode, I’m sharing some examples of how influential the mind can be on our horses’ behaviors and talking about how to manage positive and negative mental energy within ourselves and our horses.
Dealing with Unexpected Negative Energy
I was talking to a past customer and friend of mine recently about a filly that they have in training with another trainer right now, and they were feeling frustrated with a situation where the horse exhibited unexpected reactive behavior during a run. This filly had been one who started pretty easily and who consistently exhibited calm, willing behavior. To their knowledge, this filly had rarely offered to buck or show any other reactive tendencies.
After months of training, the trainer was making a run on the horse, and she suddenly triggered a severe reactive response, began bucking, and bucked the trainer off. This trainer is very skilled and knowledgeable, so it was surprising to the owners that this filly flipped that mental switch so suddenly.
While I don’t know enough about this particular situation to offer much more feedback on the issue, I do know that this is not an uncommon occurrence when dealing with younger horses. For whatever reason, horses can be triggered in a split second to engage a reactive mental state. No matter how much foundation you have on that horse, you always run the risk of that horse exhibiting reactive behavior at some point in the training journey.
Now, a solid foundation can help you bring this horse back to a grounded, calmer mental state much quicker; however, no horse out there is–or ever will be–a programmed computer. As a trainer and horse owner, this is an important realization. You will always have the responsibility to manage and reinforce a horse’s mental energy, whether that is positive or negative.
Managing Your Horse’s (and Your Own) Mental Energy
Horsemanship is a challenging journey. As a trainer, you are not only faced with the challenge of managing your horse’s mental state and energy, but also your own. Your mental state, whether you like to admit it or not, can sometimes be just as fragile as your horse’s. While it becomes increasingly important to help your horse manage their mental state and reactive tendencies as they progress through their training program, it is equally important to manage your own mental energy and expectations as you lead them through the program. The mental energy that you possess as a trainer can make or break your horse’s progression.
Committing to the Challenge of Growth
One mental hurdle I see many trainers struggling with is the cycle of growth and failure. It’s no secret that growth can be uncomfortable at times. The fear of failure, being frustrated, humbled and embarrassed can make us shy away from growth, whether we realize it or not.
Committing to the challenge of growth is not so much about doing things that others won't do – it’s about doing the things that you know are going to help you. When you put yourself out there and push yourself out of your comfort zone, you are demonstrating courage, strength and leadership. Those are three of the most powerful qualities you can have as a trainer, and more importantly, a human being.
The only chance you have to be successful at something is to take a chance to be successful at something.Every day is about getting started again. Every day is an opportunity to get better.
“Be Your Best Horsemanship” is brought to you by Silver Lining Herbs, Classic Equine, Martin Saddlery, Better Horses Network, Purina, Healthycoat, CINCH, Starbar, and Clarifly. These brands have been part of the Phil Haugen Horsemanship team for many years, and their products continue to play an integral role in the success of our performance horse training program. To support these brands, visit our Sponsors tab.
