Having a stubborn horse who plants his feet firmly, refusing to move, or who ignores you, can be annoying and frustrating. And, it can even become dangerous if that horse also has a tendency to suddenly explode with little or no warning. I'm sharing how I helped my client's sweet but stubborn horse, become calm, confident and connected by finding and addressing the core of the problem. 

When my client bought her Quarter Horse cross gelding, he was a diamond in the rough. He was sweet, but he came with some issues. Some people would have called him stubborn or rude. But really, he was STUCK. Mentally as well as physically. 

His normal posture was not good. Even without a rider, he carried himself with a high head, braced neck and hollow back. Unable to bend. Unable to engage with anyone or anything. Afraid. Tense. Untrusting.

And all his tension and fear was expressed by freezing. Being stuck – literally.

He was so stuck in his body that he couldn't bend. Not even to do carrot stretches. His back was so dropped, he was shaped like the letter U.

Helping this horse become a healthy and happy partner for his human partner required getting to the core of his problems. Mentally as well as physically.

So, we needed to rehabilitate his mind and body. Addressing the core of his troubles.

It was important to use lots of positive reinforcement and let the horse know that it was okay to investigate his environment. The focus of every session was on helping him mentally relax.

I encouraged him to check things out. We played 'treasure hunt' in the arena. Simply placing cones randomly around the arena and putting a small piece of carrot or apple under each one.

At first, he did nothing. I would take him to cone and just stand with him there. Eventually, drawn by the smell of the 'treasures', he would slowly move his nose towards the cone.

When he realized that he wasn't going to get in trouble, he learned to knock the cone over to get the treat. 

He learned that it was okay to look and to lower his head. Lowering his head naturally - of his own free will - felt good – physically and mentally. So much better than standing with is head up and neck braced.

After a few of these sessions, his eye softened. He sighed occasionally. He engaged with me – and then with other people.

I also included back lifts and carrot stretches in his training sessions. Those exercises help strengthen his core muscles which helps him lift his back. Correcting the poor posture he had previously developed that contributed to his tension.

It took time. And patience. And then one day ... he willingly walked to the end of the barn that he's always been worried about.

Previously, his reaction when he was unsure was to stop, plant his feet and throw his head up ... way up. Brace his body and say “no”, I'm not going there. 

That day, he was interested. Curious. Checking things out. A piece of carpet on the floor. A towel hanging on a door. When he moved out of his comfort zone, he simple stopped and looked. But, he didn't freeze with unblinking, wide eyes. This time, he remained engaged.

He was looking and checking out what lay further ahead. He wasn't completely stuck and frozen in fear. He was worried but not overwhelmed.

And then there was the carrot stretching. This horse who could not bend a few weeks before – could not bring his nose to his girth line – was able to take his nose all the way back to his flank! On both sides of his body!

And his back, isn't quite so dropped any more. It's lifting. Because these stretches help strengthen his abdominal muscles (his core).

This gelding is a much happier, engaged and healthier horse than he was 2 months ago. More mentally and physically relaxed. With healthier posture. He engages with people. He has given me the great gift of his trust. 

This is what being calm, confident and connected means for a horse.