I am really enjoying my time working with Wasula, a Nokota NPC. Gemma (her owner) and I connected after Sula was sent to a “conventional” trainer for 3 months to be started under saddle. When Gemma sent her away, Sula led well, lunged beautifully and was a people-person horse. Sula was returned after the 3 months with the comment “Your horse is untrainable. Shes useless.” Rather than allow herself to be broken, Sula shutdown, locking her legs and refusing to move, or, when pushed too far, tossed the trainer. Gemma knew there was nothing wrong with her horse – it was the method applied. But the damage was done and now Gemma had a horse that she could not even lunge without Sula panicking and running around, trying to escape. She saw an ad I had put on Kijiji offering to help build a partnership between horse and rider. I have worked with many horses like Sula that would not submit to “conventional” breaking methods. In most situations, the best I can do is help the horse learn not to be defensive. Very rarely can I turn a horse around so that they once again partner with people with their whole heart. The sad truth is that once shown the cruel side of people, most horses will hold a piece of themselves back, and nothing we do can open them fully again. They may be well trained and go through the motions flawlessly, but there is something lacking and it is their heart. Sula was one of the more defensive horses I had worked with – remember, she spent 3 months being kicked and told she was worthless. I remember at one point standing in front of her as she reared up and struck the air in front of me. I had put on too much pressure and she was fighting back. Later, I would get on her back and she wouldn’t move, no matter what cues were given. Slowly though, the communication channels opened. With patience, she started coming around and realizing that I wouldn’t push her more than she could go. That I wouldn’t smack her with hand, whip or lead. That I was open to her opinion. And here is where the Nokota breed shows its difference. As I said, most horses, once shutdown, always keep a part of themselves back. But Sula doesn’t. She is now a trusting, loving, compassionate horse that wants to please not for fear of consequences, but because she wants to please. This temperament can’t be trained into a horse. This past weekend, Gemma and Sula went out for their first bareback, bitless snow ride. Gemma is what I would call a “scared intermediate rider” – she doubts her skill and ability and can become very nervous in new riding situations, especially after seeing what Sula was like with the other trainer. Despite “horse-eating dogs” in the brush, a nervous rider and her newness to being ridden, Sula remained calm and cared for Gemma like an old pro. Even more amazing was seeing the connection these 2 shared – Sula loves Gemma like a herd mate. Seeing how she has come around despite her past training experience, I know this breed has a temperament of gold! Here’s a pic of Sula dozing while we got ready for the ride.
Posted on: Mon, 19 Jan 2015 19:11:08 +0000
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