SEPTEMBER 2005 • HORSES For LIFE™ Magazine

These words are real words. Real advice...That one expert passed on.

sn't it sad that when a horse is incompletely trained, that someone's suggestion to solve the problem is to knock the stuffing out of them? As if this really will stop the problem. A horse that is incompletely trained is a horse that doesn't know what to do. He is confused. And somehow you are the one that confused him. Maybe you confused him because in reality you are not a perfect trainer (none of us are) and something got missed in training. So if there is at all a possibility that you're not the perfect trainer, and if there is a problem, and if its okay to knock the stuffing out of them, that means you are saying that because of your own mistakes, it is okay to punish the horse. Yeah, that makes sense. Sheesh. Sort of like going to school and having the teacher teach you that 1  + 1 equals 3, and when you put the answer 3 down on the paper she hits you. That would help you figure out the right answer wouldn't it? So you try again and you know you will get hit if you answer 3 so the next time you answer 4 and she hits you again. See now we are making progress.

If that is how you think it is fair to teach your child, or anyone, then go ahead and punish the horse one more time.

I can just hear someone saying that well, that's not what I'm talking about, I am talking about how people spoil their horses, and/or those horses that just don't want to listen. So what do you think I should do, just let the horse get away with it?