What Horses Really Want: Unlocking the Secrets to Trust, Cooperation and Reliability

An engaging book for horse people of all disciplines and experience levels.  You will learn how to earn your horse's trust and cooperation using methods that are gentle, effective, and make intuitive sense to horses.    Horses want to feel safe.  When you meet a horse's need for security, it is easier than you think to create a trusting bond and build his confidence.  This is the foundation of a reliable partnership.  Certified riding instructor Lynn Acton demonstrates practical handling, riding, and training skills using color photos and step-by-step instructions. For less than half the cost of a single lesson, these are some of the many things you will learn how to do: Start earning a horse's trust the moment you meet him. Catch an "uncatchable" horse by showing him he will be safe with you. Understand what your horse's body language is telling you. Use your body language in ways that horses can easily understand. Respond constructively to your horse's emotions. Turn pressure into clear communication instead of a source of stress. Engage your horses' innate intelligence. Encourage your horse to seek your guidance when he is anxious. Build your horse's confidence by encouraging curiosity (Investigative Behavior). Improve your horse's reliability with positive experiences. Identify underlying causes of unwanted horse behavior to resolve issues quickly. Discourage unwanted behavior without punishment. Recognize unwanted behavior that is a sign your horse is thinking like a partner.   These skills significantly improve your connections with horses, reduce horses' stress and anxiety, and make training more efficient. Lynn refers to this type of horsemanship as Protector Leadership because you are your horse's Protector.  This leadership approach has been used successfully for centuries by people of all backgrounds and skill levels, with horses at all levels of training.   Lynn combines extensive horse experience and an academic background in social dynamics with in-depth research.  She interprets and cites the scientific findings that explain why Protector Leadership works and offers valuable insights into equine psychology while exposing myths that are sources of problems.  Each chapter ends with a list of "Things to Try": fun and easy-to-implement exercises that help you engage your horse as a thinking partner.   The narrative also follows Lynn's progress with her own horses, including mistakes and hindsight, and especially the transformation of the book's "cover girl" Brandy from dangerous to trusting, confident, and reliable.  Clear, detailed photos show the subtle body language of horses and people, and illustrate dynamics that make a real difference in our relationships, communication, and training.    Join the growing number of readers who are enjoying dramatic improvements in their interactions with their horses! View Less