HORSES THAT DON'T LIKE MEN
To be clear, this horse, in this picture, at this time, is afraid of everyone, not just men. But I thought the picture fitting.
Have you ever heard someone say, "My horse doesn't like men." or "My horse is afraid of men?"
The truth is horses aren't afraid of just men. But they can be afraid of masculine energy. Masculine energy has a tendency to push in and drive too fast, which seems more predatory. Horses like passive energy. It makes them feel safer. But that doesn't mean, as the horse owner, that you should avoid the firmer types of energy with your horse. Because in reality, horses can be afraid of farriers and vets too and they often project more masculine energy. You can't always avoid those guys.
If you have personally ever said... "my horse hates men." It's time to teach your horse to be okay with men. Don't avoid your horse's problems like some people who never allow masculine energy anywhere near their horse. Instead, Engage with your horse in a process to help them. You can't and shouldn't always try to fix the people that show up or avoid those people's problems altogether.
In the early stages of training with a new horse, when a new person shows up at my barn, I ask them to show a slower, more passive energy, but within a few sessions, I invite them to show more excited or assertive energy to test the horse's ability to cope. If the horse can't cope, then we know a training program must be written to train the horse to cope with other types of energy. The horse won't learn if they never get exposure.
If the exposure you give is coordinated and planned, the horse's experience can be one of learning rather than pain or fear. The bottom line is... don't avoid the problem. Address it.
COMMENT BELOW AND I'LL SEND YOU A SHORT VIDEO ON HOW I DEAL WITH HORSES THAT HATE MEN
6 Responses
Melody Orso
My favorite farrier passed and I had to find a new farrier. The new farrier definitely has that masculine energy and I would appreciate ways to help my horses deal with him. Thank you!
Susan
I’ve heard this comment before about horses not liking men; goes along with my horse doesn’t like hats. I think the energy of either male or female can change the horse’s viewpoint. Since horses are very keen on energy if someone is scared they can react to that type too. I had a male farrier and he was always angry about something, so if a horse did something that bothered him, his energy changed, the horse reacted. Check your emotions at the door.
kelly Saunders
Thank you for addressing this problem. I have a horse that wont let vet or farrier near hi. And I am at the end of my options. Please help
Carole Dulworth
Thank you for the article I always wondered about this issue. Also I am now more curious why our herd is always incredibly relaxed during hoof trim time with our male farrier and Marine who has very strong energy!
Amy Podlogar
Looking back I see now that the differences in how my horse behaved with the farriers that worked on him was not so much because of how they put his leg up too high or dropped his feet abruptly. He was responding to the energy they gave off. Then a different farrier would put my horse’s body in uncomfortable-looking positions and yet my horse accepted it no problem. But that farrier’s energy always even put me at ease. I’m very curious what to do to help my horse deal with situations when someone is giving off that more masculine energy.
Terri McQuiston
October 24, 2019
Very interesting and I would like to see the video.