Listening to the Horse with Warwick Schiller

lunchtime. He slept while horses cantered past him through the blaring loudspeakers and the energy of six horses in an arena with 50 spectators watching.
Upon returning from that clinic I looked at scientific research into the sleeping habits of horses. I learned that although horses can sleep standing they need to lay down for about 30 minutes each day to get the restorative REM sleepthey need. If they dont get that sleep they can be nervous and that nervousness can cause all sorts of issues including bolting. It has been over three years since that clinic and the horse has not bolted since.
This was a watershed moment for me. It was the first time I had solved an issue by simply listening to the horses concern. There wasnt any training I just communicated to the mustang that I was aware of his concern and I gave him time to process that concern. Over the past few years I have really made listening a big part of what I do. Personally its not easy. You really have to change your judgments of every situation and you also have to be able to lose your expectations. The only goal is to have your horse feel as if youre on their team so they know you can recognize when they become concerned and help relieve that concern. In order to listen fully you must also be more present and just from that mindfulness I have seen a huge change in horses that I work with.
Listening to the Horse
Its common knowledge that horses often feel unsafe when removed from their herd. However very few understand exactly why they begin to feel unsafe. Its not the physicality of the herd as horses dont fight off predators they run from them. What makes them feel safe

is the collective group awareness of the herd. The more horses the more sentinels they have. This is where being aware of those little signals horses give us a double benefit. When we notice those subtle signs of tension we tell them they are being heard but I think a larger benefit is we are conveying to them how aware we are. That awareness gives horses the same sense of safety as the herd and that causes relaxation. When we can prove to be trustworthy horses such as the mustang in Texas will finally give up their constant oneman alarm