How Equusology Can Deepen Your Bond and Boost Your Performance
My business is about helping horses share their healing gifts with humans. I recently attended a training session that aims to help people understand their equine companions better.
I talked about typology in this blog post (Being Aware of Your Personality Type and Others Can Improve Communications). Now I’d like to introduce you to Equusology. Melisa Pearce and Carolyn Fitzpatrick created this method of reading your horse’s typology. I was blessed to join Carolyn to learn the method.
From Human Typology to Equine Typing
When I talk about typology I often focus on how it can improve communications and relationships. It’s no different with our equine partners.
When we know how our horses replenish their energy, we can be more successful in our endeavors. Do they recharge by being alone or being with others? If they need to be alone it will help to take them away from the crowd between events. If they gain energy from being with others keep them there.
This can vary on your energy as well. If you gain energy from being around others and your horse doesn’t you might want to take them somewhere to be alone and go back to help your energy level. Vice Versa if it’s the opposite.
Does your horse like to take in all the details of a new situation – smell, touch, taste, study it with their eyes, and listen to everything? Some horses take in new information this way. Some take in everything as a whole. They see the big picture.
Patty is always aware when something is moved. Ace is not. Last week John and I put up the fans for the horses. This year instead of tape I got some cord covers. When I took Ace out that evening, he hardly noticed it. When I took Patty out, she stopped, looked at it, sniffed it, and then went on.
Some horses are motivated by our encouragement. Some will only move on when they have thought it through and are ready to move.
Some horses are very organized. They leave their manure in neat piles – sometimes in only one spot. Others seem not to care, and their manure is scattered all around the stall or pen they inhabit.
Partnership Through Understanding
Knowing your own and your horse’s typology can help your relationship.
Not pressuring those horses that need to think things through or encouraging one that needs that before moving on can help overcome difficulties.
Helping a horse that needs to take baby steps can improve the training experience for you both.
I had a mare who, if you started a fight, you needed to finish it, and it could take hours. If she didn’t understand something in a training session, you needed to take her back a step and end the session on something she did know – a positive. Then you could work her up to it later. She needed the time to think about it.
I sadly watched a trainer get into a fight with her about something he was trying to teach her. It didn’t end well.
Knowing how you both take in energy can improve your performance when honored.
So can knowing how they will react when something is moved. Will that bother them, and do you need to be prepared? Will they seem not to notice?
If you struggle when communicating with your horse. I’m here to help. I’m ready to bring Equusology PlayShops to you. Click the button below and let’s talk about upcoming events or holding one at your barn or arena.
Make a Connection in the comments below.
Onward!
