Liz’s thoughts on the subject of Gender and Horsemanship
I don’t often wade into this type of debate (I leave that to Ian) but I’ll start by saying I am offended by the negative use of the term “cowboy” that comes up during discussions on horse training – since when has anyone the right to use this term to which many a proud tradition and work ethic is associated as a derogatory term used by those who know nothing of these traditions. So please find another word to describe poor horsemanship – or just call it that – poor horsemanship. And leave the wide-brimmed hat alone (I love my Akubra and my horses don’t seem to mind it either), it is not responsible for the actions of the wearer.
To say that a horse has “issues” with all men or all women is a generalisation based only on the people who have had contact with that particular horse. There are 100s of 1000s of horsemen and women throughout the world, and to make such a sweeping statement will cause affront to many. Don’t be surprised if you get a rise out of them, and don’t confuse their willingness to defend themselves as ego.
Having studied the issue of gender and horsemanship through observation and practice over years watching many different levels of ability and horses with various issues (one of the benefits of being around Ian), I have a theory (although not published so scientific types may argue it is not technically a “theory”) – which may contain generalisations for which I apologise in advance but a theory is always based on a sample which will result in some “generalisation”.
- Horses respond to who we are and not what we are. They react to the unfamiliar, and know more about us from observation than we probably know about ourselves.
- The degree of reaction is directly correlated to the degree of training and the confidence the person handling it provides to the horse.
- The degree of training and confidence obtained is directly correlated to the open mindedness of the individual seeking to learn and develop skills to deal with reactions and unfamiliar environments.
There are genuinely fearful horses out there where past situations have resulted in reactive behaviour today. I have no doubt that past experience influences behaviour in horses (keeping this simple for this post – there are many studies and opinions regarding conscious and sub-conscious behavioural theories and opinion that those interested can read up on). The key here is that not treating this and assisting a horse to get over this is not doing the horse any favours. Can you identify whether the horse is genuinely fearful or just reacting to the unfamiliar?
Good professional horse people have confidence and often directness which some horses that have poor or inadequate training may find initially confrontational. This doesn’t necessarily result in a negative reaction to a noticeable degree, but a good horseperson will manage this initial contact to avoid a reactive or unsafe situation. A poor or inexperienced horseperson may not have the skills to read the situation well or respond and adjust appropriately.
This ability to read and adjust has nothing to do with gender, this has everything to do with the willingness of the individual to accept points 1, 2 & 3 above, and nothing to do with aggression, force or bullying – just clear, consistent and direct instruction given by a confident, experienced and assertive person with empathy.
Every horse is different - the ability to read the horse and what it needs is a skill that for many requires development. Too many people are not flexible in their approach – a good horseperson will be.
Assertiveness has nothing to do with dominance or aggression, and certainly is not bullying or threatening. Assertiveness is confidence, directness, empathy, the ability to make sound decisions and for some it needs to be worked on and requires a degree of experience. Ego often negates the qualities of an effective assertive person – often with ego comes limited experience, a lack of empathy, poor decisions and the inability to be flexible in an approach. There are both aggressive and ego driven horsepersons of both sex out there – neither characteristic is gender specific or exclusive.
Many women are not naturally assertive in their body language – whilst some are competent, confident and some expert horse handlers they do have a different style of body language to men. There are of course assertive women who are assertive in some aspects of their lives, but it doesn’t always carry over to how they are with horses. Ask yourself, am I a confident and assertive person, and how am I when I am with my horse?
Men are generally more assertive in their body language than women, particularly in my experience men who successfully work with horses. There are of course men who are not naturally assertive, but I have rarely observed them in my experience with men and horses.
Too many people are not direct or confident in dealing with their horses and don’t expose them to clear and precise handling or direction. Some are like a bull at a gate, overly assertive and almost predatory in their actions. Very few are able to find that balance point and read what the horse needs within a few minutes of working or being around a horse. A good horseperson can and will adjust to suit the horse and what is needed quickly and often with subtlety.
When the horse gets this clear and precise direction, whether male, female, hat wearing, flag waiving or one who has just finished a 500g bbq’d rump steak, it is how things are done that matter. If a horse has never been exposed to a hat wearing individual, it may be a new experience or the body language of the individual wearing the hat may be unfamiliar (see point 1 – reaction to the unfamiliar) – not that the horse is afraid of the hat wearing person or has bothered to check out the gender of the hat wearing individual.
Where a spoilt horse (lets define spoilt horse as a horse who has been handled in such a manner as it’s behaviour is not safe to be around – those who kick, run you over, nip, bite, are non-responsive to basic body language cues – ones that are so dull to any aids often due to over- desensitisation that moving them in a manner that is safe is almost impossible for the average horse person) is handled in a confident and direct manner, which may include a raised level of assertiveness (see point 1 reaction to the unfamiliar) – there may be a reaction from the horse that could be interpreted as fear. This is where an assessment of fear versus ignorance is a necessary tool, and to the novice or relatively inexperienced owner (and inexperienced may be a person who has dealt with maybe 10 or so horses closely in a lifetime, and not the 100’s or 1000’s that some professionals work with) a horse reacting in this manner may seem fearful. So, is your horses reaction that you define as fear really fear, or is it a method by which a spoilt horse has learnt to be left alone and avoid what is being asked?
There is no place in horsemanship for the ill-treatment of a horse – in fact there is no place in humanity for the ill-treatment of a horse. Regardless of whether the handler is a male or female, there needs to be empathy for where the horse is really at. I read in so many posts about horses being abused as an excuse for unsafe behaviour. The responsible thing is to work on the problem before you and not make excuses about the past or blame prior owners/handlers, situations or events over which you can now do nothing.
Men who work successfully in achieving willing horses who are engaged with a work ethic are neither aggressive, ego driven nor dominant. Don’t confuse confidence and a desire to achieve as ego, nor confuse a professional horse person offering sound or logical argument as egotistical behaviour. Same statement applies to women. No difference.
Success is not defined by trophies or ribbons on a wall, buckles on a belt or a row of trophy saddles collecting dust in the tack room.
Many people don’t take some responsibility to work on the problem – fix the issue or seek advice from someone to help you fix the issue. Don’t make your horse a victim of past circumstance; give it a strong and confident future regardless of the sex of the person holding the leadrope.
Repeat the first line of point 1. Horses respond to who we are and not what we are. Be a person who has empathy, is firm as and when needed, is assertive and not aggressive, a person who is open minded to learn more than one way of doing something, a person who is accepting of new knowledge, a person who is flexible in their approach to a problem and a person who is a strong leader to their horse/horses. The horse will care more about that this than whether you leave the toilet seat up or down.
Ok, it isn’t all theory – most of it is observation and my opinion based on my experiences, but I guess that’s how theory is formulated.
© Liz Emms – Ian Leighton Horsemanship 2014
