That 'Uncommon Horse-Sense' as Key in Horse Training and Care
"Horse-sense" is obviously very important for a horseman or woman to possess, and is a topic about which I'd like to share some thoughts, that is to offer some horse talk. The American College Dictionary defines "horse sense" as "plain, practical, common sense". Is there a message here for today's horsemen and women? You Bet! It strikes me that perhaps the most outstanding quality that is common to all successful horse trainers is common sense. Knowledge and intelligence are of course required when it comes to successfully handling horses, but more than that is needed for the skill it takes to be a good trainer. For common sense regarding horses, a basic instinct or intuition into a horse's psychological makeup or disposition is of critical importance. Such intuition is not is not so much a rational kind of thing as it is a sensual kind of thing. That is to say it is not so much an understanding as it is a feeling. It is similar to a fifth sense, and is why we call it "common sense regarding horses". If it were just rational knowledge we would call it 'common reason' or 'common knowledge' about horses and not "common sense". In addition to knowledge and the intelligence to exercise care, the development of common sense about horses requires trusting and using instinct or intuition into a horse's psychological make up and then exerting the will-power, the 'nerve' if you will, to get the desired response. It is through the successes and failure of this procedure that one acquires common sense regarding horses, or that all valuable "horse-sense". Well, so much for my take on the key role of common sense in horse training. Wishing you many happy horse days! Claude "Larry" Fox For additional "Horse Talk" Topics just click below: Horse-Sense about Women and Horses
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