Quotes from Mark Rashid

One of the primary ways horses communicate with us is through their behavior. Again, it is my belief horses don't distinguish between how they feel and how they act. So if they act a certain way, their actions are reflecting the way they feel. A horse's body then becomes a mirror for their emotions. So the body informs us of what is truly going on internally.

After all, the qualities required to be good with horses are the same qualities required to be good at life in general, and vice versa. Chances are

Once I quit fighting with him and began rewarding his efforts to respond to my cues, he became extremely willing to do what I was asking. The fight and confusion just seemed to melt away

One of the biggest problems I see when working with folks and their horses is that the vast majority of people have been trained to always look for the bad things their horses do. Because they're always looking for the bad, they easily overlook the little tries and sometimes have trouble seeing the good in their horse, even when the good jumps up and bites them in the butt.

However, I don't think that we should let the task or goal become the end-all to a training session, either. If things aren't going well, maybe it's time to listen to what our horse is trying to tell us. It could very well be that he has the answer to why things aren't going well, and if we give him half a chance, perhaps he'll tell us what that is. I have seen so many horses almost

Work with the horse, not against him. Always listen to what the horse is trying to say. And always think for yourself.

When he sees that you are giving him the respect he deserves, and the understanding he needs, he will start to trust you in return." She took a sip from her milk glass. "When you have his trust, you'll have the horse. Once he trusts you, putting the saddle on him won't be a problem.

We needed people who would give the horse the benefit of the doubt in most situations and who would think through a problem with a horse instead of just reacting to it. We wanted people who could think on their feet but who had soft hands and good hearts.

True horsemanship is developed in the mindful quality of everything we do—not just in the quality of everything we do with our horses.

It's your attitude. It's not what you say, it's what you do, and it's not what you do, it's what you feel. You have to be connected to yourself, Henry, before you can connect with someone else." She gently touched herself on the chest, above her heart. "It comes from here. If your heart isn't right they'll know it.