Nicole Emanuel
my boundaries. A quiet, calm dominance that does not unfairly punish. Let me use an example: A fearful handler brings a stallion out of the stall to take to the paddock. The stallion, having an abundance of natural vitality and energy, jumps up and down, pushing ahead of the handler. The handler, anticipating trouble, starts yelling and shanking the stallion to stop. Now the stallion is just being a stallion, fresh out of the stall and the shanking and yelling agitate the stallion’s normal energy. As the shanking continues, the stallion moves back away from the pressure, as he should. However, the shanking continues past the point where the stallion submitted. Now the stallion is confused and starting to get angry. He came away from pressure but is still being punished. He has too much unexpended energy from being cooped up in a stall. The stallion explodes forward, knocking into the handler and breaks away. Let’s look at the same scenario in a different way. A calm, confident handler who realises the hi-jinks is natural exuberance but does not allow the stallion to get into a dangerous position to the handler. The handler shakes the lead, asking the stallion to focus and pay attention and step up. The handler is in control but in a quiet manner and is asking the stallion to listen and respond in a way the stallion can understand. The handler is reminding the stallion of the boundaries and asking him to respect them. The stallion backs off and maintains a respectful distance from the handler to the paddock because he understands the boundary. The stallion was treated fairly and respectfully and behaved in the same manner as he had been taught. The most important thing to teach any stallion is to come away from pressure wherever and whenever it is applied. This is one boundary. Stallions, and all animals and humans are about boundaries. The handler’s job is to be consistent and fair, but set boundaries that are clearly main image: Treat stallions fairly and respectfully. Taralea Justify iid DE (WH Justice x Redwood Lodge Cabreaa). Left: Stallions benefit from regular exercise. Robyn Dann riding her stallion Glenelen Park D’Shah (Mathoura Perphection x Gai Mishara).
arabian StudS & StallionS 205