The reason for this blog is that I keep hearing this comment: “People are using Horsenality™ as an excuse!” We’ve all heard people say “I can’t ask my horse to do this; he’s an introvert” or “She’ll always be crabby and bitchy because she’s a Left-Brain Extrovert!’”
Let’s be clear – knowing your horse’s Horsenality is not about being able to make excuses. It’s about bringing your full attention to this question: are you bringing out the worst or the best in your horse? Knowing about Horsenality means you have the inside scoop as to what it is your horse trusts and respects in a leadership style that would bring out the most positive behaviors. And when you know just how to approach your horse, it will help you make faster progress and get better results.
Let’s talk about introverts:
Introverts take time to process your request, either because they can’t do it or they don’t want to do it right away. Guess which is which!
Right-Brain Introvert – can’t do it. That’s because their emotions get in the way so their first reaction is stress, and stress makes them clam up and shut down until they trust you and can feel completely confident around you. Putting it in human terms, this is the Right-Brain Introvert mother who is both caring and effective with her children. She can think on her feet and do the right thing in the moment. But in another setting, she is tentative and easily intimidated. The more extroverted the situation, the more introverted the Right-Brain Introvert becomes. These horses are often called unpredictable, aloof, tense, and oversensitive.
Left-Brain Introvert – won’t do it. That’s because their opinion of you gets in the way – they think you are lower than them in the pecking order! These horses are often called stubborn, lazy, and arrogant.
When a horse is acting tense, over-reactive, stubborn, lazy, etc., that’s because the rider is bringing out those behaviors. Rushing an introvert will do this – not giving them time to think, and in the case of the Left-Brain Introvert, not being provocative enough at the same time. Note that “provocative” does not necessarily mean to do it faster! [click to continue…]
{ 24 comments }
