Stay Just "This Side" of Resistance

I have recently come across a concept that seems like magic in application. I have been amazed how applying this concept to the very first interaction with a horse can set the tone for the rest of the session as well as carry over into subsequent sessions. Peggy Cummings uses a concept called "meet and melt" and Jim Masterson calls his version "the principle of non-resistance" in his book, Beyond Horse Massage.

This is very simple to apply. Whenever you make a request of your horse, pay attention to the beginning of the slightest bit of resistance (brace, heaviness, or tension). At that point, soften your pressure or yield in the direction of the resistance for a moment. This gives the horse a chance to stop resisting because there is nothing to resist in that moment. Then immediately continue with your request. Sometimes it may take two or three cycles of this request-yield-request before the horse responds willingly. 

I have found that by paying attention and taking an extra few seconds at the beginning of a session, like with haltering and/or leading, that it sets the tone for the horse to be willing and cooperative for the rest of the session. Upon hindsight, I can also say that by being unaware of this concept and therefore missing the opportunity, it can set the tone for the horse to looking for ways to be dominant for the rest of the session.

Next post I will explain more in depth why this works, what happens when we miss it, and how this is not just "letting the horse have his way".