Does your horse Dive for Grass?

When riding, every three seconds his head dives for the grass, pulling the reins right out of your hands.
When on the ground, every patch of green is suddenly an opportunity to practice water-skiing behind him as he take advantage of your distraction.
Is he or she being disrespectful?

Not exactly.

He’s a horse.

Horses are designed to eat for a large portion of the day. Grazing isn’t just something they enjoy. It’s deeply programmed into them. Their digestive system is designed around frequent intake of food, and searching for food is one of the most natural behaviors they have.

But...

Natural behavior and appropriate behavior are not always the same thing. Sometimes, staying focused is appropriate.

The reactive rider vs intention rider.
One of the biggest reasons horses become chronic grass grabbers is surprisingly simple:

It works.

The horse reaches down.
You pull his head up.
Thirty seconds later he tries again.

Eventually you’re distracted, talking to somebody, opening a gate, adjusting your reins or simply tired of correcting him.

And he gets the grass.

From the horse’s perspective, the lesson was successful:

Persistence pays off.

That's what I would call reactive riding.

An intentional rider would discourage food grabs too but not indefinitely. For a defined period of time, either task or time oriented, the rider will NOT allow feeding. When the task is complete, then the rider WILL allow it.

The point is, making a rule of never eating doesn't solve it. Making no rules, doesn't help either. Better to be deliberate about being appropriate during a focus or task oriented experience. Then, to find the space to allow for food and grazing again.

Eating can be a bonding experience, so long as its a space you both agree to share appropriately.

Here are some tips to make it easier.
Think, electric fence... an electric fence holds a charge then makes a sudden and surprising zap.

Horses respect e-fences because they feel the charge and anticipate the zap. Your cue to tell the horse to stop eating should mirror that charge/surprise cycle. Anything else wont be as meaningful.

Eat before you ride. Some horse are hungry and it turns to "hangry" if they haven't had enough food.

Eat after a task is completed. In the beginning the task can be simple. A short walk from point A to point B. An advanced horse can go for miles and hours staying focused. Think progress, not perfection.

Leadership Isn't About Saying No

Good leadership isn't controlling everything your horse wants to do.

It's creating enough clarity that your horse understands when he can do it.

As for me, I don't want a horse who thinks grass is forbidden. I want a horse who can stand quietly in knee-high grass and wait.

Then I want to be able to say, “Okay. Go ahead.”

And watch his head drop.

That's not really a lesson about eating.
It's a lesson about communication.
And that's what good horsemanship is all about.

Thanks for reading. Don 
​#masteryhorsemanship78