{"id":14552,"date":"2023-02-06T18:20:08","date_gmt":"2023-02-06T22:20:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/equestrianbootsandbridles.com\/?p=14552"},"modified":"2023-02-06T18:20:11","modified_gmt":"2023-02-06T22:20:11","slug":"horse-whisperer-meaning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/equestrianbootsandbridles.com\/horse-whisperer-meaning\/","title":{"rendered":"What is a Horse Whisperer? (& What Does a Horse Psychologist Do?)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

There isn’t a horse owner alive who hasn’t heard about the almost mythical profession of a horse whisperer. And if you’ve never seen one in action, you’ve probably got\u00a0The Horse Whisperer<\/em>\u00a0in your movie collection<\/a> (next to\u00a0Black Beauty<\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0Seabiscuit<\/em>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I had the opportunity of working with a genuine horse whisperer recently, and the experience left me quite humbled and inspired as I marveled at the change in the horse being treated. Since I learned what a horse whisperer does, I wondered if I could perhaps become one and whether it was a viable career option for someone who wants to work with horses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    What Is a Horse Whisperer?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    A horse whisperer is someone who has learned how to communicate with horses on a deeper level than merely pulling a lead rope or chasing them with a whip. Instead of telling the horse what to do, a horse whisperer listens to the horse, reading their body language while picking up on their energy signals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The horse’s body language can reveal a lot about their feelings, thoughts, instincts, and experiences if you listen carefully to these signals. I asked the horse whisperer I worked with what was the difference between what they did and what an experienced horse trainer did.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Where a traditional horse trainer would force or break a horse to teach them to accept a rider and submit to their owner’s will, a horse whisperer would rather listen, communicate, and build a bond between the animal and the person riding them for a harmonious partnership without force or abuse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Of course, not all traditional horse trainers are abusive toward their horses, but for the horse whisperer, meaning is built through trust<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    What Does a Horse Whisperer Do?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    A horse whisperer is essentially a horse trainer who listens to the horse more than telling them what to do. Using a variety of techniques and interactions, the whisperer will pick up signals and information from the horse, reading them and listening to the horse’s body language as the horse tells them what they are upset about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    When working with horses, it’s essential to develop so called “horse sense,” which helps the rider effectively communicate by first listening, then negotiating (never forcing) the horse to accept their task.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    So, a horse whisperer is someone who comes to see your horse when the horse has behavioural problems and for training young horses. The relationship they build with your horse is a crucial part of the rider-horse relationship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Whether the horse whisperer is simply standing at the center of the round pen or drawing the horse forward with their energy, they bring a new level to training horses and may help you develop riding horses that are different from other horses that are shut down and unheard. With the help of a horse whisperer, you can create a true and lasting partnership with your horse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    How Does One Become a Horse Whisperer?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Being a horse whisperer is a skill you can only develop by learning from another great horse person and from spending as much time around horses as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    While there are a few horsemanship courses out there that proclaim to help you become a horse whisperer, it’s something that can’t simply be learned from a few books or a couple of videos on YouTube.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Training with a horse whisperer is perhaps the only way to learn the skills needed to listen to your horse and know what they need. A talented horse whisperer can explain what they look for in the horse’s body language, their movement, and their energy to speak to them. Without that in-person training, it’s hard to become the best horse whisperer you can be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Horse Whisperer vs Horse Psychologist<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    The term horse whisperer is much older than some of the newer horse-training terms that have become popular, and some people today use the term horse psychologist interchangeably with horse whisperer. However, the two terms don’t quite match up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    A horse psychologist is someone who has studied psychology and animal behavior. This person knows about things like herd dynamics, the basic needs of an animal such as a horse, and how to assert leadership in the herd situation using the same methods as another horse would.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    While a horse psychologist will use the same approach as another horse, they don’t necessarily consider all the finer signals a horse can whisper when they have been placed in unnatural situations where they suffered abuse, trauma, and pain. This is not to say that a horse psychologist and a horse whisperer can’t work together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    In fact, when you know the psychology of horses, it can help you be a better horse whisperer, as long as you don’t forget to let the horse talk to you, instead of trying to make the textbook fit the horse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"Learn<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    A Horse Whisperer at Work: What a Session Looks Like<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    So what does a session with a horse whisperer look like? Just like a medical doctor, a horse whisperer may ask for a case history about the horse they are treating (which is why they often use the term clinician).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Usually, they will spend a while studying the horse, noting the way the horse moves and reading (or listening) for information from a number of cues such as when the horse carries their head low, tightens their mouth, stamps their hooves, or flattens their ears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The horse’s breathing rate, blowing breath through their mouth, and facial expressions all help tell the horse whisperer what’s going on with your horse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Some horse whisperers will use a round pen and lead to move the horse’s feet, getting the horse to mentally join them and begin negotiating about what’s going on with the horse. When the horse will stand and appear calm, with their head low, the horse whisperer may copy the horse’s body language and act the same way. Building understanding and helping the horse feel comfortable are essential elements to help train the horse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    With great patience, the horse whisperer will let the horse set the pace of their connection, while paying close attention to the horse for signs of pain or poor ability that may need the services of a vet to give the horse a checkup too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    With repetition and an open mind, the horse can be trained in the correct way of going while still honoring the horse’s previous experience with humans (which may not have been good).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Each horse whisperer works differently to other trainers. Their experience with horses and their life with these magnificent animals will contribute to how they approach the horse and how they set about creating the training routine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Some horse whisperers use modern equine psychology or their experience with other animals that have also been traumatized to help settle unruly horses and comfort abused horses so the horse can trust humans again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Only by working with horses can a sound basis of trust be established that will help you produce a safe riding partner in your horse. Sometimes it is necessary to track down the horse’s previous owner to get more information on what the horse has experienced. Most horses respond well to the horse whisperer’s nonverbal communication without having to go to such extreme measures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    So in a nutshell, a horse whisperer will:<\/p>\n\n\n\n