Problem? Or not?

When is a problem not a problem?

That difficult horse, the one that no one wanted to work with, is no longer the bad actor. He   turned a corner and became Mr Reliable, Mr Trustworthy and everyone can finally exhale. He’s been doing great for months, and then… the old vices are beginning to return. He is pinning his ears back, maybe threatening to kick you in the stall. Did you just dream that he had evolved into a great guy? Or did he temporarily change and now he’s changing back?

I always like to start with the phrase many of us have heard: “What happened before what happened happened?” In other words, look back in time to what was going on before Mr Hyde made a reappearance. And consider this, that maybe this bad thing is really a good thing. Maybe you should be thanking your horse instead of preparing to go to battle or posting him on Craig’s List.

A good dog will growl before he feels he needs to bite to protect himself or his resources. A horse, particularly one that had issues you were able to resolve, who begins to show bad temper again is telling you something important. Something has changed in his care or environment or health and he is asking for help. He wants to continue to be a good guy. He needs you to help him sort through the changes that may be causing his discomfort, physical or mental, and restore harmony to his world. 

My own horse began acting up when his kissing spines back problem was causing him pain. A vet visit and some X-rays answered that question. A dog that suddenly became aggressive had thyroid issues. And my friend Hamilton needed to remind his person how important her mindfulness was when working with him. 

Don’t rush to assume the good behavior was just a temporary fluke. Check in the experts: a vet or a trainer to see if there is something you should be doing differently, but also ask your horse and yourself, what he needs now. And thank him for showing you that he needs your help.