Using the senses

Earlier this year, I spectated 4 days of a clinic with Elsa Sinclair. Her knowledge of how horses behave flipped around a lot of things I had been taught. One thing I thought was really interesting was that if horses are using all 5 senses, they are thinking more and able to act co-operatively, rather than just focusing about themselves. Since then, I have tried to incorporate more novel things into my lessons and clinics, including squeaky toys and wood with essential oils. I have also found that horses especially like these things for a 'Time Out' from something harder that they might be learning, to bring themselves back to the present.