The Language of Feet

When we start the training process there are many factors to consider. Some things involved in training are tangible such as the equipment we use the environment we are in e g. a round pen or an arena the physical application of aids and the horses physical response. We can measure these things in terms of how well the horse handles them or how evasive the horse is when asked to deal with unfamiliar things.
Many intangible factors also play a big role in how teachable the horse will be. Genetics breed type age experience social skills personality type confidence self esteem trust respect fear responsibility past physical or emotional trauma physical tension and conformation all affect the horses ability to learn and our ability to teach efficiently.

All of these things tangible and intangible share a common element they are stress factors that affect the horse mentally and physically. The horses ability to cope with stress will either speed up or slow down the training process.
Because of the way horses think and the manner in which their instincts have developed they do not have many natural tools to deal with the stress that domestication supplies. Their instinct to run serves horses well in a natural environment but severely limits their stress coping abilities in our world. Running doesnt always work because of the limited space horses live in.
We have all kinds of ways to limit or prevent their movement fences halters lead ropes lunge lines and bits are all counterintuitive for the horse. When the horses coping mechanisms are effectively reduced or eliminated he can quickly become volatile. Basically the horse will fight if the stress he is presented with is too uncomfortable for him and he cant run from it.
Any horse that is exhibiting aggressive behaviour is highly threatened. The aggression arises out of a simple defensive need. It is not a rational thought rather it is an instinct. That being said if the perceived threat continues to be present for extended periods of time or is reintroduced to the horse without him having learned not to be afraid it can lead to the horse anticipating that he will be scared beyond his limits and cause him to switch to panic faster. This means that the horse is not necessarily scared to death he anticipates that he will be scared but doesnt wait for it to happen. The longer he