Dominence Understood

I was looking at my blogger updates and ran across the article from Journey to The Black String, Michelle states in there:

I watched Snookie, gently urge her across the 100' paddock to the water tank, and splash water on her to get her to drink. I was amazed at the power and influence of a leader, and also the wisdom and compasion a lead mare can have. My herd grew over the years with rescues coming and going, and some staying. Tigerlily was there to keep my sweet gal content, and she was never worried when anyone left the herd, as long as it wasn't her baby girl, Tigerlily.

(for the rest of the article please go to http://naturalmannershorsemanship.blogspot.com/2010/10/waterhole-rituals-bfo-humans-really-can.html)

I'm sure most of you have herd every horse owner say atleast once, "how one of their horses are just so terribly mean to the rest" and how they dealt with it. Maybe by yelling at the "mean" horse or throwing rocks or even walking up and chasing it off. That the horse will understand, that it will know it is getting yelled at, rocks thrown at, or chased off because it was simply nauty! No it won't.

Horse owners should know how important this horse is to the rest. This horse is the one who keeps the others alive, she needs them to listen to her without hesitation when danger strikes. She's not being mean, the being nice. Its alot of work for her, but she knows its her duty to the herd. She loves those horses, she would protect them with her life.

When danger isn't here, she constantly has to apply her dominance. Checking over and over to make sure that they understand and still have the belief she is the dominent mare, its hard work for her, she does not do it because she likes to.

Horses have survived for millions and millions of years, the lead mare has been around that long. She is personally to blame for that. The lead mare has let the beautiful world of horses live on, many have died for their herd and their herd knows that. She is the horses legacy.

What we think, as humans, is mean is something that saves horses. Something that nature programed the lead mares to do. It is natural for the lead mare do "bully" her herd to save their life.

Now that is something many people don't understand, and even after reading this may not.
Like Pat Parelli says
"Common sense has become a VERY uncommon thing."
Keep it natural,
Kaylee

Update on Legacy's Pride tomorrow morning and Pride :)