New beginnings, frustrations, and dog versus horse and cat training resources

Picking up something new always presents us with brick walls to overcome, and this case (a blog – I have always disliked that word) is no different.  Formatting and design issues aside, outfitting this new piece of web real estate with informative, insightful, and interesting links was it’s own challenge.

To put it bluntly, there is an alarming shortage of quality information on the behavior and (proper) training of animals other than dogs.  I think this is actually an honest reflection of both the astounding popularity of dogs and the growing need to learn to live with them (as opposed to cats, who are, by and large, seen as a lower maintenance companion – which is also by and large untrue).  As for horses, most horse enthusiasts fall into one of two main categories: Those who use horses for pleasure, and those who use them for work.  Far fewer are the lovers of equines who choose a horse as a companion, after all, it’s much harder to bring a horse on a nice walk in the park, or inside to sit with you by a warm fire.

Even more disturbing is the maddeningly slow pace at which equestrians have evolved from old wives tales and word-of-mouth mythos into science and sound reasoning with regards to working with and understanding horses.  There are plenty of resources on the web for those who need help gaining “dominance” over their mounts, or are looking for fresh ways to punish unwanted behavior.  There is no shortage of experts willing to give advice on which bits to use to control an unruly horse, or when the rider should man up and show the horse who is boss.  Meanwhile, over in the dog savvy world of training and behavior modification, more and more people are moving confidently away from these age old traditions and confrontational methods of communicating with their companions, and leading the way are dozens and dozens of PhD-wielding, behavior science-educated experts of their fields of study.

Lets hope the cat enthusiasts and horse lovers of the world sit up and take note, for while the changes are slow in coming, lo they are a’coming. You can’t trump science.

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