Monday, September 20, 2010

20th September, 2010 Corridors of power

Horses are very aware of thresholds and in the wild they would naturally meander before going through one in order to check for predators or difficult terrain. That's why horses are often funny about going through gateways and narrow places. These pinch points would be where the lions would hang out. I think this is why narrow passages between fields can be difficult for horses - it's one long threshold, and if there are other horses on both sides, some leaning over the fence to bite your horse and others running up and down, it can make the experience entertaining as your horse rushes here and there and tries to lead you out of danger. When the fences are made of barbed wire or electric fencing you cannot easily school the horse you are leading. Something to think about when designing the layout of a livery yard.