“Dangerous” horses are caused by lack of education

I've seen a trend of R- trainers saying that they are forced to retrain “dangerous” R+ horses with bad behavioral problems caused by people who didn't know what they were doing. Absolutely! Even us R+ trainers get horses given to us that someone used R+ inappropriately and created a major issue. Horses can only reach the level of training that matches the trainer's education and experience. If the trainer doesn't know something, the horse won't learn it. New trainers learning to train their own horses really need to dedicate themselves to doing their homework and have reliable more experienced trainers to reach out to when they get stuck.

But let's be honest. This isn't just R+. This is ALL horses trained by people who aren't ready for the challenges that individual horse brings to the table. Remember when all the trainers were complaining about Parelli trained horses coming in dangerous? Or CA? Or any NH training? This was not because the methods don't work (R- works when implemented correctly, otherwise it wouldn't be a learning quadrant). This is because people who are new to training horses are trying to do something without the education and support system to reach success. R+ is the new one of these.

Most new trainers are very drawn to NH and R+ techniques because they are kinder, more focused on relationship, gentler, and safer. R+ allows us to train horses with our brain, not our brawn, it's not about being tough or strong or riding out the crazy, it's about training the horse to do what we want. We can also remain safe because we have tools like protected contact and take time to focus deeply on emotions ensuring anger/frustration/aggression aren't part of the picture. R+ allows new trainers to learn to work with horses in a non-confrontational, emotional, relationship focused, and SO fun.

I mean let's be honest, my herd of rescue horses who come to us FOR their behavioral problems (all caused by poorly used R-) are trained by CHILDREN. Kids are able to train really difficult, really problematic, even some really dangerous horses! All with R+ and create incredible, mindblowing, results. This is because they are working safely, learning the practice under the guidance of a professional with tons of experience using R+ with a wide variety of difficult horses. Even though I've been training a huge number of horses with R+ for over a decade, I still continue to work on my education in the 3 major R+ sciences (Behavioral, ethology and neuroscience), and have a great peer group of other professionals I can talk out ideas and questions with. They may be newer or older at R+ with horses, but they all have different experiences and different perspectives and I have so much to learn from them!

All trainers, new or old, we need to continue to grow our educations, continue to rely on other professionals for support, ideas, and guidance, so we can do right by our horses and clients we teach. It's not a matter of method, it's a matter of education and practice. A horse can only be as trained as the trainer has the knowledge to teach. Uneducated, unsupported trainers, create dangerous horses, not any specific training methodology.