RED DEER, Alta. — Horses have personality types, just as people do.
Linda Parelli, who developed a Horsenality profile chart to better understand horses, said it’s important for people to know which type of horse they are riding.
If riders know whether a horse is introverted, or extroverted, left brained or right brained, they will be able to bring out the best in the animal, Parelli told horse owners during the Mane Event conference.
“It is the key to having a successful relationship with your horse. You see what horses need to help bring out the best of them.”
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While watching her horse-training husband Pat years ago, Parelli realized horses respond differently to different training methods based on their personalities.
“It’s how to train horses using psychology. It is also about what is natural for horses,” she said.
Parelli divided horse personalities into introverts and extroverts.
Extroverted horses have high energy, more go, are quick and have a tendency to run. Introverted horses have low energy, are slower and have a tendency to stop.
She further divided her personality list into right brain and left brain.
Left brain horses are dominant, pushy, tolerant, unconcerned, confident and curious. Right brain horses are fearful, defensive, emotional, lack confidence and are easily spooked
Horses can be extroverted-right brained, extroverted-left brained, introverted-right brain and introverted-left brain.
Their personality is based on their innate characteristics, learned behaviour, environment and spirit.
Parelli said extroverted horses want to move their feet. Extroverted humans want to move their mouths.
A right brained-extroverted horse will be fearful and nervous. A left brained-extroverted horses will be dominant and confident.
A right brained-introverted horse will be shy and timid and unable to move because of fear. A left brained-introvert is motivated by food and is easily bonded to humans.
Knowing the horse’s personality will help trainers and owners guide their strategy to learn how to deal with each horse.
“It’s like an owner’s manual for your horse’s behaviour.”
Contact mary.macarthur@producer.com
