21/09/2025
⁴ Tolerance is a Threshold, Not a Skill
Many trainers aim to increase a horse’s tolerance by gradually introducing stressors—like waving a plastic bag closer over time—until the horse no longer reacts. They call this desensitization, believing it teaches calm. But this approach doesn’t address the core issue: behavior is tightly tethered to the threshold, the precise point where a stressor, such as a sound or touch, triggers an emotional response like bolting or shying. This reaction is wired in because it once brought relief: the stressor built, the horse fled, and tension eased, locking the behavior to the threshold in a predictable cycle.
Desensitizing by slowly increasing exposure only pushes this threshold further out, allowing the horse to endure more before reacting. However, it doesn’t uncouple the behavior from the threshold; the old response—bolting or shying—remains ready to fire when a real-world stressor, like a sudden noise or movement, crosses that stretched limit. Worse, this approach often dulls the horse’s overall responsiveness or even shuts them down emotionally. By repeatedly exposing the horse to stressors without teaching a constructive alternative, trainers risk creating a horse that appears calm but is simply disengaged, its natural alertness suppressed rather than redirected.
Training that seizes the opportunity to teach skills on both sides of the threshold uncouples the behavior from the threshold, fostering a stronger bond and a safer, more confident horse. Before the threshold, when unease is mild—say, a slight tension as the handler steps closer—the skill is attention. Encourage the horse to shift its focus to the handler, and immediately reward this choice by easing the stressor. This builds a mental habit: at the first hint of discomfort, looking to the human brings relief. After the threshold, when emotions surge and the heart races, the skill is action—not the inaction trainers often seek, like standing still or freezing, but a deliberate, constructive response. Instead of rewarding a horse for simply not reacting, teach it to act purposefully—perhaps a slight turn of the shoulder or a step toward the handler. Remove the stressor the moment this action occurs, reinforcing that this choice resolves the stress.
Practice these skills—attention before, action after—in low-stress moments first, where success is straightforward. With repetition, they become second nature. When the threshold is met, the horse is prepared, equipped with clear responses rather than caught off guard. Emotions may flare, but the behavior now points to the handler as the solution, strengthening the partnership.
As these skills take root, the threshold often shifts upward—not because the horse is numbed, but because each emotional spike resolves quickly through practiced responses. The brain adapts, recognizing that turning to the handler works better than escaping. Desensitizing alone, without uncoupling the tethered behavior, risks a dulled or disengaged horse that reverts to instinct under pressure. Teaching skills on both sides of the threshold keeps the horse’s responses sharp and builds confidence, creating a connected partner ready to face challenges without fear of surprise. This is Behavioral Horsemanship™.
