Area man uses special techniques to work with horses
Seeing the world through another’s eyes is a difficult task to accomplish and getting into the mind of another is even more challenging, but it’s something a Farmington man has been working to achieve – with horses. Seeing the world through another’s eyes is a difficult task to accomplish and getting into the mind of another is even more challenging, but it’s something a Farmington man has been working to achieve – with horses.
Thirty-year-old Mike Squires has been riding horses for about 10 years, and for more than five years, he has utilized natural horsemanship methods, which he said he learned from Louis Wood, a cowboy in Waynesboro, Va.
According to Squires, Wood has been a great influence and inspiration on how he views himself and horses, and Wood has influenced the methods and thinking processes that Squires uses every day when working with the massive animals.
Today, Squires enjoys the task of working with horses that were otherwise labeled difficult, disrespectful or problem horses.
He explained that his main goal is to build a relationship with the horse through trust and leadership, and, as the horse develops the skills, many of the horse’s so-called problems will disappear and a better relationship between the horse and rider emerges.
Sixty-one-year-old Nancy Pohaski of Uniontown said she bought a horse nearly two years ago because she wanted to learn about horses and she knew she would enjoy riding, but what she didn’t expect were the problems that followed.
“I thought I was going to get on the horse and ride off into the sunset, but that didn’t happen,” she said. Instead, her new quarter horse, Spanky, didn’t want to be ridden at all and it was apparent when he was saddled and mounted – he just walked backwards. That’s when Pohaski knew she had a problem. Pohaski said she heard about Squires and the threesome have been working together ever since.
Squires explained that by focusing on the horse’s behavior he can determine why a horse responds in a negative or uncooperative manner. He said that often a horse is just confused or frustrated and may not know what the rider wants from him.
“With that in mind, I help the horse develop skills to transform the negative habits into positive behaviors,” he said.
Squires explained that before he ever rides a horse, generous amounts of time are spent on groundwork, teaching the horse some fundamental tools in incremental steps. “Insufficient ground work, in relation to humans, is like being made to read, but not knowing some of the letters of the alphabet.” He noted that effective groundwork allows horses enough time to absorb new information before moving to a new task.
“Groundwork is a key to building a good foundation for your horse. It must be solid before you can expect good outcomes when you mount your horse.
“It takes time and patience and an understanding that each horse works at a different pace,” he said.
Susan Bealko of Uniontown, who appreciates Squires’ teaching methods, said, “He takes his time and does it right. He creates a partnership between horse and rider, not a dictatorship.” She added that Squires ensures the horse clearly understands each step before progressing to the next.
Squires has been working with Bealko and her horse for some time now and she said his methods have helped her to communicate and respond better to her horse. “I learned that I don’t have to force or pull on him to make him respond. The natural horsemanship methods have allowed me to have a much better relationship with my horse,” she said.
According to Squires, it is naturally challenging to train horses because they are prey animals.
“In the mind of a horse, we are a predator. Naturally, when we begin pulling on them, their instinct is to flee, and this is where you can begin to build trust and leadership with the horse. It is OK for the horse to flee and make mistakes, but there needs to be an understanding of making the wrong behavior difficult and the right behavior easy,” he said.
“There is no need for bigger bits, larger spurs or mechanical devices. People resort to these things because it is a quick fix, but it never gets to the root of the problem. Horses either understand or they don’t, and it’s important to identify the problems and address them appropriately,” he said.
And if there’s a nay-sayer of these methods, Pohaski said, Spanky is now on the right track, and thanks to Squires, their relationship is a mutual relationship built on nothing more than a true partnership. “He’s a gifted young man,” she added, referring to Squires.