Confidence

We all need confidence in everything we do. Confidence helps us to achieve and create, to start new projects,  and in general just feel good about ourselves. We need to feel confident to be comfortable with our abilities or our ability to learn and become confident. As we learn we become proficient at the skill we are learning and become confident in our ability to perform the skill. Confidence is one of the most important things we can possess, it can make the difference between success and failure or  just how confident we feel even if we fail at a task.. If we are confident we are able to try again and not be put off by failure. 

Humans are not the only beings to feel confident or unconfident but I really never thought of animals as being confident or unconfiden until I began studying Parelli. . Equine behavior is also directly related to how confident they feel performing certain tasks or skills and fear is so close to the surface for the horse being a prey animal. ,  If unconfident they may unable to  perform the activity as the human has requested and then  humans may resort to force to make sure the goal they have in mind is performed or the activity completed. This lack of understanding is what causes most problems in the horse/human relationship. Good training and schooling on the ground and in the saddle can help the horse become more confident and feel more relaxed and happy about performing the task. We as humans need to understand that horses do not refuse or become uncooperative because they are lazy or mean or stupid. They are uncooperative because they are afraid and unconfident. It is out responsibility to help them gain confidence and feel less fear. 

Ground skills done with patience and awareness of the horses comfort zone will help the horse and the human develop their relationship and build the confidence level of the horse and the human. Ground Training can be an invaluable tool for helping the horse to gain confidence and skills on the ground which will later be transferred to the under saddle relationship. When something is familiar on the ground it is the first step to it being familiar under saddle.