Conflict behaviours are responses shown by animals that are experiencing an inability to cope with mental, or physical discomfort. These conflict behaviours expressed in equitation, or horse handling may be caused by the application of simultaneous opposing cues.
For example 'Go' from the legs/seat/whip and 'Stop' from the hands/seat/lead/reins at the same time. Common phrases like "ride them into the hand" perpetuate this.
The conflict arises from the horses inability to sufficiently experience relief of response motivating pressures that may increasingly become pain producing pressures. Remember, the horses initial active coping response to pain is to run or move faster, if it is able to functionally move. So continuing the persistence of pressure expecting a lightening of the horses response is unfortunately a misguided approach.
When we consider this from the basis of working with horses that may have a training origin asymmetry, a physiological origin asymmetry or a locomotive asymmetry / lameness... the nature of humans initially is on the focus of 'training' to communicate the desired corrections, and from the ground trainer or the rider it is usually to respond to the consequences of asymmetry to develop straightness, or evenness through the reduction or 'micro-managing' of any potentials of the horse falling off line, or breaking from rhythm.
In this circumstance if their is a poor use of the aids, to recorrect or react to developed training origin asymmetries, and the response is more reactive rather than formative ( focused on shaping the correct response) from the trainer - aids are likely to be conflicting also, which rapidly leads to a possible complex array of conflict behaviours.
The issue here is that in an acute or chronically acquired physiological state of asymmetry or lameness, the horse cannot comfortably with relaxation maintain or achieve symmetry or straightness - and if given little option, through likely conflicting aids, the outcome will be conflict behaviours however mild or major in presentation.
The key message to remember when beginning to understand, is that conflict behaviours are physical manifestations of fear.
Over the coming weeks we will be covering the topics of conflict behaviours, discussing identification, developing understanding, talking about possible cause and the ideal response from you, the caretaker or trainer of the horses you work and play alongside.
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