NEC Blog

• flight
  
• fight
  
• freeze
  
• faint
  
• fidget or fool around
  

These instinctive responses are due to a lack of understanding, fear, or anger. After practicing some of the basic Tteam touches on each other the participants then learned 12 out of the 40 Ttouches. The touches for trust are at the core of forming a relationship and bond between the horse and rider based on mutual trust. With these touches the horse becomes a better partner as fear gives way to confidence. The 6 touches for trust that we learned were:

• Abalone touch
• Ear touch
• Coiled Python lift
• Front and hind leg circles
• Lying Leopard
• Tail pull

The touches for awareness enhance a horses sense of body awareness in space (proprioception). Touches for awareness also prevent or release stressful responses in normal or new situations and environments. The 6 Ttouches for awareness that we learned were:

• Back lift
• Chimp touch
• Clouded Leopard
• Inchworm
• Neck rocking
• Noah's March

As the participants began the T-team Ttouches on thier own horses it was amazing to watch both people and horses relax and develop a more open communication. By giving T-team and working with one another in this way one can feel the positive and loving energy filling the aisle. By the end of the clinic both horses and people were happy and peaceful. During the weeks and months ahead these students and boarders will continue to T-team their horses in order to promote both communication and relaxation in their partnership together.

The Book containing all the Ttouches and great pictures and illustrations for those looking for more in depth information is The Ultimate Horse Behavior and Training Book; Linda Tellington-Jones.

Available at the above link at Amazon.com :)