What Horses Really Want - by Lynn Acton (Paperback)

About the Book

A book of answers to horse-behavior questions that will change equine life for the better. Relationships with horses, whether for companionship or competition, are complex and ever-changing.

Book Synopsis

An engaging book for horse people of all disciplines and experience levels. You will learn how to earn your horse's trust and cooperation using methods that are gentle, effective, and make intuitive sense to horses.

Horses want to feel safe. When you meet a horse's need for security, it is easier than you think to create a trusting bond and build his confidence. This is the foundation of a reliable partnership. Certified riding instructor Lynn Acton demonstrates practical handling, riding, and training skills using color photos and step-by-step instructions. For less than half the cost of a single lesson, these are some of the many things you will learn how to do:

• Start earning a horse's trust the moment you meet him.


• Catch an "uncatchable" horse by showing him he will be safe with you.


• Understand what your horse's body language is telling you.


• Use your body language in ways that horses can easily understand.


• Respond constructively to your horse's emotions.


• Turn pressure into clear communication instead of a source of stress.


• Engage your horses' innate intelligence.


• Encourage your horse to seek your guidance when he is anxious.


• Build your horse's confidence by encouraging curiosity (Investigative Behavior).


• Improve your horse's reliability with positive experiences.


• Identify underlying causes of unwanted horse behavior to resolve issues quickly.


• Discourage unwanted behavior without punishment.


• Recognize unwanted behavior that is a sign your horse is thinking like a partner.

These skills significantly improve your connections with horses, reduce horses' stress and anxiety, and make training more efficient. Lynn refers to this type of horsemanship as Protector Leadership because you are your horse's Protector. This leadership approach has been used successfully for centuries by people of all backgrounds and skill levels, with horses at all levels of training.

Lynn combines extensive horse experience and an academic background in social dynamics with in-depth research. She interprets and cites the scientific findings that explain why Protector Leadership works and offers valuable insights into equine psychology while exposing myths that are sources of problems. Each chapter ends with a list of "Things to Try" fun and easy-to-implement exercises that help you engage your horse as a thinking partner.

The narrative also follows Lynn's progress with her own horses, including mistakes and hindsight, and especially the transformation of the book's "cover girl" Brandy from dangerous to trusting, confident, and reliable. Clear, detailed photos show the subtle body language of horses and people, and illustrate dynamics that make a real difference in our relationships, communication, and training.

Join the growing number of readers who are enjoying dramatic improvements in their interactions with their horses!

Review Quotes

"Whether we are accomplished horse people or newcomers, we all want to do the best for our horses. But what do our horses want? In her excellent book What Horses Really Want, with explanations backed up by science and case studies, Lynn Acton demonstrates how if we listen, the horse will tell us--even often initiating the conversation! Easy to read and understand, with lots of helpful hints on how to put the ideas Acton presents into practice, this book is a go-to resource for people who want to build confident, positive relationships with their horses based on trust and mutual respect." --Vanessa Bee, Founder of the International Horse Agility Club and author of 3-Minute Horsemanship, The Horse Agility Handbook, and Over, Under, Through: Obstacle Training for Horses

"...an
excellent and thought-provoking read. ...I would
recommend this book to anyone interested in developing their relationship with
their horse and providing a safe and secure environment for them. I shall be
pouring over it for many hours to come!" --Horsemanship Journal

"Lynn Acton has combined her personal experiences, work with various clinicians, reading of equine literature, and most importantly, referenced research in the areas of horse behavior, management, and welfare in her book What Horses Really Want, and it is her inclusion of current research that makes this book truly stand out. Over the past three decades equine/human interaction and training has been oversimplified into a predator/prey model, which has been challenged in the academic world and debunked in many ways. Here, Acton provides a more compassionate alternative for the average horse owner based on respect for another living being, cooperation, understanding, positive reinforcement, and recognition that a sense of safety is key to the horse's overall well-being. Acton helps bring science to the stable by integrating the latest academic findings into daily interactions that are humane and nonaggressive. At the heart of her leadership model is the ability for each of us to remain in command of our own emotions and provide the horse with a sense of security. Only then will he trust us so that we can, with time and patience, help horses love to learn." --Wendy Murdoch, Founder of The Murdoch Method and Sure Foot Equine Stability Program, and author of 50 5-Minute Fixes to Improve Your Riding

"Lynn
Acton's book, What Horses Really Want, is an absolute gem in
providing a treasure of new approaches, and a different take on traditional
approaches to building trust and confidence in a horse. [It's] filled with
excellent examples and Acton uses her own horses to illustrate processes and
exercises while discussing at length her philosophy and knowledge behind
them. ...The book is beautifully illustrated with many color photographs
and each chapter has summarized notes and things to try to put the teachings
into practice. This book is an excellent and informative read." --Horse
Journals

"Lynn Acton's book What Horses Really Want shares a refreshing perspective--she considers what the horse needs and values. When we only look for obedience and 'proper' behavior from our horses, we lose the potential to meet who our horse really is. When we allow more freedom, when we stop and wait instead of pushing through, and when we consider that what we have been taught about needing to 'show the horse who's boss, ' and to 'not let him get away with anything' may not be very accurate, we can discover an entirely new relationship waiting for us. Our horses are profoundly forgiving, they are ready to change when we are, and the connection that is possible when change comes is a gift for both horse and human." --Callie King, Science-Based Trainer and Instructor

"Lynn Acton's What Horses Really Want brings together
themes of observation, playfulness, trust, and communication into an enjoyable
book about horse behavior and training. Her concept of Protector Leadership
resonates with me as an equine-assisted services (EAS) professional and
provides a valuable foundation for work that engages horses in EAS
programs. Within days of reading this book, I found I could easily and
effectively implement some of these concepts into my work with EAS program
horses, improving our interactions and hopefully their sense of engagement
and well-being on the job. Thank you to Lynn for such valuable insights
and practical suggestions!" --Karen Brittle, MA, Asst. Professor of Equine
Studies at Centenary University, and certified PATH Intl. Advanced Therapeutic
Riding Instructor and Equine Specialist

"An informative guide for all equestrians on how horses connect with humans and how best to develop their trust in the relationship. ...A delightful read and very educational, the wealth of information included in this work is easy to assimilate and will help every horse and every horse owner. Highly recommend!" --Catskill Horse Magazine

About the Author

Lynn Acton, M.S. has a diverse equestrian and academic background that helps her understand horses, relationships, and leadership from an interdisciplinary point of view. Her degrees in sociology and systems science have contributed to her understanding of research studies, the social dynamics of horses, their interactions with people, and how the interconnected parts of complex social systems fit together. After spending time working on a Thoroughbred breeding farm and later retraining off-track Thoroughbreds, Acton became certified by the Certified Horsemanship Association (CHA) to teach both English and Western riding and started a therapeutic riding program for at-risk youth. She currently competes in Horse Agility and Equagility (ridden agility). She and her husband live in Berkshire, New York.