<center>![horse.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmTdspTp16PtqtXAPfcHkRRW1SaoiXTkhuiKxNdr3qpfvD/horse.jpg)</center>

Do you understand why it is important to communicate with your horse?  

In the story about Julie and Skylark, it was evident that Julie and Skylark would have been at risk if she had been able to kick and click and make Skylark enter the swampy area.  By refusing to go forward, Skylark protected them both from harm, as he might have slipped and fallen.
   
Can you think of other situations where a rider and a horse might be at risk, such as very rocky terrain – or slippery mud – or barbed wire?  Any others?

Can you think of any situations when the horse is in his stall and communication might be necessary between owner and horse?

Can you imagine any type of behavior or signal that a horse might give if he were afraid to get in a trailer?
	
So now you understand that Communication is important for the protection of the rider and the horse.  
It is important for you to watch and study your horse’s signals and behavior.

Likewise, your horse does watch and study your signals and behavior.  You’re frowning!  Is that hard to believe?  Well don’t you think Skylark would have been very confused if Julie’s dad had ridden him and made him go into the swampy area?  The horse’s fears may have come to fruition (come to pass).  Skylark and Julie’s dad might have fallen.  After that how could Skylark trust Julie’s dad?

And the question of trust brings us to another very important reason for communication between horse and owner.  That reason is building a mutual understanding with your horse.  You can learn to trust your horse and he can learn to trust you.

You can also learn to predict what your horse will do next. To predict his behavior is to believe that his consistent behavior will happen again and again.  But we need to ask the question,  “Why does a horse have consistent behavior most of the time?”

The answer is a result of one or both of the following two reasons:

1.	Instinct – your horse’s inborn pattern of behavior that is characteristic of all horses.
2.	Knowledge – your horse’s behavior because of what he/she has learned.

Next time – instinct, knowledge and building a mutual understanding of trust with your horse.