this is Gus.

this is Gus. WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE WHEN MY HORSE SAYS "NO" TO RIDING? this is a video showing numerous examples of how Gus says "yes" & "no" I started asking for consent/permission to ride close to two years ago. because it stopped feeling right to ride him when he showed he wasn't interested asking him to carry me is only something I want him to do when he feels up for it when he says "yes" he means "YES" I've been searching for a trail to follow "yes" means nothing if "no" isn't an option so he can give me any answer & I reward him for it regardless when he says "no" he means "NO" both "yes" and "no" are full sentences. I hope this shows how intelligent and capable horses are of understanding the questions we ask when we ask them and how they are entirely aware of what the tack we get out means and that from one day to the next their feelings can change based on any number of factors and that "rewards" aren't reason enough for a horse to agree to do something that will cause them discomfort not to ride so yes, Gus is given the choice and I ask for his permission to ride and yes, he is rewarded for every answer he offers even when that answer is "no" I only ride when Gus says "yes" and we do something else instead when he says "no" remember: all behavior is nothing more than communication and communication should be respected and celebrated bonus: Gus also gets to decide when the ride is over