Fences are your horse's very first introduction to boundaries. Controlled by the human. Our first step in controlling the horse. Shaping their behavior.
And our first opportunity to demonstrate integrity. Unbroken. True to our word. Consistency. Who we are. This sets the stage for all future communication.
Now define a boundary. A limit. A border.
Next define integrity:
1. Steadfast adherence to a strict moral or ethical code.
2. The state of being unimpaired; soundness.
3. The quality or condition of being whole or undivided; completeness.
Put the two together and you have started your training relationship with your horse.
The important thing we have learned (right!) about boundaries from my earlier posts - They do not "attack". They do not push. They do not invade the horse's personal boundary. They are respectful in that way.
Special to fences - they have integrity. Unbroken. Sound. Consistent. (I hope!)
Connect the dots.
Acknowledge (own it!) that you ARE using the fence to ...... communicate, control, channel, ...... speak to your horse. For WHATEVER reason.
Just do it respectfully. Never run your horse into the fence. And never allow your horse to lean on the fence. As if the fence were the only dependable part of your conversation. "Do no harm but take no shit"
While lunging, the fence is your outside leg. Be responsible for your outside leg - this boundary. Ideally your goal in the picadero, round pen, lungeline, or big arena is to work the horse OFF the fence.
The test will be to free lunge your horse in a big arena.
