Right Brain ~ this is when a horse reacts to a situation or stimulus. This is the instinct side of the horse and usually involves no thought, just flight or fight.

When a horse is in Right Brain reaction mode, they do not blink, there is little or no ear movement, they are stiff moving and may even stumble and hit the pen or fence. When you look at them, you will notice their head is up, their back is dropped and the legs pump up and down instead of forward and reaching. They may snort, turn their head to the outside and pull on the rope or rein.

They can be unresponsive to any aides or movement from the human or can be overly reactive in an evasive way. When a horse has learned to go Right Brain in order to protect themselves, it is a very hard situation to overcome. It has become a learned behavior to be fearful and at that point they can even become agressive if they feel threatened enough. They could also feel trapped and try to run through you or over you.

Left Brain ~ when a horse is "left brained", he is thinking. His actions involve a thought proccess and he is choosing his movement. When being left brained, it can be positive in that they are trying or performing the tasks at hand that they are being asked to do. They can also be left brained negative in the way that they are being purposely evasive and thinking their way through ignoring you.

When a horse is left brained, he is in a more relaxed state. The eyes blink, there is more ear movement, the head is level or low, the back is loose and the legs come out forward and reaching. They are also much more confident where their feet step. They will also lick their lips and even yawn.

Horses can switch from right to left brain and back very quickly. It is up to you to watch your horse closely and learn when to push and when to back off because they are trying. Personally, when a horse is right brain (reactive), the more upset they get, the more I slow down until we get to a point where I can show them what I want. When a horse is left brain negative, the ruder or more confrontational he gets, the more I step it up.

Remember Right brain as being Reactive because they both start with R...