Horse-nality Versus Rider-nality

 Horse-nality!

I have been doing a lot of talking this week about my recent learning on 'horse-nalities' so I thought I would post a visual chart for those who don't love researching and reading.

I truly believe learning where Paloma fell into these four main categories has helped me get a little outside my head and start to actually think about cause and effect instead of scrambling.

The suggestions for Paloma, class A left brain introvert, indicated that, I have to give her time to process what I am asking, not because she is not smart, but because she IS smart and needs to figure out what is in it for her. So I am supposed to give her praise and treats as incentive.

The definition also suggested that for a left brain introvert horse, you need to appeal to their brain in order to get their feet moving. So true!! One of the exercises mentioned was to trot the long side, halt in the corner, give cookie, trot long side, halt, cookie... etc. Apparently it offers incentive which the smart left brain introverts look for in everything they do.
Yes, I get praise but cookies for something so simple and minimal? Nu-uh. Not my style. I ask? You go!

But maybe I am being stubborn and need to alter my way of thinking.

So last night before working on the days gymnastic I decided to do some Parelli of my own and test this theory.

After grabbing Pal from the field, I decided to make her walk through the deep-ish creek that runs paralel to the paddock. It isn't deep but it is wide, 8-10 feet across. Pal isn't a fan of water but usually obliges when I urge her forward.
This time when she said, 'no', I said, 'ok, let's think about it'. No fight, no fuss. So I walked half way through and grabbed some really green grass from the other side and held it out for Pal. Just enough that she had to take a step to reach it. She happily took the step for the grass incentive.
Again, I repeated.
About the fourth offering I finally said, no, come with me.

AND SHE CAME! Whaa..... Who are you!

No jumping or leaping across, no rushing, just walked right through like a boss. Lots of scritches for you!


I am left now scratching my head.
Is this 'herd mentality' way of thinking totally off? Is there a better way?
I can't help but pop a mental picture of myself being that horse person, which we all know one, who sits there pleading with their horse to move, while the horse looks and thinks 'lady, I am good here, you go without me because I 'aint movin'
Nu-uh. Nope. No. I will not be that person.