Training a Ghost Dog
By: Antje Martens-Oberwelland
Do you know what a “ghost dog” is? Well, it’s a horse! When the Native Americans first spotted a horse, they thought it was a huge dog. They had been keeping dogs as companions and helpers for centuries so they were scared to see such a big one.
The Natives didn’t know horses because the Spaniards first introduced the horse to North America around 1600–1650. Horses were bred and sold to Prairie tribes near Santa Fe. Indians traded horses and in very little time, horses roamed the plains of North America.
Native Americans quickly learned horses would be useful animals. Compared to dogs, the horse was stronger. It could help transport their possessions from summer to winter camp. The horses ate only grass, while dogs needed meat. Dogs occasionally fought with each other, while horses behaved peacefully. Being much faster than dogs, horses were also good for hunting.
How would they train these “ghost dogs”? The Natives were smart to study the nature of the species first. Basically, there are two different kinds of animals: the hunter and the hunted. It is usually easier to get the trust of a hunter, like a dog or cat. But imagine you were a rabbit and a fox tried to get your trust. As a rabbit, you know that foxes will eat you. Wouldn’t you worry about a friendship like that?
A horse sees you exactly like the rabbit sees a fox. You are a hunter. It costs much time and patience to earn a horse’s trust. Finally, when the horse trusts you, there comes another problem: wild horses live in herds. When isolated from its herd to be trained, you become its new herd.
Every herd needs a leader. If you don’t establish yourself as the leader, your horse will think it’s the leader.
The Natives understood it was easier to learn the horse language than to teach a horse the human language. They used three different kinds of communication with a horse: voice, body language, and focusing. Focusing means to direct your attention to something specific like a place you want to go. If you ever felt somebody staring at you from across the room, then you know how a horse feels your energy when you focus at something.
The Native men had a special relationship with their war ponies. While most horses lived in corrals with their herd, the war pony stayed hobbled (tied-together front legs) close to its owner. Man and horse spent much time together and knew each other well. At a fight, war ponies were totally reliable, would react to the tiniest move of its rider, and save its owner from danger or death.
A warrior was said to be so close to his pony, he would take it inside his tipi in bad weather. To make room for the pony, women and children had to look for someplace else to sleep.
Today horses are still bred in North America and different methods are used to train them. Most people don’t rely on horses any more, but keep them for pleasure and sports. And don’t worry—I haven’t heard of any child who still has to give up his or her bed in the middle of the night to make room for a “ghost dog” to sleep.
Illustration Copyright © 2009 Anna Repp
Copyright © 2009 by Antje Martens-Oberwelland