ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the tips that focuses on the use of calming signals and knowledge of the variety of signals. They are intended for riders and handlers who want to better understand, guide, socialise, and train their horse. The tips are useful for anyone who deals with horses. Communication ladders are intended as assessment tools to help recognise and, to a certain extent, predict the horse's behaviour. While riding, people often focus on their horse's behaviour or the desired body movements instead of on his emotional wellbeing. This focus on forcing the horse to perform a desired physical behaviour also happens when a horse is unable to follow a rider's instructions to satisfaction and becomes tense. The horse who uses perfect obedience as a coping mechanism to get out of a tense learning situation is just as susceptible to these health risks. Punishing damages the horse physically and mentally.
