More and more I'm being asked to deal with a horse's 'naughty behaviour' when in fact a good vet would be better qualified to help in the first stage.
I've said it before and I'll say it again - a horse is a horse - they do not think or behave like us humans. Generally they want a peaceful and easy life and will put up with our ways in order to get it. They don't wake up one day and think . . . .
'I think I'll start to buck just to see if she's a good rider'.
So when a horse or pony "suddenly starts to rear/buck/kick/bite/spook/barge for no reason", please take a little time and try to work out why. Nine times out ten you will probably find it is pain related. It could be his teeth, tack, shoes, diet, any number of muscles, ligaments, tendons, infections etc etc. They have no other way of communicating to us other than by being out of character.
If we think of any and all the ailments we humans can get - why can't a horse get the same. If we trip over something don't we pull a muscle or bruise or slip a disc or fracture a bone or strain a tendon? Sometimes it takes days or weeks for us to be effected by an accident and it's the same for them.
If a horse suddenly starts to demonstrate unwanted behaviour there is probably a very good reason for it. It is in our duty of care to eliminate pain or discomfort long before we consider rectifying behaviour.
Remember - bad behaviour in a horse is a symptom.
Sunday, 8 February 2009
Tuesday, 27 January 2009
How do you lead your horse?
How you lead your horse determines how your horse views your place in it's herd.
A very large British equine organisation teaches handlers to lead at the horses shoulder which immediately puts the handler in a subordinate position and increases the risk of injury.
When ever you see a mare running with a foal the foal is always at the mares shoulder, this gives the foal protection and allows it to follow the mare's changes in direction. By placing yourself in this position you are putting your horse in charge and many horses find this uncomfortable. If you are unable to see over the horses withers/neck how are you able to anticipate any difficulties that might arise from the blind side? If your horse takes a spook he/she will probably jump into you in an attempt to get away from the 'grab me gotcha' that has just leapt out of the hedge. When leading at the shoulder how do you perform a right turn at a junction? Usually, and I've seen it done so many times, the handler will turn the horse in a circle to the left and as they come out of the circle lead the horse forward.
Another large 'Natural Horsemanship' organisation based in America teaches it's students to lead with the horse following behind. Again this puts the handler in a subordinate position and increases the rick of injury.
We all know that the alfa mare leads from the front and the stallion pushes from behind in a herd. By placing yourself in front of the horse you are allowing the horse to drive you forward. When the inevitable 'grab me gotcha' leaps out at the horse from behind you are likely to be trampled in the rush to get away.
It is far better to lead with the horse's head at your shoulder. Your position is that of an equal to the horse. You have good clear all round vision so nothing unexpected can happen. If the horse does spook into you all that is likely to happen is his/her head will knock into you. When you come to a junction and wish to turn right all you need do is take a slightly larger step and walk towards the horses head, he/she will move their head away and the body will follow.
By keeping your hand away from the horses head you are not creating an 'in-to pressure' scenario where the horse moves forward at a quickened pace. The only time my hand goes near the horse is to indicate a signal which might be slow down, speed up, move away, come closer, get ready to stop and stop. Once the signal has been given my hand returns to it's original relaxed state.
A very large British equine organisation teaches handlers to lead at the horses shoulder which immediately puts the handler in a subordinate position and increases the risk of injury.
When ever you see a mare running with a foal the foal is always at the mares shoulder, this gives the foal protection and allows it to follow the mare's changes in direction. By placing yourself in this position you are putting your horse in charge and many horses find this uncomfortable. If you are unable to see over the horses withers/neck how are you able to anticipate any difficulties that might arise from the blind side? If your horse takes a spook he/she will probably jump into you in an attempt to get away from the 'grab me gotcha' that has just leapt out of the hedge. When leading at the shoulder how do you perform a right turn at a junction? Usually, and I've seen it done so many times, the handler will turn the horse in a circle to the left and as they come out of the circle lead the horse forward.
Another large 'Natural Horsemanship' organisation based in America teaches it's students to lead with the horse following behind. Again this puts the handler in a subordinate position and increases the rick of injury.
We all know that the alfa mare leads from the front and the stallion pushes from behind in a herd. By placing yourself in front of the horse you are allowing the horse to drive you forward. When the inevitable 'grab me gotcha' leaps out at the horse from behind you are likely to be trampled in the rush to get away.
It is far better to lead with the horse's head at your shoulder. Your position is that of an equal to the horse. You have good clear all round vision so nothing unexpected can happen. If the horse does spook into you all that is likely to happen is his/her head will knock into you. When you come to a junction and wish to turn right all you need do is take a slightly larger step and walk towards the horses head, he/she will move their head away and the body will follow.
By keeping your hand away from the horses head you are not creating an 'in-to pressure' scenario where the horse moves forward at a quickened pace. The only time my hand goes near the horse is to indicate a signal which might be slow down, speed up, move away, come closer, get ready to stop and stop. Once the signal has been given my hand returns to it's original relaxed state.
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