My name is Ryan=
Brooks
and as you may or may not know, I am the current equine intern at Miner.
I had originally been =
looking
at farrier schools online and in the American <=
span
class=3DSpellE>Farriers Journal, but was having a tough time decidin=
g on a
school. Steve Hazen, our farrier at Miner, recommended Danny Ward while I was =
here
last summer and it turned out that a close college friend of mine had also
attended Danny Ward’s Horseshoeing school. Both of them spoke very highly of =
him
and made it sound like a terrific school.&=
nbsp;
It worked out great too because it was both close to home and school=
; so
I looked into it more, and visited Danny at the shop before tying the knot =
and
making my final decision. Whi=
le
attending farrier school with seven other
individuals, we practiced forge work in the shop constantly, had routine
classroom sessions, and best of all, were out in the field gaining hands-on
experience trimming and shoeing.
There were two instructors and eight students including me. This number worked out really well=
as we
initially started out in groups of four and each had an instructor and
basically did one foot a piece with an instructor and fellow students there=
to
help. As we progressed we sta=
rted
working in two groups of three and a group of two so they could still keep =
an
eye on us and by the last several weeks we were in groups of two working on
horses. This was great becaus=
e one
of us was holding the horse while the other was shoeing, we would also alte=
rnate
feet to give each person a break and a chance to watch the other. This allowed us to really get unde=
r a
lot of horses and practice on many feet which was
great because in the end this is what makes you better…practice,
practice, practice!
The first week of shoe=
ing
school was spent solely in the classroom and shop. In the classroom we covered techni=
ques
used in the field while trimming/shoeing, anatomy of the foot and leg inclu=
ding
bones, tendons and ligaments and their purpose, discussed how to correct fo=
ot
problems we would encounter in our line of work including cracks, contracted
heels, overreaching, navicular, laminitis, thru=
sh,
conformation issues and much more!
We also discussed how and why the foot grows, time frames and this o=
nly
touches on the topics covered. We
started off in the shop learning how to use the coal forges, work metal and
tend to our fires. We began f=
orge
work by making tools suck as a fire poker, pritchel,
chisel, centerpunch, etc. As the class progressed, our forge=
work
focused more on shaping shoes hot, doing various modifications such as a ro=
cker
toe, clips, square toe, and trailers.
We ended by making handmade shoes out of bar stock. We did not spend a great deal of t=
ime
making handmades, as a majority of farriers use keg shoes on about everything and they a=
ctually
fit quite nicely once the farrier shapes them t=
o the
foot.
On the second week we =
started
going out in the field and moved from farm to farm working on different
horses. Our days generally st=
arted
at about 9:00 AM and we would have a brief meeting in the classroom discuss=
ing
where we were going for the day and what we were doing. We then headed off to the barn of =
the
day and spent the day trimming and shoeing. We got to work on a wide range of
different horses, both good and bad horses as far as temperament, good and =
bad
feet, and even different breeds from Quarter horses to Walking horses and
donkeys. We were generally back at the shop around 4:30 or 5:00 PM and would
either have another classroom session or work in the forge room for a while
before finishing up. At the
beginning of the second week we started out doing only trims and progressed=
to
finishing the shoeing job (rasping, clinching, etc.), shaping our own shoes=
on
the anvil, using the forge, and eventually setting our own shoes and doing =
everything
on our own (still with the help and guidance from Danny and his assistant
though!) We learned how to hot
shoe, cold shoe, apply modifications such as clips and rockered
toes, how to apply borium, use adhesives to rep=
air
hoof wall, etc. We also watch=
ed
demos on padded shoes and bar shoes (ie. Heart =
bar
and egg bar).
Throughout the course =
we had
several quizzes and two major tests to assess our knowledge of farriery. We
learned a tremendous amount of information and walked away=
with
the basic principles of how to trim and shoe a horse….and so much
more!! F=
arrier
school was an awesome experience and gave me a new skill that I will always
take with me, use quite often, and never forget! If anyone ever has any questions
regarding farrier school or anything else feel =
free
to contact me!
O=
ctober
31st - November 4th,
2007
In a few short weeks the fifth annual Syracuse Invitational Sporthorse Tournament will begin with all the excitem=
ent it
brings to downtown
While a couple of the offerings require an admissions fee, many are
free of charge through the generosity of Equus =
magazine’s
sponsorship in celebration of their 30 year anniversary. It is not on=
ly
an opportunity to watch top athletes compete, but also to be exposed to an
excellent line up of educational presentations and seminars including famed
author and clinician Linda Tellington-Jones,
discussions with Olympic Riders on what life is really like for an Olympic
rider and their horses, to meeting the Budweiser Clydesdales and learning m=
ore
about their life on the road and fascinating history. Several paid
clinics and seminars are also on the list including a Professional Seminar =
Day
Thursday covering the latest in horse nutrition, disease prevention and
bio-security.
Whether you know very little or have years of experience, the
opportunity to hear from the best in the business and get an insiders look =
into
how they have risen to the top is something to plan to attend. All the deta=
ils
can be found at: www.syracuseinvitational.com.
Swaybacks aren’t just for old horses!
I
arrived at Miner Institute in February as an equine intern. As part of my
internship, I took on a project horse, as a learning tool for me and the ch=
ance
to advance the training of a Miner Morgan. And so I met Doug, a woolly wint=
er
pony. A 6 year old, chestnut gelding with a great deal of cheeky personalit=
y, a
swagger and a swayback.
Lordosis is a conditio=
n that
will be familiar to many people as swayback, saddleback and lowback. It is
commonly thought of in relation to multiparous brood mares, or as a result =
of
overworking and overloading horses. Swaybacked horses are often regarded as
disabled or pitied as worn out nags! However, although in some cases a low =
back
is acquired, many swaybacked horses are born with the condition known as
congenital lordosis. Congenital lordosis is a condition apparent in less th=
an
1% of the equine population; it is perhaps this low occurrence rate and its=
non
life threatening status that is the reason for limited research into the condition.
In February of 2003, t=
he Journal
of Equine Veterinary Science published a paper by Dr. P.C. Gallagher, et. a=
l.
about extreme lordosis in horses. The article focuses on the American
Saddlebred, but also Arab and Arab/Saddlebred crosses. The researchers soug=
ht
to create a standard measuring system for horses with a swayback, the
possibilities of a genetic basis for the condition, and examine the skeletal
structures behind extreme lordosis.
The horse’s spin=
e runs
in a relatively straight line from their withers to their tail; the natural=
concave
slope we see is the spinal processes jutting up from the vertbrae that enca=
se
the spinal cord. In lordotic horses, it is these processes that are misshap=
en
in a condition called vertebral hypoplasia, some of the cells making up a
healthy vertebra don’t form correctly, creating a “half”
vertebra in a wedge shape. Assemble a line of wedge-shaped vertebra together
and this creates a dip which is visible from an exterior view as swayback.
Uniquely to horses, the spinal cord and hereby the neurological processes are not usually affected as such=
a
defect is in other species. The amount of dip to the back depends on the
location of the affected vertebrae and to what degree they are affected.
The study created a simple system for measur= ing the amount of sway in the back, using two clearly marked points at the with= ers (Point A) and the croup (Point B), and a flexible tape measure. Two measurements were taken: one a straight line between the two points A and B; one following the curve of the horse’s back A to B. The difference between these two lines was used to describe the degree of back curvature.<= o:p>
So what does this all =
mean for
a horse like Doug? It seems that due to some unique evolutionary structurin=
g,
having a swayback doesn’=
;t
cause any undue discomfort in the back. He functions as a normal horse and
doesn’t have any pain directly caused by his condition. Where the
problems for Doug and any lordotic horse begin are at the saddlery stage. P=
oor
saddlery will cause muscle atrophy and pain in any horse, but particularly a
swaybacked horse. In saddling a normal horse it is important to have the pa=
nels
either side of the gullet resting on the horses back. This is
somewhat difficult when the horse’s back drops away from the saddle
behind the withers! Long term solutions for serious riding may require a cu=
stom
fitted saddle. Shorter term solutions or those for moderate riding can be f=
ound
in the form of specially designed pads. Doug was ridden in a o=
ld
Passier dressage saddle with a specialty pad made to “fill in” =
the
hollow space for the last 7 months. Despite my early worries about my weight
and Dougs back and “what can a swayback horse do anyway” attitu=
de,
Doug consistently proved me w=
rong!
Physically, he was completely sound with no signs of back soreness or press=
ure
points after long trail rides as well as starting to jump some cross-rails =
and
he was hooked a few times to a cart.
He is a delightful, ex=
uberant
trail horse; a cheeky fellow who reminded me of the glorious days of wonder=
ful
childhood ponies…you know the ones: the kind that leave you on your b=
um
after a short, sharp handbrake turn; or a sudden lunge for grass that catap=
ults
you across their head and into a pile of nettles; the kind that go and go a=
nd
give you everything they have until their heart bursts; the kind that stori=
es
are born out of, legends around the campfire “do you remember the time
Doug …”; the ones that get their photo taken with your
For me, Doug has been one of those ponies, h=
e has
given me back a great unadulterated joy of riding that often gets lost when=
we
become aware of “is he giving to the bit”, “how’s my
leg position”, “my outside rein is inconsistent”, “think half halt”; not=
that
we didn’t do some of that stuff too, but Doug shines best on the trai=
ls,
his great going-places trot and perked up ears. One can’t help but la=
ugh
at him or even with him sometimes. And now, as I leave Miner and all the Mi=
ner
Morgans to return to the University of Limerick, in damp old Ireland, I can’t help but wonder wher=
e he
is going to end up and hope that it is with someone as exuberant and determ=
ined
as he is, someone sympathetic to his Morgan mind, but firm enough for his
Morgan mind! Someone who wants to enjoy the outdoors and enjoy it with a gr=
eat
companion. Until that person or family claims him as their own, I am sure Doug won’t mind ha=
nging
out with his pasture mates enjoying the time off. Thanks Doug, for a great
spring and summer!
=
&=
#8212;Lindsay
Perry
=
E=
quine
Intern alumnae
Falling Lea=
ves
can be dangerous to horses
Red Maple Leaf
poisoning can happen any time of year, but is most common in the autumn when
leaves are naturally falling from trees. The leaves are poisonous only when=
wilted- fresh or dry leaves will cause little to no harm. The Red Maple =
tree
(Acer rubrum) is common =
all
over North America and we certainly have plenty in the
As little as a pound o=
f wilted
leaves can be fatal. Toxins cause oxygen-carrying red blood cells to break =
down
as well as damaging major organs. Signs of poisoning can occur within hours=
or
days of eating the leaves; the horse will be depressed, off feed, have dark
urine, gums start off pale and yellowish then change to dark brown, increas=
ed
heart and breathing rates. Recovery depends upon how many leaves were consu=
med
and how quickly large quantities of intravenous fluids and possibly even bl=
ood
transfusions can be delivered to the horse.
Who looks after the herd while you’re away?
Vacations shoul=
d be
relaxing, but if you spend all your time worrying about your horses, not on=
ly
will you not enjoy yourself, but you’ll make your traveling companion=
(s)
crabby (trust me on this…). A little time and effort on your part bef=
ore
leaving critters in someone else’s hands will allow you kick back whi=
le
you’re away whether you go with a friend or professional sitter-servi=
ce.
Your mantra should be: I will make it as simple as for my horse-sitter so
everything goes just the way I want it to go.
Start with the basics.=
Your
horses’ farrier and health care work shou=
ld be
up to date; not only will this insure that you leave healthy horses for your
caretaker, but there will be good records in your veterinarian’s offi=
ce.
If you’ll be gone for more than a few days, it is a good idea just to
alert the veterinarian that you’ll be away and to assure them that any
emergency calls while you’re away will be paid for. Will you be leavi=
ng a
method to transport the horse if he needs to get to a clinic? Have your truck filled with gas and
ready to go or have a contact person at the ready that could lend a hand.
Insurance documents on your horse, be they for m=
edical
or mortality if you have these, should be very available and your sitter sh=
ould
be aware. Many a claim has been denied due to not following procedure.
Feeding, watering and =
turnout
procedures should be as easy as possible. Have a clear feeding chart posted=
and
be well stocked on all your hay and grain. Label=
the
cans, not just the lids, of grain as lids can easily get switched. If any
horses get particularly complicated mixes that sound like: “1 scoop of
pellets, ½ scoop sweet feed, 2 oz supplement A, 1 oz supplement B pl=
us 1
bute”, consider what I’ve done at h=
ome-
put grain meals into zip-loc bags that are clearly labeled with the
horse’s name and which feeding it is. As well, make sure any water ta=
nks
are clean and topped off in the pastures.
In the days leading up=
to your
departure, take note of how you do chores. Horses thrive on consistency in a
schedule; if your sitter isn’t aware of the fact that total chaos can
break out if you feed the wrong horse first, or if they are brought in from=
the
paddock in the incorrect order, you’re making it much more difficult =
for
them to do a great job for you. Leave clear, concise, detailed instructions=
all
on ONE document- you can make multiple copies of the directions to leave in
strategic locations, but don’t make it a scavenger hunt for your help!
Always include your whereabouts and how to get a hold of you, your vet, a
second vet, farrier’s phone numbers, and
insurance documents if needed.
When choosing a sitter=
, look
for someone who takes good care of his or her own animals or comes with good
references. Particularly if you are “imposing” on a friend,
neighbor, or relative (heck, your husband sometimes…), it is importan=
t to
make it as easy as possible to do the right thing. Just like good horse
training- give clear instructions, make the right thing be the easiest, most
obvious choice, then heap on the praise- pay your professional or give a
thank-you gift to your friend!
=
<=
/span>—
<=
span
lang=3DEN style=3D'font-size:20.0pt;text-transform:uppercase;mso-ansi-langu=
age:
EN'>Tying up…or worse?
Most of us can =
remember
a time when we have played the role of “weekend warrior’ and pa=
id
dearly for our sudden bout of athleticism during the next few days. Many will acknowledge that they ha=
ve
treated their horses in a similar way as well. How do you know if your horse is j=
ust
tired and stiff after that longer than expected trail ride or has tied up?<=
span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> The following information will hel=
p you
understand the signs, degrees of severity, treatment, and management of tyi=
ng
up disease or rhabdomyolosis.
Rhabdomyolosis, (breakdown of striated muscles after exercise) is described by ma=
ny
different names depending on severity and/or regional vernacular. Some of these names include: tying=
up, azoturia, myoglobinurea,
set-fast, black water disease, and Monday morning disease. The disease often can be identifie=
d in
draft horse breeds that perform hard work during the week, and are rested on
the weekends without a decrease in their grain ration. Back on the job on Monday morning,=
the
horses begin to cramp up, show hindquarter stiffness, severe muscle pain and
pass very dark urine. One of =
the
suggested mechanisms is that excess glycogen is accumulated in the muscle w=
hile
the horse is resting at full ration, and this is quickly broken down into
lactic acid when he begins work.
The high lactic acid concentration results in muscle damage, breakdo=
wn
and release of myoglobin. The dark urine color is due to the
increase in myoglobin being excreted and can ca=
use
kidney damage as it passes through the system.
A mild case of r=
habdomyolosis
(tying up) may result in soreness in the gluteal
muscles, a painful and stiff gait, or simply a decrease in performance. The causes may include limited exe=
rcise,
an anticipatory situation, or simply putting the horse in a stressful
environment such as trailer loading, new locations, or loading into a start=
ing
gate or chute. In addition, y=
oung
horses with viral infections (equine herpes virus 1 and influenza) have
experienced bouts of tying up that were not associated with exercise.
Horses with severe
Testing
Your veterinarian can =
use a
blood sample to test serum for levels of myoglobin
(almost immediately), creatine kinase
(approximately 4-6 hours), and aspartate aminotransferase (approximately 18-24 hours) after a
suspected bout. If you suspec=
t that
your horse may be experiencing minor bouts of tying up, it will be necessar=
y to
establish normal values. Your=
vet
may want to draw blood samples up to 30 minutes prior and 4-6 hours after e=
xercise
to evaluate creatine kinas=
e
levels in the serum. Be cauti=
oned
that diet and management can affect the values.
A mild case of tying up may be treated with =
a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (i.e. Phenylbutazone)
and rest for 3-5 days with a gradual increase in exercise. A decrease in training intensity a=
nd
grain intake will usually be recommended.&=
nbsp;
Sedatives such as Acepromazine, which ca=
uses
sedation and relaxation by depressing the central nervous system, may be gi=
ven
to decrease the anxiety and spasms after the horse ties up. In some chronic cases, Acepromazine may be used in a preventative effort pri=
or to
exercise, to help promote vasodilatation or opening of the outlying blood
vessels. Veterinarians may gi=
ve the
horses immediate intravenous Thiamin or intramuscular Vitamin E and Selenium
injections to aid return to health or monthly prophylactic injections to
decrease potential onset of tying up episodes.
Horses exhibiting seve=
re
symptoms of rhabdomyolosis may be treated with
intravenous fluids to decrease shock and potential kidney damage due to the=
myoglobin excretion.=
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and=
/or
painkillers may be necessary during recovery time. As with mild cases, a sedative may=
be
used to decrease the anxiety and help prevent thrashing or excess movement.=
In severe cases, it is critical to=
limit
movement to decrease potential permanent muscle damage. Recovery time may be up to 6-8 wee=
ks,
and ability to return to work will vary with severity.
Horses that suffer from
chronic attacks of rhabdomyolosis can often be
managed successfully with strict exercise, management and diet protocols.
Proper monitoring of conditioning, diet and
management may significantly decrease or prevent the onset of mild to severe
episodes of rhabdomyolosis. While excitability and genetics may
predispose some horses to this disease, consistency in the environment,
exercise protocol, and nutrition can work toward prevention or management.<=
span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> Horses that are affected with chro=
nic rhabdomyolosis may require medication for continued u=
se of
the horse in a productive manner.
Finally, the take-home message is to not burden your unfit horse with
spontaneous exercise bouts (intense or endurance), as it can have a much lo=
nger
and more serious effect than you had planned on.
=
&=
#8212;Betsy
Greene, Ph.D.
=
E=
xtension
Equine Specialist
Beware Of Hoary Alyssum In Horse Hay…=
While it was a pretty good year for hay
purchases in the North Country, this press release from earlier this summer=
is
a good reminder to folks that if possible, it is good to know where your ha=
y is
coming from and to maintain a relationship with that producer. This isnR=
17;t
always possible, so you then need to become a hay-sleuth. Blister beetles a=
re
the other main concern with alfalfa hay, particularly hay that came from the
southern states.
“We have a repor=
t of 25
horses sickened from eating alfalfa hay from
Hoary alyssum has roun=
d stems
and an alternate leaf pattern; the leaves aren’t directly opposite ea=
ch
other but appear alternately up the stem. The dried leaves are fragile, so =
most
will have fractured and become part of the alfalfa “dust” in the
bale. Older stems may have a purple blush. Stems may have a slight fuzz or
“hoary” appearance.
Native to Europe, the =
weed is
found throughout much of the northern
Un=
wanted
Horse Coalition Website Seeks Listing of Facilities Accepting Horses=
The coalition hopes that its website = will be another important bridge between people who are seeking alternatives for their horses and the many facilities that will accept them. Such facilities include rescue, retirement and retraining facilities; therapeutic riding programs; colleges and universities; police and military organizations; pub= lic stables; and government and park service programs. “If you are a faci= lity that will help with the care, training and use of these horses, we hope you will sign on,” said Katy Carter, UHC coordinator. “The UHC has organized its website so that these facilities can list themselves.”<= o:p>
Any facility that wishes to be listed=
can
go to the UHC website and complete a brief questionnaire. To complete the
questionnaire or view the facilities in the directory, go to www.unwantedhorsecoalition.=
org,
click Resources, follow the link to Facilities that Accept Horses and fill =
out
the short questionnaire. Facilities will be listed by state. The information
sought is intended to advise horse owners about what type of facility it is,
contact information, whether it is tax exempt, year founded, horse capacity,
number of staff and whether it follows the =
220;Care
Guidelines for Rescue and Retirement Facilities,” published =
by
the American Association of Equine Practitioners. A facility will also be a=
ble
to describe itself and spell out its purpose and philosophy.
“We want as many facilities listed as
possible, large and small, all breeds and purposes, those with a formal
structure and those without,” said Dr. Lenz. “Just because a
facility is small or not tax-exempt doesn’t mean it is not a good
facility. There are plenty of horses who need care, training and use. We wa=
nt
to make horse owners aware of the big facilities that may have farms in sev=
eral
states and the smaller facilities that may serve a local area. They all hav=
e a
place in this effort.”
The UHC website also h=
as a
series of questions that owners may consider when trying to decide on a
facility, program or second use for their horse. “Sometimes people ju=
st
don’t understand what facilities do and what questions they should
ask,” said Carter. “We hope this will help them and their horse=
in
a difficult time.” The coalition also hopes that this website listing
will match people who want a horse or want to help with the care and traini=
ng
of unwanted horses with the facilities that have horses and need help.
The UHC is a broad all=
iance of
equine organizations that have joined together under the American Horse Cou=
ncil
to reduce the numbers of unwanted horses and help horse owners understand t=
he
various options, services and assistance available to them
when they are considering what to do with a horse they can no longer
care for.
The coalition’s =
website
has information on the issue of the unwanted horse along with an ever-expan=
ding
resource section dedicated to educational materials and news articles. A
brochure highlighting the coalition and its activities is available online
along with a hand book entitled “Own Responsibly: Guidance for Current
and Potential Horse Owners from the Unwanted Horse Coalition.” Both c=
an
be downloaded for use.
The Unwanted Horse Coaliti=
on,
a broad alliance of equine organizations that have joined together under the
American Horse Council, is concerned that some horses may slip through the
various safety nets within the equine industry. Too many owners are unaware=
of,
or do not give enough thought to, the available options, services and
assistance available in the industry to help them ensure that their horse h=
as
caring and humane support throughout its life. The Unwanted Horse Coalition
will help educate the horse industry about this issue and help people learn=
to
Own Responsibly.
Training Mythunderstandings: Horse Logic
Good horse trai=
ning is
boring to watch. It looks like nothing is happening. Many people are impres=
sed
by training methods that are nothing more than a blatant series of attacks =
on
the horse because they are dramatic to watch. However, physically dominatin=
g a
horse does not teach him anything. To train a horse, you must use mental
strength, not physical strength.
Training horses starts=
with
understanding how their minds work. You have to understand what is logical =
to
the horse. The horse's mind does not work the same way as yours. They do not
associate events or a sequence of actions in the same way we reason that th=
ings
are related. To train a horse, therefore, you have to understand how horse
logic works and base your training on that.
Horses are prey animal=
s. They
are in an undesirable position in the food chain and they know this. Their =
eyes
are on the outside of their heads so they can see danger coming from any
direction. When we approach a horse, it has no way of knowing what our actu=
al
intent is. It can only observe our actions and make a decision that it is s=
afe
to stay put or safer to flee.
When a large cat appro=
aches a
group of gazelles as a hunter, the whole herd will start running and try to
escape until one of them is killed. Once its hunt has been successful, the
cat's tail goes down and its muscles relax. Now it can pick up its kill and
walk directly through the herd and the gazelles will just go on grazing. The
cat's body language has changed from a tense alertness that telegraphs the
message "there is a hunter among us" to a more relaxed,
non-threatening posture that merely says "there is a cat walking among
us" and the herd responds accordingly.
So your first communic=
ation
task in training is to get the horse to quietly accept you as a "cat
walking in the herd" rather than as a "cat hunting within the
herd." From a horse logical viewpoint, you do not want to be seen as an
attacking predator.
Your next communication task, once the
horse has quietly accepted you into its "herd," is to be the hors=
e in
control of the herd. Stallions do not run their herds. All they are concern=
ed
with is who gets the next mare. The lead mare controls the herd and makes t=
he
decisions. She controls the herd through body language that the other horses
clearly understand.
At Meredith Manor, we =
get a
horse to accept us as part of its "herd" and then we use body
language to get and keep its attention and to establish ourselves as the le=
ad
mare. We first use horse body language to play with the horse, then we use body language to get and keep the horse's
attention. Now we can add body language that creates a corridor of pressures
that start to shape the horse's behavior. We create the desired shapes on t=
he
ground, then we transfer the concept of corridors and shapes into our under
saddle work. When done correctly, the entire system is very logical to the
horse. There is no need for physical restraints or physical punishment and =
the
horse never feels "attacked."
Let me give you an exa=
mple of
how mythunderstandings about training happen wh=
en
people substitute human logic for horse logic. When a horse is scared or up=
set,
it tenses and its head goes up. Human logic says that to create the desired
shape (a lower head carriage), all you have to do tie the horse's head down
until the horse "understands." However, if the horse is tense bec=
ause
the training methods were scaring or confusing it, this will only make the
problem worse. From a horse logical standpoint, the tie down is only another
threat or attack. If the trainer's techniques were horse logical in the fir=
st
place so that the horse remained relaxed, its head and neck would eventually
have the desired shape without the need for mechanical aids.
People who try to trai=
n by
presenting the horse with a task then punishing the animal in some way when=
it
doesn't "get it" are on the wrong track. They think they are teac=
hing
the horse a lesson. But the horse understands their "correction" =
only
as an attack, a threat. No real learning takes place. By fighting with a ho=
rse,
the only thing you are teaching it is that the biggest, baddest
one wins. You give the horse no clues about how to do things methodically a=
nd
logically.
It is also important f=
or
trainers to realize that horses do not understand or recognize human feelin=
gs.
But our human feelings often create conflicts for us and our horses. If we
don't plan our actions ahead when training, our actions will be guided by
feelings and instincts. Since man is a natural predator with an instinct for
combat, the very first thing young males often do when frustrated is to fig=
ht.
And the more scared they are, the more willing they are to fight. When peop=
le
make a big fuss in front of others, posturing about how they are handling t=
his
big, dangerous horse, very often it is because they are afraid you are goin=
g to
realize they are not really in control.
Training is just like
swallowing a big ball of string. It would be impossible to swallow it all at
once. But if you eat it an inch as a time, break the task down into really
small bits, it is easy. Getting the horse's attention is the first bite of =
the
string we call training. Most of the mythunderstanding=
s
about training come about because people try to swallow too big a chunk of
string. You must go bit by bit, using a methodical series of actions to get=
the
horse's attention and direct the horse's attention without threatening or
attacking him.
Training a horse invol=
ves
dominating him mentally, not physically. And you must systematically introd=
uce
new shapes or tasks to him in a way that is logical to the horse according =
to
his natural instincts rather than your human instincts and logic.
—Ron
Meredith, President
Meredith Manor
International Equestrian Centre
© 20=
00
Meredith Manor International Equestrian Centre.
All rights reserved.
Instructor and trainer Ron
Meredith has refined his "horse logical" methods for communicating
with equines over 30 years as president of Meredith Manor International
Equestrian Centre (800 679-2603; http://www.meredithmanor.com),
an ACCET-accredited equestrian educational institution.
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se
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FOR